Annual Watermelon Drop Held At UC San Diego
Event Has Been Going On At School Since 1948
Posted: 06/08/2012
Last Updated:
377 days ago
After so much "top two" talk in connection with California's new primary election system, students at UC San Diego Friday produced a "top-two" watermelon drop.
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The heave from the seventh floor of Urey Hall produced the second-farthest splat of melon debris in the event's 48-year history, 133 feet and 7 inches, according to university spokeswoman Christine Clark. She said her records don't show anything farther other than the record of 167 feet, 4 inches, set in 1974.Clark said it "was very impressive" compared with previous years.About 150 people turned out to watch the event, a school tradition right before finals week.It began when a physics professor asked students on an examination what the speed of a watermelon would be when it struck the ground after being dropped from the seventh floor of the research building at Revelle College, and how far the debris would travel.What's called the "terminal velocity" was 112 mph, while splatter distances have varied over the years.Copyright Do you have more information about this story? Click here to contact usCopyright 2012 by City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
