27th DiBiFiLiTi brings 300+ for $4000

The 27th annual Drop it, Build it, Fly it, Launch it, Thrill it Engineering Competition was held Saturday, March 9 at the South Florida Science Museum. More then 300 kids from elementary to high school competed for $4,000 in cash prizes in five different design contests: built bridges, protection for eggs, paper airplanes, model rockets and roller coasters. The competition was judged by the Florida Engineering Society.

Cody Summerlin talking with Royal Palm Beach HS SECME students before the Launch It water rocket contest

Summerlin's rocket Osprey on the launch pad

Palm Beach Post: Engineering competition draws 300 to South Florida Science Museum
WLRN: U.S. Lags In Science & Tech Education, While Science Fairs Boom In Palm Beach County

Drop It, Build It Engineering Competition 2012

Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It, Thrill It 2013

Di-Bi-Fi-Li-Ti is a design competition for cash prizes challenges kids to build an unbreakable balsawood bridge, create the perfect carton to protect a raw egg from a 3-story drop, fold and fly the farthest-flung paper airplane, blast off the best water bottle rocket for max time airborne, and create a thrill-packed roller coaster. The South Florida Science Museum in partnership with the Florida Engineering Society provides a premiere out-of-school STEM competition to elementary, middle and high school students offering substantial cash prizes for the top four finishers in each of the five engineering categories:

1. Drop It: Design and build a shipping container that will prevent an uncooked egg from breaking when dropped from two successive heights, up to 50 feet.
2. Build It: Given a range of physical dimensions and using appropriate building materials, construct the lightest truss-frame bridge capable of supporting the greatest weight.
3. Fly It: Given a sheet of paper, design an airplane that will fly the longest distance.
4. Launch It: Construct a rocket propelled by “fuel” (12 ounces of water) and air compressed to 60 psi that will be launched at a predetermined angle to reach the maximum height and flight time possible.
5. Thrill It: Design a roller coaster to convey a marble or steel ball within designated parameters, so that it stays rolling the longest, is the most interesting to view and has a theme.

Enjoy a fun filled family day of science and engineering exploration on Saturday, March 9, 2013 from 8 AM to 3:30 PM. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the event.

More information is available online at http://www.sfsm.org/

Mr. Pickle - "Drop It" egg drop winner

Introducing Mr. Pickle, Lily's winning egg drop container entry into South Florida Science Museum's "Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It, Thrill It" engineering competition on May 5, 2012.

Lily made Mr. Pickle with pieces of a pool noodle. The encasement was an eight (8) inch long piece of pool noodle, split in half. An additional one-quarter piece of pool was used to increase its outer circumference to accomodate the larger diameter of the egg inside. The two pieces were held together with rubber bands around a two "bumpers" from foam egg cartoons and stuffing makeup sponges inside for extra padding.

Success! No breaks for no body!

REDESIGN: With a working prototype, I challenged Lily how small can her egg drop container be? For success, we tried successively shorter heights at lower masses. Field tests were conducted from fifty feet if the container would work if it was only 7 inches, 6 inches, or 5 inches. The final version of Mr. Pickle which won first place (and $100!) weighed only 73 grams with the egg inside. But the high school winner of "Drop It" weighed 63 grams, 10 grams less! The challenge for 2013 is to lighten Mr. Pickle even further.

200 at the 26th DiBiFiLiTi

Nearly 200 participants turned out at the 26th Annual Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It, Thrill It Engineering Competition, which awards elementary, middle, home school, and high school students in five categories that test students' knowledge of engineering and science techniques.

Robotics exhibit at South Florida Science Museum

DiBiFiLiTi@25

The South Florida Science Museum and the Florida Engineering Society held the 25th annual engineering competition ‘Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It, Thrill It’ on Saturday, April 16, 2011.

Di-Bi-Fi-Li-Ti is a design competition for cash prizes that challenges kids. Middle and high school students are invited to participate in the competition that enables them to learn about and use engineering principles through five design contests: build an unbreakable bridge, create a container protecting an egg in a three-story drop, fly the furthest flung paper airplane, launch a model rocket with longest time aloft, and construct a model roller coaster with a thrilling theme.

SRHS students showcased their skills, and congratulations are in order! SRHS SECME (Science, Engineering, Communication and Math Excellence) coaches Erich Landstrom and Ed Batchelor applaud the award winning performance of:

• Thrill It, First Place and $200: seniors Mark Blanar and Joe Pavicic for their “Collision Course” coaster, with a time of 28 sec


• Thrill It, Second Place and $100: freshmen Sam Smith and Cody Summerlin for their “Flight of the Bumblebee” coaster, with a time of 29.7 sec


• Drop it, Third Place and $50: senior Arnold Banner, with a 21.5 gram chicken egg container.

Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It, Thrill It April 16th event

Who: elementary, middle, and high school students

What: 25th anniversary of the annual Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It, Thrill It competition

When: Saturday April 16th

Where: South Florida Science Museum

Why: Students have the opportunity to compete for over $3,500 in cash and prizes

Fee: free to enter the contest & museum admission will be ½ price that day

Local vendors, Colleges & Universities will be in attendance.

It’s not too late to register and we look forward to you taking part in the event.

Details are located: http://www.sfsm.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.details&content_id=19

‘Science In Toyland’ Opens May 29 At South Florida Science Museum

Science In Toyland
Learn about the center of gravity through a tournament of tops or trigger a chain reaction in a domino challenge at “Science in Toyland,” coming May 29 through Sept. 12 to the South Florida Science Museum. Entertaining the idea that learning about science is fun, “Science in Toyland” will utilize toys such as cars and Tinkertoys to demonstrate scientific principles and encourage children to experiment."

Bank of America is proud to partner with the South Florida Science Museum to bring such an exciting exhibition for kids of all ages to enjoy,” Bank of America Palm Beach County Market President Fabiola Brumley said. “This exhibit combines the fun of playing games with problem solving to allow children to discover science for themselves.”

The 3,000-square-foot interactive exhibition features different areas such as a “Kids Construction Company” where children can finish building a wood and foam house, a roller coaster where children can experiment with acceleration and momentum by adjusting the incline of a racetrack, a “Catch the Wind” area where children can discover the Bernoulli principle as they position the sails of a sail boat at different angles and watch how the wind causes the boat to move, and much more.

DIt, BIt, FIt, LIt, TIt at SoFlSciMuse

The South Florida Science Museum and the Florida Engineering Society presented the annual engineering competition Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It, Thrill It on Saturday, April 24, 2010. DiBiFiLiTi challenges students to build an unbreakable bridge, create a container to protect an egg from a 3-story drop, design the most aerodynamic paper airplane, blast off the ultimate water bottle rocket, and, NEW this year, construct an operational model roller coaster. Click here for more details. Hawk physics students from Seminole Ridge High School showcased their skills in “Drop It,” “Fly It” and “Thrill It.” Fizzix!

Diggin’ Dinosaurs: An Adventure Millions of Years in the Making

Discover many of the most feared terrestrial carnivores including the massive Giganotosaurus and other larger-than-life predators, like the Tyrannosaurus rex. Watch a Monolophosaurus attack and a Tuojiangosaurus fight for its life! Beware the Velociraptor guarding a clutch of eggs! This hands-on exhibit enables you to learn about dinosaurs by handling fossils, excavating a skeleton, or taking a turn at the Wheel of Dinosaur Misfortune.

On exhibit from January 16 through May 2, 2010 at the
South Florida Science Museum

Drop It, Build It, Launch It, Fly It, Thrill It

Saturday, April 24, 2010
The South Florida Science Museum and the Florida Engineering Society are proud to present the annual engineering competition that challenges students to build an unbreakable bridge, create a container to protect an egg from a 3-story drop, design the most aerodynamic paper airplane, blast off the ultimate water bottle rocket, and, NEW this year, design and build an operational roller coaster. Click here for more details and to register for the competition.

Fizzix Funday 2009: Drop It, Build It, Launch It

Rocket+tree=rocketry

Seminole Ridge physics students showcase their STEM skills on Tuesday, November 24, 2009.

Erich Landstrom’s physics student will test their “Fizzix Funday” research projects to either “Drop It,” “Build It,” or “Launch It” – by creating the ideal container to protect an egg from a 3-story drop, building the best roller coaster model, or blasting off the ultimate water bottle rocket.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is increasingly being appreciated as the key to assuring that America cultivates a new generation of experts as well, with the skills to create the new green technologies we need to strengthen our economy in the 21st Century. Science and technology are responsible for a very large portion of this nation’s economic growth over the past 50 years. And scientists and engineers today are in the best position to solve many of the most pressing challenges facing the nation and the world.

8 AM - drop it: design the lightest package to protect a raw egg from cracking after a five-story free fall; (schedule subject to change)
10 AM - launch it: put together a projectile around an ordinary 2 liter plastic bottle with the greatest air aloft “hang time” launched by compressed air and water.
12 Noon - build it: create a coaster with the longest ride time to go from the Start position to the Finish (with bonus points for loops and attraction)

Watch the Fizzix Funday 2008 video

K'NEX Thrill Ride Engineering Challenge

The South Florida Science Museum new exhibit opens on Saturday, September 5, 2009. The SFSM will be hosting a design challenge that Saturday morning from 9 AM - 1:30 PM. Prizes include gift store certificates.

Explore the science, math, engineering and technology behind hair-raising amusement park thrill rides!
The exhibit includes building areas and hands-on experiments that let visitors become part of the fun.
Children receive a fun-filled gift bag!

Understand the engineering behind hair-raising amusement park thrill rides! Make your own model with K’NEX kits, and explore the science, math and technology of roller coasters, carousels, Ferris wheels, and swings. Visit http://www.sfsm.org/knex_challenge.html or call (561) 832-1988 for more information.

South Florida Science Museum Summer 2009

SUMMER EXHIBITION – AMAZING FEATS OF AGING through August 23

Explore the mysteries of why and how animals, including humans, age at Amazing Feats of Aging, a new interactive exhibition. With more than 20 hands-on exhibits, visitors will marvel as a computer instantly ages their face 25 years, learn how scientists can dramatically increase the life span of certain animal species, and discover how anyone can slow down the aging process.

HEALTH EXPO July 26, noon – 4pm

In collaboration with our new Amazing Feats of Aging exhibition, this event features several community partners to bring you healthy alternatives to living. Come and experience healthy cooking demonstrations, personal massages, raffles, fun family activities to help engage the family in healthy life choices, and more! Scouts can earn an Amazing Feats of Aging patch by visiting the Museum and participating in health-related experiments and activities.

SENIOR SCIENCE DAY August 18, 10am – 5pm

Visitors aged 62 and better receive free admission on this fun day of interactive activities, guest lectures and an opportunity to see Amazing Feats of Aging before it closes.

FALL EXHIBITION – K’NEX: BUILDING THRILL RIDES opening September 5

Explore the science, math & technology behind hair-raising amusement park thrill rides! Display models are made solely from K’NEX Rods and Connectors, and range from a roller coaster measuring over 10 feet long to a 6 foot tall Ferris wheel. The exhibition also includes building areas and hands-on experiments that let visitors explore various forces, forms of energy, and types of motion.

For more information or to register, visit: http://www.sfsm.org/ or call (561) 832-1988.

Rocket Launch at SF Sci Museum - This Saturday!

Launch It from the South Florida Science Museum’s Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It Engineering Competition has been re-scheduled to May 2 (this Saturday), Astronomy Day!

On Wednesday, registration will be open to new contestants on the SFSM webpage, http://www.sfsm.org/dibifili.html. Check-in begins at the SFSM at 9AM on Saturday, May 2, 2009. SFSM admission is free to registrants and up to 2 family members.

DI-BI-FI-LI @ SFSM on Sat., Apr. 25

Drop-It, Build-It, Fly-It, Launch-It (DI-BI-FI-LI) is a design competition in four parts. The Palm Beach County chapter of the Florida Engineering Society tests the engineering skills of junior high and high school students at the South Florida Science Museum in West Palm Beach on Saturday, April 25, 2009 from 9 AM to 5 PM. The competition for cash prizes challenges kids to build the unbreakable bridge, create the perfect container to protect a raw egg from a 3-story drop, design the most aerodynamic paper airplane and blast off the ultimate water bottle rocket for max time airborne. Winners of each category and level receive scholarship money. More information, including directions, is available online at http://www.sfsm.org/dibifili.html