Bro. Nigel Prattbronigel@kellenberg.orgKellenberg Memorial HS, Uniondale, NY

Andy Hammandyha@boyceville.k12.wi.us

Boyceville High School, Boyceville, WI, 2011 & 2012 National Event Supervisor

This PowerPoint presentation is based on the DRAFT rules for Mag Lev 2013. The final edition of the rules found in the Coaches Manual may be different than what is found

here.

Students build up to two self-propelled magnetically-levitated vehicles to pull a magnetically levitated sled

Main Goal: Consistency

Maximum Voltage of Any Circuit: 9V

Vehicle size restrictions

Students run their cars and develop data charts and graphs of the time it takes for their car(s) to pull sleds of various mass

Ideal times range from 2.0 – 4.0 seconds for regionals, 2.0 – 5.0 seconds for state, and 2.0 – 6.0 seconds for nationals.

Sled is less than 10.15 cm and has a standard metal hook on the front to allow connection with the impounded car.

Note a simple sled can be built with plywood and small ceramic magnets. A paperclip can be used to connect the sled to the car.

Must be between 10.0 and 18.0 cm long Mass must be no less than 200.0 g Car must fit on standard Mag Lev track

(see next slide) Secure screw eye (1/8” or larger) in rear

of vehicle No rare earth magnets (can damage

magnetic tape in the track) Car must remain levitated throughout run

Side rail height can be between 3.175 cm and 5.0 cm.

Track length must be at least five feet in length. Longer tracks are allowed, but only a five foot section will be used for competition.

Teams can bring their own sled and track and use them, as long as the supervisor verifies the track dimensions (width, length, etc.), similar to the ramp in gravity vehicle.

This home-built track was used at the 2012 national tournament at a total cost of less than $30 and was not damaged in transport from Wisconsin to Florida via UPS.

Don’t mind the slight crookedness…this was fixed after the picture was taken. The side walls should be perpendicular with the track.

Track is only five feet long…easier for transport and storage

The instruction manual for creating this track will be available on the Mag-Lev page on the national website

Before the first run students adjust the mass of the sled that they will pull based on the ideal time.

Competitors get two runs with one or two cars in no more than eight minutes (different from trial rules in the past of only five minutes). The sled mass cannot be changed between runs

Time should be measured using photogates if possible. If stopwatches are used, three timers should be used and the middle time scored to only the tenths place (drop the hundredths digit) Sleds must be able to accommodate a ¼” wood dowel for photogate timing.

Vernier photogates were used with lasers.

There is also a written test on magnetism. Topics to be covered include: Magnetism and Magnetic Fields, including Common

Applications Magnetic Force Electric Motors and Generators Motion of Charged Particles in Magnetic Fields Magnetic Fields around Current-Carrying Wires MagElectromagnetism and Solenoids Medical Applications of Magnetism Historical Development of Magnetic Theory &

Technology Superconducting MagLev Technology Transportation Physics of Superconductors and Common Applications

Great website from New York, but beware of the rules changes for 2013:

http://newyorkscioly.org/SOPages/COTResources.html

Many resources will be posted on the National www.soinc.org website as well, including a sample scoring worksheet and EXCEL spreadsheet for use by event supervisors to compute team scores and an impound checklist.

During the year, feel free to contact Andy or Bro. with questions!