Pringles Potato Chip Mailing Challenge

Description:

Students will design and test a container for shipping a single “Pringles” potato chip, via USPS (regular Mail). Upon arrival, the packages will be evaluated and scored using the format in the scoring section. The goal is to mail a Pringles chip in a legal sized envelope (provided) that has the smallest volume/mass ratio and protects the chip so that it arrives at its destination undamaged.

Rules and Regulations:

1. Students will use 1 (regular) Pringles potato chip and materials of their choosing (see notes below) to create a device that will protect the chip on its journey from your house to SAES through the post system. The outer package will be the provided legal sized envelope (9 inches x 12 inches). (You will receive this from the GATE room.)

2. Students may choose a variety of items for packing materials; however, the materials cannot be wood, metal, glass, or rigid plastic and must not leave a wet or greasy spot on a paper towel.

3. The chip must be a plain Pringles chip and may not be modified in any way.

4. The package must have a mass less than 300 grams in the “ready to mail” form, which means it is loaded with a chip and sealed with tape. Students should take into account the mass of the chip and tape as they prepare their chip containers to make sure they don’t go over the limit.

5. The envelope will be opened by using a letter opener to cut the top of the envelope.

6. Once the package is completed and a single chip has been “loaded”, the package must be mailed. In the envelope, include your name.

Mailing Procedure:

The envelopes must be mailed through the USPS (regular mail) to:

Shaler Area Elementary School
700 Scott Avenue
Glenshaw, PA 15116

Scoring Procedures:

Once all envelopes have been received, the GATE teachers will open the envelopes.

Final scores will be divided into two categories: Perfect Pringles and Pringles Pieces. All envelopes will be massed for calculating the final score. The lowest overall score will be the one used to determine the winner. In the case of a tie, the package with the smallest mass (the one that weighs the least) will be declared the winner.

Final Checklist for Teachers

(1) Are all chips mailed in the provided 9x12 envelope?

(2) Are the materials acceptable?
No wood, metal, glass, or rigid plastic materials have been used. Materials do not leave a wet or greasy mark on a paper towel. The chip has not been modified in any way.

(3) Does each package contain only 1 Pringles potato chip?

(4) Is the student identified?

NOTE: No other information is allowed on the outside of the box, such as Fragile, Handle with Care or Hand Stamp, etc.

Scoring:

Three measurements must be collected in order to score a package for the Pringles Challenge. See below for formulas! **These may be estimated depending on the mode of school at the time of the project - Covid restrictions and access to scales may change the requirements at the time of the project. - Watch for notes!

1. Mass - measured in kilograms to at least 2 significant figures

2. Volume - measured in cubic centimeters to at least 3 significant figures

3. Intactness score of the chip as determined by the evaluating school, according to the chart below

Overall Score

The overall score of the package will be used to compare packages.  As your goal is a high
intactness score coupled with a small mass and volume, a higher overall score is better. 

The formula for calculating the overall score is as follows:

Overall Score =             Intactness Score  

                             (Mass in kg x Volume in cc)

Example:

    a) A perfect chip = Intactness of 100

    b) Mass = 256 grams or 0.256 kg

    c) Volume = 250 cc (2.5 x 10^2)

Overall Score = (100/(.256 x 250)) = 100/64 = 1.56 (when rounded to 3 significant figures (3 decimal points - thousandths)