Machines
Division: B – Middle School
NC Essential Standards Alignment: TBA
Event Rules: See the National Rules Manual
Event Score Sheet: TBA
National Event Page: Here
Clarifications: None
Description:
Teams will construct a lever-based measure device prior to the tournament to determine the mass ratios between the three test masses and complete a written test on simple and compound machine concepts.
Materials:
Each team may bring a collection of notes and resources, written/printed on paper, of any size containing information in any form and from any source. Participants may separate or remove the pages from containers for use during any part of the event. Teams may being one pre-constructed device.
Event Supervisors will provide the testing materials listed in the Competition Area section. Teams should not bring these materials.
FAQs:
10/2/25: Do students need to know about centripetal motion? Is that considered part of classical Newtonian mechanics?
Circular motion is a component of classical Newtonian mechanics. Centripetal force ties circular motion to Newton’s other laws. The limits of classical mechanics are speed (low enough not to bring relativity) and size (large enough not to be quantum mechanics).
Scoring:
Highest score wins. Ties are first broken based on best Exam Score, second by best Time Score, third by best Ratio Score 1, and finally by pre-selected test questions.
Final Score (FS) = Exam Score + Ratio Score 1 + Ratio Score 2 + Time Score. Maximum points possible are 100.
Recommendations:
Event Resources:
Machines 2019 Coaches Clinic Presentation (2020 Rules)
First installment of a series of Youtube videos for Machines – follow his channel for updates