2011-122011-12

Contest OrientationContest Orientation

This Year’s ChallengeThis Year’s Challenge

Play a Musical Play a Musical InstrumentInstrument

Contest DayContest Day– Carnegie Science Center Carnegie Science Center – Friday, December 9, Friday, December 9,

20112011 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM7:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Student ParticipationStudent Participation

TeamTeam– Four students, a teacher and a mentorFour students, a teacher and a mentor

Only one team can represent your Only one team can represent your schoolschool– We encourage any and all interested students to We encourage any and all interested students to

participate.participate. Multiple teams and send best contraptionMultiple teams and send best contraption Entire class on one contraptionEntire class on one contraption

Chain Reaction Contraption Chain Reaction Contraption ContestContest

Key activities for the contestKey activities for the contest– Pre-contest day submissionsPre-contest day submissions– Arrive on contest day to register and set-upArrive on contest day to register and set-up– Preliminary RoundPreliminary Round

Operations JudgingOperations Judging Special Awards JudgingSpecial Awards Judging

– Special Awards Winners and Announcement Special Awards Winners and Announcement of Finalistsof Finalists

– Final RoundFinal Round Operations JudgingOperations Judging

– Final Awards CeremonyFinal Awards Ceremony

RulesRules

The complete contest rules are The complete contest rules are available on the web siteavailable on the web site

(included in the Official Handbook)(included in the Official Handbook)

http://www.chainreactioncontest.org

RulesRules ChangesChanges

– Score Sheet 1 – PresentationScore Sheet 1 – Presentation Sample Question 1Sample Question 1

– What did this project teach you about science and What did this project teach you about science and engineering?engineering?

Question 1Question 1– How well did the students describe the principles How well did the students describe the principles

used in, and answer questions about, their used in, and answer questions about, their contraption?contraption?

RulesRules ChangesChanges

– Score Sheet 2 – Contraption OperationScore Sheet 2 – Contraption Operation Question 17 - How much of the contraption Question 17 - How much of the contraption

consists of used/recycled rather than new consists of used/recycled rather than new donated or purchased materials? donated or purchased materials?

– 0 points if no items are used/recycled; 5 points if 0 points if no items are used/recycled; 5 points if half the items are used/recycled; 10 points if all of half the items are used/recycled; 10 points if all of the items are used/recycled.the items are used/recycled.

Corresponding change in the list of materialsCorresponding change in the list of materials

RulesRules Key QuestionsKey Questions

– How well does the contraption complete the How well does the contraption complete the requirements of the task?requirements of the task? 0 points if the task was completed poorly or 0 points if the task was completed poorly or

unsuccessfully; 20 points if the task was completed unsuccessfully; 20 points if the task was completed extraordinarily well.extraordinarily well.

– How unique and creative is the approach to How unique and creative is the approach to achieving the task?achieving the task? 0 points if approach to achieving the task is not unique or 0 points if approach to achieving the task is not unique or

creative at all; 10 points if the approach to achieving the creative at all; 10 points if the approach to achieving the task is very unique and creative.task is very unique and creative.

– How creative is the engineering design of the How creative is the engineering design of the contraption?contraption? 0 points if the contraption had no engineering creativity; 0 points if the contraption had no engineering creativity;

15 points if sophisticated engineering creativity was used.15 points if sophisticated engineering creativity was used.

PointsPoints

Conceptual Design Conceptual Design (5 pts)(5 pts) Photographic Progress ReportsPhotographic Progress Reports (10 pts)(10 pts) Verbal Presentation Verbal Presentation (20 pts)(20 pts) Chain Reaction Contraption Operation (110 Chain Reaction Contraption Operation (110

pts)pts)

Also see the handbook for potential Also see the handbook for potential deductions.deductions.

145 Points

Tips for SuccessTips for Success

Building a great contraptionBuilding 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 SuccessTips for Success

Pre-contest day ActivitiesPre-contest day Activities– Read the Official HandbookRead the Official Handbook

Pay attention to the score sheets while Pay attention to the score sheets while planning your contraption and contest day planning your contraption and contest day strategy.strategy.

– Complete all activities on-time and in-Complete all activities on-time and in-fullfull

Tips for SuccessTips for Success

Contest DayContest Day– Be ready for assigned timesBe ready for assigned times– Turn in required itemsTurn in required items– Be prepared for ‘changes’ to the Be prepared for ‘changes’ to the

contraption because of the contraption because of the transportationtransportation Bring a box of emergency supplies and Bring a box of emergency supplies and

consumables.consumables.

Tips for SuccessTips for Success

Operations JudgingOperations Judging– Verbal presentationVerbal presentation

A polished verbal presentation “sells” your A polished verbal presentation “sells” your contraption to the judges. Rehearse and contraption to the judges. Rehearse and plan for contest day.plan for contest day.

Highlight key/unique/creative approaches Highlight key/unique/creative approaches and steps to the judges.and steps to the judges.

““teach” the judges how to watch your teach” the judges how to watch your contraption and when it is complete.contraption and when it is complete.

Tips for SuccessTips for Success

Operations JudgingOperations Judging– Contraption OperationContraption Operation

Have a checklist and use it to make sure Have a checklist and use it to make sure everything is right before starting each run.everything is right before starting each run.

Check with the judges before touching the Check with the judges before touching the contraption.contraption.

The judges are looking for a well The judges are looking for a well coordinated resetcoordinated reset

RelaxRelax

Contraption DemonstrationContraption Demonstration

2009-10 Contest – Construct a Building2009-10 Contest – Construct a Building

Contraption DemonstrationContraption Demonstration

2010-11 Contest – Make Change for a 2010-11 Contest – Make Change for a DollarDollar

Questions?Questions?

Additional InformationAdditional Information

Step DefinitionStep Definition

A step is defined as an action that results in A step is defined as an action that results in another action working towards the final goal another action working towards the final goal

of the machine. For example, the act of of the machine. For example, the act of tipping over a block of wood with a rolling ball tipping over a block of wood with a rolling ball

is a step. The actual tipping motion of the is a step. The actual tipping motion of the block is NOT a step, block is NOT a step, unless unless it causes another it causes another action to occur. A series of the same actions action to occur. A series of the same actions repeated (such as dominoes knocking each repeated (such as dominoes knocking each other over or a ball hitting another ball) are other over or a ball hitting another ball) are considered to be one step in the spirit of the considered to be one step in the spirit of the

Chain Reaction Contraption Contest.Chain Reaction Contraption Contest.

RulesRules

Administrative RulesAdministrative Rules– Set up by assigned time on contest day.Set up by assigned time on contest day.– No new construction is permitted at the No new construction is permitted at the

contest site.contest site.– Contestants are responsible for removing their Contestants are responsible for removing their

contraption and any debris after the contest.contraption and any debris after the contest.– Judging will be based on the rules set forth in Judging will be based on the rules set forth in

the Official Handbook.the Official Handbook.– The judges will inspect the contraption for The judges will inspect the contraption for

safety and rules infractions. The judges safety and rules infractions. The judges decisions are final.decisions are final.

– The team must not spend more than $100 on The team must not spend more than $100 on the contraption.the contraption.

RulesRules

DimensionsDimensions– The finished contraption The finished contraption

must not exceed must not exceed 5 ft x 3 ft x 2 ft. The 5 ft x 3 ft x 2 ft. The contraption, contraption, while while operatingoperating, must remain , must remain inside the dimensions. inside the dimensions. The platform The platform isis included included in the maximum in the maximum dimension dimension measurement.measurement.

RulesRules

Time LimitTime Limit– Each contraption must take at least 30 Each contraption must take at least 30

seconds to run completely through its seconds to run completely through its steps and must not run longer than 2 steps and must not run longer than 2 minutes.minutes.

– You will be required to run your You will be required to run your contraption completely through its steps, contraption completely through its steps, reset your contraption, then run it reset your contraption, then run it through its steps again.through its steps again.

– Your reset must take less than 4 minutes.Your reset must take less than 4 minutes.

RulesRules

Restarts & Human InterventionsRestarts & Human Interventions– If your contraption should fail during its If your contraption should fail during its

operation, you may decide whether to:operation, you may decide whether to: continue the run by helping a step along (a continue the run by helping a step along (a

human intervention)human intervention) give up on the run and call a restart. give up on the run and call a restart.

– A restartA restart before the contraption completes its final before the contraption completes its final

step step only when the contraption is stalledonly when the contraption is stalled

– Only one restart will be allowed per run Only one restart will be allowed per run during the contest.during the contest.

RulesRules MiscellaneousMiscellaneous

– Each step must be marked on the contraptionEach step must be marked on the contraption– No objects may leave the contraption boundaryNo objects may leave the contraption boundary– Teachers, mentors and spectators are not Teachers, mentors and spectators are not

allowed to coach or ask questions of the teamallowed to coach or ask questions of the team– Turn in the Media Release Forms for each team Turn in the Media Release Forms for each team

membermember– Turn in your List of Steps, List of New Donated Turn in your List of Steps, List of New Donated

or Purchased Materials & Contraption Photoor Purchased Materials & Contraption Photo– We will not tolerate Unsportsmanlike Conduct We will not tolerate Unsportsmanlike Conduct

by team membersby team members

October 3October 3 RegistrationRegistrationOctober 10 October 10 Conceptual Design Proposal DueConceptual Design Proposal DueOctober 24 October 24 Photographic Progress Report 1 Photographic Progress Report 1

DueDueNovember 7 November 7 Photographic Progress Report 2 Photographic Progress Report 2

DueDueNovember 21November 21 Photographic Progress Report 3 Photographic Progress Report 3

Due Due November 28November 28 Media Release Forms DueMedia Release Forms DueDecember 9December 9 Chain Reaction Contraption Chain Reaction Contraption

ContestContest

Important DatesImportant Dates

Orientation AgendaOrientation Agenda

IntroductionIntroduction This Year’s ChallengeThis Year’s Challenge Student ParticipationStudent Participation Contest DayContest Day RulesRules Tips for SuccessTips for Success QuestionsQuestions Contraption demonstrationContraption demonstration