In-House Projects | Physics Olympics

Contests are open to anybody - usually, we'll swing some small cash prizes for the top three places to keep things fun.  Winners are strongly encouraged to join the Physics Olympics team for a fun one-day competition in April of this year. 

Pasta Car

+

Build a car out of pasta, roll it down a ramp, car that goes the farthest wins! Creative opportunities are endless; the materials list isn't.  Pasta, hot glue (only "spot welding" is allowed) and olive oil are allowed.

Build Days:
Monday 1/30 and Wednesday 2/2.
Final Throwdown Monday 2/7/17.

Contest Rules:
  1. We have a lot of pasta to choose from, but you may bring any type you'd like, provided it's uncooked.
  2. Pasta can be machined with tools, sandpaper, really anything you can think of.
  3. In the event your pasta car breaks during the trial, the distance recorded will be that of the largest single hunk of your car.
  4. Full Contest Rules for Pasta Car Event are found here.

​Fine print:
First prize = $25 Amazon gift card,
Second prize = $15 Amazon gift card,
Third prize = $10 Amazon gift card

Physics Video Contest

 Do you have an imaginative streak, and some talent with video editing?

​Create an original video no more than one minute long, explaining any physics concept.  You can combine video, artwork, text, still images - literally anything you can think of, in order to make your case.

The only thing you can't do is to sponge off ot the internet - no borrowed images or videos of any kind.

Full Contest Rules for Physics Videos are found here. They're a great source for ideas, too!


​Fine print:
First prize = $25 Amazon gift card,
Second prize = $15 Amazon gift card,
Third prize = $10 Amazon gift card

Paper Airplane Contest

Build a paper airplane, powered only by a rubber-band launcher.

Categories include flight time and distance.

Contest Dates: Spring 2017. As soon as the snow melts from the Ryken Field.


​Fine print:
First prize = $25 Amazon gift card,
Second prize = $15 Amazon gift card,
Third prize = $10 Amazon gift card

Laser Maze

Guide a laser beam around a maze of mirrors and land it on the target.  No building ahead is necessary, as this one is just for fun.  

Hint: Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection.

Contest Dates: Spring 2017