NOVEL NEXT 41 PSME: The Quiz Competition
After the departure of the judges, Michael exhaled deeply, the weight of the moment settling on his shoulders. The irony of having Francis Peralta, the CEO of Solar Dynamics Corporation—who had previously dismissed his solar panel as a counterfeit—serve as one of the judges, had not escaped him. This twist of fate seemed to diminish his chances of triumphing in the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) competition for product exhibition.
Nonetheless, Michael refused to be disheartened. He remained at his station, his resolve undiminished, continuing to engage with the influx of intrigued students from various universities. Each explanation he provided, detailing the mechanics and the potential of his high-efficiency solar panel, was met with growing interest and admiration.
And as he was doing that, a familiar face approached his station.
"Oh…so here you are huh?" Kenneth said, smiling warmly at him. "Kenneth, good to see you here," Michael said, relieved that one of his teammates in the upcoming quiz competition was here.
"Are you busy?" Janine, who trailed behind Kenneth, inquired.
"Not that much of a busy, anyways what's up?" Michael asked.
"Well, Mr. Delgado is briefing us about the potential questions in the upcoming quiz. I think it would be prudent for you to come and discuss strategies."
Michael shook his head. "I can't leave my station until the exhibition ends. Didn't Mr. Delgado inform you that?" "We were but I want to make sure that there'd be no hiccup during the quiz competition," Kenneth said. "Don't worry, I have reviewed everything. No matter the question, we'll answer it as a team." Janine, who had been silent for a while, asked. "So this is your invention? A solar panel?" "Not just any solar panel, but a solar panel with 60 percent efficiency." "60 percent?" Janine repeated. "Aren't commercially available solar panels within 15 to 25 percent efficient? 60 is a bit high and too advanced for a college student to develop."
"I understand the skepticism and doubts, but I can assure you everything here is legit," Michael confidently said.
Janine nodded, though not visibly convinced. "In that case, you should win this competition easily. If your solar panel is what you claimed it to be, then it's a game-changer for the renewable energy sector."
"Exactly my thoughts," Michael replied.
Kenneth glanced around at the other projects before turning back to Michael. "You have a competition here, from the University of the Philippines, the students there were able to develop a trash can that can differentiate biodegradable and nonbiodegradable waste automatically. It's quite an innovative project." "But not as impressive as my solar panel," Michael said with a grin spreading across his lips. "Yeah—" The conversation was interrupted by an announcement over the PA system, reminding participants that the exhibition would be closing in 30 minutes and that the quiz competition would begin shortly thereafter.
"Looks like we should head back," Kenneth said, checking his watch. "You coming, Michael?"
Michael looked at his setup, considering his next move. "Give me a few minutes to pack up here. I'll meet you at the quiz venue."
Kenneth and Janine nodded, with Kenneth adding, "Alright, we'll see you there. Don't be late."
As Kenneth and Janine departed, Michael quickly organized his display, ensuring his solar panel and its components were securely packed. The exhibition had been a success in his eyes, regardless of the outcome. He had managed to draw significant attention to his project and, more importantly, to the possibilities it represented for sustainable energy.
With everything packed, Michael made his way to the quiz competition venue, located in another section of the convention center. The buzz of the crowd shifted from the excitement of the exhibition to the anticipation of the quiz. Teams from various universities were gathering, reviewing notes, and discussing last-minute strategies.
Michael found his team, exchanging nods and brief words of encouragement. As they took their seats, Michael couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. This is his first time joining a quiz competition ever since he was born. Though it was all thanks to the system that gave him this chance, whatever happens here is his own doing, not the system.
To prove that, the system even had a notification on him.
[Mission in progress: Neuroenhancer pill that was still in effect will be neutralized and will be reactivated after the competition. Good luck!]
As the team settled in, the moderator stepped onto the stage, tapping the microphone to test it before beginning. "Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the PSME Quiz Competition. I'm your moderator, Engr. Sofia Hernandez. Today, we have teams from various universities ready to showcase their knowledge in mechanical engineering."
She paused, allowing for a brief round of applause before continuing. "The competition will consist of three rounds. The first round is the 'Multiple Choice Round,' where each team will answer a series of ten questions. Each correct answer will earn you ten points."
"The second round is the 'Identification Round.' You'll be shown images or diagrams, and you'll have to identify the mechanism, process, or concept depicted. Each correct answer in this round will earn you fifteen points."
"Finally, we have the 'Case Analysis Round.' Here, you'll be given a difficult engineering problem. You'll have fifteen minutes to discuss with your team and then present your solution. This round is worth fifty points. Now as for the elimination, those universities who failed to get 80 points in round 1 will be eliminated. Same for round 2. For round 3, it's who answered the fastest and correctly, and have the most points will win the competition. Round 3, will contain ten questions." The room filled with a tense silence as the rules were laid out, every team mentally preparing for the challenge ahead. Michael glanced at his teammates, a silent agreement passing between them. They were ready.
"As for the format," Engr. Hernandez continued, "Each round will be timed. You have thirty seconds to answer in the first two rounds and fifteen minutes for the final round. She then explained the signaling system for the third round. "When you know the answer, press the buzzer in front of you. The first team to buzz will have the opportunity to answer. If you answer correctly, you gain points; if not, the question will be open for others to buzz and answer."
The moderator concluded, "Let's begin with the first round. Please prepare for the Multiple Choice Round." As she called out the first question, the room's atmosphere shifted from anticipation to focus.
Michael's team worked like a well-oiled machine, discussing quietly before buzzing in with their answers. Michael's broad knowledge base, combined with his teammates' specialized expertise, allowed them to navigate the questions with confidence.
By the end of the first round, they had secured a solid score, advancing comfortably to the next stage. The Identification Round tested their practical knowledge, requiring quick recognition and recall of engineering concepts and mechanisms. Again, they performed strongly, their collaborative approach paying off.
From thirty-two universities, down to the top 3. The University of the Philippines Diliman, De La Salle University, and Technological Institute of the Philippines. Michael glanced at the student representatives from those universities, and they were looking back at him with serious expressions on their faces. They are determined to win but Michael won't let them.
"For the final round," Engr. Hernandez announced, "Your challenge is to calculate the maximum stress experienced by a rotating disc made of steel with a density of 7800 kg/m^3, a radius of 0.5m, and a thickness of 0.05m, spinning at 10,000 rpm. Assume the disc is homogeneous and use the von Mises stress criterion for your calculations."
With the question announced, Michael's team began to work. Michael was the first to speak up, quickly organizing their approach. "First, we need to calculate the angular velocity of the disc in radians per second," he began, his voice steady and focused. "The formula for angular velocity is 2 pie multiplied by rpm divided by 60."
He quickly scribbled on a piece of paper, showing his calculations to his teammates. "Next, we'll use the formula for centrifugal stress on a rotating disc, which is stress equal to the density of the disc, multiplied by angular velocity squared, multiplied by radius, and divided by three."
His teammates nodded, following along with his explanation. "Since the disc is spinning, the stress will be highest at the outer edge. That's where we'll focus our calculations."
"For the von Mises stress criterion," Michael continued, "we need to consider that it's a method used to predict yield or failure in ductile materials. We'll apply the calculated centrifugal stress to the von Mises equation, which is essentially the square root of 3 times stress squared. Kenneth chimed in. "And considering the material is steel, we should also discuss the yield strength to see if the disc would withstand such stress without deforming."
Michael agreed, "Exactly. Let's crunch these numbers. If the stress calculated exceeds the yield strength of the steel used, we can determine the failure point."
Together, the team pooled their knowledge, with Michael leading the calculation efforts. After a few tense minutes, they had their solution ready. Michael stood up, signaling they were ready to answer.
When given the nod by the moderator, Michael presented their findings. "After calculating the angular velocity and applying it to find the centrifugal stress, and then using the von Mises stress criterion, we determined that the maximum stress experienced by the disc would be..."
He laid out their calculations clearly and concisely, demonstrating not only the mathematical process but also their understanding of the physical principles at play.
Moments later, the judges nodded their heads, and the moderator clapped her hand. "Correct! TIP on the lead!" "Yes!" Kenneth exclaimed in joy while Janine simply smiled. They were happy that their answer was right.
"Okay…nine more questions to go," Michael said.