Storm the Castle

Science Olympiad Summer Institute

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Presented by Dennis [email protected]

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This presentation was prepared using draft rules. There may be some changes in the final copy of the rules. The rules which will be in your Coaches Manual and Student Manuals will be the official rules.

Teams will design, construct, and calibrate a device that uses only the energy of a falling counterweight to launch a projectile as far and as accurately as possible.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thiTa8wfZsc

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Graphs Must prepare up to 5 graphs showing the mass

of various projectiles or counterweights vs. distance.

May have to submit graphs before day of competition.

Must have duplicate set. May have to answer questions about data

collection May submit example calculation page

demonstrating how to use them.

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Impound – device and any supplies such as tools, notes, graphs.

Teams must use same projectiles, counterweight, and target provided.

Participants must PROPERLY wear eye protection rated ANSI Z87+ during set-up, testing, and launching

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Entire device must fit into a 75 cm cube when in ‘ready to fire position’.

Triggering device Not part of launch – must extend outside of

launch area – need not return to launch area Battery triggered device OK – radio control

not OK Must not pose danger due to flying parts, etc.

Device must accommodate given counterweight and projectiles.

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Counterweight (CW) 1 – 3 kg mass with a hook on top Must fit into 15 cm cube Device attachment point no more than 6.5

mm thick with a hole at least 9 mm no more than 1 cm from edge of material

Projectiles Mass of 20 – 60 grams Spherical, with diameter not exceeding 6

cm

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The device, without CW or projectile, must NOT contribute energy to the launch. Center of Gravity drops during launch (FAT) Triggering process provides momentum Some form of potential energy is used

Compressed or stretch elastic solids, compressed air

Without CW & projectile, unloaded launch arm must not make a launch motion when released from any position prior to where projectile is released.

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When instructed, teams place device anywhere within a 2m x 2m launch area.

Will it move forward on firing? – then don’t put it right up to the forward line

May not anchor it to the ground Use of AC powered electrical

equipment to setup or operate device is prohibited.

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Except for the triggering mechanism, no part of device or CW may extend out of Launch Area before triggering or after launch motion is complete.

Any part that extends out of the launch area during the launch must return to rest within the Launch Area without assistance.

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The target will be a box at least as large as a 20 cm cube, with an open top. Before the first launch, team must announce

the position of the target in whole meters (Target Distance)

If the target is hit, the team may request that it be moved to a new Target Distance (in whole meters).

Judges will indicate each projectiles first impact. The device may be moved within the Launch

Area between launches.12

Launching – during the launch Students may not touch or hold the device May not be in the launch area

Students often get out of launch area, then reach in as they trigger the device

May not be in front of the line that marks the front edge of the launch area

May touch only the part of the triggering device that extends outside of the launch area

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Teams have 5 minutes to make 3 launches

No practice shots permitted Must warn ES prior to each launch It will NOT count as a launch if the

participants attempt to initiate a launch but the device does not go through the launch motion.

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The time the ES spends measuring the distance or moving the target does not count against the team’s 5 minutes

ES will retrieve the projectiles and return them to the students if fewer than 3 projectiles are provided to the team

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In the event of a rule violation or penalty, the clock will stop and the reason will be explained. The team may continue after the clock has

been restarted Teams will be immediately disqualified

for operating in a manner deemed unsafe

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Teams may modify their device, within the rules, while under their 5 minutes. Must use only the tools and supplies

impounded If a part of the device does not return to

within the Launch area on its own, the device may be repaired or repositioned (within the 5 minutes) and the subsequent launches scored normally

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Each projectile’s first impact point will be measured and recorded in meters to the nearest centimeter.

The Target Distance (TD) is the distance requested by participants and measured from the front of the launch area to the center of the target

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The Accuracy Score (A) is the distance from the projectile’s point of first impact to the center of the target.

The Launch Score (LS) for each launch will be LS = TD – A + B

The Bonus (B) is 0.1 x TD if the projectile, on first impact, lands in and stays in the target

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If the projectile hits the target on first impact, the Accuracy Score will be 0

If any part of the device leaves the Launch Area and does not return on its own, the Launch Score will be 0

If the Launch Score is calculated to be less than 0, it will be set to 0 for final scoring purposes

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One graph – chosen by ES 2 pts if labeled with school and student’s names 2 pts for appropriate title and X and Y axis labels 2 pts for appropriate units and axis increments 1 pt for each graph turned in (up to 5 total) 1 pt for an example calculation page turned in Partial credit may be given

Maximum Graph Score (GS) possible is 12 pts

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3 point penalty will be assessed (each time) if: A participant is warned by the ES for not

CORRECTLY wearing proper eye protection A participant is in the Launch Area when the

launch is triggered The device goes through an unintentional

launch motion No warning is given prior to a launch Outside coaching

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FINAL SCORE = Sum of 2 Best LS + GS – Penalties (if

any) Tiering

Tier 1 – all teams whose devices meet all specs, ranked by scores

Tier 2 – Teams whose devices do not meet specs

Tier 3 – Teams who missed impound

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Tie breakers 1st – Best Launch Score 2nd – Second best Launch Score 3rd – Third best Launch Score

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