Inertia Relay Race

Gather a team of 4 students to test your understanding and application of Newton’s 1st Law of Motion while racing against the clock. You must sign up for the contest ahead of time at the Info Booth. The Info Booth is located at the front entrance of the park. Only 20 teams of 4 will be allowed to participate each day.
Objective:
Complete a 4-person relay race with the maximum combination of water volume and speed.

Supplies:

  1. Water
  2. Margarine Tub

Directions:

  1. Each participant group will be handed a margarine tub before their turn at the relay. The group can choose to fill the tub with as much water as they wish, but once they leave the water station, no more can be added.
  2. When the team is called to the Start/Finish line, the first team member will take his/her place and begin the relay, weaving in and out between the cones, and then handing off to the next teammate in turn after he/she has passed the Start/Finish line.
  3. The relay concludes when the final team member has crossed the Start/Finish line and has come to a complete stop. The team’s time will be announced and recorded.
  4. The team will then take the margarine tub with the remaining water in it to the weighing station and the combined weight (mass) will be determined and recorded.
  5. The team’s score will be determined by the following formula:

Time:

Will be posted here soon

Location:

Picnic Grove

Posted 10/23/2009