1. Science Olympiad Summer Institute
Storm the Castle
Science Olympiad Summer Institute
Presented by Dennis Papesh

2. 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 your Coaches Manual and Student Manuals will be the official rules.

3. Description
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.

4. Will this be your team’s entry?

5. Event Parameters 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.

6. Event Parameters
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

7. Construction
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.

8. Construction Counterweight (CW) Projectiles
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

9. Construction – Energy rule
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.

10. Competition
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.

11. Competition
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.

12. Competition
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.

13. Competition 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

14. competition 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.

15. Competition
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

16. Competition
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

17. Competition
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

18. Scoring
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

19. Scoring
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

20. Scoring
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

21. Scoring – graph score 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

22. Scoring - penalties 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

23. Scoring – final score 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

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

31. F.A.T. = No n0 (illegal per energy rule)