SOSI - 2013 CeAnn Chalker ceann@chalker.org Mission Possible - C SOSI - 2013 CeAnn Chalker ceann@chalker.org

Disclaimer 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 the published Rules Manual will be the official rules.

What is Mission Possible? Students design, build, test & document a Rube Goldberg-like device Device made of a sequence/series of consecutive Energy Transfers contributing to an Final Task Device must run autonomously Specific Start and Final Task

General Tips ALWAYS go for reliability over “cool factor” Make every transfer run as quickly as possible 2010 national champions completed every task in ~0.75s Make a highly reliable, consistent timer Use as high-quality materials as you can afford

Safety Requirements/Inspection Students must wear at least safety spectacles with side shields Items not allowed Remote controls or Remote timing Hazardous items

Other Potential Hazards Not Allowed Hazardous Liquids Rat traps Lead Objects (new!) Uncontrolled projectiles Any other hazardous materials

Allowed Items Up to 3 motors Factory sealed batteries No more than 10.0 volts per any single electrical circuit (no lead-acid batteries) Energy devices may be set/activated prior to starting the device (flashlights, mousetraps, candles, and circuits, not motors)

Not Allowed No Computers No Integrated Circuits No electric components for timing the operation of the device No adjusting a transfer that utilizes electricity in any way intending to accomplish the ideal time (New!)

Parameters Max. Size of Device (60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm) Note – Points for smaller devices this year! Top & at least one vertical wall must be open or transparent Energy Transfer List (ETL)

Energy Transfers Exceptions Receive points only if successful Listed on the Energy Transfer List (ETL) Must contribute to only one scoreable transfer Each transfer must contribute to the completion of the Final Task Exceptions The use of switches to turn off previously used motors Transfers for the Bonus Task

Energy Transfers No parallel sequences of transfers allowed Exceptions The use of switches to turn off previously used motors Transfers for the Bonus Task Bonus Task transfers are not to be listed on the ETL unless they lead to the completion of the Final Task

Other Details Additional devices, transfers, and energy sources may be built into the device between the listed transfers but will not earn points. Additional transfers must contribute to the completion of the final task. Additional non scoreable tasks must be listed on the Energy Transfer List (ETL)

Constraints All sources of energy & actions MUST be contained within the Imaginary box at all TIMES Teams must be prepared for non-ideal ambient conditions

Start Task – 100 pts. In a 1 pint container randomize by shaking unaltered items in a mixture of up to: 10 golf tees (4-10 cm long) 10 #1 metal paperclips 10 non-metallic 1-2 cm diameter marbles Quickly pour the mixture into the device From above the entire device, so that the mixture falls into the device Triggers the first action Which begins the chain of events

Final Task – 250 pts. Switch on a light to signal the end of the action It must be clearly visible to the judges

Bonus Task Sort the mixture of golf tees, paperclips, and marbles into three different one-pint plastic containers similar to the original container. Each container must be labeled, by material, to score points. Sorting does not have to lead to the Final Task Must be completed before the Final Task to score points.

Energy Transfers To receive points An Energy Transfer: Must directly transfer from one Basic Energy Form to a different Basic Energy Form Must be successful Must be on the Energy Transfer List (ETL) Must contribute toward the completion of the Final Task

Energy Transfers cont’d Each type of Energy Transfer can score points up to 3 times Each transfer must be to a different Energy Form Example – Electrical to Mechanical 30 pts. Electrical to Thermal 20 pts. Electrical to Chemical 10 pts.

Five Basic Energy Forms Electrical Mechanical Thermal Chemical Electromagnetic Spectrum Radio, Infrared, and Visible Light only

Electrical Motors Batteries Electricity through wires

Mechanical Closing a Mechanical Switch Using a lever to move an object Tilt a beaker so as to allow a powder to mix with a liquid

Thermal Solder 2 metals together Melt a fishing line Burn a magnesium ribbon

Chemical Mix salt & water to conduct electricity Mix vinegar and baking soda in a balloon to move a lever Bend glow stick to activate the glowing

Electromagnetic Spectrum Use a photodiode or photoresistor Use a laser pointer to pop a balloon Send light through a string to melt a piece of chocolate

Energy Transfer List -ETL What is listed? All energy transfers in operation sequence Follow Specific Format on NSO website (not the example in this presentation) Transfers intended to earn points must be sequentially numbered and identified by letter in both the ETL and the device. Must be Accurate Submitted at Impound (or prior if required) Coaching hint - Have several copies of ETL

Sample ETL No. Task Points 1 Mixture poured into device 100 Switch turns on Electric circuit (M - E) 30 2 Electricity shorts out a rocket fuse igniting a match (E – C) Burning Match melts Fishing Line (C - T) 3 Melted fishing line releases a lever (T – M) Lever falls hits an switch (M – M) 4 Switch turns on Motor (M – E) 20 …and so on 12 Switch turns on circuit turns on light 250

Sequential vs. Parallel & Dead End Paths Seemingly simultaneous transfers are frequently not parallel transfers. There is no minimum amount of time that must separate transfers.

Sequential vs. Parallel & Dead End Paths Parallel transfers are not measured in a chronologic manner but in a causality manner. That is to say, if one transfer causes the next transfer, then they are not parallel. Parallel transfers have no direct relationship to one another and if one of the two transfers fail, the overall sequence of events can still continue or lead to a “dead-end” path.

Parallel Paths Examples Example #1 Parallel Task: Two different levers hit a single switch and only one or the other is required to activate the switch. Example #2 Tasks that may appear to be parallel or simultaneous tasks but are not parallel or simultaneous tasks: A latch releases a spring attached to a third class lever. The spring pushes the lever, which then moves an object and continues the chain of events.

Tournament Day Impound Set up Only 30 mins. before you are scheduled to run device Be able to explain device to judges Go through ETL Run Device Remove from testing location

Device Operation-Timing Timing begins when Student pours the last of the objects in the mixture of paper clips, golf tees, and marbles into the device. Timing stops when: When Final Task is complete (The light designated for the Final Task turns on) 3 minutes have elapsed (180 seconds) Tasks completed after 3 minutes will not be scored

Device Operation – Ideal Operation Time The Ideal Operation Times for State & Nationals will be announced after impound Regional – 60 seconds State – from 60 – 90 seconds Nationals – from 90 – 120 seconds

State & Nationals Timing Adjustments Adjusting the timing for the ideal time MUST NOT involve any Electricity Event Supervisors will observe the adjustment of the device for timing to ensure that electricity is not being used to obtain the ideal time

Scoring –General Points 2 pts - each full second of operation up to the “ideal” time. 100 pts – Start Task 250 pts - Final Task completed in 3 mins. 50 pts – no more that 30 min. setup .1 pt for each .1 cm that the dimensions of the device are under 60.0 cm x 60.0 cm x 60.0 cm

Scoring – ETL Points 25 pts – ETL submitted at Impound 25 pts – ETL correct format 25 pts – ETL & device labels correspond 25 pts – ETL 100% accurate documentation of device operations

Scoring – Energy Transfers max 300 pts. 30 pts – First time each Basic Energy Form directly transfers energy to a different Basic Energy Form 20 pts – Second time a Basic Energy Form directly transfers energy to different Basic Energy Form than previously scored 10 pts – Third time a Basic Energy Form directly transfers energy to a different Basic Energy Form than previously scored All Scoreable transfers MUST be successful All Scoreable transfers MUST contribute to the Final Task

Scoring – Bonus Task 5 pts awarded for each object successfully sorted in its correct final container. Max of 150 pts.

Device Operation – Penalties -1 pt – each full second device operates beyond the ideal time until Final Task completion or the 180.0 s time limit -5 pts for each original object sorted into a wrong final container -15 pts - for each time the device is touched, adjusted, or restarted. -50 pts - for anything that leaves the device boundary (excluding light, smoke, odors, radio waves, etc. that do not pose a hazard)

Points not Awarded Points will not be awarded for transfer completion when touches or adjustments lead directly to the transfer completion If an action inadvertently stars a transfer out of sequence on the ETL, all transfers skipped must not earn points (even if they are completed) Points will not be awarded for transfer completion after time as elapsed Stalling can lead to DQ

Tiers Teams are ranked by the highest score within each Tier Tier 1 – Devices without violations Tier 2 – Devices with construction violations Tier 3 – Devices with parallel designs or “dead end” paths (other than Bonus) Tier 3 – Devices impounded after the deadline

Ties Ties are broken in this sequence Fewest Penalty points Closest to perfect for objects in the 3 final containers Closest to ideal time

Things to Consider Avoid questionable components Device may not be timed or controlled by any remote method Final Task – the team may not complete the task themselves Obvious stalling will be a DQ

Costs & Time Commitment Look for Inexpensive available materials Avoid the “Black Hole” phenomenon Where does the money go? Use a Long Term Project approach Consider what’s best for your team – In your classroom vs. in a student’s garage or basement Parent involvement – Can be a life saver or a headache. Who’s project is this?

Resources Soinc.org Scioly.org (student forums, lots of pictures of past devices for ideas, decent wiki) Yahoo coaches’ group science-olympiad-coaches

Matrix of Examples ↓ From\To → Electrical Mechanical Thermal Chemical Electromagnetic Spectrum N/A Turning a motor. Dropping a metallic mass by turning off an electromagnet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH3JoBFyhD8 Using battery to heat up pencil lead or nichrome wire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOrebc3hocA Split water / Make a spark to ignite match Turning on a light Closing a mechanical switch Attach a match to lever arm and drop the lever arm so that the match strikes a rough surface. This releases both heat and light. Use the heat generated for thermal transfer. Put vinegar in a balloon and baking soda in a small tube. Put the balloon over the lip of the tube. Move the balloon so the vinegar mixes with the backing soda to cause gas to be released: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEMfmgXStJc - Attach a match to lever arm and drop the lever arm so that the match strikes a rough surface. This releases both heat and light. Use the light generated for thermal transfer. - Drop a mass on the switch of a remote control to turn on light: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrrlAy7h4pA Solder two different metals together and heat one junction up to get a voltage Bimetallic Strip (thermostat coil) Using a match to melt fishing wire that’s holding something up Use a match to burn magnesium ribbon, emitting intense white light

Matrix of Examples ↓ From\To → Electrical Mechanical Thermal Chemical Electromagnetic Spectrum Pour salt into a beaker of water with two electrodes. The salt causes it to conduct: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ejB0kVX9U8 Put vinegar in a balloon and baking soda in a small tube. Put the balloon over the lip of the tube. Move the balloon so the vinegar mixes with the backing soda to cause gas to be released. Have a switch on top of the balloon so when the balloon is inflated, it trips a switch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEMfmgXStJc Adding milk to lye solution increase the temperature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCoj2flOBHY N/A - Enclose a glow stick and a photodiode in a box. Use a motor to bend the glow stick so that it lights up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8sRFhGxN6I - Enclose an LED, a lime, and a photodiode in a box. Push the LED into the lime and it will produce light. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D23JH30ZMK0 - Pour KI solution into a beaker of Pb(NO3)2 solution. Separately the two solutions are clear, but when mixed together, it produces a yellow opaque solid which doesn’t allow line through: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD2pBEBtDcg Using a photodiode or photoresistor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08y8_4Tl0zY Use a laser pointer to pop a balloon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxGVgG8Zp5o Attach light masses to both ends of a string. balance the string on piece of chocolate. Turn on a light bulb and the heat will melt the chocolate, causing the masses to fall. Photocatalysis of water using UV LEDs and titanium dioxide   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElFMM9yh2sA