On Wednesday, June 7, Bellata Public School year 5 and 6 students competed in the Science and Engineering Challenge at Narrabri’s Crossing Theatre.
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The budding scientists and engineers teamed up with students from other schools for the competition.
Once assembled, the students were split into smaller groups to complete numerous challenges.
One challenge the boys had to tackle was to design and construct a robotic hand that could pick up several objects including a single straw, a bundle of straws, a rubber band, and a juggling ball. They achieved this with varying levels of success.
Another challenge was to design and construct a chair using the materials provided – cardboard, straws, paddle pop sticks and masking tape. Once constructed the chair was exposed to different weighted objects to see if it would withstand load. There was a 4kg dog and a 500g cat that were placed on the chair individually and then together, before dropping the cat and the dog from a height. One group’s chair failed under the weight of the cat, while the other chair held together until the dog was dropped on it.
The boys had a great day and thanked Ivan Bettens for accompanying them.