What this event is about
Written thermodynamics concepts plus a build/test component in many seasons (check the 2027 rules for exact device specs).
Study plan
Setup (team of up to 2, ~50 min, Impound Yes, Class III calculator, unbound notes/binder; impound device + spare parts at room temperature)
- Device goal: collect lamp heat to warm 100 mL water in ES 9 oz clear plastic cup. Fit device+cup in 30×30×30 cm; cup insertable/removable; no part contacts water; nothing added to water; no energy sources to heat water; no hazardous insulation (asbestos/mineral wool/fiberglass), no commercial thermos/cooler/vacuum devices, no team thermometers/probes.
- Know ES setup: clamp lamp + metal reflector + 100–125 W heat bulb (not LED/halogen/ceramic); bulb height Regionals 40–50 cm (5 cm steps), States 40–55, Nationals 40–65 (1 cm). Heating Time 10 min Regionals; 10–15 min State/Nationals (1 min steps).
- Competition timing: 3 min Device Setup (predict while setting; fix construction issues here) → receive start T → ≤1 min Water Setup to insert cup → no touching device/lamp during Heating Time → predict final T before Heating ends → remove cup for ES final T.
- Scoring (max 100): ES = (your Part I / best Part I) × 50; TS = (TG / best TG) × 30 with TG = final−start (°C); PS = (PE / best PE) × 20 with PE = 1 − |final−predicted|/final. Construction violations at end of setup ×0.7 TS/PS each; competition violations ×0.9 each.
- Written topics (≥3 Q each area): systems/intensive-extensive/zeroth law/scales/heat units; phases/diagrams/latent-sensible/ideal gas; heat transfer/conductivity/heat capacity/specific heat; processes/cycles/engines/efficiency/1st & 2nd laws; history (Kelvin, Black, Joule, Carnot, Planck, Clausius, Boltzmann, Maxwell).
- State/National only: radiant exitance, blackbody, Stefan–Boltzmann, third law. Math limited to arithmetic, one-variable algebra, simple geometry — no trig/calc.
- Build/test loop: log lamp height, heating time, start T, materials, ΔT curves; prepare prediction graphs/tables; spare parts at room temp.
- Split practice nights: binder/test content vs device iterations under a heat lamp. Disassemble readiness for ES material checks.
Tips
Small air gaps and reflective layers beat “more foam” alone. Measure carefully.