Dennis Papesh dpapesh@holyangels.cc Air Trajectory (2016) Dennis Papesh dpapesh@holyangels.cc

DISCLAIMER This presentation was prepared using draft rules.  There may be some changes in the final copy of the rules.  The rules which will be in your Coaches Manual and Student Manuals will be the official rules.

Goal Design, construct, and calibrate a device capable of using air power to launch projectiles onto a target.

Items in green are new for 2016!!

Event Parameters Performance data and calibration charts must be prepared Launch devices, copies of graphs, and all materials the team will use (other than eye protection and calculators) must be impounded Must be moveable by competing team members w/o outside assistance Eye protection must be worn. (Penalty) Disqualification for any apparatus operated in an unsafe manner.

Experienced Coaches – What’s different? AIR – the falling mass does not itself propel the projectile The falling mass must move air to push that ball down the lane TARGETS – don’t look for a meter square board with a lip and filled with cat litter All you are going to get is a small mark on a piece of tape on the floor, or Some sort of panels on the floor with the center marked with tape SCORE – HIGH score wins, not low score

Where to get the air??? Construction (3.a. to 3.h.) It must be supplied by the gravitational energy of a falling mass! (<=3.5 kg Div. C or <=5.0 kg Div. B)

Where to get the air?? Cont’d Any part of the device whose gravitational energy decreases and provides launch energy is considered part of the mass! Except (string, thin membranes/plastic container walls) If a tire pump or similar device is used, the mass of the handle, shaft, and seal must count as part of the permitted mass. If the pump or device cannot be disassembled, the entire mass of the pump must be included as part of the permitted mass.

Where to get the air??? Cont’d If a lever is used, it must be able to be removed to allow the Event Supervisor to add its mass to that of whatever is on the end of the lever. Devices must be impounded with the mass(es) detached, which all together must not exceed the limits.

What must the gravitationally generated air do?? It must be converted to air pressure or air movement which will launch the projectile. Either directly (e.g. pop gun style) Or indirectly (using a pneumatic cylinder to swing an arm) All chambers must start and end with ambient room pressure. Chambers are not required to automatically return to original shape

How much room will I have to work in?? Division B 80.0 cm x 80.0 cm x 80.0 cm Division C 70.0 cm x 70.0 cm x 70.0 cm Both in ready to launch configuration in any orientation of team’s choice. Any stabilizing weights must be within the box. Tools/supplies need not be within the box. Pushing the size limits could be disastrous.

How will I trigger my device? The trigger is not part of the device and must no contribute significant energy. Must extend out of the launch area. Competitors must be at least 75 cm away from launch area Does not need to return to launch area after the launch Must not pose a danger to anyone due to flying parts or excessive movement outside of launch area.

What am I turning into a projectile? Unmodified (labeling permitted) Tennis ball Racquet ball Ping-pong ball Plastic/foam practice golf balls No other type of ball may be used Teams may change projectiles for each launch Some may work better than others at different target distances

What else??? The design and operation must be such that the floor is not altered or damaged. Some sort of padding? Must stay within launch area and not extend beyond permitted device size Electrical components are not allowed as part of the device or triggering device.

Okay – here we go Competition (4.a. to 4. j.) Place the device anywhere of their choice in a rectangular launch area 1.00 m x 1.50 m (parallel to launch direction) designated by tape on floor. Does device move forward on launch? Perhaps place it a measured distance from the tape to prevent penalty Must be tape indicating an area 75 cm away from sides and back of launch area Do your students lean forward when they launch? Event Supervisor may call them for ‘being in the launch area’ Perhaps some item tied into launching string about 1.?? meters away

Where should I stand? Must be tape indicating an area 75 cm away from sides and back of launch area Competitors must not be within 75 cm of device May touch only the part of the triggering device that extends at least 75 cm outside of launch area. Do your students lean forward when they launch? Yes, I repeated this because I have seen it happen all to often. It’s natural to do so. Perhaps some item tied into launching string about 1 meter away

What can be outside the launch area? Depends on when No part of the device may be outside of the launch area before or after a shot. If any part of the device goes outside during launching, it must return to and remain in the launch area. Without competitor assistance

What am I shooting at? Two targets, one near, one far Near target – centered on line bisecting the target area Far target – up to 2.0 m to right or left of imaginary center line Anywhere between 2.0 and 8.0 m Designated by tape, panels, or other defining material Between 2 and 8 meters 0.5 m interval for Regionals, 0.25 m for States, and 10 cm for Nationals Separation of at least 2 m Target size not specified Ceiling height might be a factor to be considered Target distances not announced until after impound is over Same for all teams

Anything else to shoot at? There is the possibility of a ‘bucket shot’, on request Bucket of ̴1 to ̴5 gallon size Placed between 2.00 m and 8.00 m and up to 2.00 m to right or left of center line Size and distance announced after impound, same for all. Bucket only on course when requested. (More on this in a couple of slides.)

How many shots do I get?? In the 8 minutes allowed Set up, calibrate, and adjust Two shots at each target, (maximum per target) No practice shots but adjustments/resetting permitted Event Supervisor measurement time not included in the 8 minutes

What else to watch out for?? Teams must inform Event Supervisor Before each launch! What target they are aiming for! Must not approach target until notified by Event Supervisor! May take measurements to calibrate their device Must not touch either target!

Bucket shot - bonus A team may request a Bucket Shot if the first shot at a target is within 500 mm (replaces a second shot at that target) Bucket anywhere between 2 and 8 meters Bucket anywhere up to 2 meters on either side of center line 100 points if the bucket is hit at first impact 200 additional points if the ball makes contact with the inside bottom surface of the bucket Teams with Bucket Shot attempt will not have a third and/or fourth tie breaker Will be scored behind those in the tie with a third and/or fourth shot.

Penalties 100 points each, per occurrence Even if during a non-best target score launch Warned for not correctly wearing eye protection Within 75 cm of launch area or in front of front edge of launch area when a launch occurs Approaching a target before the supervisor indicates they may No warning prior to launch Even if unintended, must count as one of the four allowed launches Does not tell ES the intended target Any part of the device is outside the launch area prior to or after a launch Teams must be informed of a penalty they have received before the next launch

Scoring – Final Score Final Score = Best Close Target Score + Best Far Target Score + Graph Score – Penalties + Bucket Shot Points (if any)

Scoring – Target Scores Close Target Score must be 2000 minus the distance in mm from the center of the initial projectile impact to the target Far Target Score must be 4000 minus the distance in mm from the center of the initial projectile impact to the target Negatives scores must be assigned a score of 0 If the device fails to launch, teams must receive a score of 0 for that shot.

Scoring – Graph Scores Otherwise the first 4 will be scored Any number of graphs and data tables may be impounded Competitors must indicate up to 4 graphs to be used for graph score Otherwise the first 4 will be scored May be computer generated or drawn by hand (on graph paper) Each graph-table pair must be on a separate sheet of paper and same side. A template is available at soinc.org

Scoring – Graph scores One graph, selected by the event supervisor, must be scored as follows 20 points for completed data table 20 points for graph 20 points if graph matches data table and are on same page 40 points for proper labeling Title Team name x & y axis variables Increments with units Partial credit may be given Score will be multiplied by number of graphs turned in (up to four)

Scoring – cont’d Teams who violate any rule, except those listed under the penalty section, must be ranked behind those who do not.

Scoring example Best Close Target = 1980 (20 mm off Target) Best Far Target = 2560 (1,440 mm off Target) Graph Score = 150 Penalties = -200 Bucket Shot = 100 Final Score = 4590

Tiebreakers 1st – higher total of the sum of the two scored shots To reward consistency 2nd – lightest falling mass 3rd – best non-scored shot at Far Target 4th – best non-scored shot at the Close Target

Jumpstarting ideas The following slides show devices which have competed. They are included to give your students some ideas on how to go about constructing such a device. Comments made are meant to be instructional rather than critical. The devices are neat and performed well.

Falling lever Remember, the weight of the wooden lever must be included in the allowed mass limit. Pushing the limit on size may lead to problems. If this device moves forward or backward on launch, it may move out of the area limit. Paper outside the launch box. If there during launch, perhaps a penalty.

Falling lever If the box is sized by the inside of the tape lines, this device is too large. If the box is sized by the outside of the tape lines, it is TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT as it may move on launch.

Falling mass Will need to adjust for target distance by either raising or lowering projectile tube or changing the mass to be dropped.

Falling mass Again, will have to adjust the angle of the projectile tube or adjust mass dropped to determine the distance the projectile will travel.

Tire pump – sort of It appears that the distance the projectile will travel is determined solely by the amount of mass dropped. Remember that anything moving downward is considered part of the allowed mass. (Like the inner PVC tube and the handles.)

Distance – great! Accuracy – nonexistent! No problem going the farthest distance. The problem came in in reproducible results. No consistency. Perhaps a better bottle, or pillow, or bellows, or ???

OK coaches, I know you can’t wait to get back and turn your students loose on creating a great device but please remember (I already know that all of you will) that it is their show, their device. Under your guidance, they will do a fabulous job.