Surrey Schools Problem Solving Challenge

Champions – Royal Russell School

Sixth Form Team storms final with their eccentric spinning wheel

The Problem Solving Challenge Competition involves around 1,000 students annually in solving an unusual engineering/science problem, using very simple materials and working against the clock for 1.5 hours.

There are five area heats around the county including Croydon and 180 teams enter the competition each year from around 60 schools.

The problem to be solved in this years final was to design and make a spinning wheel like a fairground “Big Wheel” that turns for as long as possible by a falling weight (tube of polos). As soon as the polos hit the floor a light must come on and stay on while the wheel rotates.

The Y12/13 Team were convincing winners with a well designed switching mechanism for the light and a slightly eccentric big wheel

The awards were presented to the winning team by Professor Colin Pillinger of Beagle 2 fame .