Registration

Proposals
Interims
Final Reports

Dates

Kickoff
Evaluations
Expo
STI
Wiki

School Map
Sponsors

Mail

Challenge
Technical Guide


Past Participant Survey

GUTS

Challenge Team Abstract

Team Number: 038 School Name: Lovington High School Area of Science: Physics Project Title: What Causes Torque to Reverse Itself? A Study and Explanation of the Rattleback (Celt).

     A rattleback, also known as a celt, is a ten centimeter long plastic toy with a base shaped similar to the hull of a boat. The object's unique shape and placement of the elliptical foci mysteriously allows it to reverse its direction of motion when spun clockwise.

     Our team will attempt to explain why the rattleback reverses direction mathematically and create a physical explanation. We will also simulate the rattleback graphically on the supercomputer where we will change variables such as length, focus, etc.

     We hope to gain knowledge of the mathematical and physical concepts governing the behavior of the celt and understand the effects of altering variables in this process.

Team Members

Team Mail

• Nicholas Tobkin
• Elizabeth Myers
• Dustin Graham
• Jeremiah Giese
• Juan Contreras

Sponsoring Teachers

• Mrs. Pamela Gray

Project Advisor(s)

• Mrs. Pamela Gray