High School Students Use Physics to Time Travel at University Competition

Inspired by the 1985 film “Back to the Future,” The University of Scranton’s 14th annual Kane Competition for high school students challenged nearly 200 students from 15 area high schools to use physics in a series of five events. A jeopardy-style quiz featuring questions similar to those found on the AP physics exam tested students on knowledge in mechanics, waves, optics, electromagnetism and basic circuits. Another event, “The Time is Ripe,” required teams to determine the drop height from which to release a large piece of fruit enclosed within a net attached to a bungee cord. The competition ended with an event that required students to work in a team to build a “flux capacitor” like the one used for time travel in “Back to the Future.”

The annual Kane Competition tests high school students’ knowledge of physics and engineering through a series of quizzes and interactive challenges. Students competed individually and in teams.

Tyler Mahone from Wallenpaupack Area High School came in first place in the individual competition. Spencer Yacuboski from Berwick High School came in second place. Evan Esposito from Wyoming Area High School came in third place and also won a $1,500 scholarship to The University of Scranton for having the highest quiz score of a participant who will be attending the University in the fall of 2017.

In the team competition, Berwick High School Team One placed first; Wallenpaupack Area High school placed second; and Team One from North Pocono High school placed third.

The competition is organized by the University’s Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering with the purpose of encouraging more students to pursue careers in physics and engineering. The Kane Competition is supported by the Joseph Kane Estate, the University’s Financial Aid Office and Physics and Electrical Engineering Department, and students in the University’s physics and electrical engineering program.

(Berwick Team 1)

Berwick High School team one won the team competition of The University of Scranton’s 14th annual Kane Competition for high school students. Seated, from left: University of Scranton sophomore Peter Kulick, advisor Matthew Shrader and Olivia Lombardi. Standing: Zach Mensinger, Jake Demler, Madison Traugh, Spencer Yacuboski (second place in individual competition), Emily Dent and Mason Kimbell.

(Wallenpaupack Area)

Wallenpaupack Area High School came in second place in the team competition. Seated, from left: University of Scranton sophomore Peter Kulick, advisor Gene Shultz and Kyle McDermott. Standing: Sheila Whitman, Sebastien LaDuca, Aidan Cunningham, Tyler Mahone (first place in individual competition) and Steven Coutts.

(North Pocono Team 1)

North Pocono team one came in third place in the team competition. Seated, from left: University of Scranton sophomore Peter Kulick, advisor John Croom and Gabby Gentile. Standing: Alec Aversa, Vincent Wojnar, Chase Notari, Justin Morman and Michael Felins.

(Evan Esposito)

Evan Esposito from Wyoming Area High School came in third place and also won a $1,500 scholarship to The University of Scranton for having the highest quiz score of a participant who will be attending the University.