The Western Kentucky Physics Olympics: Frequently Asked Questions

Mission Procurement

1. The rules give the address as a University of Virginia Astronomy address. Is this correct?
   
   The US Postal Service is too good at handling delicate packages, so we have increased the opportunity for your packages to be destroyed. A colleague in Charlottesville is judging this competition for us on Friday afternoon, 19 February.
   
   
2. The rules say that the two Pringles must be in "a sealed ziplock-style plastic bag," but it is not specified that they must be in the same plastic bag. Do the Pringles have to be in one plastic bag, or can they be in separate plastic bags?
   
   Your entry includes one plastic bag containing both chips.
   
   
3. If we put our Pringles box inside of a mailing envelope, would the dimensions of the box be counted towards our score or the dimensions of the mailing envelop be counted towards our score?
   
   The largest measured volume would be used.

Zip Line Relay

1. Does the rule that "Each team shall design and construct a harness …" mean we have have to build something ourselves? We were thinking of just hanging a ziplock plastic bag from the clip.
   
   Nothing "off-the-shelf" can be used for the harness. A harness consisting solely of a plastic bag would not be something constructed. Your harness could contain store bought parts that you assemble into a harness you design and construct.
   
   
2. Can we unclip our harness from the trolley to load or unload the eggs?
   
   The harness must stay clipped to the trolley for the entire relay.
   
   
3. Do we need to supply our own eggs?
   
   We require each team bring four raw Grade-A Large chicken eggs for their relay trial. Sorry this was not more clear.