Junkyard Challenge

In Junkyard Challenge your team must prepare and bring materials to build a device on site to complete a task.

Past Years
Junkyard Challenge 2009

Junkyard Challenge 2010

2011 Event Description
Given certain materials, you need to build a bridge, tower, or cantilever for Regionals and a ramp, catapult, or bouncer for States (any will be chosen for Nationals). You have 30 minutes to construct with 2 minutes to test.

Materials

 * 1-5 Plastic golf balls
 * 1-8 golf balls
 * 1-10 tennis balls
 * paper/Styrofoam plates, cups, and bowls (must have at least 1 plate and 1 cup)
 * straws/stir sticks
 * Popsicle/craft sticks
 * toothpicks
 * spools of any non-metallic string, line, thread, tape
 * Paper (8 1/2 X 11)
 * Rubber bands
 * Plastic bags(less than or equal to 1 gallon)
 * Scissors (must only be used as a tool, not as part of the structure)

All of this has to fit in a "junk box" that is no greater than 95 cm (length+width+height)

Tips, Tricks and Hints
Duct Tape is your friend. It can hold 67.3 lbs. and is 60 yards long. There is no penalty for weight. Using duct tape, you can build very strong structures.

Styrofoam cups were tested to be the strongest cups available under loads and when cut.

Rolled paper taped together can make a long stick and is fairly strong.

Popsicle sticks and/or rolled paper can form an excellent truss.

Rubber bands make a great bouncy surface for the bouncer.

Note: For regional builds, "freestanding" is defined as not leaning on an edge, or being taped down (no cup-holders).

Links
Soinc Junkyard Challenge Page

Elevated Bridge

Bridge Building

Tower Building

Boomilever

Trajectory

Storm The Castle

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