BEA AHBECK bahbeck/mercedsunstar.com Jesse Rodriguez, 33, with Team Gamma, readies the ball for his team's launch during the 12th annual Merced College Siege Weapon competition in Merced, Calif. Wed. May 9, 2012. The objective is to launch a basketball the longest. The teams apply their skills in physics, engineering, teamwork and mathematics to launch the basketball, which has to travel the distance of 15 meters to get an A in the class, according to physics teacher Lana Jordan.

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