Tacoma/South Puget Sound MESA

2007-2008

Design and construct a car that travels the farthest distance with a sail that is powered by a standard 10-inch stationary fan.

Download Event Rules Here

Level/Grade

Elementary/Grades 4 - 5
Middle School/Grades 6 - 8
High School/Grades 9 - 12

Teams

Diversity Statement Entrance Requirement

Each student will be required to have on file with the MESA office one short diversity statement (one paragraph), either as a team member or an individual, by February 28, 2008 to be eligible to compete at MESA Day.  (One statement per student not per activity.)  Each statement should explain the diversity of their team or various teams or, for individuals, be a short statement on the value of diversity.

Overview

Materials

• 10 drinking straws (approximate size 7 3/4" x L x 1/4" diameter)
• 4 beads with large holes for straws to pass through (approximately 1" diameter with a 3/8"diameter hole)
• straight pins
• scissors
• stationary 9 OR 10 inch fan
• clock or stop watch (to verify construction time)
• 1 sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" paper (recommend colored paper - insures no substitutions can be made)

Rules

1. Only the above listed materials are allowed; absolutely no substitutions.
2. The vehicle must contain 2-4 wheels (beads), 1-10 straws.  There is no limit on the number of straight pins that may be used.  Each vehicle must have a minimum of 2 axles.      Each axle must have at least one wheel.
3. The vehicle may include a sail (this is an optional item).
4. Paper and straws may be cut with scissors provided.
5. Contestants have 20 minutes to construct the vehicle.  Late starters will not be allowed extra time to finish.  Any modifications made to the vehicles after 30 minutes have elapsed will be disqualified.

Judging

1. At race time, the vehicle is placed with its rear wheels on the starting line of the designated racetrack area.  The track area should be 6 feet wide.
2. The fan will be placed (in the off position) 14 inches behind the starting line and centered behind the car.  The fan should be tilted into the down position and taped to the floor.  After the start signal is called, the fan will be turned from low to HIGH speed. The fan will be turned off after the car stops or leaves the designated racetrack area.
3. During the race, the student may not touch any part of the vehicle.
4. No additional devices can be used to propel or assist the vehicle's movement down the official racetrack.
5. At the end of the race, the distance is measured from the location that the car stops (from the wheel closest to the starting line) back to the starting line.  If a car stops more than once after the fan is turned off, judging will be from the final stop.
6. Each vehicle will be judged only once.
7. The vehicle that travels the farthest distance is the winner.
8. In the event of a tie, the tiebreaker will be an additional run.  If there is still a tie after the tiebreaker round, duplicate medals will be awarded.

Awards