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Don’t Eat That!

 season kickoff, team support  Comments Off
Sep 262011
 

Do you remember when your mom told you to not eat the glue? I will assume that you know what substance she was referring to (and that you did not in fact eat it). But, can you give me a definition of glue? The general definition of glue is “any fluid adhesive,” yet there is not a single component that is common to all glues. Given the actually wide and varied category of adhesives referred to as glue, let’s just focus on some commonly used types.

With a name like “super” glue, one tends to expect a lot from this acrylic resin. I am sure more than just one team member has super glued their fingers together or to some other object. Super glue has so much tack (stickiness) due to the long, strong bonds it forms with ions in water. Super glue can work with a bunch of different materials, because water is present in most everything. However, it is strongest when bonding metal to metal. Speed is another key factor in the “super” qualities of this adhesive. It takes merely a few seconds to bond surfaces together. So how strong is it? Check THIS out.

Another favorite with our creative problem solvers is hot glue. Officially known as hot melt adhesive, hot glue needs a heat source (usually served by a hot glue gun) to cause the solid adhesive to become fluid. The hot glue is heated to temperatures between 250oF and 380oF. The hotter the glue becomes, the stronger the bond will be. Yet, lower temperature glues are better for delicate materials. Hot glue has high viscosity (thickness) and high resistance, which makes it a good filler as well as an adhesive.

Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) is more commonly known as wood or carpenter’s glue. This glue is great for porous materials, because it can form “hooks” into the dimples in the material adding strength to the bond. PVA glues require pressure and time to set (to form the bond). If wood glue has had the proper pressure, time, and amount, then it is actually stronger than the wood is bonding.

One of the most important things in having a strong bond is the type of materials trying to be glued together. Finding the proper glue can make all the difference between something lasting all the way to Globals or something falling apart at the first practice. Carpenter’s glue would not work well bonding metal, for example. A resource worth checking out is “This to That”: this site will help you figure out the appropriate adhesive.

 Some other key factors to consider before you are busy gluing:

  • How much glue do you need? What good does glue coming out from the sides of the object do you?
  • How evenly did the glue get spread? Test gluing two surfaces to together with the same amount on each half and then test putting more glue on one half versus the other.
  • What safety precautions do you need to take? If using super glue, how will you un-glue your fingers? If using hot melt adhesive, how will you avoid burning?
  • Do you need new glue? Glues, like food, go bad relatively quickly after opening (think of your cereal or chips going stale if the package is left open). Old glue is going to provide weaker bonds than fresh glue.

 And one more thing: glue does not taste good, so don’t even try to eat it.

                                                                                                  Post written by Alisha Heisterkamp, Co-Affiliate Director

 

Resources

“Hot Glue”. Absolute Astronomy. http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Hot_glue

“10 Fun Facts About Super Glue”. Super Glue Corporation. http://www.supergluecorp.com/blog/2010/05/17/10-fun-facts-about-super-glue/

“Glue Strength”. Woodworking Tips. http://www.woodworkingtips.com/etips/etip40.html

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 Posted by at 11:33 am  Tagged with: , ,

From Sewage to Sets and Everything in Between

 season kickoff, team support  Comments Off
Sep 192011
 

One of the many reasons to love creative problem-solving is because of the imaginative application of materials. Where else do you regularly see objects that were designed transport sewage used as a part of sets, props, costumes, structures, and so much more? If you haven’t guessed already, I am talking about polyvinyl chloride, more commonly known as PVC, pipes. PVC was reported discovered as early as 1835, but it was not until 1932 the first PVC tubes were produced and used in water supply and waste water transportation. These tubes can be found in many local hardware stores, but did you know there are a few different types of PVC pipes? It is these varieties that we should more closely examine, so you can pick the PVC pipe that best fits your creative needs.

But, before looking more closely at the varieties, let’s first look at PVC in general. PVC is a thermoplastic material that can consist of many different compounds and ingredients, but the major component of every PVC compound is the polyvinyl chloride resin. Without the PVC resin, the plastic material isn’t PVC. It is this resin that gives the piping its ability to withstand most chemicals and contributes to the pipe’s overall strength. In fact, PVC has a tensile strength (a material’s resistance to breaking under tension) of approximately 7,500 pounds per square inch. Comparatively, balsa wood can support about 2,000 pounds per square inch. The Rockwell hardness of PVC ranges from 110 to 120 whereas steel had a Rockwell harness rating of 150. To determine the hardness, the Rockwell test indents the text material with a diamond or steel tip and calculates the depth of penetration and the amount of force needed to indent the material. PVC is a safe material in terms of flammability as it will extinguish itself.

Now that you have a feel of general properties PVC, let’s look at the specific types. There are primarily three types: modified PVC (PVC-M), oriented PVC (PVC-O) or high strength PVS (HSPVC), and chlorinated PVC (CPVC) or un-plasticized PVC (PVC-U). Modified PVC improved rigidity and impact toughness from the original PVC design due to the modifiers added. There are few different modifiers that are being used in this type, but there are only small differences between modifiers and so PVC-M pipes have the same properties. High strength PVC has oriented vinyl chloride molecular chains, so that all the molecules run in the same direction. The orientation enhances the pipe’s properties including strength. Chlorinated and un-plasticized PVC are technically two different products with the only difference being the increased amount of chlorine in CPVC which has the added benefit of being able to withstand higher temperatures due to the increase. Otherwise, CPVC and PVC-U have essentially the same properties, especially in terms of the hardness and tensile strength.

So how do all three types compare?

-       HSPVC has twice the tensile strength of PVC-M and PVC-M has slightly less tensile strength than CPVC.

-       HSPVC and PVC-M are reliably tough in all realistic circumstances and handle stress well. CPVC can become brittle in less than ideal circumstances and cannot handle as much stress.

-       Due to the consistent performance of HSPVC and PVC-M, these types are deemed to be very safe for consumer use.

-       CPVC and PVC-M pipes can be connected by rubber-ring PVC joints or solvent-cement PVC joints. HSPVC should not be connected by solvent joints and only has rubber-ring oriented PVC joints available.

-       HSPVC has the highest modulus of elasticity when being used in the same direction of the orientation. When flexing the opposite direction of the HSPVC orientation, it has the same elasticity value as CPVC with PVC-M having a marginally lower value. Modulus of elasticity refers to the mathematic ratio of how much stress or load a material can hold and the strain (amount of flexing) the material does. In other words, the higher the modulus of elasticity value means the stiffer the material will be. The rate of creep (deformation of pipe) and the recovery (the PVC flexing back to original shape) is also dependent on the length of time of the applied load and the temperature. PVC will deform more quickly the longer the load is applied to the pipe and the hotter the temperature is around the pipe. However, that speed of deformation is relative to the type of PVC being used. So, while HSPVC will deform more quickly when subjected to a heavy load and hot temperatures, it will not creep nearly as much as PVC-M.

What variety of PVC (if any) best fits your creative needs? Do you need a pipe that stays strong and can hold a lot of weight? Or do you need a tube that can bend? How will you connect the PVC pipe? As you begin to work out your solutions, try to figure out what properties you want to see in your materials!

Post written by Alisha Heisterkamp, Co-Affiliate Director

Resources

“PVC Pressure Pipe & Fittings: Technical Manual”. Vinidex Systems and Solutions. http://www.vinidex.com.au/files//technical_notes/technical_design_manuals/technical_manual_pvc_pressure_pipe_and_fittings/VIN014_PVC_Technical_Manual_2011.pdf

“Superior Quality Piping for a Wide Range of Applications”. Harvel Plastics. http://www.harvel.com/piping-pvc.asp

Walker, Robert. “The Early History of PVC Pipe”. Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association. http://www.sewerhistory.org/articles/compon/pdfs/pvc_history.pdf

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 Posted by at 11:06 am  Tagged with: , ,

A Lesson from Cardboard

 season kickoff, team support  Comments Off
Sep 122011
 

“The most instructive experiences are those of everyday life.”—Friedrich Nietzsche

While Nietzsche’s quote seems correct, I would venture to add that some of the most instructive lessons can be learned from everyday objects. Items that most people utilize and discard without a second thought can teach us some astounding principles. One of the most common objects, both in the “real” world and the world of Destination ImagiNation™, is cardboard. It is a rather unassuming material that we use in everything from cereal boxes to shipping containers to sets (both elaborate and simple). But would you believe it if I told you that cardboard can teach us something about engineering?

While there are a few types of cardboard, we are specifically interested in corrugated cardboard. Like all other cardboards, corrugated cardboard is made from heavy paper and glue. But unlike your cereal box, this type consists of two flat linerboards and one wavy layer. The wavy/ fluted/arched board is sandwiched between the two flat boards. Architects have used arches for thousands of years, because the appropriately curved arch is the strongest way to span a gap. The flutes in the corrugation resist bending and pressure when glued to the linerboard due to the same principle.

The arched flutes form rigid columns that can support a great deal of weight. The strength of the board is measured in two ways, the edge crush test and the burst test. To test the edge crush strength, place a piece of cardboard on its edge (i.e. the flutes running vertically) and see how much weight it holds. A standard panel of corrugated cardboard can hold 32 lbs. The burst test sees how much pressure (pounds per square inch) is needed to bust a hole in a panel. A typical piece of corrugated cardboard can hold 200 lbs. per square inch.

The arched design provides more benefits than just strength. The flutes supply structure while the air space between the arches acts as a cushion for whatever is in the corrugated cardboard box. The empty space also serves as an insulator, because of the extended amount of time needed for heat to transfer from one side to another. Cardboard has a thermal conductivity of .5 whereas of water’s conductivity rating is 1.6. This means that water transfers heat 3 times more than cardboard.

Other factors that play into the strength of corrugated cardboard are the type of paper used, the type of corrugation, shape of the container, and use. The more dense the paper used equals the stronger the material will be. For illustration, compare normal computer paper with cardstock. The height of the flutes affects the number of flutes in an area which affects the overall strength. For example, one meter (about 3 feet) can fit one hundred and ten 5 mm tall flutes or four hundred and fifty .7 mm tall flutes. While the increased number of flutes will make the cardboard stronger, what is the possible downside of more flutes? (Think of a bed with many springs compared to a bed with fewer springs.) While flutes support cardboard rigidity, the common cardboard cube shape adds structure and support due to its corners. To test this, try to crush a single piece of cardboard versus a box. How the cardboard is being used is also important, since cardboard does not stand up well to moisture. Since damp paper loses its rigidity and wet glue loses its bonding, cardboard should not be used to contain water.

So how can you use the principles that cardboard shows us? Can you add arches to something to make it stronger? How many arches will you use? Can you add airspace to keep things cool and cushioned? Can you give an object more strength if you add corners? Can you find a way to overcome cardboard’s water problem? Try to brainstorm ideas and then write them down and save them to use in the future.

                                                                               Post written by Alisha Heisterkamp, Co-Affiliate Director

Resources:

“All About Corrugated.” Corrugated Packaging. http://www.corrugated.org/Basics/AboutCorrugated.aspx

 F, Dan. “Properties of Corrugated Cardbaord.” eHow. http://www.ehow.com/about_6514103_properties-cardboard.html

Procana. “What is corrugated cardboard?” Pagter Innovations. http://www.pagter.com/am/procona/procona/corrugated-cardboard.html

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 Posted by at 11:21 am  Tagged with: , ,

2011-2012 Challenge Preview

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
May 092011
 

Sad that Destination ImagiNation® is almost over for the season? We are too! So get a jump start on thinking about next year by looking at our Summer Tips found HERE.  Also, look at the Challenge Preview for next year.

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 Posted by at 5:32 pm

State Tournament Schedule available for viewing

 tournament  No Responses »
Mar 282011
 

The State Affiliate Tournament is now available for viewing. Please note that the deadline for special schedule requests has passed. If a special situation arises between now and the State Tournament, you may contact another team and exchange places, as long as that team is competing in the same Challenge and Level. However, both teams must notify cre8iowa by emailing cre8iowa@gmail.com. If your team withdraws, please notify us immediately, as this affects the schedule.

Please note one correction to the schedule in regard to Challenge B. The Prop Storage Area should be G-108, not F-108.

Click HERE to view the the State Tournament Schedule.

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 Posted by at 6:56 pm  Tagged with: , ,

Sub-State Tournament schedule now available for viewing

 tournament  Comments Off
Feb 222011
 

The Sub-State Tournament schedule is now available for viewing. Please note that the deadline for special schedule requests has passed. If a special situation arises between now and the Sub-State Tournament, you may contact another team and exchange places, as long as that team is competing in the same Challenge and Level. However, both teams must notify cre8iowa by emailing cre8iowa@gmail.com. If your team withdraws, please notify us immediately, as this affects the schedule.

Click HERE to see the Sub-State Tournament schedule.

Click Here to see the addendum to Challenge D: Mythology Mission Middle Level Schedule.

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 Posted by at 12:01 am  Tagged with: , ,

Reminder: Scheduling Special Requests

 team support, tournament  Comments Off
Feb 142011
 

Sub-state scheduling special request deadline is this Saturday, February 19th. The deadline for State scheduling special request is two weeks after the sub-state tournament, Saturday March 19th.  No scheduling request will be accommodated after these deadlines, as the schedule will be published as quickly as possible.  All requests must be emailed to cre8iowa@gmail.com and must include the team number (112-XXXXX).

Once the schedule is published, a team may switch times with another team IF both teams are in the same challenge and grade level and both teams agree to the change. However, it is your responsibility to contact another team and you must then notify us of the change.

Special requests for both Sub-state and State tournaments are being accepted at this time. If your team withdraws from ANY tournament, please let us know right away as this affects the schedule.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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 Posted by at 11:04 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Interference: Hurtful, not helpful

 team support  No Responses »
Feb 112011
 

We usually encourage helpfulness in ourselves and others.  If you have a useful idea, you want to share to help make the project better.  If you have a skill set that would allow you to meaningfully contribute, you want to get involved to help the solution along. If you have access to some material(s) that would be perfect for some aspect of the problem, you want to provide said materials without being asked. However, in regard to the Destination ImagiNation® solution the teams are putting together, such acts are not actually helpful. In fact, in all of those cases the Team Manager, Parent, Teacher, Audience members, etc. are actually hurting the team, not helping them.

Interference is one of the most serious obstructions for the teams. The success of a team is not only determined by its standing at Tournament, but also by the knowledge and experience our students gain from the process. It is not an accident that Destination ImagiNation is described as a learning process instead of a competition. The program facilitates the learning of many life-long skills including creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, performance and technical skills, time management, budgeting, organization skills, and many others. When non-Team members contribute to the solution of Team Challenges or Instant Challenge, then it takes away from the team learning these lessons and skills. The importance and seriousness of Interference is highlighted by the fact that DI requires every team member and Team Manager to sign a Declaration of Independence. By signing this Declaration, the team members and Team Managers are promising that the presented solution and all its ideas and research were produced by ONLY the team members, that they understand the rules of Interference, and that they do not know anything about the Instant Challenge.

If a Tournament Official happens to observe Interference, then the Tournament Official must act by either giving a warning (if it is a small manner of Interference) or giving a deduction to the team. The Tournament Officials are thus required to act in order to maintain a level playing field for all teams. We strive to promote a fun and fair competition and a part of that is to give out warranted deductions, if the Interference unduly gives an advantage to the team.

So what can Team Managers, Parents, Teachers, Audience members, and other adults do to help the team, but to not interfere? The Interference Triangle, found in the middle of page 14 of the Rules of the Road, provides the answer. The Skills and Challenge & Rules, which make up the foundation of the Challenge (and the Solution), are the areas where a Team Manager can assist the team. (Please note that while a Team Manager can arrange for skills to be taught, these must be a range of general skills that do not suggest a specific solution to the Challenge.)  The Solution, which makes up the top of the triangle, is the area where the Team Manager(s) cannot help the team. For more information on what is and is not Interference, please read pages 14-17 of the Rules of the Road. (Note: Even veterans of the program would benefit from reading the rules on Interference.)

If you have questions about Interference, feel free to contact Judy Nolan, the Co-Affiliate Training Director, by email at: judynolan@aol.com.

Happy Creating!

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 Posted by at 4:37 pm  Tagged with: ,

Happy New Year! (and ICer slots available)

 workshops  Comments Off
Jan 012011
 

Wishing Everyone a Bright and Cre8ive 2011!

Please note that we have a few 8:30 am and 1:30 pm timeslots still available for the Instant Challenger on January 15th at Ames Middle School

To register for the Instant Challenger, you must follow 2 steps:

1. Send an e-mail request to reserve an 8:30 or 1:30 slot. Your e-mail should state the following:

  • Name of adult(s) who will accompany the team at the workshop
  • Name of school or group
  • Level of the team (Rising Stars, elementary, middle, secondary)
  • Time slot preferences: 1st choice and 2nd choice
  • Daytime & evening phone numbers where you can be reached on short notice, if you are placed on the waiting list.

E-mail your scheduling request to cre8iowa@gmail.com. Do not send your request to a different email address, since this could cause your reservation request to become delayed.

2. Mail a non-refundable check within 10 days in the amount of $20 to: Students for a Creative Iowa, c/o Alisha Heisterkamp, 15 Golfview Court, North Liberty, IA 52317.

Please note that your reservation is not confirmed until your check arrives. Teams that do not send payment within 10 days will drop to the bottom of the reservation list. You will receive a confirming e-mail to let you know that your check has arrived.

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 Posted by at 3:05 pm  Tagged with: , ,

Tournament Registration Deadline Extended

 tournament  No Responses »
Dec 172010
 

The tournament registration postmark deadline has been extended to the end of this month, Friday, December 31st, 2010. This allows an extra ten (10) days to complete paperwork, recruit your Appraiser(s), and send in payment. Registrations postmarked after this date (December 31st, 2010) will have a registration fee of $80 per competitive team and $60 per primary or non-competitive team. Late registration deadline is still Friday, January 7, 2011.

Happy Holidays!

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 Posted by at 3:59 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,
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