A TEAM OF: up to 3 TIME: Set-up: 30 mm., Operating Time: up to 3 mm.

IMPOUND No (National-Yes) EQUIPMENT: event supervisors need meter sticks and stopwatches

I) SAFETY: Each device must pass a safety inspection before operation. Uncontrolled projectiles, uncontained spills, hazardous materials, electricity and flammable substances are not permitted (e.g., unshielded razor blades, rat traps, model rocket engines, cigarette lighters, fireworks, gunpowder, gasoline, acetone). Potential hazard may be cause for disqualification as determined by the event supervisor. All participants must properly wear approved Chemical/Splash Protection Goggles during setup and operation. See: http://www.soinc.org/general/protection.

2) DEFINITION OF TERMS: A Simple Machine is a device that multiplies, divides or changes the direction of the applied force for the purpose of moving a load. The 8 types of simple machines listed below may earn points. Each of the 3 classes of levers is considered a different type of machine for scoring in this event.

Note: A lever is a rigid bar that pivots to exert a force. All levers must have an identifiable fulcrum, load and effort. The load and the effort cannot be one and the same.

a) Class 1 Lever the fulcrum is between the load and the effort.

b) Class 2 Lever - the load is between the fulcrum and the effort.

c) Class 3 Lever - the effort is between the fulcrum and the load.

d) Inclined Plane a slope that reduces the effort required to move a load. To earn points the load must be moved up along a slope at least 10 cm and must not descend back down the slope.

e) Wedge a wedge-shaped moving inclined plane that is driven under a load to lift it or into a load to split or separate it.

I) Screw a rotating spiral-shaped inclined plane. To earn points the screw must rotate at least 360 degrees and the load must be moved at least 1 cm in a linear direction.

g) Wheel & Axle - a rotating device that exerts a rotational force at its center (axle) when its outer part (wheel) is turned and vice versa. Therefore, if the input force is applied to the axle then the qutput force must come from the wheel or vice versa (must rotate at least 360 degrees to score points). A set of gears connected by teeth and a set of wheels connected by a continuous drive belt are each considered a valid Wheel & Axle, but a wheel used to simply reduce friction is not.

h) Pulley - a wheel or set of wheels around which a single length (not a continuous loop) of rope or string passes to move a load. The direction of force must be changed by at least 90 degrees to earn points.

3) START TASK: At the event supervisor’s prompt of “Ready-set-go”, a team member will activate a Class 1 Lever by dropping a tennis ball on the “effort” end. The “load” end of this lever must activate the next simple machine in the sequence. The event leaders will start their stopwatches when the beginning lever is operated. Times will be recorded to the tenth of a second, but rounded to the nearest second for determining scores.

4) COMPLETION TASK: The Completion Task is to turn a Wheel & Axle to unroll tissue from an unmodified roll of toilet tissue mounted on the axle. The axle must be horizontal and pass through the center tube of the tissue roll with the leading edge of the first available section of tissue hanging down. The tissue must be unrolled so the leading edge of the first section of tissue is lowered vertically by 25-35 cm. The tissue (on the roll or hanging down) and the tube may not touch anything except the axle at any time (e.g., other parts of the device, floor or table-top). Time stops when the tissue stops un-rolling. Task Completion points will not be awarded if ANY requirements in this paragraph are not met.

5) DETAILS:

a) The first machine will be a Class 1 Lever and the last machine will be a Wheel & Axle.

b) The top of the device is defined to be the horizontal plane that intersects the highest point on the device.

c) All parts of the Device must fit within an imaginary box (80 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm in any orientation) before, during and after the device’s operation.

d) Simple machines can be used to activate stored energy devices, which can then be used to operate other sequential simple machines. Stored energy sources (they may or may not be simple machines themselves) may be used as interfaces between the simple machines. For example, the output work of one machine causes stored energy to be released that provides the work input to the next machine.

e) Batteries, voltage sources, electric motors or electronics may not be used for electrical purposes.

f) The device may use up to sixteen (16) sequential simple machines. There is no requirement for unique simple machines, however machines of the same type used in series will be counted as one machine (e.g., 3 pulleys in a row only count as 1 pulley). ALL simple machines must operate sequentially such that the output of one simple machine activates the next simple machine.

a) Up to 30 points (Regional and State Tournaments)-one point for each second (up to 30 seconds) that the device pauses to load the sand/water into the container.

b) Up to 60 points (National Tournament)-the operating time (between 90 and 150 seconds) will be chosen by the event supervisor and announced at the tournament. One point for each second (up to 60 seconds) that the device pauses to load either sand/water into the container. Devices may take longer than 60 seconds to load the sand/water but the bonus is limited to 60 points. Teams must adjust the sand/water timing device to compensate for the announced operating time. Teams must identify on their SML which numbered simple machine they will adjust to change the operating time. Adjusting other parts of the device to compensate for the additional time will result in a 200-point penalty.

c) Up to 9 points (State and National Tournaments) may be awarded for the IMA of the pulley system operated by this pause. (An IMA of 5 would receive 5 bonus points.) To earn these points the team must

also correctly explain how the IMA of the pulley system is determined.

10) AWARDED POINTS: Up to 850 regular points and 30 bonus points (Regional), 39 (State), or 69 (National) will be awarded based on the following criteria:

a) 30 points for taking no more than 30 minutes to setup.

b) 10 points for each successful operation of a machine, which includes activating the next machine of a different type in sequence or activating the completion task in the case of the last machine. 160 pt. max

c) 20 points for the first time each of the 8 machine types listed is used. 160 pt. max

d) 10 points for the second time a listed machine type is used. 80 pt. max

e) 100 points for successful task completion within the time limit (3-minute for Regional & State, assigned time+60 seconds for National)

f) 20 points each for satisfying the following 10 requirements: Wearing goggles properly; having valid device dimensions; no batteries or electricity; using a Class 1 Lever starting mechanism; using only sequential simple machines; using the correct Simple Machine List format; having an accurate List; submitting the List properly and in time; limiting numbered simple machines to 16; and ending the device with a wheel & axle. 200 pt. max

g) 2 points for each second or part of a second (up to 60 seconds) that the device operates before task completion. 120 Pt. max Use of a remote timer or obvious stalling during “adjustments” to gain points will result in disqualification.

h) Up to 30 bonus points at regional, 39 points at state and 69 points at the national tournaments as described under BONUS POINTS.

PENALTIES:

a) Regional & State Tournaments: 1 point for each second the device operates over 60 seconds, up to the three-minute limit. Maximum 120 point deduction

b) National Tournament only: 2 points for each second or part of a second (up to 60 seconds) that the operating time differs (longer or shorter) from the announced operating time. Maximum 120-point deduction. Devices will be allowed to run up to 60 seconds past the announced operating time. Example. If the operating time of 96 seconds, the device will be allowed to run up to 156 seconds. If the task has not been completed within 60 seconds after the announced operating time, points and penalties earned up to that time will be awarded.

c) 50 points, one time, for any object (solid or liquid) that leaves the boundary of the device

d) 19 points for each time the device is touched, adjusted, or restarted

e) National Tournament only: 200 points for adjusting the device to delay at some point other than where sand or water is loaded within the pulley-system.

12) TIE-BREAKING CRITERIA: Fewest penalty points, best operating time to .1 seconds, toilet paper measurement closest to 30 cm, and finally the greatest variety of design.

g) Each machine to be scored must have a number on indicating its correct sequence in the operation of the device. The number on the machine within the device must also correspond to the number on the Simple Machine List. The number-labels must be clearly visible and legible.

h) Each simple machine must contribute toward task completion - there can be no “dead ends”.

i) Energy storage units (e.g., springs, mouse traps) may be activated prior to starting the device.

6) SIMPLE MACHINE LIST:

a) A Simple Machine List must be submitted to the event supervisor by a specified time/date prior to the competition. (The tournament director will provide information for submitting this list.)

b) Each line of this list will detail one simple machine in the sequence in which it occurs during operation of the device. The Simple Machine List must be an accurate indication of the device’s operation.

c) The list must use this exact format including the total points:

d) The list must be legible, well organized and neatly done. The machine number and the points expected to he earned for each machine and bonus must be shown on the list. If the device includes extra simple machines that do not count for points then they must be documented in the list, but they shall not he numbered. The list must be accurate to earn the “requirements satisfaction” points detailed iii the scoring section.

7) OPERATION OF DEVICE:

a) The device must be started by dropping a tennis ball on the effort-end of a Class 1 Lever when the event supervisor indicates that it is time to start the device. Once the device has been started, penalty points will be deducted each time a team member touches the device.

b) The device may not be timed or controlled remotely by any means ..T earn members are not permitted to view a stopwatch or any other timer during operation of the device.

c) The maximum time limit is 3 minutes (Regional & State) or assigned time + 60 seconds (National). If the device is running when the time limit expires, the points earned up to that point determine the score. No completion points can be awarded in this case.

d) If the device stops, jams or fails, the team will be allowed to “adjust” the device to continue operation, but penalty points will be deducted. Timing is never stopped for any reason before task completion unless the time limit is reached.

e) For the last step prior to Task Completion or for Task Completion, the team will not be allowed to complete the task themselves or make an adjustment that leads directly to task completion in the very next action. Any obvious stalling during “adjustments” to gain a time advantage can result in disqualification.

8) BONUS POINTS: A bonus will be awarded if the device pauses to load either sand or water into a container attached to one end of a string in a pulley system. Bonus points will be awarded for the amount of time required to load sand/water into the container and pull the string to operate the next simple machine in the sequence.