Western Kentucky Physics Olympics is a half-day competition consisting of a
pentathlon of challenging problem-solving activities that reward teamwork,
creativity, and communication. The WKU Department of Physics & Astronomy invites
each high school to send one or more teams of four to compete in the 2010
Western Kentucky Physics Olympics. This year’s event will be held Saturday,
February 20 from 8:30 a.m. until about 2:00 p.m. in the Thompson Center,
Central Wing on WKU’s Bowling Green campus.
The competition will commence with two activities that involve competitors
arriving at the event ready to compete with devices they have designed,
constructed, and tested. The competition entitled Edible Musical Instrument
requires each team to design and construct a musical instrument that will be
eaten after being used to perform the song Itsy Bitsy Spider. For Wind Generator
each team will design and construct a wind turbine capable of generating the
greatest current through the spinning of a portable compact disk player’s motor.
This year’s “Calculation/ Communication Challenge” is entitled Slow-Haul
Dirigible, and the "Impromptu Team Activity” will have participants creating the
conditions for a fusion reaction.
Registration
Teams can register online at
http://physics.wku.edu/olympics/registration.html.
The registration deadline is Friday, February 12.
Schedule of Events
|
Time |
Activity |
Location |
|
8:00 |
Mandatory check-in for all teams |
TCCW 251 |
|
8:30 |
Judging begins for Edible Musical
Instrument |
TCCW 207 |
|
9:30 |
Wind Generator competition begins |
TCCW 209 |
|
11:00 |
Order-of-Magnitude Quiz begins |
TCCW 201 |
|
11:30 |
Lunch |
TCCW 238/239 |
|
12:15 |
Calculation/Communication Challenge begins |
TCCW 201 |
|
1:10 |
Fusion – the Impromptu Team Activity
begins |
TCCW 236 |
|
1:45 |
Awards Ceremony |
TCCW 201 |
Prizes
Each of the four contestants on the team with the best score in the
overall competition will receive a $500 scholarship to attend Western
Kentucky University. The scholarship is to be used during the freshman
year and is awarded above and beyond any other scholarships the
student might otherwise earn.
Medals for the team members and a plaque for the school will be
awarded to the top 3 teams in the overall competition. Certificates
will be awarded to the top three teams in each event.
Snow Date
In case of cancellation due to inclement weather, Physics Olympics
will be rescheduled for the same times on an alternate Saturday to be
announced.
