Into The Mousehole. Wednesday, October 24, School of Engineering Mousetrap Design Competition 2012

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1 School of Engineering Mousetrap Design Competition 2012 Into The Mousehole Wednesday, October 24, 2012 WIDENER UNIVERSITY School of Engineering 1 University Place Chester, PA phone: fax: rlmersky@widener.edu

2 TIMES AND PLACES Rules 2 Time Event 8:45 9:45 a.m. Registration 9:45 11:45 Competition 11:45 12:45 p.m. Demonstrations of engineering laboratories 12:45 1:30 Lunch (provided by Widener University) Registration and the competition will be held in the Schwartz Center on the Widener University main campus. Parking for passenger vehicles and buses is available there. Students will walk to Kirkbride Hall for demonstrations of engineering laboratories and to University Center for lunch. Students may be picked up at any of those buildings. The campus is located in Chester, PA, near the intersections of I-95, I-476, and I-295. For directions, go to on the bottom left click "Map & Directions. DESIGN OBJECTIVES A mouse is in trouble! It is being held by a mousetrap and must escape and enter a safe mousehole. But the path is blocked by the hungry cat Famished Feline (his friends call him F 2 ). The objective of this contest is to design and build a device which will launch a standard ping-pong ball (representing the imperiled mouse) into one of several mouseholes. Points will be awarded based on where the ping-pong ball comes to a stop. Apart from incidental gravitational energy, the spring energy from a standard snap mousetrap will be the sole source of power. No other energy source (electric, stretched rubber band, compressed spring, etc.) is permitted. DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND RULES 1. Each team will provide one mousetrap powered launcher. No substitutions of or changes to the launcher are permitted once the competition has begun. A standard (approved by the U.S.A.T.T. and I.T.T.F.) ping pong ball will be provided by Widener at the competition. Balls will be provided at least 2 minutes prior to each team s turn. 2. The course for the competition is shown in the figure on page 5. The surface will be painted smooth plywood. Contestants will position their launchers in the launch area at a location of their choosing. No part of the launcher may extend beyond the launch area until the ball has completely left the launcher (no further contact between ball and launcher). No device or template may be used for positioning the launcher or aiming the ball that is not an attached part of the launcher. 3. The only acceptable source of power for the launcher shall be the spring energy from a single standard Victor brand traditional snap mousetrap (model M150,

3 model M154 or model M035 only). The spring torque may not be adjusted or modified in any way. The mousetrap spring may not be removed from the base. The spring must not travel more than 180 degrees from the "fully armed" to the "unloaded" position. The mousetrap must be an integral part of the launcher. 4. The contestants may not touch or restrain the launcher once it is set in the readyto-start position. Touching or influancing the ball after launching (e.g., blowing on or tapping it) shall result in a score of zero points for that try. 5. The ball will be launched by a team member pressing an unsharpened wood pencil with an eraser on a designated part of the launcher. Either the wood or eraser end may be used. Widener University will supply pencils as required to start the device. 6. The contestants will have 60 seconds to launch once the device is in position in the starting area. Should the time limit be exceeded (subject to the judges discretion), the entry may be disqualified for that try and given a zero score. 7. Although it is not necessary, some teams may wish to build a course at their schools to test and refine their entry before the competition. 3 SCORING 8. Scoring will be based on the mousehole which the ball enters and remains in. A ball that leaves the course or comes to rest without entering a hole will be awarded a score of zero points. If a ball enters and leaves a hole, it will be considered still in play. 9. The preliminary round will consist of two tries per entry. The scores of those two tries will be summed to obtain the total score. The seven best total scores obtained during the preliminary round will be eligible to compete in the playoff round. 10. The playoff round will consist of three tries scored and summed as in the preliminary round. If more than seven teams are eligible for the playoff round (because of ties), the playoff round may be reduced to two tries at the discretion of the judges. 11. Should a tie breaker be needed to establish first, second or third places at the completion of the playoff round, F 2 will be widened by placing a 6 inch box on each side (for a total width of 2.5 feet) and a single try, scored as in the preliminary round, will be made by the tied entries. Should the tie breaker result in a tie, the awarding of trophies will be by random drawing of numbers, or, if the judges determine that time permits, F 2 will be repositioned (to a position of the judges choosing) and another single try made by the tied teams.

4 4 GENERAL 12. Each team will consist of no more than three members. 13. The decision of the judges shall be final. 14. No more than five teams may enter the competition from any one school. Schools with more than five interested teams may wish to have an in-school competition to select their five teams. Non-participating students, parents, teachers and other guests are welcome (their names should be listed on the team application form). 15. Each team must provide a name for its entry (e.g. "Mousemachine"). 16. Teachers must submit application forms, to be received by October 22, Online application is preferred. Go to Team Application Form. If online registration is not feasible, an application form is attached. A separate form should be used for each team. 17. In case of inclement weather, the contest will be postponed and rescheduled. If it appears that a weather cancellation is possible, it is the responsibility of each school to call the main switchboard at Widener University ( after 8:15 a.m.) or Widener University Safety ( before 8:15 a.m.) for a reconfirmation before departure. 18. All participants will receive a certificate of participation. First, second and third place trophies will be awarded to the winning schools. The schools of other playoff round participants will receive playoff finalist trophies. Description of Course See the attached diagram. It is not completely to scale. The launch area is a 2.5-ft. square. Guide lines will be painted at 6-inch centers to assist teams in placing their launchers. The entire course will be surrounded by vertical 1/2 inch thick (lumber measurement) sidewalls except for the bottom of the launch area (which will have no wall). The sidewalls will extend vertically 10 inches. The 1, 3 and 5 point mouseholes will be cut in the back sidewall as shown. Beyond the cuts will be a 3 inch drop to a 4 inch wide shelf. The 1 point gutters will be a vertical drop of 3 inches to a 4 inch wide shelf. The sidewalls around the gutters will extend 10 inches above the shelf (7 inches above the course floor). F 2 will be a plywood box of 10 inches vertical height.

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6 FAQs 1. May we use a remote control? No. Even though it does not launch the ball, the use of electricity for any purpose violates the rule against non-mousetrap power sources. 2. May we use springs or rubber bands? Not if they contribute any power to the launch. A pre-stretched rubber band or a pre-compressed/stretched spring that contributes to the launch is prohibited. Non-power uses (rubber bands to hold the device together) are permitted. 3. May we attach materials to the mousetrap spring? Yes. The spring arm can have tape, solder, wire, wood, plastic or other materials attached. But the spring cannot be cut and cannot be modified to move more than What about the wooden base? The base can have materials attached. It can have slits or holes cut in it to attach material. The cuts may not permit the spring to move more than May we use a ruler to position our launcher in the Starting Area? If the ruler is attached to the launcher and will not be moved or removed the answer is yes. Rulers or other measuring equipment that is not attached to the launcher or which will be bent or rolled after positioning are prohibited. 6. If we arrive early, may we practice with our launcher on the course? No. That would give some teams an unfair advantage. 7. May we use a pre-made kit? No. Doing so would defeat the entire educational purpose of this competition. 8. Can our launcher come apart? The launcher can be in more than one piece for transport, loading of the ball or other reasons. But once it is ready to launch, it must be one connected unit. There can be no detached parts until the ball has completely left the launcher. 9. May the launcher rest against a wall for support before activation? Yes, but no part of the launcher may extend over any part of a wall or outside of the starting area until the ball has completely left the launcher. 10. May we cheat? The answer is obviously No. The purpose of this competition is to learn how engineers design devices to meet specifications. Using a more powerful energy source (such as rat trap), buying a ready-made kit or other rule violations defeat that purpose. Teachers should ensure that the competition is a positive education in engineering practice and ethics. ENGINEERING DESIGN COMPETITION

7 7 Into The Mousehole Contest Date Wednesday, October 24, 2012 TEAM APPLICATION FORM School Faculty Supervisor Address Phone Fax Name Grade Address Team Members Name of Device (for example, Mousemachine ) Please list any other students, teachers, parents, or other guests who will attend. Team will stay for demonstrations of Engineering Laboratories: Yes No Team will stay for lunch at Widener University: Yes No Please list any special food requirements, disability accommodations or questions about accessibility, or other requirements PLEASE USE A SEPARATE FORM FOR EACH TEAM. PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT LEGIBLY. DEADLINE: October 22, 2012 Online application is preferred. Go to and click Outreach Programs on the left sidebar. If online registration is not feasible, send to: Dr. Ronald L. Mersky, Widener University, School of Engineering, 1 University Place, Chester, PA , Phone: (610) ; Fax: (610) ; rlmersky@widener.edu