Junkyard Challenge

1. Junkyard Challenge Science Olympiad 2011 Coaches Clinic Division B Justine Cromer, Instructor

2. Teams construct a device on-site, from materials in their “junk box”, to solve an engineering challenge • Impound event & sign-up for start time • Team of up to 2 students • Safety – each student wears protective eye gear w/sides • Goggles not impounded • Times – Build ≤ 30 minutes/Test ≤ 2 minutes • Event supervisor – measuring device and stop watch

3. junk box requirements • All materials must fit in the box w/a lid • Widest outside dimensions = ≤95.0 cm (L+W+H) • EX: 30 + 30 + 32 = 92cm • Equivalent to 37.4 inches • Buy or construct from scratch • Not used for competition – except as a collection container at state tournament for Ramp challenge • If box is too big, you will be ranked below teams with the correct size

4. materials • All materials must fix inside the junk box with lid on • Materials must be unaltered and removed from original (store) packaging • Must meet requirements or be ranked below other teams who do • No preassembly allowed

5. materials • Practice golf balls* ≤ 5 • Plastic • Golf balls* ≤ 8 • Tennis balls* ≤ 10 • Plates* ≤ 10.5 inches • Paper or Styrofoam • Cups* and bowls • Paper or Styrofoam • Straws or hollow stir rods • Paper /soft plastic ≤ 24 cm • Popsicle /craft sticks ~12x1 cm • Toothpicks – wood only • Spools of string, line, thread or tape (non-metallic) • Paper ≤ 8.5x11 inch/ ≤ 20lb • Rubber bands ≤ #64 (1/4”) • Plastic bags ≤ 1 gallon • Scissors (only as a tool) *Must bring at least one

6. devices – scoring summary CAT A: REGIONALS • Bridge – longest • Ties – height to load • Tower - tallest • Ties – narrowest base • Cantilever – longest • Ties – shortest length to edge of counterbalance CAT B: STATE • Elevated ramp - longest • Ties - tallest start point • Catapult – furthest • Ties – shortest device heights • Bounce – furthest • Ties – smallest bouncing surface

7. general rules CAT A: REGIONALS • Event supervisor specifies type ball prior to construction • Free-standing cup holds ball • Measurements taken before ball placement • Junk box cannot be used as part of device CAT B: STATE • Teams decide which type of ball(s) and how many to use • 2 min to release all balls • Junk box or container for Ramp device only • Plate for Catapult or Bouncer targets

8. regionals - bridge • Free-standing bridge that supports cup with ball for at least 5 seconds • Longest open span in mm. • Ties – height to bottom of load

9. regionals - tower • Tallest free-standing tower that supports cup with ball for at least 5 seconds • Highest to bottom of load • Ties – narrowest base

10. regionals - cantilever • Longest cantilever laid out from table edge that supports cup and ball for at least 5 seconds • Measured distance parallel to ground • Cannot use box or scissors for counterbalance • Cantilever musttouch table • Ties – edge of tableto far side of balance

11. state – elevated ramp • Build a free-standing ramp that transports balls from a start point to collection container – no flat areas • Longest distance from “closest” successful start point and front edge of container (ramp not touching container) • Bonus pts for each ball in container • Tie – highestsuccessful startpoint

12. state - catapult • Free- standing catapult that launches balls to hit a target plate (on first impact) • Requires a trigger – cannot touch ball once on device • Furthest distance from closest edge of catapult to front plate - bonus pts for each ball to hit the plate • Bonus pts for each ball to hit plate • Ties – shortestheight to catapult

13. state - bounce • Free-standing bouncer that bounces balls to hit a target plate (on first impact) • Student drops balls onto bouncer • Furthest distance from closest edge of bouncer to front plate • Bonus pts for each ball to hit the plate • Ties – tallest heightto center point of bouncing surface

14. bonus points – state only • Significant advantage for successful hits • D x (n + 1) • D = measured distance • n = number of successful hits • EX – 2 balls hit = 20 x (2+1) = 60 pts • EX – 5 balls hit = 20 x (5+1) = 120 pts • Teams release the balls • Choose plastic golf (≤5), standard golf (≤8) or tennis balls (≤10)

15. violations • Violations will rank teams below all others w/out violations • Includes…pre-assembly, incorrect use of materials or tools, missing required material, not free-standing, does not meet minimum requirements, or not impounding on time • Also includes outside help once competition begins • Read carefully rules about moving targets and devices after competition begins, i.e. in between shots

16. Contact Resources: www.soinc.org Score sheet – coming soon Justine Cromer justcromer@gmail.com Head Coach – Kilmer Middle School 4th year in Science Olympiad ??QUESTIONS??