hey people!

 

I got a little assignment, I have to transport an egg over 50m, using a mechanism without electricity or mayor human interferance Does anyone have any ideas how to do this???

 

Thanks:-)

vertical or horizontal?

egg intact after or not?

trebuchet. it might not be intact when it lands...

if you carved out a peice of expanded polystyrene packaging and fit the egg inside it would make the journey though

 

you`de need about 2 inches thick all around.

Maybe have some softer padding inside. And weight it so it lands with the pointy end of the egg downwards.

Rocket sled.

Fine idea, we first thought of a water rocket, but the teacher wo'nt allow us to do something like that (good idea about the polystyrene packaging though!) The egg should survive it, and is raw... We thought about a circuit aswell, but it in a mini-ferris wheel, and make it go round 50times, but it must be 1 long rail or something... I'm clueless

remote control car? just tape the egg on top

No electricity. But maybe you could just have a small wheeled cart, and start it on a ramp. 50m is a long way, though. Is it specified whether or not its a smooth surface?

find a 50m long hill and put the egg in some form of sphere...

We can do it in the corridor, so smooth. Would putting it in a cart, and firing it with an electromagnet work? or wouldn't it give enough power?

Would "mechanism" rule out using a dog and some kind of reward system?

if you have the egg securely packaged, it doesn`t matter How tidy you really do this as long as you win! Right?

 

have you considered Compressed gas such as CO2 canisters (the sort used in home made soda pop) on a roller skate, or even a long piece of wood across the hall with 2 pegs and a large elastic between them (Catapault style in a nice arc through the air)?

 

and no, electro magnets use electricity, so that`s against the rules.

 

trained Gerbils anyone???

The big slingshot is a good idea, but why through the air? Wrap it up in a ball, then sling it along the floor so it rolls and has less chance of breaking. Or just bowl it! Is that cheating?

make a trebuchet out of k'nex

if you have the egg securely packaged' date=' it doesn`t matter How tidy you really do this as long as you win! Right?

 

have you considered Compressed gas such as CO2 canisters (the sort used in home made soda pop) on a roller skate, or even a long piece of wood across the hall with 2 pegs and a large elastic between them (Catapault style in a nice arc through the air)?

 

and no, electro magnets use electricity, so that`s against the rules.

 

trained Gerbils anyone???[/quote']

 

A CO2 car would work perfectly. I like this idea, you could get 50m easily.

Alright, thnx everyone I think we'll try the trebuchet using the polystyrene packaging, or the CO2 car

 

Thnx a lot, you were of great help, I'll make some designs, hand them in, and if possible, make photo's and post them in a new topic somewhere

 

Thnx again

 

Rick

Send it sliding across an ice rink or frozen over lake!

Toss it into 0 g space, let it drift for ages!

you need a good trebuchet to get that 50m... if it were just an egg it might not be as hard, but you have to get the egg plus enough padding that it doesnt break after being hurled into the air by a medieval siege weapon. good luck with that.

Send it sliding across an ice rink or frozen over lake!

Toss it into 0 g space' date=' let it drift for ages![/quote']

 

Where is this 0g space of which you speak?

 

And the packaging shouldn't be too heavy surely?

Would anything in the rules preclude pulling it to its destination? How about 25m of linked rubber bands attached to a wheeled vehicle? Might get snaps for original thinking....

And the packaging shouldn't be too heavy surely?

 

 

maybe, but think about what you would have to have for padding to keep an egg from cracking after being thrown half a football field. if not heavy it would probably at least be bulky. i think to throw it that far your going to need a pretty decent sized trebuchet. maybe im wrong : P

Do not use polyestyrene foam as packaging. Use sponge instead.

Only 50 metres? -piece of cake!- Helium balloons will do it, but there is risk the 50 metres can become 50 kilometres and get the first prize plus too many extra bonuses.

A tiny leak with an aquarium hose valve on the helium balloon can be set for shorter distances and a very smooth landing and may need very little protection.

If a strict path has to be followed by the rules ot the contest, a second air ballon can provide propulsion to the helium carrier while riding captive on a string from start to goal line.

Miguel

Also a good idea, I'll discuss it with the group, and you'll hear the final result

How about a compressed air launcher, something like a potato gun. Should be relatively cheap and easy to build.