2nd Bouncy Ball Drop

November 7th, 2003 between 5:30PM and 6PM and
November 8th, 2003 at 2:15PM

Balls Dropped: 4000+

The drop zone as seen from below at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 38.6K.
The drop zone as seen from below.

The drop zone as seen from above at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 26.8K.
The drop zone as seen from above.

We've conducted two drop tests and two live drops so far and things went well. Pictures and video will be posted as available.

Click on the picture to see a larger version (This will open a new window). Hover the pointer over the image to see a caption and information on the larger image.

Documentary of the Drop
Building Preparations
Our Drop Mechanism and Its Hanging
Loading the Bouncy Balls and Preparing to Drop
Videos of Loading the Bouncy Balls
The Crowd Observing the Drop
Ready to Drop
Videos of the Drop
Post Drop

Documentary of the Drop Process

By Heather Casler

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Much thanks to Heather Casler for taking the time to create this wonderful documentary outlining the overall setup process and the drop itself. Awesome video Heather!

This movie is in Quicktime format.

These movies are the same in content but differ in size and quality. Note the size of the movie and choose accordingly. Higher quality versions can be made available to individuals if you email us. To save the movie, right-click the link below and choose "Save Target As".

The video is 1 minute and 18 seconds long.

30 FPS 720x480 with premium quality sound (404MB)
Zip file of the above movie (311MB)
30 FPS 720x480 with premium quality sound (284MB)
Zip file of the above movie (256MB)
15 FPS 720x480 with standard quality sound (133MB)
Zip file of the above movie (106MB)
12 FPS 240x180 with standard quality sound (2.32MB)

Building Preparation

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Adam Larios and Lael Hebert of our Drop Crew take a break during building prep at our test drop on Friday, October 17th, 2003. The larger image is 39.8K. Stephanie Ross and Cody ______ of our Drop Crew comment on cardboard coverings during building prep at our test drop on Friday, October 17th, 2003. The larger image is 40.6K. David Froemke of our Drop Crew placing cardboard over glass portions of the lobby doors during building prep at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 30.6K.

The lobby of Bond Hall as seen from Red Square at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 23.6K. The closed side lobby doors at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 22.6K.

Thanks to Kevin Majkut and Lisa Rosenberg of the Viking Union and the Associated Students, Tim Wynn of Facilities Management, Corporal Garcia of University Police, Gayle Shipley and Monte Robinson of Environmental Health and Safety, and Jim Korski of Space Administration for their help in arranging the drop and ensuring things go smoothly and safely.

Our Drop Mechanism and Its Hanging

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We had to build a complicated hanging mechanism (4000+ balls is harder to drop than 292) and Geoff Landis and Jim Mullen (of Scientific Technical Services - the guys in the basement) have been truly instrumental in this! Without their help, this would never have gone anywhere (Geoff is the guy who helped us with a camera safety cage for the first drop and since then we've expanded to working with his colleague Jim as well).

The box prior to hanging at our test drop on Friday, October 17th, 2003. The larger image is 26.5K. The box attached to the steel cables and ready to hang at our test drop on Friday, October 17th, 2003. The larger image is 34.4K. The box attached to the steel cables and ready to hang at our test drop on Friday, October 17th, 2003. The larger image is 28.7K.

The steel cables running through the eyehooks at our test drop on Friday, October 17th, 2003. The larger image is 32.3K.

Lael Hebert of our Drop Crew observes the hanging of the box from the side to watch for safety concerns at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 27.6K. From the left: Brandii Grace, Brian Hitchcock, Brandon Williams, Heather Casler, Jonny Ursin, Geoffrey Sanders, and John Jasper, all of our Drop Crew assist in hanging and stabilizing the box at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 28.4K. From the left: John Jasper, Mike Carr, John Aho, and Heather Casler, all of our Drop Crew assist in hanging and stabilizing the box at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 29.0K.

From the left: Mike Carr, John Aho, Brandii Grace, Jonny Ursin, Brian Hitchcock, Heather Casler, John Jasper, and Ben Casler, all of our Drop Crew (the person on the far right is simply an observer) assist in hanging and stabilizing the box at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 27.3K.

Loading the Bouncy Balls and Preparing to Drop

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From the left: Brian Hitchcock, Brandon Williams, Ben Casler, Geoffrey Sanders, David Star, Heather Casler, and John Jasper, all of our Drop Crew, load the balls or observe the loading at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 32.1K. From the left: Mike Carr, Jonny Ursin, Brandii Grace, and John Aho, all of our Drop Crew, observe the loading at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 33.1K. The bouncy balls travel down the stiff foam ramp at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 23.7K.

The bouncy balls travel down the stiff foam ramp at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 22.6K. The bouncy balls travel down the stiff foam ramp at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 27.3K. From the left: Geoffrey Sanders, David Star, and Brandon Williams, all of our Drop Crew, load the bouncy balls at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 33.0K.

From the left: Mike Carr, Ben Casler, Brandon Williams, Geoffrey Sanders, David Star, and John Aho, all of our Drop Crew, load the bouncy balls or observe at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 30.2K. From the left: Ben Casler, Mike Carr, Brandon Williams, Geoffrey Sanders, David Star, and John Aho, all of our Drop Crew, load the bouncy balls or observe at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 28.0K. From the left: Brian Hitchcock, Jonny Ursin, Heather Casler, and John Jasper, all of our Drop Crew, load the bouncy balls or observe at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 33.1K.

From the left: Heather Casler, Amy Sept, Mike Carr, Ben Casler, Brandon Williams, David Star, Geoffrey Sanders, and John Aho, all of our Drop Crew, load the bouncy balls or observe at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 32.8K. Members of our Drop Crew load the bouncy balls prior to our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 28.6K.

Videos of Loading the Bouncy Balls

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These movies are in Quicktime format.

Higher quality versions can be made available to individuals if you email us. To save the movie, right-click the link below and choose "Save Target As".

The video is 10 seconds long.

Premium quality video at our 11/7 drop. 30 FPS 720x480 with premium quality sound (53MB)
Standard quality video at our 11/7 drop. 15 FPS 720x480 with standard quality sound (19MB)
Low quality video at our 11/7 drop. 12 FPS 240x180 with standard quality sound (239K)

The Crowd Observing the Drop

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The crowd observing our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 39.7K. The crowd observing our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 40.0K. The crowd observing our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 35.6K.

The crowd observing our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 27.1K. The crowd observing our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 32.4K. The crowd observing our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 37.0K.

The crowd observing our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 35.4K. The crowd observing our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 38.0K. The crowd observing our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 40.0K.

The crowd observing our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 37.1K. The crowd observing our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 38.1K.

Specific People Observing the Drop

Amy Sept and David Star (both of our Drop Crew) observe our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 31.9K. Professor Greg Schwartz can't stop grading even during our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 26.2K. Jonny Ursin (of our Drop Crew) astounds Joel Hibbert at our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 32.0K.

Kat Norvell talks with a family observing our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 33.2K. Mathematics Department Chair Dr. Tjalling Ypma heads to the atrium to observe our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 23.2K.

Ready to Drop

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The box is loaded with 4014 bouncy balls at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 25.0K. The box is loaded with 4014 bouncy balls at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 33.7K.

Videos of the Drop

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These movies are in Quicktime format.

Higher quality versions can be made available to individuals if you email us. To save the movie, right-click the link below and choose "Save Target As".

Video from the side on the ground floor

Please note that the balls won't hit the ground until about 11 seconds after the start of the movie. The movie is 25.12 seconds long.

Premium quality video at our 10/24 drop. 30 FPS 720x480 with premium quality sound (129MB)
Standard quality video at our 10/24 drop. 15 FPS 720x480 with standard quality sound (14MB)
Low quality video at our 10/24 drop. 12 FPS 240x180 with standard quality sound (409K)

Please note that the balls won't hit the ground until about 11 seconds after the start of the movie. The movie is 24.23 seconds long.

Premium quality video at our 11/7 drop. 30 FPS 720x480 with premium quality sound (136MB)
Standard quality video at our 11/7 drop. 15 FPS 720x480 with standard quality sound (24MB)
Low quality video at our 11/7 drop. 12 FPS 240x180 with standard quality sound (537K)

Please note that the balls won't hit the ground until about 11 seconds after the start of the movie. The movie is 26.00 seconds long.

Standard quality video at our 11/8 drop. 15 FPS 720x480 with standard quality sound (12MB)
Low quality video at our 11/8 drop. 12 FPS 240x180 with standard quality sound (756K)

The butcher paper you see on the floor is in place to protect the tiles from the residue the balls leave behind as well as to make the balls easier to see from above.

Video from the ground floor looking straight up

Please note that the balls won't drop until about 10 seconds after the start of the movie. The movie is 20.23 seconds long.

Standard quality video at our 11/8 drop. 15 FPS 720x480 with standard quality sound (13MB)
Low quality video at our 11/8 drop. 12 FPS 240x180 with standard quality sound (461K)

Video from the second floor looking down

Please note that the balls won't drop until about 10 seconds after the start of the movie. The movie is 17.23 seconds long.

Standard quality video at our 11/8 drop. 15 FPS 720x480 with standard quality sound (12MB)
Low quality video at our 11/8 drop. 12 FPS 240x180 with standard quality sound (414K)

Video from the third floor looking up

Please note that the balls won't drop until about 10 seconds after the start of the movie. The movie is 17.03 seconds long.

Premium quality video at our 11/7 drop. 30 FPS 720x480 with premium quality sound (88MB)
Standard quality video at our 11/7 drop. 15 FPS 720x480 with standard quality sound (28MB)
Low quality video at our 11/7 drop. 12 FPS 240x180 with standard quality sound (291K)

Video from the fourth floor looking down

Please note that the balls won't drop until about 5 seconds after the start of the movie. The movie is 8.15 seconds long.

Premium quality video at our 11/7 drop. 30 FPS 720x480 with premium quality sound (44MB)
Standard quality video at our 11/7 drop. 15 FPS 720x480 with standard quality sound (5.8MB)
Low quality video at our 11/7 drop. 12 FPS 240x180 with standard quality sound (209K)

Special Effects Videos

Slow Motion

Slow Motion from the ground floor looking sideways

Please note that the balls won't drop until about 22 seconds after the start of the movie. The movie is 1 minute and 15 seconds long.

Standard quality video at our 11/8 drop. 15 FPS 720x480 with standard quality sound (34.4MB)
Low quality video at our 11/8 drop. 12 FPS 240x180 with standard quality sound (1.9MB)

Slow Motion from the ground floor looking up

Please note that the balls won't drop until about 18 seconds after the start of the movie. The movie is 58 seconds long.

Standard quality video at our 11/8 drop. 15 FPS 720x480 with standard quality sound (30.6MB)
Low quality video at our 11/8 drop. 12 FPS 240x180 with standard quality sound (1.2MB)

Slow Motion from the third floor looking up

Please note that the balls won't drop until about 10 seconds after the start of the movie. The movie is 33.30 seconds long.

Standard quality video at our 11/7 drop. 15 FPS 720x480 with standard quality sound (37MB)
Low quality video at our 11/7 drop. 12 FPS 240x180 with standard quality sound (484K)

Post Drop

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The empty box hangs just after the balls have landed at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 27.2K. Our drop box is recovered after our public drop on Friday, November 7th, 2003. The larger image is 29.9K. The balls rest on the ground after falling roughly 70 feet at our test drop on Friday, October 24th, 2003. The larger image is 26.2K.

We received funding from the Activities Council for a large portion of our need. The Henry Cogswell Chapter also provided a large portion of our funding. Additional thanks also go out to the Math Department, the Math Center, the Physics Department, and New Student Programs/Family Outreach for their generous donations.