IV. BALLOON DISTANCER

2008 rules

A. Objective

The purpose of this competition is to obtain the greatest horizontal movement of a Balloon Distancer from the potential energy stored in a standard commercial balloon. The propulsion must come from the air in the balloon.

B. Apparatus (A standard balloon issued by the judges)

1. Competitors shall produce a self-propelled vehicle (The Balloon Distancer) to be powered only by the potential energy stored in a standard commercial balloon. This must be a whole single device all of which must move together. There cannot be a push-off device or surface.

2. The Balloon Distancer may have a maximum mass of 1 kg, and maximum height of 40 cm, not including the balloon.

3. The balloon will be a standard 12" party balloon, 3 will be supplied on site.

C. The Competition

1. The Distancer shall have its power source set (balloon blown up) by one of the three team members and placed behind the starting line of the competition area. At a signal from the judge it shall be released without any impulse in the forward direction.

2. In the event that the Distancer is not self-starting, the judge, but not the competitor, may blow lightly on the vehicle at what ever angle is stipulated by the competitor. Only two such attempts to start the vehicle shall be allowed.

3. The roadway for the vehicle shall be a tile-surfaced hallway.

4. Two runs will be allowed. The best of the two to be used for scoring.

5. No device can guide the vehicle's path.

6. The device cannot leave the ground.

7. The balloon cannot be enclosed in anything, but may be held down with a strip of tape.

D. Judging and Scoring

1. Vehicles stopped by a natural barrier of the course, such as a wall, are considered finished for the event. This becomes the maximum distance. All vehicles must travel at least 1 m to qualify.

2. The total distance covered by the vehicle to the ends of its motion shall be measured in meters.

3. The Event Score shall be based on the distance moved from the starting line.

4. The vehicle with the highest Event Score shall receive 40 Team Points, with other vehicles receiving points in proportion to their relative event scores: 40, 39, 38, 37, etc. A tie will be broken by giving the highest Team Score to the least massive vehicle.