Leaf Blower Hovercraft Competition 4:30 PM, Saturday, November 22, 2008 East Concourse, Centennial Building, Fair Park [Only Open to Grades 9-12] [“Contestant” is defined as a team of four students] (Back to Competitions) (Printable Version)

Purpose

The purpose of the Leaf-Blower Hovercraft Competition is to promote student interest in technology and engineering. This event places special emphasis on group problem solving techniques.

The Competition

A team of four students will build and race a leaf-blower hovercraft. The race will be divided into two divisions:

• Motor propelled
• Stick propelled

Participants in each division will not be in competition against each other, but will “race the clock.”

Construction

(1) Build a leaf-blower hover craft using only the following materials:

1. ¾” circular plywood board no larger than 4 feet in diameter, or two 3/8” pieces of circular plywood board no larger than 4 feet in diameter.
2. 1-3 electric-powered leaf blowers arranged in any configuration.
3. 3 mil thick plastic (for bottom or hover craft skirt)
4. 1 stool (to sit on)(optional)
5. assorted staples, screws, bolts & nuts
6. some device of your choosing to provide horizontal propulsion [No rockets or explosive devices can be used to provide horizontal propulsion][Note: leaf blowers can be configured to provide horizontal propulsion]

(2) The leaf-blower hovercraft must be completely constructed by the students. Please address any questions to lehmanm743@aol.com

(3) Hovercrafts deemed to be unsafe will not be allowed to race in this event.

Race Specifics

(1) The racecourse will be approximately 100 meters long.

(2) Students may not change drivers during the race.

(3) All horizontal propulsion must come from the hovercraft driver located on the 4-foot vehicle. This means that persons not standing on the hovercraft cannot give “pushes” to add propulsion. The driver’s feet and hands cannot come directly in contact with the floor to provide propulsion.

(4) The contestant on the hovercraft can not pull on the electrical cord to provide horizontal propulsion. This also means that the contestant on the hovercraft can not be pulled by the electrical cord.

(5) The driver can provide his or her own “push off” at the beginning of the race. Running leaps onto the hovercraft are not permitted as a “push off.”

(6) The winner of the race will be the team that completes the racecourse in the shortest period of time.

(7) Each team is responsible for providing their own electrical cords, as well as for developing techniques for manipulating those cords. Team members will be allowed to carry and manipulate the electrical cords during the race to facilitate a smoother flow of the craft.

(8) Teams will compete against ‘the clock.”

Racing Events

• Racing 100 meter length of course.
• Racing 100 meters, turning the hovercraft around 180 degrees, and returning to the starting line. The hovercraft driver must perform the turn while remaining on the vehicle.

For additional information about Winston Science, contact Dr. Lehman Marks, Event Director. Copyright © 2009 Lehman Marks. All Rights Reserved.