2013 activities
Full-day activities
The Science and Engineering Challenge is a set of fun and competitive activities involving principles of science, engineering and technology.
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Engineering Game
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A simulation game to build chairs to support a small, heavy (4kg) doll. Points are awarded for aesthetics and ease of repair, and deducted for labour, materials and transport costs. |
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Gold Fever
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Students build a small bridge from balsa, pins, tape, paddle pop sticks etc. Points are awarded for strength and load-carrying capacity (tested with dynamic loads). |
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Hover Frenzy
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Students construct a small hovercraft from motorised propulsion units, styrofoam, balsa, plastic and tape. Scoring is based on maneuverability, speed and ability to negotiate obstacles. |
| Mission to Mars |
Make a suspension system to enable a small buggy to carry loads across an undulating suimulated Mars surface. Points are awarded for speed and stability. |
Half-day activities
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Back to the Future II
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Students are provided with a vehicle on which they attach a propeller or fan to drive the vehicle along rails. The students develop their own fan and can experiment with diameter and pitch.
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ElectraCity
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Students simulate a power distribution system by connecting power stations to users (loads) using cables on a large test board. Points are awarded for the cost of their cable network, and the number of users that are not supplied.
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Stringways
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The aim of this half-day activity is to develop networks that join a series of points in the most efficient way possible. The higher the efficiency of linkage (i.e. minimum travel distance) the more points your team earns.
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| Helter Skelter Shelter |
Using only basic materials, sound engineering principles and ingenuity, students have to construct a tall eathquake-proof tower. At the end of the session the towers will be put to the these on an electric eathquake simulator. |