AY Honor Great Ball Contraption - Advanced Answer Key

Great Ball Contraption - Advanced

Skill Level

2

Year

2026

Version

04.06.2026

Approval authority

North American Division

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1

Have the Great Ball Contraption honor.

For tips and instruction see Great Ball Contraption.

2

What is the importance of stability in your design? Describe several ways to make your design stable.

3

What are the uses of different types of gears and motors? What are ways you can speed up or slow down the contraption?

4

What is the difference between a peg and a friction peg?

5

What is a gear clutch and what is its purpose?

6

Give examples of common problems encountered while designing and building a contraption. What are some troubleshooting strategies to use to solve these common issues?

7

Build a contraption of your own design. It must meet the following criteria:

7a

Meet all the existing GBC requirements.

7b

Be transportable/stable enough to adjust/move it around without breaking.

7c

If inspired by an existing design, it must be substantively different than the original design; i.e. not just a change in color or 1–2-piece difference. It is acceptable to combine elements of existing designs into a new configuration.

8

Participate in a GBC group activity that has at least 12 modules, with two or more builders. You must successfully pass one of six marker balls to the end of the circuit. It can be an actual GBC show, an event hosted by your local club or area, or a community event.

References