Western Kentucky Physics Olympics

Question:
Would we be allowed to use a mouse trap car for the gravity based vehicle?

Answer:
The energy from a mouse trap snapping shut comes from what gets stored in its spring, and not any change in gravitational potential energy. The Gravity Vehicle MUST be powered solely by the energy captured when a mass falls from high to low.

Question:
With regard to the target distance between 10-15m, would you be willing to share with teams the increments that might be used for the target distance?

Answer:
All teams will be informed of the target distance at the end of the impound period. The actual distance can be any distance between 10 and 15 meters.

Question:
Since the Gravity Vehicle and Trebuchet events are running in parallel with one another, is it acceptable for more than one team to use the same launching device for Gravity Vehicle?

Answer:
Teams will demonstrate both their Gravity Vehicle and their Siege Engine during the first morning round of the 2019 Physics Olympics competition, but each team’s tests in these two events will be separated by at least one-half hour. Depending on the number of teams that show up on Saturday 23 February, there may be significantly more time between the two tests.

The gravity vehicle starts from a horizontal orientation at floor level. Only the energy released by a falling mass can be used to power the Gravity Vehicle.

Question:
We've attached a sketch of our interpretation of the siege zone and wanted to know if teams could know the depth of the target area?

Answer:
Two launching area will be marked, for use by all teams. The initial launch area is a 1.70-meter-wide x 1.00-meter-deep rectangle with the front of the launching area located 4.00-meters from the center of the city walls (0.7-meter to 1.0-meter diameter). After the damage control judge verifies the destruction of the three targets located outside the city walls, one or both of the trebuchets may be relocated to the closer launching area, with front edge 2.25-meters from the center of the city walls.

Question:
Can teams have access to resources( protractor, programs; graphs) to aid in their angle adjustments?

Answer:
Teams may bring graphs or data tables to help inform any necessary changes in the angle of release required to alter the projectile trajectory.

Question:
We know it states that teams can only adjust the angle of release, so are we right in understanding that teams cannot adjust the position of their device within the loading zone after their round begins, except if they earn the right to move up to the 2.5m zone?

Answer:
During the siege, it is allowable for teams to adjust the placement of the trebuchets within the loading zone. The prohibition on adjustment is intended to prevent teams from changing the arm length, counterweight mass, or other structural parameter.