Senior Engineering
The Engineering competition demonstrates creative ability, collaboration and attention to detail to construct an invention in the spirit of Rube Goldberg. Teams use items from a specified list and will be given an invention prompt at the beginning of the competition. The invention must have at least five steps. A step is defined as a power - whatever force causes the next reaction to take place. Teams will write an explanation to communicate the elements of the invention and creative concepts. Teams will be required to interact with judges.
Senior Betas are eligible to compete in Senior competitions only. They may only compete with Senior Betas in Senior competitions at the state and national level.
No spectators allowed during or following the competition.
Time Limit: 2 Hours
Competition Guidelines
- Each club may enter one team of three to five students.
- Teams will be given two hours to construct the invention.
- The invention must be constructed on a piece of plywood 24 inches by 48 inches. This piece of plywood will be separate from the materials container.
- The invention may have parts that suspend beyond the board, but cannot be braced/tethered/supported by anything (i.e. wall or floor) other than the board.
- The team must use ONLY the items from the specified list and materials must fit into a closed 18 gallon plastic storage container with a lid.
- Power tools do not have to be placed in the container. Tools must be battery operated.
- All construction must be done on-site. No steps can be preassembled, construction pieces must be separate and the board must be free of any writing or marks.
- Electricity/outlet and internet will not be available.
- During the competition, objects may be attached to the board and/or to each other using adhesives (including battery operated glue guns), thumb tacks, nails, screws, wire, or string.
- The team gets one free touch to activate the invention.
- Liquids, sand, glitter, or other substances that would leave a mess may not be used in any form of the challenge.
- SAFETY - Protective eyewear is required for each team member. Teams will not be allowed to participate without protective eyewear.
- SAFETY - Tools cannot have a knife, box cutter, or any type of blade.
Educational Connections
- Engineering and Innovation
- Communication and Collaboration
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Scale and Measurement
- Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)
- Students will investigate and find solutions, designs and strategies from infinite number of possibilities using inquiry ,collaboration, and process based learning.
Approved Materials List
**The following items must be included in the team’s container of approved materials and used in the build: balls (plastic, metal, or rubber), pulleys, dominoes, nails, springs, pipe cleaners, cardboard tubes, wire, cork and zip ties.
The team must use ONLY the items from the specified list of materials below. Materials must fit into a closed 18 gallon container with lid. Teams will be responsible for all materials and the plywood needed for the build.
The following items must be included in the team’s container of approved materials and used in the build: balls (plastic, metal, or rubber), pulleys, dominoes, nails, springs, pipe cleaners, cardboard tubes, wire, cork and zip ties. The team must use ONLY the items from the specified list of materials below. Materials must fit into a closed 18 gallon container with lid. Teams will be responsible for all materials needed for the build, including tools, and plywood. Protective eyewear is required and must be furnished by the competing teams. The container may not be used as part of the build.
| Approved Materials List | ||
|---|---|---|
| Thread spools | Index cards | Craft sticks |
| Cans | Paper clips | Boxes |
| Toothpicks | Sandwich bags | Matchbox car |
| Toothbrushes | Newspaper | Playing cards |
| Aluminum foil | Paper plates | Dice |
| Egg cartons | String | Tape |
| Adhesives | Balloons | Rubber Bands |
| Paper Fasteners | Straws | Wheels |
| Modeling Clay | Tinker Toys | Magnets |
| Cotton Balls | Card Stock | Batteries |
| Battery operated glue gun | Cups (paper,styrofoam, or plastic) | Balls (plastic, metal, rubber) |
| Plastic Toys | Cardboard | Cork |
| Spoons | Plastic Bottles | Dried Beans |
| Clothes Pins | Ruler | Shoelaces |
| Dominoes | Pipe Cleaners | Wire |
| Cardboard Tubes | Legos | Wooden Scraps |
| Tubing | Plumbing Parts | Mouse Trap |
| Greeting Cards | Hammer | Marbles |
| CDs | PVC Pipes | Mini-Blind Slats |
| Nails | Screws | Springs |
| Bells | Scissors (cannot be taken apart | Small plant pot |
| Tea Strainer | Tiles | Construx |
| Battery powered fan | Straight pins | Wind-up toys |
| Lincoln Logs | Bottles | Wire hangers |
| Thumb tacks | Writing Utensils | Golf balls |
| Pulleys | Zip Ties | Dowels |
How to Enter
- Visit www.betaclub.org/events/conventions and follow directions.
- Register students and then select competitions to enter.
- Bring 24” x 48” piece of plywood, tools, protective eyewear, and container of materials to convention.
National Eligibility
All Plaques Awarded at State Convention
Judging Criteria
| Engineering | 16-20 | 11-15 | 6-10 | 1-5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complexity | Structure displays excellent complexity of the steps used in the build. | Structure displays good complexity of the steps used in the build. | Structure displays average complexity of the steps used in the build. | Structure displays minimal complexity of the steps used in the build. |
| Creativity | Structure exhibits excellent creative solutions in all aspects of the challenge. | Structure exhibits good creative solutions in all aspects of the challenge. | Structure exhibits average creative solutions in all aspects of the challenge. | Structure exhibits minimal creative solutions in all aspects of the challenge. |
| Critical Thinking | Students exhibit excellent ability to consider alternatives to the design and construction during the process. | Students exhibit good ability to consider alternatives to the design and construction during the process. | Students exhibit average ability to consider alternatives to the design and construction during the process. | Students exhibit minimal ability to consider alternatives to the design and construction during the process. |
| Team Communication | Team displays excellent communication and collaboration throughout the entire process. | Team displays good communication and collaboration throughout the entire process. | Team displays average communication and collaboration throughout the entire process. | Team displays minimal communication and collaboration throughout the entire process. |
| Overall Quality | Structural integrity along with the demonstration of the challenge are excellent. | Structural integrity along with the demonstration of the challenge are good. | Structural integrity along with the demonstration of the challenge are average. | Structural integrity along with the demonstration of the challenge are minimal. |
| Deductions | This will be taken one time by the coordinator. | **Did not follow competition guidelines -10 ** | Did not follow safety guidelines -15 |