Engineering Challenge 2023 Ping Pong Pickup FAQ

A: No, the device can consist of two or more separate pieces.

A: The ball cannot become airborne while it is still in front of the start line. You can release the ball and drop it onto the floor once you have brought it back behind the start line.

A: Yes, for example, while grabbing or scooping the ball.

A: You can use tape to outline a small square on the floor around the ball to prevent the ball from rolling away. You cannot tape the ball to the floor. See video.

A: Yes, you can use any part of your body to operate the device, as long as no part of your body crosses the start line.

A: Yes. The device cannot be taped or anchored to the floor, but it can touch or rest on the floor behind the start line.

A: No. The ball can only touch the floor and your device. It cannot touch any other surfaces or objects.

A: Yes—iteration and improvement are important parts of the engineering design process! Only the materials used in the device for that trial count toward your score; you do not need to include materials from previous designs.

A: You can increase the distance as much or as little as you want between trials. Your score depends on the distance in centimeters, but that does not mean you need to increase the distance one centimeter at a time. Increments of 10 or 15 cm may be more reasonable. If you fail at a longer distance, you can always re-try at a shorter distance. You can try as many times as you want for a high score, but you can only submit one score per team.

A: No. Only clear office tape, masking tape, and painter's tape are allowed. Any other type of tape (duct tape, electrical tape, packing tape, etc.) is not allowed.

A: No. Only printer, graph, notebook, and construction paper are allowed. Any other type of paper (cardstock, newspaper, etc.) is not allowed.

A: No. Your total amount of paper must be rounded up to the nearest whole sheet. Your total length of string must be rounded up to the nearest 50 cm.