In-House Projects | Physics Olympics

Contests are open to anybody - usually, we award 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 on Saturday, March 30th of this year. 

Rubber Band Car

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Build a car chassis, connect it to wheels, and power it with 3 Whole Foods green rubber bands.  Speed and accuracy count in this race!

Build Days:
Monday Jan 28th through March 4th Contest day March 11th.

Contest Rules:
  1. ​This is a race of speed and accuracy, done on a 15 m long by 3 m wide course.  
  2. Wheels, axles, and propellers are the only store bought materials allowed. 
  3. Oh, and the rubber bands!  You're limited to 3 WholeFoods green rubber bands.
  4. We will supply all the materials for club build days, but you can bring/suggest other ones, as long as they're legal.
Full Contest Rules for Rubber Band Car Event are found here.
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Fine print:
First prize = $25 Amazon gift card,
Second prize = $15 Amazon gift card,
Third prize = $10 Amazon gift card

Physics Mobile

Do you have an imaginative streak, and some talent for building?

​Design and build a working mobile.  It can be motorized or non-motorized, but it should illustrate some physics concept. 

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

Build Days:
Start Now!  Final Build Date for this project is Monday March 18th.
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​Fine print:
First prize = $25 Amazon gift card,
Second prize = $15 Amazon gift card,
Third prize = $10 Amazon gift card

Water Bottle Rocket

Shoot Water Bottles Across the Room.
This event is for everyone - it's a practice-ahead / build on-site event.  You should develop two rockets - one that is really accurate, and goes where you shoot it, and one that goes super far. Or, who knows? Maybe your rocket can do both! 

Build Days:
February 25th - March 11th.  Contest on Ryken Field March 18th.

Full Contest Rules for Water Bottle Rockets ​are found here.  Really fun!


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