A-P performs well at state physics competition

CEDAR FALLS – Aplington-Parkersburg students Tayler Renken and Kale Riherd won a state title at the State of Iowa Physics Competition held at the McLeod Center on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa on Tuesday, April 12.

Renken and Riherd were two of six A-P students competing at the event, along with Christian Haugstad, Boyd Scanlan, Gavin Johnson and Sam Livingood. A-P had three teams each compete in the Soda Straw Arm and Measurement events. In all, 120 students from 15 different schools across the state participated in the event. The other events on Tuesday were Catapult, Mousetrap Car, and Bridge Building.

The competition has five physics events for students grades 9-12, stressing creativity and ingenuity as well as an understanding of physics-related principles. The event is intended to encourage interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professions and emphasizes scientific and engineering practices found in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

A-P placed fourth overall. Renken and Riherd competed in a Measurement event, which challenges competitors to “measure the height and/or length of some specified object or distance” that will always exceed 10 meters. All three A-P teams reached the finals.

A-P also had two teams reach the Soda Straw Arm finals, which challenges students to “construct the longest arm, from a team’s own design, that will support a 50-gram mass hanging from a 30-centimeter string”.

A-P’s instructor for the event was Allison Schipper.

Students from Dike-New Hartford High School also participated in the event.