1. The Pringles Challenge
The Third Grade Gifted Program

2. The Mission
…to design a package to have the smallest volume and smallest mass that will protect the chip so that it arrives at its destination undamaged. Upon arrival the packages were evaluated and scored based on the condition of the chip as well as calculating the volume + mass of each package using the formula:
Overall Score = Intactness Score (c) ÷ [Mass in kg (a) x Volume in cm3 (b)]
The intactness score is derived from the following:
PERFECTLY INTACT - like it just left the factory = 100 Points SLIGHTLY DAMAGED - cracked, but still in one piece = 50 Points CHIPPED CHIP - chipped along the edges with 90% of chip intact = 40 Points MODERATELY DAMAGED - cracked with < 5 pieces = 20 points SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED - chipped and cracked < 20 pieces = 10 Points POTATO DUST - too many to count >20 pieces = 1 Point

3. The Rules
Rules and Regulations: 1. Students will use 1 (regular) Pringles potato chip and materials of their choosing to create a device that will protect the chip on its journey through the postal system. Packages must be constructed using single-ply cardboard rather than 2-ply or reinforced cardboard materials. (Cereal box, Kleenex box, etc.) 2. Students may choose a variety of materials for packing; however, the materials cannot be wood or glass and must not leave a wet or greasy spot on a paper towel. 3. No substance may be applied to the chip and the chip may not be altered in any way. The chip must be edible when received by the evaluating school.

9. 1 Ply?

10. Didn’t quite make it through the postal system unscathed… but the chip was perfectly intact!

11. …others not so much.

12. Overall Score = Intactness Score ÷ [Mass in kg x Volume in cm3 ]
Final Results so far…
Overall Score = Intactness Score ÷ [Mass in kg x Volume in cm3 ]
OVERALL
SCORE
Intactness
Score
Mass
(kg)
Volume
(cm3)
Engineers
6.06 20
.014
236
Rhianna + Anika
3.57
100
.042
678
Jake
2.64
.035
216
Rosalie
1.45
.028
491
Olivia + Naomi
1.11
.071
1,260
Emma
0.75
.078
1,690
Anthony
0.70
.113
1,254
Jenna + Natalie
0.54
.085
2,160
Julian
0.43
.092
2,508
Isaac
0.39
.120
2,090
Gabe + Bruno
0.36
.163
1,694
Lucas + Thomas
0.34
.099
2,972
Matt
0.26 50
1,573
Justin
* multi-ply