Ping Pong Parachute
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Indoor Bottle Rocket is a build event that is currently being planned by the Science Olympiad Committee. It is planned to replace Bottle Rocket starting in the 2018 season.
Objective
NOTE:' The following rules are unofficial and may be changed.
The event supervisors are to announce the ceiling height before the event starts. Rules are similar to Bottle Rocket, but a ping pong ball is used instead. The point is to not hit the ceiling. Teams must design two rockets and must bring ping pong balls and eye protection. The event supervisor prepares the launcher.
Construction
The rocket must be made out of 1-liter or less plastic carbonated beverage bottle with a nozzle opening internal diameter of approximately 2.2 cm (a 1/2-inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe must fit tightly inside the nozzle opening). A standard neck height must be under 1.6 cm. Only tape can be used to attached fins, no metal nor commercial rocket parts can be used. The label must be taken off, but must be present at the safety inspection. The nose of the rocket must be blunted and not sharp. Fins are to be placed 5cm or higher than the bottle's opening.
Competition
Teams are to arrive to launch their rocket with Safety Goggles. If they do not have Safety Goggles, they may borrow them if time allows. The rocket gets inspected and then is placed onto the launcher. Competitors are given only thirty seconds to put the ping pong ball and recovery system in. After doing so, they may not manipulate the rocket and prepare for their second launch. Rockets are launched at 40 psi. Timing begins when the rocket separates from the launcher and stops when the ping-pong ball touches the ground, is slowed by an obstruction, or goes out of sight. Rockets aloft in the air is recorded in hundredths of a second.
Scoring
Scoring is based on the flight time of the ping pong ball. Any team that hits the ceiling will placed into Tier 2. Teams that do not meet construction standards or do not bring Safety Goggles will not be launched.