FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2003

CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119

DRAKE TO HOST STATE PHYSICS OLYMPICS APRIL 21

Approximately 250 of Iowa's best physics students will build race cars, bridges and catapults out of toothpicks, mousetrap springs and soda straws during the state finals of the Physics Olympics on Wednesday, April 21, at Drake University.

The competition, which involves high school students who won regional contests earlier this year, will start at 8 a.m. in Parents Hall at Olmsted Center, 29th Street and University Avenue. The contest is free and open to the public. Winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Using only household items and their creative minds, the students from approximately 30 school districts will construct devices to test the laws of physics in the following events:

• Toy racecar mousetraps: Students design race cars out of mousetraps using only the spring to power the cars. The fastest and farthest-moving car wins.
• Falling mass-powered cars: Students raise a 1,000-gram weight 50 centimeters above a toy car to create energy that, when released, will move the car. The farthest-moving car wins.
• Toothpick bridges: Students use toothpicks and Elmer's glue to build bridges. The bridge that flexes least under weight is the winner.
• Ping-Pong catapult: Students create a catapult that will travel two meters and carry a Ping-Pong ball to be launched at a target at the end of the course. The catapult that sticks closest to the course and lands the ball closest to the target wins.
• Soda straw arm: Teams of two receive 20 jumbo plastic straws, 20 straight pins and 30 minutes to build an "arm" that will hold weight. The longest "arm" that can hold 100 grams for 10 seconds wins.
• Student-powered water heater: Teams are given a measured amount of water and have five minutes to raise its temperature using only human power. The team with the warmest water wins.

For more information, contact Jack Gerlovich, professor of science education at Drake, at (515) 271-3912.