Keep the Heat B/Thermodynamics C

[EllaSci]

Just wondering:

What does the thermodynamic rules say about using rockwool? (I only just found out what it is.)

[chalker]

Just wondering:

What does the thermodynamic rules say about using rockwool? (I only just found out what it is.)

I believe almost any source of rockwool you can buy is going to be in the form of 'commercial insulation', which is explicitly prohibited.

[EllaSci]

Hey-
So just wondering...during the construction of the box, can we use glue that isn't expandable (or are all glues expandable?)

Thanks,

EllaSci and team

[retired1]

Hey-
So just wondering...during the construction of the box, can we use glue that isn't expandable (or are all glues expandable?)

Thanks,

EllaSci and team

That is a very interesting question. I would put gorilla glue in that category and would have to think twice about epoxy. I personally do not plan on our teams using either. This event is so wide open this year that there is no sense in taking interpretation risks. I would send in a rules clarification asking if any glues are considered expanding.

[chalker]

Hey-
So just wondering...during the construction of the box, can we use glue that isn't expandable (or are all glues expandable?)

Thanks,

EllaSci and team

Note the 'expandable glue' is in reference to foams. And foams are pretty easy to define (e.g. air pockets / spaces). Thus if you have a glue that happens to expand a bit due to a chemical reaction, but doesn't have air pockets, I doubt anybody would consider it a foam. All this is unofficial of course.. standard caveat about not the place for official clarifications, etc. etc.

[44madfire]

Hm. I might just be being stupid, but we could use things like glass right? And metal? So we could make a thermos type device, with an inner shell to hold the beaker, and an outer shell. In between the shells, we could create a vacuum using a vacuum pump, and a vacuum value. That would almost completely eliminate the heat loss through conduction. That would give a large advantage to the people who have access to vacuum pump. And I don't see anything in the rules that would make it illegal. Could I get a clarification on using vacuums? Thanks.

[retired1]

Just an opinion. A glass vacuum container is moderately thin glass and the reflector coating is extremely thin. I think that if you make a vacuum jar ( a Dewar)out of metal or normal thickness glass, the outer layer will suck up an immense amount of heat.
A high vacuum will crush a normal container. So how much are you going to gain? The lightest thing that you can come up with with just atmospheric pressure will probably work better.

About half of the event score is on the test. the other half is mostly on how well you can predict your final temps. A small percent of the score 5%+/- is on how effective your insulator is. A great insulator will help on the prediction score if it is very consistent.
Again, just an opinion from a practical standpoint.

[sciencegeek999]

According to my rules, you cannot use any type of foam (plastic, metal, expandable glue), bubblewrap and commercial insulation.

[Skink]

I don't know enough about materials to be sure, but, from what I gather, metals are not excluded. Rather, metal foams are. Notice how metal is in parentheses after foam and not its own 'category' of prohibited materials.

[sciencegeek999]

If it is plastic foam and not plastic, can we use plastic wrap?