In the competition packet, on page 3 (Competition – #4), all devices must be set in motion by a ‘triggering’ action. Drawing the bob back by hand and then releasing it would NOT be a triggering action. Even holding the bob back with a pencil or stick (in your hand) and pulling away the pencil or stick with your hand also would NOT be considered a triggering action, since the energy required for bob movement must be other than DIRECT human energy. Judges need to observe the triggered release of the bob and be sure that there’s no opportunity to provide extra human energy directly to that triggered release. Also, if a team member ends up holding a triggering device in their hand (not part of or connected to the device), then the person is technically part of the device at that point, which is not allowed.
If, for example, the bob were to rest on a lever and the lever was moved to release the bob – that IS an allowed trigger. Or if the bob was released by unfastening a binder clip, that too IS an allowed trigger, since all the ‘human’ is doing is releasing the bob and there’s no observable opportunity to influence the bob’s motion with additional direct human energy. There are other allowable triggering actions as well that don’t rely on ‘direct’ human energy. *If you’re not sure you’re trigger is ‘legal’, be sure to check on the blog or ask your coach to make sure it’s considered an allowed trigger! **If a device isn’t triggered by an allowed ‘triggering action’, judges will not score any task/event points for your device!
Entries (RSS)