Local News

Watch: Boston University’s pumpkin drop reaches new heights

BU held its annual Pumpkin Drop on Wednesday, gearing up for Halloween.

The biggest pumpkin of the event collides with Metcalf Plaza after a 70 foot drop at Boston University’s annual pumpkin drop on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. “I absolutely loved it, Ive been looking forward to pumpkin drop for a minute now,” Llogan Caron, a junior at BU who attended the event, said. “Its nice that everybody can meet here, we have apple cider doughnuts, we have apple cider, and that the physics department is able to put on an event to just let everybody relax during the midterm season.” Andrew Burke-Stevenson for The Boston Globe

By Eva Levin

1 minute to read

Are your Halloween pumpkins rotting on your doorstep? Boston University’s Physics Department may have a solution for you. 

The school held their annual Pumpkin Drop on Wednesday. The tradution involves chucking pumpkins off the Metcalf Science Center roof, all in the name of science.

In a video posted to TikTok, students are shown pushing pumpkins, some filled with goo and powder, off of a ledge. The pumpkins carreen stories down and explode with an often-satisfying splat, as a crowd of students cheer it on.

@bostonu BU Physics’ Pumpkin Drop: A Smashing Success! 🎃💥 #bostonuniversity #pumpkinseason #fallactivities #physicsfun #fyp #halloween ♬ Dance Again – Official Sound Studio

According to a BU Today report, the pumpkins fell more than 70 feet before making their triumphant explosion on the tarp-covered ground. 

Advertisement:

“The annual event provides lessons in gravitation, velocity, and energy transition, from potential to kinetic to explosion, and physics students perform physics demos before and after the pumpkins meet their fate,” the BU Today post said.

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com