Is a release mechanism required

[Dave Hasse]

I am the state event coordinator, and I want to poll to see if my interpretation of the rules is what is being broadly followed. In Delaware, there are no regionals, so this is a one shot.

A string that is attached to the weight cannot extend outside the box. In other words, the students may not hold a string that is directly attached to the weight.

Last year, about 1/2 of the C devices tier 2ed on this violation, but the rule changes make this slightly less concrete.

[bernard]

I am the state event coordinator, and I want to poll to see if my interpretation of the rules is what is being broadly followed. In Delaware, there are no regionals, so this is a one shot.

A string that is attached to the weight cannot extend outside the box. In other words, the students may not hold a string that is directly attached to the weight.

Last year, about 1/2 of the C devices tier 2ed on this violation, but the rule changes make this slightly less concrete.

L̶o̶o̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶r̶u̶l̶e̶ ̶3̶.̶e̶.̶:̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶t̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶t̶t̶a̶c̶h̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶a̶s̶s̶ ̶c̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶e̶x̶t̶e̶n̶d̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶l̶a̶u̶n̶c̶h̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶l̶e̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶7̶5̶ ̶c̶m̶ ̶a̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶(̶g̶i̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶t̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶l̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶e̶n̶o̶u̶g̶h̶)̶.̶ ̶"̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶r̶i̶g̶g̶e̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶d̶e̶v̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶s̶i̶d̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶v̶i̶c̶e̶"̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶f̶f̶e̶r̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶r̶i̶g̶g̶e̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶d̶e̶v̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶v̶i̶c̶e̶.̶

[sci_guy]

There is an FAQ posted that addresses your question:

2016-02-20 08:39 Can the triggering device be a rope permanently attached to the mass meaning it cannot detach from the mass?

No, the triggering device separates itself from the launch device. Any parts remaining that are attached to the launching device after a shot are considered part of the launching device and must follow Rule 4c.

Note: this FAQ has changed; please see the national website for the updated response.

[laneyoung]

At some point recently (no date's attached) they issued a revised FAQ, allowing the string to be attached.

[bernard]

Attached the updated FAQ. Thanks laneyoung for the notice.

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