Which factor is considered the main scoring criterion for boomilever designs?

The efficiency ratio is the main scoring criterion for boomilever designs because it quantitatively measures the performance of the structure relative to its weight. The efficiency ratio is calculated by taking the load the boomilever can support before failure and dividing it by the weight of the boomilever itself.

This criterion emphasizes the importance of not only constructing a lightweight design but also ensuring it can hold a significant amount of weight relative to that mass. A higher efficiency ratio indicates a more effective and well-engineered design, showcasing the balance between strength and resource use. This focus helps students to think critically about material selection, structural design, and optimization, which are key principles in engineering and physics.

Other factors such as the weight of the structure, the length of the boom arm, and the choice of material can influence the overall performance, but they do not serve as the primary scoring basis for this competition. The efficiency ratio ties these various elements together into a single measure of success.