Rubber Band Boat Race

Objective:

To construct a boat powered only by rubber bands that traverses a distance of 6’4” in the shortest period of time.

Apparatus:

Each team is responsible for designing and building one rubberband powered boat prior to the day of the competition. SFASU will provide the tank, timing system, and two rubber bands each approximately 6" in circumference.

Regulations:

The SFASU rubberbands are to provide the sole source of power for the boats. No other stored energy supplies including gravitational potential energy may be used. Each boat must fit in a box that is 4” by 4” by 8” prior to the race.

Racecourse:

The course will consist of an 8’ by 3’ by 5” trough filled with water. The starting gate will be placed 10” from one end of the trough and the finish gate will be placed 10” from the other end.

Scoring:

1. The boat will be released by one member of the team from the end of the trough nearest the starting gate. The launcher must release the boat without providing it any force.
2. The timer will start when the front of the boat crosses the starting line and end when the front of the boat crosses the finish line.
3. The boat may hit the sides of the trough or take on water without disqualification, but all parts of the boat must finish together.
4. The boat must remain in contact with the water at all times.
5. The winning boat will be the one that finishes the course in the shortest time. In the event of a tie, another set of time trials will be run using the same boats to break the tie. No repairs or modifications will be allowed for re-trials.