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.

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 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.
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 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: toothbrushes, wheels, shoelaces, clothes pins, springs, cups (paper, styrofoam, or plastic), rubber bands, balls, straws and pulleys. 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.

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 solution in all aspects of the challenge.	Structure exhibits good creative solution in all aspects of the challenge.	Structure exhibits average creative solution in all aspects of the challenge.	Structure exhibits minimal creative solution 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	Displays excellent communication and collaboration throughout the entire process.	Displays good communication and collaboration throughout the entire process.	Displays average communication and collaboration throughout the entire process.	Displays minimal communication and collaboration throughout the entire process.
Overall Quality	Structural integrity and demonstration of challenge are excellent.	Structural integrity and demonstration of challenge are good.	Structural integrity and demonstration of challenge are average.	Structural integrity and demonstration of 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