Take the Plunge - Water Balloon Drop Competition
by Vera Burton

The Water Balloon Drop Competition, sponsored by the Canton Joint Engineering Council (CJEC), is an event in which high school science students construct devices that will allow a balloon filled with water to survive drops of approximately 20 feet. This year’s event is Saturday, February 15, 2003 in Stark State College’s Automotive Lab, Room A102 from 9 a.m. to noon. There is no admission charge, and the event is open to the public.

Each student (or team of two) fabricates a device that can weigh no more than one pound and fit into a 1 foot x 1 foot x 1 foot box. If the balloon survives the fall, more weight (water) is added to the balloon in each succeeding round, until only one entry remains intact. The team with the surviving balloon is declared the winner.

The winning team is given a plaque, a monetary award of $100 and tickets to the Engineers Week Banquet, where they are recognized during the awards ceremony.

RULES

• Teams:
  • Teams consist of one or two high school students.
• Balloons:
  • 8-in. diameter latex balloons will be furnished by CJEC
    on day of event.
  • Balloons filled with water will weigh 3.5 lbs. at the first drop. (filled by CJEC)
  • Each team will receive three practice balloons upon registration.
• Device:
  • The protective device must NOT weigh more than one pound.
  • The protective device (with balloon) must fit inside a cubic foot (1x1x1) box.
  • No shaving cream, aerosol or loose insulation, Jello or other messy material will be allowed.
  • There will be no wrapping of the balloon in protective coating
    (like plastic wrap, mylar or lycra) which gives the balloon
    a thicker skin.
  • Air brake devices (like parachutes) may not open prior to the
    drop and must NOT extend more than 12 inches above the
    device containing the balloon.
  • A 12-inch string must be tied to the top of each device.
    Failure to have string secured properly may result in
    disqualification. Maximum length is 12 inches.
• Dropping Procedure:
  • Drops will be made by the CJEC volunteer staff.
  • Devices will be dropped from approximately 20 feet, with the
    weight of the water increased by five pounds each round. If there is a tie, both weight and height may be increased, as determined
    by the CJEC volunteers, until a winner is determined.
  • A 10-minute time limit between rounds will be strictly enforced
    by the judges.
  • The same unaltered device must be used in each round.
    NO modifications may be made between rounds.
• Prizes
  • Prizes will be awarded at CJEC’s banquet on Wednesday,
    February 19, 2003 at Skyland Pines.

For more information:
Vera Burton
Phone: 330-471-6467 - Fax: 330-471-7055