NorCal Science Olympiad - Regional & State Tournament Rules Clarifications

Questions & Answers

DISEASE DETECTIVE, DIV B/C -An Update from the Event Supervisor

STUDY AREAS - The information below is the only information needed for this year's event

1.     Influenza pandemics from the past and present, with an emphasis on the present 2009 H1N1 pandemic

2.     Infectious disease epidemiology and control: Disease identification, agent, occurrence, reservoir, mode of transmission, incubation period, period of communicability, susceptibility and resistance, and methods of control. Students should understand general principles and be able to apply them to the influenza virus. Recommended reference: Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 19th edition, ISBN 978-0-87553-189-2.

3.     Outbreak investigation: The topic is the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic.

In this year’s event, as it was last year, the focus is on the effects of population growth on public health outcomes. This focus is reflected in questions about the virus’s rapid global spread and efforts aimed at controlling person-to-person spread.

 

ELEVATED BRIDGE, DIV B/C - An Update from the Event Supervisor

In the Rules Manual for both division B and C for Elevated Bridge the following statement appears in Event Parameters 2c in bold clean, dry sand or similar dry free-flowing material . Based on that reference the Event Supervisor will use rice for the Norcal State Finals event.

Question: Elevated bridge, paragraph 5, sections e and f deal with set-up and loading. (I understand that rice will be used instead of sand) Will competitor's be loading the bucket with a cup or can, or will a hopper be used? Can competitors bring their own cup or can?  Can competitors bring a hopper device to use instead of a cup or can?

Answer:  Paragraph 2. line c. Event Parameters  states: The assessment devices, testing apparatus, hardware, and clean dry free-flowing material will be provided by the Event Supervisor. “No other items or materials may be used for assessment or testing.”  

The Event Supervisor will provide the same apparatus to be used by all teams to load the rice.

 

IT'S ABOUT TIME, DIV C - An Update from the Event Supervisor

Question: It's About Time, Paragraph 3, construction, item e States that "At impound , the device and all components must be able to fit into an 80 cm cube... 

Can the device and components be impounded unassembled, inside a box (with dimensions of 60cm x 40cm x 18cm), and then assembled at the competition? It is understood that when assembled, the device must fit into a 80cm cube. Or, does the device need fully assembled at impound?

Answer:  Paragraph 1. Description states: Students will use a non-electrical device, which they have “constructed prior to the event."  See rule 2g & h, and rule 3e for information regarding impound.

 

MISSION POSSIBLE - An Update from the Event Supervisor

The Mission Possible Task Sequence List must be turned in at registration on event day.  Each task intended to earn points from section 4 of the rules must be numbered and lettered on the Task Sequence List and on the device.  Please see the Mission Possible rules, scoring section for the possible number of points regarding the Task Sequence List. 

 

SOLAR SYSTEM, DIV B - Reminders from the Event Supervisor

Based upon analysis of student performance at regional and prior NorCal
tournaments, the event supervisor advises students to be mindful of the
following topics listed in the rules for the 2010 Solar System event:

2010 Rules, 3b: "Objects of the solar system: Sun, 8 planets, 5 dwarf
planets, satellites."  This will definitely be a component of the
event.  Students should be well versed in the identification of
objects, their location, and current classification.

2010 Rules, 3l: "Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion and Newton's Laws of
Motion and Gravitational Attraction."  This topic will be included.

2010 Rules, 3n: "Identification of the constellations containing all
planets visible on the evening of the day of the competition, either
with the unaided eye or a telescope."  Students will be expected to do
this.  In the past, real sky photographs / slides have been used from
which to identify the constellations.

The 2010 Solar System event at NorCal will include as many of the
topics listed in the event rules as are feasible within the time
limitations of the event.  Students should be familiar with all of the
topics from the rules.  The suggestions above are meant to address
areas that have been "areas of relative weakness" for some teams in the
past, and are intended to help all our teams do their very best.  Good
luck to all.