Power Puzzle
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 2011 Western Kentucky Physics Olympics. This year's event
will be held Saturday, February 26 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 Solar
Photovoltaics requires each team to design and construct an energy
generation circuit using provided solar photovoltaic cells. The
Raingutter Regatta event requires each team to bring to
the competition a sailboat that they designed and constructed. The
sailboats will compete in head-to-head races down a short indoor
course. This year's "Calculation/ Communication Challenge" is
entitled Alternative Energy Generator, and will have
participants cooperating to design and construct a device to generate
electrical energy from some other energy source.
Registration
Teams can register online at
http://physics.wku.edu/olympics/registration.html.
The registration deadline is Thursday, February 17.
Schedule of Events
|
Time |
Activity |
Location |
|
8:00 |
Mandatory check-in for all teams |
TCCW 201 |
|
8:30 |
Results announced for Solar Photovoltaics |
TCCW 201 |
|
8:45 |
Raingutter Regatta
competition begins |
TCCW 129 |
|
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 |
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.
