Spring Launch Competition
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New Hampshire
Science and Engineering Exposition
Objective:
To construct a device that will launch a spring as a projectile to hit a target.
Purpose:
To encourage research and development prior to the contest.
Means:
Teams of students will have to determine how to release a spring from a launching device and have it hit some
random distance target 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 on how to launch the spring using a device constructed for that purpose. By the time each
team comes to the Expo, it will have learned through trial and error how to best use a device to launch a given
spring. 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 device may be submitted by only one team, and each team may submit only one device.
2. Each team will designate one and only one student to launch the spring.
3. Safety goggles must be worn any time the spring is being stretched, including the checking the spring in the
device, testing for parameters, or launching the spring.
4. To qualify for competition, each device must meet the following specifications;
a. The device must be no bigger than 40 cm x 40 cm x 40 cm cube.
b. The device must contain all the necessary equipment to do the following:
1. Measure the mass and force constant of a spring.
2. Provide a launching point from which to stretch and launch a spring.
3. Establish and hold a proper launch angle.
c. All measuring equipment used to determine the parameters of the spring must be contained within the
40 cm dimensions of the Spring Launch device.
5. All measuring equipment must be home made. The only off-the-shelf equipment allowed will be gram masses
and a mass hanger. There may be as many as two (2) each of standard gram masses from 1 g to 500 g
(1 g, 2 g, 5 g, 10 g, …500 g) A purchased box or container for the standard masses is allowed, as long as it fits
within the specified dimensions of the device.
6. The springs to be launched will be provided at the site, and will be chosen at random. They will have a mass
between 4.0 g and 24.0 g and will have a length between 4.0 cm and 8.0 cm. Each end of the spring will have a
loop or hook that is included in the total length of the spring.
7. When the spring is ready to be launched by the device it must be held in the ready position by some mechanical
means. It cannot be held in position by a person.
5. 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 when designing the device, and why it was initially built as it was. A discussion of the
principles of science involved in this project.
b. What was learned from trial and error.
c. Whether trial and error affected the final structure of the launcher.
d. Whether trial and error affected launching technique.
e. Prediction for how well the launcher will perform
Competition:
1. Each device will be inspected to insure compliance with the specifications.
2. Each team will pick a spring at random from one of those supplied at the site. They will use their equipment to
determine the parameters of their spring.
3. Each team will pick at random a combination of horizontal distance from launch site to target and vertical height
from floor to the apex of the trajectory.
4. Each team will then prepare their devices to launch the spring. Each team will be given three shots. No practice
shots will be allowed.
5. On the way to the target (described below), the spring must pass through a “hole” of 50 cm diameter, oriented
vertically with its center at the apex of the trajectory.
6. The target will be a series of rings raised thirty (30) cm above the floor. Each ring will have a different value, as
follows:
center ring 50 cm diameter 70 points
second ring 150 cm diameter 60 points
third ring 250 cm diameter 40 points
miss all rings, but go through “hole” at apex 20 points
miss “hole” and rings, but the device qualifies 10 points
miss “hole” but lands in the rings 10 points
Scoring of the Competition:
(The maximum score for the competition is 70 points)
1. Points earned will be based on the average of the two best shots.
2. The team who scores the most points will be the winner and will earn 70 points.
3. 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
Diagram:
Scoring of Poster Board and Interview:
(The maximum score is 30 points and requires the following)
1. The poster shows Title and Purpose 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
