History

'05 Pulley Results

(more info coming soon!)

'04 Ramp Results

There were a total of six teams competing for two criterion:  Maximum Departure Velocity and Maximum Transit Time.  For this competition, teams were allowed to use kite string as an additional component to their structure.  There was no limit to the length of string used (the string did however, have to have a strength comparable to ordinary kite string).  The completed structure could have a mass no greater than two kilograms (which is about 250 CD's).

		Team:  Acacia and ΔZ
		Originally targeting first place finishes in each category, Acacia and ΔZ learned quickly how difficult building a multiple function structure can be.  Their efforts paid off in the end, however.  This team placed second in Maximum Departure Velocity (1.93m/s) and third in Maximum Transit Time (4.21s).
		Team:  Bonus Points
		Together with spirit and the common motivation for earning bonus points in General Physics, this team was eager to apply physics principles to their design.  With more time to put their ideas into production, we're sure they would have found more success.  Unfortunately, time was not on their side for this competition!
		Team: High Entropy
		Don't let the name of this team fool you; there was a lot of organization and planning that had taken place for their structure.  With a very long ramp and numerous strategically placed "speed bumps" along the way, High Entropy was the clear winner in the Maximum Transit Time category (8.88s).
		Team: PHAT and Chicks
		With a name like PHAT and Chicks, we thought for sure there would be some creativity in design!  Unfortunately, their structure did not take a final form to place in either of the categories for the CD Ramp competition.  Maybe next year!
		Team: Phi Lambda Chi
		Phi Lambda Chi's ramp was what one might call a "low rider." Low to the floor and piecemeal design, this ramp placed second in the Maximum Transit Time (6.46s) and third in the Maximum Departure Velocity (0.97s).
		Team: The Bulgarians
		The Bulgarians had one goal in mind and put all of their design efforts to one category.  And it paid off!  Constructing the shortest ramp structure with the steepest incline, they easily took first place in the Maximum Departure Velocity category (2.06m/s).

'03 Bridge Results

There were a total of five teams competing for three criterion:  Greatest Load-Bearing Capacity, Greatest Horizontal Span, and Greatest Vertical Clearance.  For this competition, teams were allowed to use kite string as an additional component to their structure.  There was no limit to the number of CD's used or on the length of string used (the string did however, have to have a strength comparable to ordinary kite string).

		Team:  It Doesn't Matter
		Team It Doesn't Matter came with a plan to win both the greatest vertical span and greatest horizontal clearance categories.  Veterans of the CD Challenge, this team quietly began construction early in the competition far away from the other teams.  Their strategy and hard work resulted in a bridge that won the greatest vertical clearance (41.25").
		Team:  Midget Monkies
		New to the CD Challenge, the Midget Monkies were hard at work for most of the day.  As the competition drew to a close and the other bridges had taken form, these enthusiastic teammates secretly dismantled their bridge so we couldn't get a picture of the final construction!  These teammates, were however, very good sports and remained on site cheering for the other teams as the judging was completed.
		Team: Shockers
		The Shockers were returning to the CD Challenge this year with a determination to win the greatest horizontal span category.  Their modification of the CD's was one that was not at all expected by anyone familiar with the CD Challenge!  Had the rules allowed for mid section support piers in judging this category, their final span would have been at least tripled.  They won the maximum horizontal clearance category by over 40" (for a total of 182.75").
		Team: Check Out Our Load
		Team Check Out Our Load brought to the table their CD's, cutting utensils, and ambition--all without a plan!  But before too long, a strategy had been developed to target the category no other team had yet begun working on: the maximum load-bearing capacity.  Supported by strong piers and making good use of extra CD's a counter-weights, their bridge supported most of gram masses available but eventually collapsed at 3.6 kilograms.
		Team: Adrenergic Catecholamines
		Despite the length of their team name, the Adrenergic Catecholamines were not competing for the greatest horizontal span!  This team demonstrated what can be accomplished with an indefinite supply of resources.  Using well over 100 unmodified CD's and more than a full spool of kite string, this team's bridge supported a load over 18 kilograms.  It's true limit was not determined due to a lack of kilogram masses--although it did successfully support one of the judge's children!

'01 Tower Results

    For our debut competition (fall '01) the challenge was to build a CD Tower.  There were a total of six teams competing for four criterion:  Tallest Tower, Most Creative Design, Height to Mass Ratio, and the fourth criterion, grand prize, being a composite weighted scoring of the first three criterion.

		Team:  Bob the Builders
		If there were metals awarded for effort and perseverance, Bob the Builders would have taken home the gold!  Their design was a good one, and took second place in the height to mass ratio criteria (0.78cm/g).  Team members learned not all CD's are created equally, and that scissor quality is important!
		Team:  goforthandclick
		Off to an early start, goforthandclick established quick earned respect from on-lookers because of their intricate modular design (pictured to the left).  The fittings proved to be too tight causing important pieces to break, ultimately sending these CD structural engineers back to the drawing board.  The team showed up just prior to the end of the event to prop up their height to mass ratio (11cm/g) award winning "tower." Because the value obtained for this criterion was so skewed to their favor (89% of weighted points), this team won the grand prize even though they had the shortest tower (11cm)!
		Team: Dremel
		Having worked on their CD's with a Dremel tool before arriving on site, Dremel's tower showed much promise as time continued on.  In fact, had there been more time to solve stability issues, this team would have most likely won the tallest tower award because of the modular component design (128cm).
		Team: Delta Zeta
		Full of spirit, Delta Zeta came to the event with a pair of scissors and put a lot of heart into their tower(s).  After deciding their tower's design had a height limit shorter than their competitors', this team disassembled their tower to start from scratch (again!).  We are certain to see their determination demonstrated in future CD Challenges!
		Team: If All Else Fails
		Holding true to their name, If All Else Fails quietly built their tower without a plan while observing the progress of the other teams.  As their pyramid-shaped tower reached its height's physical limit, they crossed their fingers in hopes that time would expire before the other competitors' towers were completed.  It worked!  They won the tallest tower award (165cm).
		Team: SPS
		To capitalize on the creative components criterion, SPS structured their tower's design to resemble a Christmas tree.  As part of their construction, swaying limbs of CD's, a maximum horizontal span, and a star topping the structure earned them the creative design award.  They used every single one of the provided 100 CD's in their tower to arrive at a symmetrical finished product!