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Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 9:04 AM

Student Work -- Mr. Sorrensen's Physics Class

Student Work -- Mr. Sorrensen's Physics Class
Churchill County High School Physics students build trebuchet for their final project

Author: Courtesy of Tyson Sorensen

The first semester of physics gives students the basics of physics and then they learn some of the basics of construction. Students do several practice builds with spaghetti, and then the students build a bridge to compete. The bridges are scored based on the mass they hold compared to the mass of the bridge itself. To get 100% a bridge must hold 300 times its own weight.

The second semester of physics is centered around the skills and knowledge that is needed to build and fire a trebuchet. The students are given four weeks to gather materials and build their trebuchet, then they bring them to school where they test them all. Students learn about projectile motion, torque and leverage, and circular motion to help them understand the workings of the trebuchet.

This project gives them an opportunity to both design and build something, applying the concepts they have learned. It is great to see them learn and grow through this project which is also their final assessment for the class.

 

 



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Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I knew Sam as a member of our church growing up. He always had a warm smile, a kind word, and a great sense of humor! He will be great missed!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:57 AMComment source: Obituary -- Samuel Bruce WickizerComment author: Mike HinzComment text: Great teacher, great coach, but even a better person!!! Rest in peace Mr. BeachComment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:53 AMComment source: Obituary -- Jack Victor Beach, Jr.Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I had Mrs Hedges for First Grade at Northside Elementary in 1969. I still, to this day, remember her as a wonderful teacherโ€ฆone of my favorites!!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:29 AMComment source: Obituary - Nancy Marie Hedges C Comment author: Carl C. HagenComment text: What are MFNs and PBMs ?? ............................ From the editor: This is a very good question and we apologize for not catching that wasn't in there. We reached out to the writer/submitter and got this info back...hope it's helpful. PBM: Pharmacy Benefit Managers are pharmacies that are owned by insurance companies. (CVS is one.) They negotiate with drug makers to get reduced pricing for medications, but they historically have not passed along those savings to patients. https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/pharmacy-benefit-managers-staff-report.pdf MFN: Most Favored Nation pricing is a policy that means a country agrees to offer the same trade concessions (like tariffs or price reductions) to all member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). When applied to pharmaceuticals, it could disrupt global access, deter innovation, and obscure the deeper systemic issues in American health care. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2025/05/22/the-global-risks-of-americas-most-favored-nation-drug-pricing-policy/Comment publication date: 6/23/25, 7:47 AMComment source: L E T T E R TO THE EDITOR
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