Pringles Challenge

Objective:
Design and test a package to safely ship a single Pringles Potato Chip through the district intra-district mail to
another school. Upon arrival, the chips will be evaluated and scored according to the process on this page.
Goal:
Engineer the package to have the smallest mass and volume, while protecting the chip so it arrives at its
destination undamaged. Students may use tape, card stock and assorted packing materials provided.
Rules
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Students will use 1 (regular) Pringles Potato Chip.

No substance may be applied to the chip, or the chip altered in any way.
The chip must be recoverable and edible (but please don't eat it) when received by the partner school.
Students will work individually or in small groups to design and test the package.
No pre-made Pringles containers should be used (ex. specially designed Pringles containers for lunch
boxes, Pringles cans, etc)
All packages must be sent via the US Postal Service - First Class Mail, with no special handling.
(Packages sent using any other carrier or paying for special handling will be disqualified).
Also be advised that there is a 3" x 5" limit on the size of the package, and a fussy postman may reject a
smaller package. However in the past many, many packages smaller than 3" x 5" have been delivered,
so getting a small package through the mail is part of the challenge).
Package must be clearly labeled on the outside with the sending school and group. (If special
unpacking instructions are needed they should also be included).
Each participating school will send, receive and evaluate packages.
Each package must be clearly labeled "Pringles Challenge" and addressed to the receiving school, in
care of the particular teacher.
It is the responsibility of individual teachers to assure that results are accurate, and that they are
exchanged in a timely manner.
Classroom teachers may want to create an in-house simulation for sending packages through the mail
to reduce costs. There is more information on this option below.

Scoring
Three measurements must be collected in order to score a package for the Pringles Challenge.
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Mass - measured in Kg to at least 3 significant figures

Volume - measured in cubic centimeters to at least 3 significant figures
Intactness score of the chip as determined by the evaluating school, according to the chart below

Perfectly Intact

Like it just left the factory

100 Points

Slightly Damaged

Cracked, but still in one piece

50 Points

Chipped Chip

Broken along the edges, but less 10 Points

than 5 pieces

Split Chip

The chip is broken into two fairly 10 Points

equal pieces

Significantly Damaged

Chipped and/or cracked into less 5 Points

than 20 pieces

Pringle Dust

Too many pieces to count (more 1 Point

than 20)

Overall Score
The overall score of the package will be used to compare packages. The formula for calculate the overall score
will be 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)
Discuss and describe 4 plausible options for your container. Use a combination of sketches and words to
communicate the four options. Be sure to describe any packing material in detail as it is difficult to draw.
Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Select the best option or the best combination of options from the preliminary ideas and draw a final plan
below.
Final Plan

Build the final container.

Pack the Pringle and measure and weigh the final package
The final weight is _________________ grams
The final volume for the container is ____________ cubic centimeters.
To save money some schools have sent the packages through their inter school mail system. Others have
created a simulation buy tossing the packages in a laundry bag, dropping them from desks and rolling them on
the floor. We will do a simulation today by pushing your box off of the desk FIVE times and letting it fall on the
floor and then gently tossing the box so that it bounces a couple of times before hitting a wall and coming to
rest.
Open the container and score the box. The score for this box is: ___________________________

Based on what you have learned and observed, reflect on what you would do if you had an opportunity to
repeat the activity (some do a couple of iterations)