Contest Orientation

This Year’s Challenge Fill a Container and Close It Contest Day Contest Day –Carnegie Science Center –Friday, December 7, 2012  7:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Student Participation Team Team –Four students, a teacher and a mentor Only one team can represent your school Only one team can represent your school – We encourage any and all interested students to participate.  Multiple teams and send best contraption  Entire class on one contraption

Chain Reaction Contraption Contest Key activities for the contest Key activities for the contest –Pre-contest day submissions –Arrive on contest day to register and set-up –Preliminary Round  Operations Judging  Special Awards Judging –Special Awards Winners and Announcement of Finalists –Final Round  Operations Judging –Final Awards Ceremony

Operations Awards The top 3 teams will receive prizes The top 3 teams will receive prizes –For the School  Trophy  Gift Card for science supplies –For the 4 Official Team Members  Gift Cards  Steelers Items

Special Awards Best Use of Gravity Best Use of Gravity Best Design and Quality of Construction Best Design and Quality of Construction Longest Successfully Executed Contraption Longest Successfully Executed Contraption Best Presentation Best Presentation Most Mechanical Most Mechanical Most Efficient Reset Most Efficient Reset Rookie of the Year Rookie of the Year Best Execution of a Theme Best Execution of a Theme

Rules The complete contest rules are available on the web site (included in the Official Handbook)

Rules Key Questions Key Questions –How well does the contraption complete the requirements of the task?  0 points if the task was completed poorly or unsuccessfully; 20 points if the task was completed extraordinarily well. –How unique and creative is the approach to achieving the task?  0 points if approach to achieving the task is not unique or creative at all; 10 points if the approach to achieving the task is very unique and creative. –How creative is the engineering design of the contraption?  0 points if the contraption had no engineering creativity; 15 points if sophisticated engineering creativity was used.

Changes from Last Year List of materials List of materials –Now expected to show all materials  New – donated or purchased materials  Used – recycled or scavenged materials 5 minutes for the verbal presentation 5 minutes for the verbal presentation Minor changes on forms Minor changes on forms –Conceptual design, progress reports, media release New forms New forms –List of Materials, list of steps

Points Conceptual Design (5 pts) Conceptual Design (5 pts) Photographic Progress Reports(10 pts) Photographic Progress Reports(10 pts) Verbal Presentation (20 pts) Verbal Presentation (20 pts) Chain Reaction Contraption Operation (110 pts) Chain Reaction Contraption Operation (110 pts) Also see the handbook for potential deductions. Also see the handbook for potential deductions. 145 Points

Tips for Success Building a great contraption Building a great contraption – –Come up with a design and construction plan – –Set a schedule – –Find a stable and easily transportable platform – –Be patient, allow time to correct the flaws – –Be bold: change a step if it does not perform consistently – –Be creative and don’t get discouraged

Tips for Success Pre-contest day Activities Pre-contest day Activities –Read the Official Handbook  Pay attention to the score sheets while planning your contraption and contest day strategy. –Complete all activities on-time and in-full

Tips for Success Contest Day Contest Day –Be ready for assigned times –Turn in required items –Be prepared for ‘changes’ to the contraption because of the transportation  Bring a box of emergency supplies and consumables.

Tips for Success Operations Judging Operations Judging –Verbal presentation  A polished verbal presentation “sells” your contraption to the judges. Rehearse and plan for contest day.  Highlight key/unique/creative approaches and steps to the judges.  “teach” the judges how to watch your contraption and when it is complete.

Tips for Success Operations Judging Operations Judging –Contraption Operation  Have a checklist and use it to make sure everything is right before starting each run.  Check with the judges before touching the contraption.  The judges are looking for a well coordinated reset  Relax

Contraption Demonstration Contest – Construct a Building Contest – Construct a Building

Contraption Demonstration Contest – Play a Musical Instrument Contest – Play a Musical Instrument

Questions?

Additional Information

Step Definition A step is defined as an action that results in another action working towards the final goal of the machine. For example, the act of tipping over a block of wood with a rolling ball is a step. The actual tipping motion of the block is NOT a step, unless it causes another action to occur. A series of the same actions repeated (such as dominoes knocking each other over or a ball hitting another ball) are considered to be one step in the spirit of the Chain Reaction Contraption Contest.

Rules Administrative Rules Administrative Rules –Set up by assigned time on contest day. –No new construction is permitted at the contest site. –Contestants are responsible for removing their contraption and any debris after the contest. –Judging will be based on the rules set forth in the Official Handbook. –The judges will inspect the contraption for safety and rules infractions. The judges decisions are final. –The team must not spend more than $100 on the contraption.

Rules Dimensions Dimensions –The finished contraption must not exceed 5 ft x 3 ft x 2 ft. The contraption, while operating, must remain inside the dimensions. The platform is included in the maximum dimension measurement.

Rules Time Limit Time Limit –Each contraption must take at least 30 seconds to run completely through its steps and must not run longer than 2 minutes. –You will be required to run your contraption completely through its steps, reset your contraption, then run it through its steps again. –Your reset must take less than 4 minutes.

Rules Restarts & Human Interventions Restarts & Human Interventions –If your contraption should fail during its operation, you may decide whether to:  continue the run by helping a step along (a human intervention)  give up on the run and call a restart. –A restart  before the contraption completes its final step  only when the contraption is stalled –Only one restart will be allowed per run during the contest.

Rules Miscellaneous Miscellaneous –Each step must be marked on the contraption –No objects may leave the contraption boundary –Teachers, mentors and spectators are not allowed to coach or ask questions of the team –Turn in the Media Release Forms for each team member –Turn in your List of Steps, List of Materials & Contraption Photo –We will not tolerate Unsportsmanlike Conduct by team members

October 1Registration October 8Conceptual Design Proposal Due October 22 Photographic Progress Report 1 Due November 5 Photographic Progress Report 2 Due November 19Photographic Progress Report 3 Due November 26Media Release Forms Due December 7Chain Reaction Contraption Contest Important Dates