College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science will co-sponsor the TWU 2007 Edible Car Contest.  This year the contest will be open to  students in grades 8-12 as well as TWU students.  The rules will remain the same, and there will be an entry fee of $20 per team.  Cash prizes totaling $600 will be awarded.

Teams of middle school and high school students are invited to enter this annual event.  The model cars will be judged by professional engineers for their aerodynamics, detailed design and speed.

The contest will be held Friday, March 9, 2007 in the Southwest  Banquet Room of Hubbard Hall from 9 a.m. - noon.

Event Description:

• Each team must consist of 4 students (at least 2 female students per team; university teams must have at least 2 TWU students), who will design and build a car using only edible materials (either raw or cooked/prepared, but all food items used must be edible by humans! Chocolate syrup not recommended!). 

• The final car must "look like" a car and must not exceed the following dimensions:

4 inches wide ( including wheels and hub caps) 4 inches tall (including windshield, car roof, people, etc,) 12 inches long (including front and rear bumpers and any other extensions).

• The car must operate on three or four rotating "wheels" and roll successfully down a ramp that is 8 to 10 feet in length and is inclined at approximately 20 degrees (must be able to survive 3 runs down the ramp, if necessary). 

• An itemized list of all materials used in the car, along with their estimated costs (total estimate less than $10; receipts not necessary), and a statement of the theme or purpose for the car design should be submitted with the car.  Each student may be on only one team.  Each team may submit only one car.

Registration Deadline:

All applications must be postmarked no later than March 2, 2007 and must contain the $20 deposit per team and a release form for each team member.  Cash, Checks (made payable to Texas Woman's University), Discover, MasterCard, and Visa are acceptable forms of payment.

Cancellation Deadline:

Please notify Mike McGuire by Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at 940-898-3325 or email at MMcGuire1@twu.edu if your team must cancel its registration.  No refunds will be given.

 

Entry Submission Deadline:

All "car" entries must be submitted by team members for judging between 9:00 am and 9:30 am on Friday, March 9, 2007, in the Southwest Banquet Room, Hubbard Hall.

Teams may bring "cars" already assembled or assemble minor parts upon arrival.

I.  Engineering Design Category

    Total possible points = 30

1.  Correct size:  Length, width, height (total = 10 points)

•   0: no dimensions were met
•   1: one dimension was met
•   3: two dimension were met
• 10: all three dimensions were met

2.  Edible Materials (total = 10 points)

Allocate points accordingly:

•   2: all materials are edible by humans
•   2: have parts list
•   2: have total cost of car under $10
•   2: number of edible materials 1-5
•   2: number of edible materials greater than 5

3.  Effective Axle/Wheel Design (total = 5 points)

Note: sliding down the incline does not count; the car must roll on the wheels down the incline to count

•   0: car does not start on its own slides
•   1: car rolls down incline with assistance
•   2: car rolls poorly down incline but without assistance
•   3: car completes run down incline without assistance but hits the rails on the way down
•   5: car completes run down incline without assistance and without hitting the rails (these are bonus points)

4.  Durability (total = 5 points) (car must make it down incline  in order to gain points for durability)

•   1: car slides down incline (does not roll) but stays intact
•   2: car makes one run down incline, unable to make second
•   3: car makes two runs down incline, requiring minor repairs
•   5: car makes two runs down incline with no repairs (these are bonus points)

II.  Creativity Category

      Total possible points = 20

1.  Use of Car Accessories/Attachments (total = 10 points)

2.   Degree of Creativity (total = 10 points)

Allocate points accordingly:

•   2: use of a theme, slogan or purpose
•   2: use of a clever idea or material
•   2: use of different colors or textures
•   2: car-like appearance
•   2: unique uses of materials for special effects

III.  Speed Category

Total possible points = 20

This is a test of the actual performance of the car that is dependent upon the wheel and axle design along with the aerodynamic assessment of the car.

The fastest fifteen incline completion times receive 6 to 20 points, depending upon placement (the fastest time receives 20 points, the 15th placed time receives 6 points).  A car must roll on its wheels to qualify for time.  Sliding vehicles do not qualify.

TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS FROM ALL 3 CATEGORIES:  70