If you have any question regarding the Western Kentucky Physics Olympics please feel free to send an email to Richard Gelderman (Richard.Gelderman@wku.edu) who is organizing the event. In many cases we will post the answers to question here on this FAQ page for all interested participants.
Q: Can I use a "DaVinci Screw" instead of single bladed propellers?
A: Yes, the screw design fro a helicopter that was first sketched by Leonardo DaVinci meets the requirement that the device's descent be controlled by a autorotation around a central axis.Q: Must there be a central shaft about which the rotors spin, or can the entire Roto Drop device rotate as it descends?
A: The consensus of the judging team is that the wording of rule #1, "The device must use homemade rotor blades that spin around a central axis . . .", ca refer to either a physical shaft OR to an imaginary line about which the entire object spins.Q: What are the size constraints for the cup that will hold the egg?
A: Each team provides the cup, so the sizes will vary according to their available resources. The rule for no cushioning is probably the biggest constraint with which we are forcing you to deal.
Q: Will the course be long enough that my rocket does not hit the end before it stops?
A: We can't know for sure, but we expect to the string for our "race track" will be about 10 meters long with a sleigh uphill tilt; and do not believe that even two-stage balloon rockets will travel that far.Q: What types of balloons will be provided?
A: Each team will receive ten total assorted medium balloons; a mix of 3 to 4 round, 3 to 4 oblong, and 3 to 4 long; to be shared between any of the rockets they choose to construct.Q: Will the teams be given clamps to keep the balloon(s) inflated until the test?
A: No. Either the balloons can be inflated after the device is strung onto the monofilament, or the team can designate someone to accompany the inflated balloon and keep it pinched shut.Q: What do the rules mean by a "slight uphill tilt" for the track?
A: The slope of the line will not be fixed until the day of the course but we are expecting to apply less than a 10 percent slope in hope that our course will not be too short for the best rocket designs.
Q: Are we really working with isomer molecules?
A: The Event Description was released with an editing error that has now been corrected. This event is about navigation, not the assembly of molecules.