Teams and individuals are tasked with designing and building a Rube Goldberg Machine that can celebrate as many SI units and demonstrate a variety of energy exchanges.
Challenge open to all ages*!
Email a link to your video and a PDF of your A4 explanation to: Outreach@NPL.co.uk
Entries should be sent by responsible adults (teachers, parents, carers etc.)
Celebrate SI Units
With 7 base SI units we would encourage you to incorporate as many of them as possible, be creative with how you include them all.
Explore Energy Exchanges
Your machine should showcase different forms of energy transfer.
Written Explanation
Accompany your machine with a one-page explanation, A4 page, discussing the SI units used in your machine and the energy exchanges that occur throughout the machine.
Include design images!
Include group members first names only and ages
Email a link to your video and a PDF of your A4 explanation to: Outreach@NPL.co.uk
Entries should be sent by responsible adults (teachers, parents, carers etc.)
We will judge working and NON working machines, ideas are celebrated! The best entrants will be showcased at NPL Open Day, YouTube and social media, and may even be rebuilt in NPL.
£50 (one4all) voucher per student voucher per student and visit to school.
£10 voucher per student.
There will be a primary school heat and secondary/further education, and 18+
*Adults can enter, no cash prizes just commendations
The National Physical Laboratory, London (“NPL”) is running the Ultimate Chain Reaction Challenge 2025 to celebrate NPL’s 125 anniversary and 150 years of the Metre Convention. By entering the Challenge, the entrant is indicating their agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
For an entry to be valid it must comply with the rules and procedures in this document.
No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
NPL reserve the right to cancel or amend the Challenge and these terms and conditions without notice.
NPL decision in respect of all matters to do with the Challenge will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
There should be no risk or cause of injury or harm to humans or animals in your entry.
If music is used in the video, you must prove rights to the audio.
Awards will be subject to change at any point.
In the event of persons or schools being identifiable we may ask to refilm.
The challenge and these terms and conditions will be governed by the Law of England and Wales and will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England.
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