Can You Splash Mr. E? Grade 8 Students Use Physical Science Concepts in Water Balloon Challenge

Students in grade 8 physical science had the chance to apply their learning of launch angles, trajectory and distance in an irresistible challenge—to try to splash their teacher with a water balloon.

As Middle School science teacher Kevin Estipular stood by, students used an large protractor and a yardstick to figure out the precise angle they wanted to launch a water balloon, as well as how far to stretch the water balloon slingshot. If all went well, the target would get wet –and in this case, the target was their teacher.

“I had students select the angles they wanted to launch the water balloons at, the stretch of the bands, and the distance it traveled,” Mr. Estipular said. “After three practice runs, they would place me where they wanted me to stand and try to get me with a water balloon.”

“Mr. E” wore safety goggles as the students did their calculations and launched a water balloon at him. He got wet twice—once in the chest and once in the leg—with several near-misses.

“Many attempts were half a meter from my face,” Mr. Estipular said. “It was a fun demonstration to observe the trajectory of projectiles launched at an angle.”