Coaches+Information

=**2010 Rube Goldberg Machine Contest** =

__**Coaches Information Session**__
Competition Rules · Contestants are responsible for inventorying their tools, removing their machine, and discarding/recycling related debris immediately following the contest.
 * The number of members on a team will be 6 students in grades 7-9. The competition is limited to 24 teams, selected by the Contest Steering Committee. All participants must wear their competition t-shirts during the competition.
 * Each team must create a machine to accomplish the stated task using the box of items provided (see Official Materials List).
 * Each team will be provided with a 15’X15’ foot area in which to construct its machine and perform for the judges.
 * A list of tools to be provided on the day of the competition will be included in the materials delivered to each team during coach training at MIT. All tools will be made available on the day of the competition (see Official Tool List).
 * No tools other than those provided may be used.
 * Teams must arrive at the competition venue with their materials in the exact condition in which they received them, and judges will certify compliance prior to machine construction. Holes drilled, screws or fasteners attached, markings of any type, etc. will result in the forfeiture of the item. The team may bring plans, templates, other design, construction, or presentation aids.
 * No part of a team’s machine or any associated materials may be attached in any way to the walls, floor, or ceiling of the competition venue. No action of building, cutting, or drilling shall damage furniture provided at the competition venue.
 * One member of each team must be designated Team Captain. The Captain will lead his or her team’s presentation of the machine to the judges, including an explanation of the process of creating the machine, a detailed Rube Goldberg style illustration and detailed description of how the machine works (including each step of the process), and the outcome. Points will be awarded for creativity. The Team Captain shall also return all tools to the designated area for inventory and inspection.
 * Each team will have a total time of 15 minutes for the presentation of its machine to the judges (recommended 5 minutes) and the successful run of its machine (recommended 10 minutes). Should a team exceed the 15 minute period, it will be disqualified.
 * The team with the highest overall score will win the competition. Trophies will be awarded to the overall winning team and 2nd and 3rd place runners up, and to the teams earning the highest scores in each of the three judging areas of complexity of the machine, machine creativity, and the quality of teamwork/presentation to the judges. No team shall win more than one award.
 * Each machine must be safe according to the approval of the judges.
 * Each machine must incorporate the use of either one mouse trap or one rat trap as an active part of their machines design. If a team fails to do so then they will be disqualified.
 * Machines must incorporate a minimum of five __unique__ "steps" in completing the defined task. A "step" is defined as a discrete action that (1) contributes to the completion of the Rube Goldberg task by (2) transferring or releasing energy. For an action to qualify as a "step," the machine must not be able to complete the Rube Goldberg task if the action fails. An action will not qualify as a "step" if it is part of a series of side events, any one of which can fail without preventing the machine from completing the Rube Goldberg task. No action in such a series of irrelevant side events will qualify as a "step." What a step IS NOT is a series of identical actions; for example a line of dominos falling is a single step rather than a series of steps. Likewise, a marble moving down a series of ramps, where the only actions are a series of changes in direction, is a single step. Each step must result in the transfer of energy from one process to another.
 * A team will be disqualified from competition if it builds a machine that does not meet the minimum threshold of five "steps." Machines that incorporate more than the minimum number of "steps" will score extra complexity or creativity points.
 * A machine must not imply profane, indecent, or lewd expressions.
 * A machine may not display any corporate or sponsor logos.
 * Each team is responsible for the security of its own machine, but intentional destructive action against other machines is cause for disqualification. In addition, misbehavior at any time is grounds for disqualification.
 * A penalty will be assessed for any human intervention on a machine in motion (see the judging form), defined as any act necessary to adjust the machine’s performance between the start of a run and its completion.
 * Teams may bring or invite spectators, but all spectators must remain in designated areas and will be permitted to view the competition from approved locations only.

Tools available the day of competition:
 * = 12” ruler ||= Measuring ||=  1 ||
 * = Tape measure, standard 10’ ||= Measuring ||= 1 ||
 * = Yardstick ||= Measuring ||= 1 ||
 * = Hacksaw ||= Tools ||= 1 ||
 * = Woodsaw ||= Tools ||= 1 ||
 * = <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Light claw hammer ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Tools ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">1 ||
 * = <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Power drill, bits and screw heads ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Tools ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">1 ||
 * = <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Needle nose pliers ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Tools ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">1 ||
 * = <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Utility knife ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Tools ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">1 ||
 * = <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Wire strippers/cutters ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Tools ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">1 ||
 * = <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Wrenches ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Tools ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">1 ||
 * = <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Scissors ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Tools ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">1 ||
 * = <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Sandpaper ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Construction ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">1 ||
 * = <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Hot glue gun and 5 glue sticks ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Adhesives ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">1 ||
 * = <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">C-clamps ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Tools ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">2 ||
 * = <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Safety glasses ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Tools ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">7 ||
 * = <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Pairs of work gloves ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Tools ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">2 ||
 * = <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Lined paper ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Tools ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">1 ||
 * = <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Markers ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">Tools ||= <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 84%; text-align: center;">1 ||


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