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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
A: The
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".
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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.
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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.
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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.
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