Mystery Design B [TRIAL]

[Ludwig_van_Beethoven]

What is Mystery Design? Can someone please explain! Thanks!

[JasperKota]

What is Mystery Design? Can someone please explain! Thanks!

It's running as a trial event in New York this year. Here's the event description from newyorkscioly.org: http://www.newyorkscioly.org/wp-content ... BDpost.pdf

[Beyaffe]

Does anyone know what design we have to do for N.Y State competition?

[NeilMehta]

Does anyone know what design we have to do for N.Y State competition?

It isn't out yet, unfortunately - it's generally released two weeks before the competition

[Beyaffe]

It's about two weeks before N.Y State Scioly competition and still no word about Mystery Design. Does anyone know what we are doing? If anyone knows, that would be really helpful. Thank you .

[SPP SciO]

It's about two weeks before N.Y State Scioly competition and still no word about Mystery Design. Does anyone know what we are doing? If anyone knows, that would be really helpful. Thank you .

I think the best bet is to keep checking the webpage. It would be great if they could send an email to the coaches - which shouldn't be too hard, since we all had to register on Ezra - but I'm not holding my breath. I think it's likely that they're waiting until the last minute, since the last regional tournament was this past weekend, and they wouldn't want to release it until all State teams are registered (checks due this Friday), for the sake of fairness.

[SPP SciO]

http://www.newyorkscioly.org/wp-content ... States.pdf

This looks like an extremely thin premise to go with - what is the "toy" that's specified?

[SPP SciO]

http://www.newyorkscioly.org/wp-content ... States.pdf

This looks like an extremely thin premise to go with - what is the "toy" that's specified?

http://www.newyorkscioly.org/wp-content ... he-Toy.pdf Still pretty thin ... but I guess this is better. Maybe a more coherent document will be posted.

[Beyaffe]

So we FINALLY got the specifications for Mystery Design, but it's extremely vague. Does anyone have any design ideas? How exactly are we supposed to use paper to make a chair?

[SPP SciO]

So we FINALLY got the specifications for Mystery Design, but it's extremely vague. Does anyone have any design ideas? How exactly are we supposed to use paper to make a chair?

Yeah, this was pretty disappointing. I sent an email to the director with this list of questions -

1. Will the students be allowed to bring scissors, will they be provided, or are students expected to only use their hands to modify the papers provided?

2. Rule 5 says "the frame can be lifted without breaking" - Does this imply that the entire structure must be lifted, or that the frame needs to be removable from the legs? Essentially, do the students need to build and design one single structure, or can there be separate pieces?

3. Rule 6 says "the floor will span the entire inside area of the triangular frame" - I'm not seeing what's the purpose of the floor - can the students just lay a piece of paper flat and put their legs/frame on top of it? This makes me think the floor needs to be attached.

4. Rule 8 about the extremities - will the students be placing the toy on the structure, or will the supervisors be doing this? The "no matter the orientation" clause seems to imply that the ES will test various orientations. Also, what is the toy? The specs are not particularly helpful. A picture would be useful; a link to Amazon so teams can buy their own toy for testing would be better.

5. Is there a scoring rubric beyond what was posted from the Wisconsin rules on the website?

6. What is the source for the paper and tape (so the students can generate an items cost list)?