The physics club launched jack-o-lanterns with a trebuchet Sunday to benefit Loaves and Fishes, a Burlington charity.

More than 70 people came to Elon’s driving range to watch the pumpkins hurtle toward a compost pile target about 100 feet away.

Community members contributed nearly $100 and almost 100 cans of food to see their halloween creations smashed by a device built entirely by students.

Junior Emma Cramer, physics club vice president, explained the difference between a catapult and trebuchet to a child at the event: “What’s cool about a trebuchet is that it has a longer arm that swings more so the pumpkins can go a lot farther.”

The pumpkin’s crash landings earned laughter and applause from the crowd. Children also enjoyed taking turns pulling the trigger for the trebuchet.

Technical difficulties interrupted the launchings more than once and forced physics club members to do some quick thinking. After Cramer returned with a sling she mended, the jack-o-lanterns sailed toward their target without a hitch.

The physics club also sold baked goods including pumpkin bread and cupcakes at the event, and the proceeds were donated to charity. The physics club plans to store the trebuchet for next year, in hopes of repeating the event.

Reporter: Hannah McConaghy - 11/07/07