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NC Science Olympiad

Towers

Division: Middle School – Division B

NC Essential Standards Alignment: Grade 6, 7, and 8: Goals 1 and 2; High School Physics 7.P.1, 7.P.2, Phy.1.1, Phy.1.2, Phy.1.3, PSc.1.1, PSc.1.2

Event Rules: See the National Rules Manual

National Event Page: Here

Description:

Teams will design and build a Tower (structure) meeting requirements specified in the rules to achieve the highest structural efficiency.  

Materials:

Each team is allowed to enter only one structure, build prior to the competition.  All participants must wear eye protection.  Event Leaders provide all test apparatus and tools/materials for measurement.  

Scoring:

High score wins. 

Common Mistakes:

The goal is not to build the strongest tower, it is to build the most efficient tower. Most winning towers will break before hitting 15kg

FAQs:

10/29/24: How long should the chain be if we are replicating the loading block and chain to test our tower? About 3.5 ft

Event Resources:

Breaker measurements – to “build your own”
How to build a PVC breaker video
Tower Breaker Photos

Our water coolers are mounted to two pieces of 3/4″ wood sitting on top of each other. The bottom one is roughly 10″ x 12″, and the upper one is roughly 10″ x 8″. The cooler mounts into a pvc fitting. On the bottom, the lever (which appears to have been waterjet out of acrylic) rotates around a bolt. The metal plate shown in the picture holds it in place and limits the rotation. 
 
The main tube is 4″ diameter PVC, approximately 21″ long. It mounts into a 45 degree elbow, which has the funnel on top. It looks like it’s just a normal funnel with the bottom cut off so that it doesn’t restrict sand flow too much. 


Boomilever, Bridge & Tower Test Stands
Balsa Engineering YouTube Channel