1. Mystery Architecture
The event where you don’t know what you are doing, and that is kind of the point.

2. Event Description
At the beginning of the event, each team will receive an identical bag of materials.
They will have 40 minutes to build a structure/device that can be tested
The materials and structure will not be announced until the competition starts

3. Mystery Architecture Rules
The team can only use the materials that were given to them by the judges
There are two scoring dimensions
Primary: The main measurement that determines the winner
Secondary: The measurement used to break ties

4. Mystery Architecture Rules
Students may bring:
1 pair of scissors
1 ruler
1 pair of pliers
Nothing else will be allowed

5. Common Types of Structures
Bridges
Towers
Cantilevers

6. Common Types of Structures
Longest/tallest
Longest/tallest to hold a certain load
At least a certain height/length that can hold the most

7. How to Coach
This event is hard to coach, because it is hard to teach students to think outside the box
You can teach them:
Good engineering principles
Good building techniques
How to work together (to an extent)
Learning to think creatively requires practice and lots of it

8. Types of Forces: Tension
Tension : the member is being “pulled” on

9. Types of Forces: Tension
Good Tension materials:
Straws
String
Pipe cleaner (wire)
Paperclips
Paper

10. Compression : the member is being “squished”

11. Good Compression Materials:
Straws
Toothpicks
Popsicle sticks
Cups
Rolled up paper

12. Good Engineering: Towers Load Bearing
Load Platform
Legs
Cross Bracing

13. Bridges

14. Cantilever
Counter Balance
Load Applied Here
Table

15. Examples Good: Doubled up straws for legs Triangles for bracing Bad:
Not level

16. Examples Good: Very level Triangles for bracing Bad:
Legs are single straws instead of double

17. Examples Good: Very level Triangles for bracing Multi-strawed legs
Bad:
Added extra materials just to use them

18. Tips Conserve materials in case you have to reuse something
Cut tape in half
Unravel string
Bring good tools (especially scissors)
Practice, practice, practice
Practice with different materials
Save straw wrappers