Pre-Prepared Competitions
Below Devices are created in advance and tested on the day of the competition
(Middle and High School)
The following competitions are for teams of 1-4 students. We strongly encourage teamwork.
Mousetrap Vehicle Design Challenge (PDF)
Using a Victor mouse trap as the engine for the power, students will construct a vehicle designed to go as fast as it can over a 10m track. The fastest car takes the prize.
Helpful Supply Vendors**:
www.kelvin.com - Lots of great mousetrap car parts and kits.
www.docfizzix.com - Lots of great mousetrap car parts and kits.
Egg Drop (PDF)
Keep the egg safe! That is the key here. Using everyday items, create a safety nesting device to protect your egg from cracking while being dropped over 20m. The lighest and safest design breaks the competition.
Edible Car (PDF)
Food is not just for eating, it is for engineering as well. Using everyday food items, students will construct a vehicle that can travel down a ramp. Like cars, humans need fuel too. After testing their vehicles, teams must consume their car in a specific time frame. Bring your appetite.
Bridge Design (PDF)
Implement engineering concepts in the design and construction of a model balsa wood bridge that will carry the maximum load while using as little wood as possible. Students develop craftsmanship and use their creativity.
Helpful Supply Vendors**:
www.dickblick.com - 3'- 1/4 x 1/4 sticks sold in packets of 20. Average cost of a stick is $1.11. Excellent wood quality.
www.balsausa.com - sells 3'- 1/4 x 1/4 sticks individually for about $.32 each. The quality is not as good as Dick Blick, but it is very affordable.
Trebuchet (PDF)
Students will build a trebuchet designed to meet set projectile, counterweight, and size constraints. Trebuchets will be judged in two tasks: (a) Distance: farthest distance thrown of a single projectile, (b) Accuracy: nearest distance of projectile impacts to two ground level targets.
On-Site Competitions:
Students will have down time between testing their pre-prepared devices. The following listed events allow students to show up and compete on-site without any preparation needed. Rules and supplies are given on the day of the event.
Participation: For 2-4 students per team. Individuals are strongly encouraged to join a team.
Straw Towers
Using 50 straws and 1 yard of tape, students will create on-site, the tallest tower then can in a specific time frame. Constraints by time and resources, students have to be creative and team players. Materials provided on-site.
More to be announced
**Listed supply vendors are suggestions only. You are not required to purchase from these vendors. |
