Sutton Gifted and Talented Science Challenge Day
Merton College
July 2005
A team of 8 and 9 pupils competed in the Sutton Gifted and Talented Science Challenge Day at Merton College on 18th July 2005. Our boys joined forces with pupils from five local schools. The other competing schools were:
Stanley Park
Cheam High
Wallington Girls
Carshalton Boys
Carshalton Girls
The students were organised into eighteen mixed school teams, with four in each team. Three challenges had to be completed in rotation, each lasting about one hour long. The teams had to construct a device using only the materials supplied.
Challenge 1: Marble maze
This certainly was a challenge! They had to construct a maze that would allow a marble to roll through it, taking as long as possible. Using only paper, paper clips and elastic bands and after a few headaches, some excellent pinball-type constructions resulted. This was difficult to get to work well though.
Challenge 2: Robot Wars
The teams had to construct a ‘light sensing’ robot that would follow a white track and then ‘joust’ another competing robot, pushing it off the track. They were supplied with a commercial kit of computer components, motors and wheels. Most teams were very successful at assembling the robot and had a lot of fun in the 'joust' with the other robots.
Challenge 3: Electric car
Using a stack of plastic straws, wheels and a small electric motor, the teams had to design and build a small buggy, with a drive gear to move the vehicle along a path. The winning vehicle was the one able to travel the furthest distance in a reasonably straight line.
Our boys enjoyed the day very much, but said it had been quite difficult. The judges gave a prize for the best of each of the challenges. The Mayor of Sutton made the presentation.
