NorCal Science Olympiad - Regional & State Tournament Rules Clarifications

Questions & Answers


Laptops

NOTE FOR ALL EVENTS:  Due to the difficulty of monitoring laptops during the events, laptop computers will not be allowed in any event (e.g., Reach for the Stars) regardless of what the rule book indicates.

Q:  Does this mean that laptops (considered a tool under Rule 4.a) used to program the electric vehicle  will not be allowed, even if they are impounded with the electric vehicle?

A:   Laptops can be used for technology events since they do not include a written test.

__________________________________________________________________________

Balloon Launch Glider

Note from Supervisor: 

Rule Reminder!

3.e. At the State and National level: Teams must provide their own Balloon Launching Rig (inflated balloon, line(s) and launching perch such as pleated paper or balsa platform).  No balloons will be provided.
 
3.g. Helium will not be provided at any competition.

*****************************************

Q:  What is the height of the gym ceiling?

A:   The gym ceiling is 24 feet.  The lowest point in the gym are the beams and measure 24 feet from the floor.

Q:  Is there a size restriction for the "vertical surface"?

A:   No, there is no size restriction listed.

Q:  Is there a location restriction for the "vertical surface" (i.e. can the vertical surface be located anywhere on the plane)?

A:   No, there is no location restriction.  However, it does specify that "one vertical surface must be COVERED in an opaque, non-white material."  One of our teams wanted to use the frame/body of the plane (which was 1/4" tall) as the opaque vertical surface.  We disallowed that, because the wood frame was not COVERED.  Had they glued tissue paper to the wood frame, we would have been forced to allow it, even though I feel that it defies the spirit of the rule (making the plane easier to see).

Q:  Does the "vertical surface" need to be exactly perpendicular to the wings?

A:   Not necessarily.  The wings might be oblique (slanted in a v-shape).  Or they might be deliberately asymmetrical, as Wright Stuff planes are, in order to travel in a circle.

Q:  Is there a restriction to the type of material that is used to "cover" the "vertical surface"?

A:   The rules make no restriction on the composition of the material, only the color.  It could be paper, mylar, or chewing gum, as long as it's opaque and non-white.

__________________________________________________________________________

Bio Process Lab

Q: On Page BC8, under "The Competition", it is stated that "Each station will require the use of process skills to answer questions and/or perform a required task..."

At our regional event, we were prepared to meet in the event that which was described in the rules manual. We were disappointed when we met a biology event. Could someone guarantee that the state competition will be more true to the intention of the event?

A:  Bio-Process lab description indicates the following: This event is a lab-oriented competition involving the fundamental science processes of a middle school life science/biology lab program. 

__________________________________________________________________________

Boomilever

Q: Boomilever Event Page 1, Rule 3.d.iv. "When placed on the Boomilever, the center of the hole in the Loading Block must be a minimum of 40 cm from the Testing Wall."  Since this rule only applies to "Construction", the loading block moving inwards to a distance less than this 40 cm during testing would not violate this rule, correct (providing, of course, that the specification is met prior to testing)?

A:  In general all "construction" rules need to be in order during testing. During the start of testing the 40cm rule must be met. The loading block should be in a fixed position on the lever during the test.

Q: Boomilever Event Page 1, Rule 3.d.v. "No part of the Boomilever may touch the Testing Wall farther than 15.0 cm below the center of the attachment holes."  Since this rule only applies to "Construction", a part of the boomilever touching the wall below this 15.0 cm during testing would not violate this rule, correct (providing, of course, that the specification is met prior to testing)?

A:  In general all "construction" rules need to be in order during testing. During the 15cm rule must be met during test.

Q: The boomilever handout, section 3, construction, (d)iii:  What is the length of the 1/4" eyebolt that is used to secure the the washer and nut for attachment to the S hook?   What is the diameter of the washer?  Also under construction, (d) what is the diameter of the washer, bolthead and of the head (wings) of the wingnut?

A:  The rules do not specify these dimensions. Therefore at student discretion.

 __________________________________________________________________________

Disease Detective

Q:  Description. Will the "focus on environmental causes of public health problems" be concentrated on any specific public health problems? If so, can these be identified to the teams.

A:   The NorCal 2008 Disease Detectives event will be comprised of five stations. Each station will concentrate on a particular area of study within the field of public health epidemiology. Within each area there will be a specific focus related to environmental health. The study area and focus of each station are (1) Disease Transmission: West Nile Virus (2) Outbreak Investigation: Foodborne Illness (3) Prevention and Control: Childhood Lead Poisoning (4) The Environment and Health: Childhood Obesity (5) Public Health Careers: Environmental Health Specialists.

__________________________________________________________________________

Herpetology

Q:  I need to know what we can bring to the State S. O. Test in herpetology. Can we have notes (write notes on it) on the official list, bring one book (if so, which books are permitted) or prepared material?

A:   Page 27, #2, Event Parameters clearly states what can be brought to the test: "Teams may bring the Official National List of amphibians, reptiles, and turtles and one field guide (published or student prepared)."

Q:  4. Sample Activities. Will specimens and/or questions be drawn from the entire Official List?, or will there be any limitations, such as western species only.

A:   The questions may be drawn from the entire Official List.

__________________________________________________________________________

Robo Cross

Q:  BC24  2. Materials: c) At the start of the competition, the robot must fit in...........30x30x30cm cube. Does this mean that parts can fold up to fit into box but can then spring out beyond the 30x30x30cm  after it has fit into the box? for example, can a flap fold up to fit in to the box, but then when the box is removed the flap folds back out by itself beyond the 30 cm dimension.
 

A:   Yes, the robot may spring out beyond the dimensions of the box, after the size check. 
     The procedure is that:

1) students put robot on playing field
2) students put size-check cube over robot.  After this point, students will no longer be allowed to
    touch the robot
3) students remove cube.  If the robot unfolds bigger after that, that is fine.  But any size change must
    not be activated *by the students*, until after the timer starts counting down.  The robot can 
    only start activating changes *in response to commands from the students* after the timer starts.

So if the students need to fold up an arm to get the robot in the box, but the arm flops down without being touched when the box is removed, that's fine.

__________________________________________________________________________

Science Crime Busters

Q:  In the rules for Science Crime busters, it states that team members are not allowed to touch any of the unknowns. At our regionals we had a school provide gloves for their students.  The gloves allowed that school's team members to work quicker through their testing of the unknowns than those schools who had to use spoons and wooden scoopers. I would like the use of gloves clarified please.


AThe Safety Requirements (page 2008-BC28, #2) will be strictly adhered to. "Touching" means just that, regardless if it is with the bare hand, gloved hand, feet, or any other body part.  The same goes for "feeling".

__________________________________________________________________________

Simple Machines

Q:  Will there be timed stations?  At our regionals, it was a kind of a free
for all, first come first served and a bit chaotic for the students.

A:   It will be organized in timed stations. 

__________________________________________________________________________

Tower Building

Q:  Para 6.c.i.:  Is there a minimum weight that needs to be held for consideration? 


A:   No. Whatever the weight held will be divided by the mass of the tower.
 

Q:  Will the structure be ranked based on holding a weight as close to 15kg. or  is it only based on structural efficiency? 

A:   According to the rules (6.a.), the Score will be determined by the Structural Efficiency equation which is the load supported divided by tower mass.

Q:  What if  the tower holds a  much less weight (say, 5kg), but has a higher structural efficiency than a tower holding 14.5 kg?  Which one wins?

A:   The one that wins is the tower with the highest structural efficiency.  Again, according to the rules (6.a. and 6.c.i.), the towers will be ranked by their structural efficiency.  It is not just the mass held, but also the mass of the tower itself  which determines the tower’s structural efficiency. All towers meeting all specifications under Materials and Construction will be ranked, by their structural efficiency, in the first tier.
 

__________________________________________________________________________

Wright Stuff

Q:  What is the height of the gym ceiling?

A:   The gym ceiling is 24 feet. The lowest point in the gym are the beams and measure 24 feet from the floor.

Wright Stuff

Q:  Regarding Section 2G: What is meant by "an opaque, non-white material"?  What exactly do you mean by Opaque....We are figuring that the tail fin must have a dark color paper as the wing film...is this correct? (Anything but clear?) Will the use of a black "Sharpee" applied onto a clear film satisfy this rule? 

A:   Timers have had difficulty distinguishing various airplanes and gliders close to the ceiling in competition, resulting in timing errors. The opaque covering rule is to increase visibility of airplanes and gliders when they are near the ceiling at a competition. Colored tissue paper and reflectively coated plastic film are considered opaque materials. If tissue paper is used for the covering material, it may be any color except for white. Condenser paper that is a light tan color is considered to be opaque. Clear plastic film that has been colored with a felt tip pen is NOT considered opaque.