by Angela Cole
acole@thekmgroup.co.uk

Youngsters plunged their faces into water-filled bowls of apples for fun, but had also to tackle a maths conundrum.
Apple bobbing may have been around since Roman times but it seems there is a mathematical reason why some apples are better for the job than others.
University College London lecturer Professor Frank Smith did the calculations by taking into account circumference, diameter and weight, plus the size of the average mouth.
He was then able to come up with the following equation for the perfect bobber: D= 3x (2 + T ^2) x M / (10 x T)
And the apple which fits the bill perfectly is the Zari apple, grown by A C Gotham and Sons in Sutton Valence, Maidstone.
As the Kent Messenger likes to get to the core of weighty issues, we put the Zari to the test.
Pitting it against Gala and Cox’s apples, Year 4 and 6 pupils at Archbishop Courtenay Primary School in Maidstone gallantly stepped up to take a bite of the action.
In an exciting and fiercely-fought contest, the Zari apple emerged victorious, with two bouts of bobbing proving the sleek fruit was officially the best.
Year 6 teacher, Ana Harris said: “It was wonderful. We told the children it was part of a study but I’m not sure how much they took that in. They certainly had a lot of fun.”
The Zari is on sale in Sainsbury’s.

To see the children in action go to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbBkuwB2In8&feature=channel_video_title.