New Hampshire
Science and Engineering Exposition
OBJECTIVE:
To construct a free standing paper tower that is capable of supporting a number of
weight-filled soft-drink cans. The best score is achieved by a combination of tower height and the number of cans
supported.
Purpose:
To encourage research and development prior to the contest.
Means:
Teams of students will have to determine how many weighted cans may be supported by their choice of design for the
paper tower. This event allows students a chance to behave as real world scientists do when faced with a problem
that has to be solved.
Besides learning how to be part of a team, each student will essentially follow scientific method when seeking the
answer to the question of the number of cans that may be supported. By the time each team comes to the Expo, it will
have learned through trial and error how to modify a design that will support the maximum load. This advanced
preparation will be demonstrated at the competition when the team presents its best effort.
Rules:
1. This competition is open to all schools with a maximum of four teams per school and a maximum of four students
per team. Each paper tower may be submitted by only one team and each team may submit only one paper
tower.
2. To qualify for competition, each paper tower must meet the following specifications:
a. The tower must be constructed from only paper and tape.
b. Cellophane tape must be used only at joints or intersections of members; for example, along the seam of a
tubular member or at a point where two or more members come together.
c. The sheet of paper may be cut into pieces and re-assembled as desired. Parts may be rolled, folded, or slit.
3. Each team will be supplied with four sheets of paper (8.5 inches x 11 inches), one roll of cellophane tape
(1/2” to ¾” width), one pair of scissors, two rulers, two pencils, and a small circular platform
(max 4” diameter x 1” thick) to put on top of the tower.
4. No construction aids may be brought by the team, except for a plumb bob and/or level.
5. Each team will provide its own tower base and shims for leveling. The tower base
will consist of a wooden (including plywood or particle board) platform with maximum dimensions of
2-feet x 2 feet x 1 inch. Shims may be wood or metal.
6. When in use, the tower base must be laid flat on the floor or table top and the tower built entirely on it.
7. Each team will provide their own weighted cans for use during the competition. They must be made from
standard 12 ounce soft-drink cans, and be weighted to have a mass of 500 +/- 5 g. These masses will be
checked on site.
8. Each team is to provide a poster board that displays Title and Objective at the top, and will include the following
content:
a. The logic used in initial planning to get the highest score. A discussion of the principles of science involved in
this project..
b. Why the choice of design for the trial period was selected.
c. Discussion on what was learned from the trial and error period.
d. Discussion of how (or if) the design was modified for the competition, based on the results of trial and error.
e. Prediction for how well the tower will perform.
Diagram:
Competition:
1. Each team will be allowed a maximum of 40 minutes to construct its tower.
2. Each tower will be inspected for materials used in the construction and for the use of tape.
3. Once the tower is qualified, the judges will measure the vertical distance from the base of the tower to the load
point, which will be considered the height of the tower.
4. After the height measurement is taken, the students will begin to stack weighted cans
on top of their tower at its load point. A load platform will be provided that will be placed horizontally on the top
of the tower at this point. Cans are to be added one at a time, each can going on top of the previous can, until
the tower is crushed, or no longer capable of supporting the cans.
Scoring of the competition:
(The maximum score possible for this event will be 70 points)
1. The height will be determined by measuring the vertical distance from the base of the tower to the load point/
2. Tower height will be recorded.
3. Maximum number of weighted cans supported will be recorded.
4. The team’s score will be earned according to the following formula:
(# cans supported) X (height of the tower in cm – 30 cm)
5. The team who scores the most points will be the winner and will earn 70 points.
6. The team’s final scoring for the competition will be determined by how well it does in relation to the other
competitors.
Team Score = Team Points Earned × 70
Winning Team Points Earned
Scoring of Poster Board and Interview:
(The maximum score is 30 point and requires the following)
1. The poster shows Title and Objective at the top.
2. All five components required for the poster board were presented.
3. The display was neat, organized, and appealing.
4. The team made a compelling case for their prediction of how well they would do.
5. The team was able to point out any newly discovered flaws in their original plan and to offer suggestions on how
these flaws might be overcome.
Overall Scoring of the Event:
(The maximum score possible for this event will be 100 points)
1. The overall score will be based on the sum of the points earned by a team during the competition and the poster
board judging.
Revised March 1, 2007
