Photo of many pumpkins sitting next to each other

Pumpkin Drop

Case Western Reserve University Department of Physics invites members of the community to an annual live, in-person test of Galileo’s experiment and Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of motion and gravity. The department will drop pumpkins from the roof of Strosacker Auditorium today (Oct. 31) at 12:35 p.m.

It is said that Galileo dropped two balls of different weight off the Leaning Tower of Pisa and observed that they hit the ground at the same time. Years later, Newton developed his laws of motion and gravity that mathematically explained why that would happen. The department will test these laws during the event.

Physics Chair Corbin Covault will lead the experiment and serve as master of ceremonies for the event. Cider and pumpkin pie will be provided. The event is free and open to all. 

The Women in Physics and Astronomy Club, Physics and Astronomy Club, Physics Graduate Student Association, Physics Underrepresented Minority Students will sponsor this event.

View footage of the 2019 event.