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| Objective |
To construct a vehicle that is powered exclusively by balloons. |
| Purpose | To
explore energy and motion with the goal of obtaining a maximum displacement. |
| Participants | Teams
of up to six. | | Materials | The
vehicle must be constructed from the following list of materials:
- plastic
straws
- plastic beverage containers
- wooden cooking skewers
- wheels
[any material - no prefabricated units]
- ROUND balloons
- tape / glue
/ paint
- paper There is no requirement to use everything on the list
and there is no restriction on the quantity of each item listed. The vehicle must
have been built by the team entering it. The reference "no prefabricated
units" for the wheels means you can not use wheels that are manufactured
(i.e. wheels from a toy, wheels from rollerblades, wheels from a cart, etc.).
You must "build" your own wheel from raw materials (i.e. old CDs, plastic
container lids, cut them from a sheet of plywood , etc.). We strongly encourage innovation.
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| Rules |
- The vehicle, with the balloons deflated, must be no larger than 35 cm
x 35 cm x 20 cm.
- Before a run is made the circumference of the balloon
will be measured. The circumference can be no larger than 1 meter. You may use
only 1 balloon for your vehicle but must have your own back-up balloons in case
of accidental explosion
- Each vehicle will be allowed 2 runs,with the
largest displacement counted. The runs will be made in listed order. This will
give each team an appropriate amount of time to make any adjustments and prepare
the car for its second run. Missed runs will be given a score of zero.
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The vehicle must self-start and must not be given any initial impulse or have
any external guidance at the start, or during, the race.
- All the energy
used to propel the vehicle must come from the balloon. The balloon cannot be treated
with chemicals, heated or cooled in any way.
- Balloons will not be provided.
Each team should come prepared with "backup balloons" in case any damage
is incurred during transport, or on the vehicle's first run.
- Vehicles
will start with their foremost structure on the indicated start line with the
displacement being measured from the start line to the closest portion of the
vehicle after the run is complete.
- The race will be over once a vehicle
stops completely; however should a vehicle fail to self-start, the run will be
given a score of zero.
- Vehicles judged unsafe or hazardous will be disqualified.
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| Judging | 1.
Points will be given according to a comparison of the maximum and minimum displacements
obtained on the race day.
2. Points will be awarded for the visual design
of the vehicle. The design must be reflective of the participant's school [ex.
colours, mascot, home town peculiarities]. The points for this will be awarded
according to the design's rank in comparison to the competition.
3. Bonus points may be awarded for an especially innovative technical design
4. To check
that all vehicles meet the size criteria they will be placed into a container
that has the inside dimensions of 35 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm. If the vehicle does not
fit it will be disqualified. | | Source | Richard
Tamminga Saunders Secondary School |
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