The Science Behind the Spud Launch

10/22/2025

Call it the Spud-nik space program at Masters.

Each fall, upper school physics teachers John Boyer and Pascal Maharjan bring their students outside for a hands-on experiment in kinematics and projectiles.

“We fire a potato straight up and measure the time of flight,” Boyer explained. “From this, we calculate the launch speed. We then fire it again at a 45-degree angle and try to predict how far it will go.”

After reviewing the process in class, Maharjan said that students get a kick out of launch day. “The excitement of walking up to Clarke Field and firing a potato cannon is enough to stir up a frenzy of questions and hypothetical ‘what ifs’ from students,” he said. “They are always eager to test the limits of our contraption and see how far we can actually send the potato.”

Senior Alex Pinnock appreciated seeing “the real difference that the launch angle made on how far the potato went.” He explained, “When the cannon was at a 45-degree angle, the potato spanned the entire length of the field behind the hill dorms, landing in the woods.”

Before moving on to their next unit on forces and Newton’s Laws, Boyer reflected on the popular and successful scientific lesson in the study of motion.

“The students enjoy the whole experience, except possibly the loud bang if they stand close to the launcher,” he said. “We all like getting out of the classroom and seeing physics in action — especially while the weather is still nice.”