Can the first cup be completely emptied?
Yes, but this will be penalized based on the rules. • Will a system that uses the change in vertical position of a float to trigger an event be disqualified since it is utilizing potential energy? What about a spring in a mechanical timer which is pre-wound? The float is OK since it is does not actively provide power to the system and since it does not actively control the system. Instead, the float is just passively reacting and triggering an event in response to the liquid transfer process. The pre-wound mechanical timer, on the other hand, is using the stored energy to actively control the device. Therefore, the system would be disqualified.
