Mission Possible

Diane Xu

dianexu2006@gmail.com

2016 WORKSHOP

• EVENT DESCRIPTION

• CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS

• DESIGN, TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

• SCORING

2017 MISSION POSSIBLE

EVENT DESCRIPTION:

TEAM OF UP TO: 2

IMPOUND: YES (state and national only)

EYE PROTECTION: B

Prior to competition, students design, build, test, and

document a Rube Goldberg®-like device that completes a

required task through an optional series of simple machines.

CONSTRUCTION• Device

≤ 60.0 cm x 60.0 cm x 60.0 cm

• Simple Machine Transfer

Up to 18 scoreable unique transfers for points

Receive points only if successful and unique. Transfer Types may be repeated but only one is scoreable

Listed on the Transfer Sequence List (TSL)

All Transfers must contribute to the completion of the Final Task

Must contribute to only one scoreable Transfer

Must be from one Simple Machine Type to a different Simple Machine Type

Each Simple Machine Type may be used to score points up to three (3) times

No parallel sequence of Transfers allowed

No potential energy may be stored in an object. (springs, stretched objects), except start task.

No magnets, batteries or electricity are allowed in the device

• Use visible marks for required object travel or rotations. Label / number simple machines

CONSTRUCT UP TO 18 SCOREABLE UNIQUE TRANSFERS

Lever to Lever is non scorable.

Start Task – Plunger (100 pts)

● A team member reaches into the device and pulls only one end of a plunger (like a pinball machine). The action of releasing the plunger must start the sequence of events.• The plunger must return entirely into the boundaries of

the device.

• One spring is allowed.

• The device may not be held.

● 100 points

SIMPLE MACHINES

• Levers

• Pulleys

• Wheel and Axles

• Inclined Planes

• Screws

• Wedges

LEVER Transfer (50 pts)

• Any Class of Lever may be used to initiate each of the three scorable lever

transfers

• Bonus - 50 pts if all three Classes of Levers initiate different successful scorable

transfers.

Resistance Effort Resistance Effort Effort Resistance

PULLEY Transfer (50 pts)

• Pulleys must have an ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) > 1.

• Lift an object ≥ 10.0 cm vertically before the object initiates the next action to

count for points.

>10 cm

WHEEL AND AXLE Transfer (50 pts)

• Rotational force must be applied to a Wheel & transferred to the Axle (or vice-versa) so the mechanical advantage is used to lift an object ≥ 10.0 cm before

the object initiates the next action for the transfer.

• Just turning will not count.

>10 cm

INCLINED PLANE Transfer (50 pts)

• An object must be continuously pushed or pulled without rolling along a

stationary Inclined Plane.

• The object must be raised vertically ≥ 10.0 cm from its starting point before

initiating the next action.

Pull

>10 cm

Push

SCREW Transfer (50 pts)

• Must complete ≥ two full rotations and must have a clearly visible mark.

Circumference / pitch

WEDGE Transfer (50 pts)

Wedges must be used to separate and go between two touching objects so that

they are no longer touching when one of the two objects initiates the next action.

O1 O2

W

Force

FINAL TASK – Lift a flag (250 pts)

• Lifting a rectangular flag that is > 50.0 sq. cm so that the flag is entirely above the

device.

• Work like a common mailbox flag. The team name and number must be clearly recognizable on

the flag.

• Made of rigid corrugated cardboard, without bends or folds,

• Can be easily removed from the flag pole so it can be measured.

• All parts of the flag must be below the top of the device at the start, and the flag pole must start

parallel to the ground.

• The flag must fit within the dimensions of the device in the ready to run position..

• Timing stops when the flag stops moving. Team

Team

Tools and Supplies

Timer (≥ 120 pts)

• Make a highly reliable, consistent timer

water clock

Device Operation Time

• Target operation time

• 60 seconds in regional / invitational

• 60 – 90 seconds in state

• 90 – 120 seconds in national

• Time Start – release the plunger

• Time End - when the flag stops moving, or when 180.0 seconds elapse,

whichever comes first.

• 2 pts for each full second (rounded down) of operation up to the Target Time

• Minus 1 point for each full second (rounded down) that the device operates past

the Target Time up to 180.0 seconds (whichever occurs first)

TSL • Use NSO template

• Including non

scoreable transfers

• Submission – 25 pts

• Format – 25 pts

• Accuracy – 25 pts

• Numbering – 25 pts

Lever to lever – not transfer

W to S transfer

S to W, not the same wedge

2nd class Lever

1st class Lever

3rd class Lever

1st class Lever – no pts

EVENT SUPERVISOR

• Announce the target run timing after all team impound

• Provide all measurement tools, checklist, and timing

devices.

• Inspect the dimension (outmost box, final task flag, …)

• Three timers.

• Don’t touch. Let student handle the device!

• Verify with the team the correct recording of data on the

team score sheet.

SCORING• Setup time < 30 min (50 pts)

• Device Dimension 0.1 pt for each 0.1 cm

under 180 cm.

• Start Task (100 pts)

• Final Task (250 pts)

• Run time (2 pts x each full second

(rounded down) of operation up to the

Target Time)

• Simple Machine Transfer. (50 pts)

• Lever Bonus (50 pts)

PENALTIES:

• Over time (1 pt per second)

• Over dimension (25 pts) for each dimension > 60 cm.

• Object leaves device (50 pts, one time)

• Touch (15 pts) each time touched or adjusted

TIERS:

Unsafe devices must not be allowed to run and teams

must only receive participation points.

• Tier 1: No violations;

• Tier 2: Devices with construction violations (excluding

dimension violations) or competition violations

• Tier 3: Missed impounded.

TIE-BREAKING:

• 1. Fewest penalty pts;

• 2. Number of scorable Simple Machines

• 3. Smallest overall dimension (L+W+H) of the device.

Things to Avoid

• Pulley with IMA = 1

• Wedge is pushing an object instead of separating objects

• Screw is a spiral ramp. Object is rolling down instead of pulled/pushed up

• Maximize the device dimension (60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm)

• Items not allowed (Electrical components, Flames, Remote timing,

hazardous items, …)

• Machines are “Cool” but not reliable

• Objects are uncontrolled (balls, wedges, sand, …)

Resources

• Science Olympiad main page: http://www.soinc.org/

• Science Olympiad Mission Possible: https://www.soinc.org/mission_possible_b

• Rule clarification https://www.soinc.org/node/265

• Student Wiki and Topics forums http://www.scioly.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=247

Scoring Example