Kevin Kha

Dennis Papesh

VEHICLE

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

Gravity Vehicle C
Kevin Kha kevinkha@socalscioly.org
Dennis Papesh dpapesh@holyangelsdayton.org

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute

Disclaimer: This presentation was prepared using draft rules. There may be some
changes in the final copy of the rules.
Overview
Build a Vehicle powered solely by its own gravitational potential
energy to reach a target as quickly as possible, and build a ramp
from which to launch the Vehicle.
Vehicle, Ramp,
Team of up to 2. Practice Log,
tools/spare parts,
alignment devices.

Impound Required No eye protection

for: required.
Vehicle, Ramp,
Practice Log,
Alignment
Devices

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Parameters - General
• All propulsive energy must be from the Vehicle’s
gravitational potential energy. Also cannot “hit” the
Vehicle to propel it.
• Vehicle Mass: no more than 2.0 kg.
• No specific size requirements for Vehicle alone – however,
in Ready-to-Run, Vehicle and Ramp must be less than
50.0 cm wide x 50.0 cm long x 100.0 cm high.

• Tips for your Students:

• Don’t build all the way to the limit – build 1.0 cm, 100 g within
the limit. Not all meter sticks/scales are equal.
• Nuts, bolts, screws, tape, string, glue, etc. need to be within the
dimensions too, not just the big pieces.

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Parameters – Vehicle Dowel
• Must be ~¼” in Diameter, round and wooden.
• Must extend to within 1.0 cm of floor (when Vehicle
is placed flat on the Track.)
• Must extend at least 20.0 cm above floor (when
Vehicle is placed flat on the Track.)
• No part of the Vehicle, except the wheels, may
extend more than 0.5 cm beyond the front of the
dowel.

• Dowels are most frequent cause of Construction

Violations.
2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C
 The Competition
• Teams have 8 minutes to setup for and start 2 runs.
• Alignment devices cannot use electricity.
• If placed on the Track, any alignment or targeting
devices must be removed before each run.

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Track
Start
Line
Target
Point
1.00m

9.00 – 12.00m

0.50m 8.50m
Line Line

• Track will be on a smooth, level, and hard surface.

• Lines and points are marked with/on 1” tape.

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Practice Log
• Must include at least 10 records of:
• Target Distance
• Vehicle Distance
• Run Time
• One varied vehicle parameter (e.g. number of axle
turns)

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Scoring
• The Run Score for each run = 2 pts./cm x Vehicle
Distance + 1 pt./sec x Run Time + Penalties.

• Accuracy emphasized over speed.

• Only go as fast as you can brake accurately.

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Scoring – Failed Runs
• If the Vehicle does NOT move after being triggered,
the students can try again. Failure to move will not
count as a run.
• Ask permission of Event Supervisor before touching the
Vehicle
• If the Vehicle moves but does not pass the 0.50 m
Timing Line, then the run is a Failed Run.

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Scoring – Tiers
1: A clean run. No violations
2: Competition Violation
3: Construction Violation
4: Failure to impound
5: Two failed runs

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Main Components
• Ramp
• Sloping surface
• Release mechanism
• Vehicle
• Chassis
• Wheels
• Brakes
• Mass

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C
 Ramp
• Goals:
• Smooth transition for Vehicle’s
movement from vertical to
horizontal
• Shape:
• Straight/Flat
• Easy to build.
• Curved
• Has smoother transition for Vehicle –
less likely to cause errors in direction.
• Note: Run Time is between Timing
Lines and does not include time
on the Ramp.
2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C
 Ramp – Construction
• Construct a frame with the shape you want, then
form and attach a thin sheet to be the ramp’s
surface.
• Materials:
• Wood
• Cheap and easy to acquire
• Fairly sturdy
• 1/8” MDF sheet works well for the surface
• Metal
• Expensive
• Very sturdy (for the frame)
• Heavy
• Flexible sheet may be too flexible + prone to warps, dents.

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C
 Ramp – Release Mechanism
• Must be triggered using a #2 pencil provided by ES.
• (The pencil can also be used as the release mechanism
itself).
• *May add that the pencil does not have to be inside the
dimension requirement, even if the pencil is the release
mechanism.

• Ideas:
• Drill hole in Ramp, “hang” Vehicle from pencil. Pull out
pencil to release.
• Cut hole in Ramp, use some other kind of mechanism.
• Place release mechanism at top of Ramp (no holes required).

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C
2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C
 Ramp – Release Mechanism
• Depending on release mechanism design, it may be
easy to accidentally start the Vehicle. Unlike other
vehicle events, Gravity Vehicle tends to be a hard
one to catch part way.
• If Vehicle is released prematurely, then it will count
as a Failed Run.

• Tip: If necessary, construct some kind of

tether/lock to prevent premature launch of
Vehicle.

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Mass
•  Amount of energy available =
• = mass of Vehicle
• = acceleration of gravity
• = difference in height of the Vehicle’s center of mass
from Ready-to-Run to On the track
• Kinetic energy of vehicle in motion =
• = mass of Vehicle
• = velocity of Vehicle

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Mass (cont.)
•  Ideally:

• We can see that mass cancels out, so

• Maximum Vehicle velocity is ideally independent of

its mass.

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Increasing Vehicle Mass (max 2kg)
• PROS
• Greater momentum
so Vehicle doesn’t
slow as much from
friction
• Shift Vehicle’s center
of mass
• CONS
• Greater momentum
makes it harder to
brake – skidding more
likely.

Materials for increasing mass: any dense substances

(metal)
• Coins (use those leftovers from Hovercraft…)
• Bolts/Screws/Nuts/Washers, etc.
Should avoid lead objects.
2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C
 Center of Mass (CoM)
• To maximize height delta, the CoM should be low
and to the rear of the Vehicle.
• CoM should stay between the axles

Ramp
Surface

Axle Axle
CoM

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Chassis
• Common Materials:
• Wood
• Aluminum/Steel
• Carbon fiber
• Plastic

• Attend Mousetrap Vehicle Deep Dive session for

more information!

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Wheels/Axles
• Goals:
• Good traction
• Low friction (use bearings/bushings)
• Straight (should be concentric, no wobbling).
• Materials
• Rubber
• Plastic
• CD/DVDs
• Foam

• Attend Mousetrap Vehicle Deep Dive session for more

information!
2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C
 Brakes
• Vehicle precision is
only as good as its
brakes.
• Common Types:
• String
• Wingnut

• Attend Mousetrap Vehicle Deep Dive session for

more information!

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Coaching Tips
• Practice practice practice!
• Test on a variety of surfaces – gym floors, cafeteria
floors, etc. Be able to calibrate depending on the
floor.
• Sweep/clean the track

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Coaching Tips
• Where to build?
• Will it be at school?
• More control as to student designed and built
• Will it be at home?
• How to keep parental influence to the proper levels?
• What are the parents limited to?
• Will you provide the limits for them?

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Coaching Tips
• Who is going to build the vehicles?
• It’s hands on and a lot of students may want to do it.
• How may vehicles will you allow to be built?
• Fortunately, the cost per vehicle can be low.
• How about students who are good with their hands but
have trouble with the academic events?
• What requirements will you have for your final choice?

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Coaching Tips
• Who supplies the materials?
• If school, it is easier to make decisions.
• If parents, telling someone no, after purchases and
work, will be more difficult.

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Coaching Tips
• Where to get the materials?
• Ace, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Hobby Shops
• Ask parents if they know of additional sources
• For extruded aluminum
• www.microrax.com
• For 3D printed materials I will show at Deep Dive,
• www.topfinishkits.com

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C

 Resources
• National website (www.soinc.org)
• Student and coach website (www.scioly.org)
• Not the National site
• Good ideas but be careful – not always according to the
rules

2019 Science Olympiad Summer Institute Gravity Vehicle C