|
|
|
|
Each year, engineering students at the Massechusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) are given a kit of assorted materials that may
include such unrelated items a solenoid, music-box mechanism, and a constant
force spring. The students' challenge is to design and build a device that
will do something better than any of their classmates. NOW IT'S YOUR TURN. ..
THE PROBLEM - - - - - - - -
|
|
THE RULES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -1. You may only use the materials listed to build your vehicle. It is not
necessary to use all of them.
2. Your vehicle may use any means you can devise for reaching the other
side of the hill and for preventing your opponent from reaching your
side.
3. Your vehicle must be self-propelled. You may touch it to start, but you
may not give it a push. You may not touch it after the match has begun.
It may leave nothing at the starting line.
4. Your vehicle may be no longer than 12 inches and no wider than 8 inches
at the moment it starts.
5. The hill will rise 3 inches from its base. The base, each side of the
hill, will be 3 feet from the crest. There will be sides 3 inches high
to prevent either vehicle from falling off the hill and the inclines
will be 10 inches wide.
6. Vehicles will compete 2 at a time. The winner will advance to the next
round with other winners. The competition will continue to a
championship round.
7. After 15 seconds or when all motion has stopped, whichever comes first,
the vehicle that remains on the opposite side of the hill from its
start will be declared the winner. If neither vehicle has crossed the
crest or both finish on the sides opposite their starts, a draw will be
declared and both vehicles will be disqualified.
2 coffee cans with plastic
lids 4 plastic soda bottles (1 or 2
liters) 8 rubber bands (office supply
sizes) 2 mouse traps (normal size, not rat
traps) 4 4-ounce lead sinkers 1 12 x 24 x 1/4-inch piece of
plywood 4 jar lids 2 wire coat hangers 1 3-foot wooden dowel (one inch or
smaller diameter) 1 12 x 12-inch piece of
cardboard 1 3-foot piece of string any metal fasteners (paperclips,
screws, bolts, nails, etc.) any glue or cement (no
tape)
Project Notes
- Students may work in teams of two or alone.
- Teams will keep a record of their design and development process in
their project journal (see journal sheet).
- Students will provide ALL items for their project. If students have
difficulty obtaining materials they should see Mr. Jones promptly.
- The materials specified may be used in any way. They may be cut,
shaped, etc.
- A vehicle may run on wheels or tracks. It may launch itself through the
air. It may extend an arm, throw or drop an object, bulldoze the
opponent or take any action to precent the opposing vehicle from
crossing the crest. It must, however, do so automatically, once the
machine is started.
- Plywood or flake board will be used to make the double inclined plane.
The 3" rise may sound slight, but it is an 8% grade - a good hill on
any highway. Each inclined plane will be 10" x 3'. Sides, 3" high, will
be securely fixed to prevent either vehicle from going over the edge.
This eliminates steering as a part of the problem and facilitates
"bulldozing."
1. How cxan I design my vehicle to
move up the hill and cross the crest? 2. What can I design and guild into my
vehicle to prevent my opponent from reaching my side of
the hill first or pushing my vehicle
backward.? 3. What mechanism can I use to start
my vehicle at the begining of the contest? 4. How can I use energy stored in
rubber bands and/or mouse traps to power my
vehicle.
Questions to
Consider:
Evaluations & Deadlines:
Project Journals |
Projects
|
Lab report and presentation
|
Competition |
Go
to History of
Science Index Page Return
to Mr. Jones' Index
Page
