Elementary Science Olympiad ESO Photo
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Pasta Transporter
Description
Teams build a cart entirely of pasta that is designed to carry cargo the greatest distance.

Number of Participants / Approximate Time
Up to 2 students / 30 minutes

The Competition
Teams shall construct their vehicle prior to the competition and bring it to the event. Teams may be required to impound their devices, at the discretion of the event staff, should the event be conducted later in the Olympiad day.

Materials
1. Vehicles shall be constructed utilzing any supermarket variety of dry pasta, uncooked and unaltered. Samples of pasta used should be brought to the Olympiad with the vehicle, in the event of a challenge. Pasta may be shaped by filing, sanding, or other dry machining techniques.
2. Any commercially available glue is permissible. However, only a minimal use of glue is permitted. No "sculpting", or joint / gap filling of the glue will be allowed.

Vehicle Size and Components
1. When measured with the vehicle upright, the maximum length, width, and height of the vehicle, including all parts (wheels, cargo area, etc) shall be 24 centimeters each.
2. An open bed cargo area is required of all vehicles. The cargo area must be open from above for the loading of cargo and remain open during the launch (no cover permitted).
3. The volume of the cargo area must be at least 500 cubic centimeters with a minimum length and width of 5 centimeters each. There is no minimum height, however all cargo must be able to be contained within the vehicle prior to, during, and after the vehicle's launch to achieve the maximum possible score.
4. Any wall surrounding or within the cargo area may be of any desired height as long as the total height of the vehicle is within the established maximum height limit.
5. There are no mass restrictions.
6. The vehicle must make and maintain contact with the surface on which it rests on at least three points.

Cargo
1. Teams will be presented with three different types of cargo at the start of the event on the day of the Olympiad. The approximate dimensions and mass of each piece of cargo shall be disclosed to the teams.
2. The various cargo provided to teams will be designed to fit within the volume of cargo space required for each vehicle. The mass of the cargo may range from 1 gram to 100 grams per piece. Possble cargo include but are not limited to checkers, marbles, and coins.
3. Each team shall select a minimum total of 5 pieces and maximum total of 7 pieces of cargo to load into their vehicle. A minimum of one piece of each type of cargo will be required.
4. Each team shall have no more than 2 minutes to select and load their cargo into their vehicle for launch. Cargo must be loaded into the vehicle's cargo area from above. No substances may be utilized to assist the cargo in adhering to the vehicle. Cargo must be able to be removed from the vehicle without breaking any pieces of the vehicle.
5. No additional structural elements may be added to the vehicle prior to or after loading the cargo into the vehicle.
6. Teams are subject to a points penalty should structural elements be broken or removed during the loading or unloading of the cargo.
7. A team shall proceed directly to launch after loading cargo into their vehicle.
8. Students participating in the event may not receive outside coaching or instruction from any other students, coaches, spectators, or other non-team members during the selection of cargo, loading of cargo, and launch of the vehicle.

Launch
1. The launch ramp shall 1 meter high by up to 1.5 meters long by 0.5 meters wide. The ramp itself is a curved surface that is, at its highest point, 1 meter high.
2. The running lane is 1.5 meters wide. When possible, vehicles shall be run on a smooth surface such as a gymnasium floor.
3. A team member shall position the vehicle so that the rearmost part of the vehicle is in contact with the horizontal barrier at the top of the ramp.
4. Optionally, the second team member may be positioned in front of the ramp to assist the first team member with aligning the vehicle with the running lane.
5. When ready to launch, the vehicle shall be released by the team member (no helpful nudges allowed).

Scoring
1. The base score for each team is determined by the distance the vehicle travels within the running lane. If the vehicle rolls outside of the running lane, its distance will be measured along the edge of the lane to the first point where any part of the vehicle makes contact with the boundary line. If the vehicle falls apart, the distance shall be determined by the largest surviving structural component.
2. Any vehicle which has structural components broken or removed during cargo loading or unloading shall be assessed a penalty of 10% of the base score.
3. Vehicles which lose their structural integrity (fall apart) will be penalized. Vehicles which suffer minor structural damage (small pieces broken) will be penalized 5%. Vehicles which, in the judge's opinion, lose over 1/4 of their structure during their run will be penalized 15%. Finally, those vehicles which lose over 1/2 of their structure during their run will be penalized 25%.
4. Vehicles which do not hold all cargo until they stop within the lane or exit the running lane will be penalized. For each piece of cargo that falls out of the vehicle, a 5% penalty shall be assessed.
5. Percentage penalties shall be summed together then deducted from the base score.
6. Those vehicles which are not broken during loading, which remain completely intact during their run, and which do not lose any cargo will receive 100% of their distance score.

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