PUMPKINS WILL DROP FROM BAL TODAY

What goes up -- to the top of the Batten Arts and Letters Building -- must come down. At least that's the premise the Old Dominion University's Society of Physics Students chapter is working under for its annual Pumpkin Drop from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Students will drop the orange orbs, some implanted with measuring devices, from the top of BAL to demonstrate various physics principles. The effectiveness of student-built catching devices will also be tested.

Velocity measurements using lasers and mirrors will be taken and, in a repeat of a popular experiment from last year, a siren will be placed in one falling pumpkin to demonstrate Doppler Shift, which, in this case, has to do with the apparent change of frequency of sound waves as they vary with the relative velocity of the source and the observer.

SPS will also be conducting a canned food drive in conjunction with the pumpkin drop to benefit the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. Students are asked to bring at least one can of food to donate. SPS will recognize, as they did last year, the student organization donating the most food.

For more information, contact Jennifer Hodgson at 589-2796 or Gary Copeland, Old Dominion physics professor and SPS advisor, at 683-4619.