The Western Kentucky Physics Olympics: Frequently Asked Questions

Please send questions to olympics@physics.wku.edu if they are not already addressed below. Responses will be posted here for the benefit of all teams.

Raft With Sail

1. Question:
   Does the straw boat have to always fit the size of the 10x10x10 cm box, or can it unfold to be larger than the 10x10x10 cm box but still be constructed to fold to fit in the box?
   
   Answer:
   The straw boat must always fit the size of the 10x10x10 cm box for the duration of the event and cannot expand or change in size.

Mechanical Water Heater

1. Question:
   Can electrical generators be used to convert mechanical energy into other forms of energy?
   
   Answer:
   While an electric generator cannot be used as energy input, it can be used to convert mechanical energy into other forms of energy; however, any electric generator used must be constructed by the team and cannot be a prebuilt one.