42nd Annual Watermelon Drop at University of California,
San Diego

The Revelle College tradition marks the end of the school year at UCSD. (Revelle graduation is June 18.) Amid much fanfare, a “Watermelon Queen” chosen by the students will drop the watermelon from the top (7th floor) of Urey Hall – to the countdown by the crowd below. The goal is to break velocity/splat records. Hundreds of UCSD students gather to witness this annual ritual and students try to predict where the farthest piece will land. Following the “drop,” Revelle College will host its traditional end-of-quarter barbecue with plenty of free watermelon and entertainment.

12:05 p.m., Friday, June 8, 2007.

Optimal viewing is from the sidewalk in front of Urey Hall, Revelle Campus

The Watermelon Drop (or splat or toss) originated with UCSD’s first undergraduate class in 1965. All Revelle freshmen took a physics class with professor Bob Swanson. As a physics problem, Swanson asked: “If a watermelon was dropped from a 7-story building, where would the farthest piece land?” and “What would be the velocity on impact of the watermelon?” Members of the class arranged the actual watermelon drop from Urey Hall, voted for a “Watermelon Queen” and the drop has been an annual challenge each year.

Assorted facts: Elizabeth Huller was the first Watermelon Queen. The first splat measured 91 feet. The terminal velocity of a watermelon when it hits the ground is about 112 miles per hour. The best official record for the splat is 167 feet 4 inches set in 1974.

Attendance for the event is usually around 500. Admission is free to the public. 

Janice Lew, 858 534-1580 or jlew@ucsd.edu
Pat JaCoby, 858 534-7404 or pjacoby@ucsd.edu