Scioly.org

I'm not making useless comments, it seems like you think there's some catch to it or something when there isn't... If you must have a description, set something on a table. This is a horizontal position, as long as the vehicle doesn't start in this position, you're fine.

XJcwolfyX wrote:Then can you describe it, or are you just going to make useless comments?

Politeness is a rule for being on this site. Rather than catty comments, ask your coach first.
The last that I looked, horizontal only had one definition in the dictionary.

I'm not fighting again --- but I'll end this conversation with this: Last year we interpreted the rules the only way we thought they could be, and rule "clarifications" made our device illegal. We had to change the whole contraption, that's not easy when the event is Mission Possible, or any building event for that matter. I know that comment sounded catty, but this thread is here for helping our fellow Science Olympians, not critiquing their questions.

XJcwolfyX wrote:I'm not fighting again --- but I'll end this conversation with this: Last year we interpreted the rules the only way we thought they could be, and rule "clarifications" made our device illegal. We had to change the whole contraption, that's not easy when the event is Mission Possible, or any building event for that matter. I know that comment sounded catty, but this thread is here for helping our fellow Science Olympians, not critiquing their questions.

That's totally fair. However, I would HIGHLY suggest two things to every competitor.
First, don't attempt to skirt the edges of the rules. While you might think you are in the right, your event supervisor has the final say and it isn't worth it to risk being DQ'd (unless you are 100% certain whatever you are doing is legal because of either a rule or something official in writing.)

Second, everyone should submit official clarifications on any question you may have. This will provide you with the official, national position on the rules and is the only enforceable response at Nationals (your mileage may vary at Invitational, Regional and State Tournaments.)

To avoid the situation described above by XJcwolfyX, I would suggest submitting a clarification well in advance of any significant investment, be it time, effort or monetary.

Are most people going with higher ramps or lower ramps here? Chalker, do you know why the height was weighted so heavily?

I'm pretty sure I am doing something wrong, but the minimum score for combined height and time score would make for a low ramp. A REALLY low ramp. I might suggest that you do some math to decide on the ideal height for the ramp. Just saying.

I sort of doubt it, but would really like to see your math.

XJcwolfyX wrote:Are most people going with higher ramps or lower ramps here? Chalker, do you know why the height was weighted so heavily?

I would assume that people are going to do whatever ramp is best for them. I would that think most competitors will be optimizing their vehicle to fit their ramp rather than the converse. It seems much easier to do it this way.

Lalaloopsy wrote:I'm pretty sure I am doing something wrong, but the minimum score for combined height and time score would make for a low ramp. A REALLY low ramp. I might suggest that you do some math to decide on the ideal height for the ramp. Just saying.

Yes, ideally a low ramp would be the best scorewise; however, that might not be the most pragmatic approach with respect to the time score.

retired1 wrote:I sort of doubt it, but would really like to see your math.

I just graphed the height equation. If I've read the rules correctly, low score wins so ideally the lower the ramp, the better the score.

Don't forget to throw in how the starting height of the vehicle will affect the speed and distance it'll travel. This might take some test trials to get some realistic results (taking friction into consideration).

XJcwolfyX wrote: Chalker, do you know why the height was weighted so heavily?

In order to make it significantly different from last year and to increase the challenge for the top end teams, while not increasing the difficulty for the majority of the rest of the teams.