Volcanoes (30 Minutes – Scheduled Event)

3rd Grade Only - Dynamic Planet – Volcanoes (30 minutes – Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 1 Volunteer

Maximum Number of Participants per School: Six: 3 teams of 2

Description: Teams will demonstrate their understanding of how volcanoes form, the current and historic volcano activity of the United States, and the anatomy of a volcano. This event has a written test.

Teams need to bring: Pencils

Optional Materials: One double sided 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper with any notes the students want to bring.

Safety Requirements: None

The Competition: Teams will answer questions on a written test. Topics may include but not limited to: o Types of volcanoes o Parts of a volcano o Current and historic volcanic activity

Scoring: Points will be awarded for each correct response. The team with the highest accumulated score is the winner. ● Ties will be broken by the accuracy or quality of answers to select questions chosen by the event supervisor prior to the competition. Or ● The event supervisor will compare tests and the team that incorrectly answers the first question in order will place below the other team. o E.g. Team one correctly answers the first three questions and team two correctly answers the first two questions but misses the third. Team one will place higher than team two.

Possible Resources: United States Geological Survey: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/education.html Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/search?page_search_query=volcanoes

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3rd Grade Only - Gunk – Ice Cream Tower (30 minutes – Signup Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 3-5 Volunteer Judges

Maximum Number of Participants per School: 2 students per 15 registered or portion thereof

Description: Using given materials, teams will create the tallest free-standing ice cream sculpture possible. Teams may also answer questions about the properties of carbohydrates, sugars, and starches found in ice cream. This event has a building component and a written test.

Approximate Time: ● 30 minutes (5 minutes for setup, up to 15 minutes for mixing, 5 minutes for shaping and scoring, and 5 minutes for cleanup)

Safety Requirements: Indirect-vent Safety Goggles. ● Because this is an event that uses liquids, all competitors must always wear their eye protection. ● If a team does not have the required eye protection, they will be given the opportunity to obtain it, time allowing, but will not receive extra time. ● If a team is unable to obtain eye protection, the team will not compete and will receive a no-show score.

Teams Need to Bring: ● 1-1 gallon and 1-1-pint size Ziploc or another brand sealable plastic bag. No twist tie bags allowed. ● Teams receive a 10-centimeter penalty if they do not bring their own materials.

Optional items: • Gloves • A one page note sheet describing their experimentation results • Mixing bowls and/or measuring equipment

Materials Provided at Event: The Event Supervisor will provide the same amounts of supplies to all teams. Teams do not need to use all the materials. ● Up to 125 mL of milk, cream, or half and half. ● Up to 15 mL of sugar ● Up to 90 mL of salt. ● Enough crushed ice to fill between 1/3 and 1/2 of the gallon bag.

The Competition: Teams will not start creating their gunk at the same time. They may begin at different intervals at designated by the Event Supervisor to ensure that all teams have the same amount of time to mix, build, receive a score for their ice cream sculpture and answer the written portion of the event. Page 11 of 44

Written Test • The test will consist of between 10 and 20 questions on the properties of carbohydrates, sugars, and starches found in ice cream.

Mixing: ● The amount of materials given at the start of the event is all that each team will receive, so students should work carefully. ● No announcement on the amounts or type of materials will occur until the day of the event. ● Each team will receive the same quantity of materials; milk, sugar, salt, and ice. ● Teams may bring a one page note sheet describing any experimentation results. ● If they desire, teams may bring their own room temperature mixing bowls and/or measuring equipment. ● Judges will time each team while they mix their ice cream. ● Teams will decide and declare to their Judge, how long they wish to mix their ice cream, but may have no longer than 15 minutes.

Building: ● When the team’s announced time ends, they must immediately begin building their ice cream sculpture. ● Each team will have up to 5 minutes to make the tallest ice cream sculpture possible. ● Teams may shape their sculpture in any way they wish, unless the Event Supervisor specifies a shape for all teams. ● Teams may ask for a measurement at any time during the 5-minute building phase. The Event ● Supervisor or designated Judge will measure the height to the nearest millimeter. ● Teams may only have one measurement.

Scoring: ● Supervisors will score all written tests to include tiebreakers. ● Supervisors will measure each ice cream sculpture to the nearest millimeter. ● Supervisors will record the amount of time a team uses for mixing their ice cream. ● The Supervisor’s decisions are final on all timings and measurements.

Tiebreakers ● Shortest amount of time for mixing. ● Answers to selected questions on the written test. ● Least amount of materials used.

Determining the placements ● Each team will receive a final placement based on the average placement on the written test and their ice cream sculpture.

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3rd Grade Only - Life Cycles - (30 Minutes- Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 1 Volunteer

Maximum Number of Participants per School: Six: 3 teams of 2

Description: This event tests participants’ knowledge of simple life cycles. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations. This event has a written test.

Teams need to bring: Pencils

Optional Materials: Any notes that fit on one piece of paper double sided.

Safety Requirements: None

The Competition: ● Students will take a written test and may answer questions about the following life cycles…. ● Ants ● Bees ● Monarch Butterfly ● Lady Bugs ● Frogs ● Birds ● Students may use “hands-on” stations to… ● Solve puzzles about life cycles ● Be timed in sorting life cycles correctly

Scoring: ● Points will be awarded for each correct response. ● Ties will be broken by the accuracy or quality of answers to select questions chosen by the event leader prior to the competition.

Possible Resource: ● Ask a Biologist – Arizona State University – Example: use a search engine and search for Ask a Biologist Ants

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3rd Grade Only - Ologies - (30 Minutes - Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 1 Volunteer

Maximum Number of Participants per School: Six: 3 teams of 2

Description: This event tests participants’ knowledge of professions or studies that end in the suffix -ology. This event has a written test.

Teams need to bring: Pencils

Optional Materials: Any notes that fit on one piece of paper double sided.

Safety Requirements: None

The Competition: Students will take a written test and may answer questions about the following ologies. There might be questions on famous scientists related to these fields as well.

Scoring: ● Points will be awarded for each correct response. ● Ties will be broken by the accuracy or quality of answers to select questions chosen by the event leader prior to the competition.

Possible Resources: ● Dictionaries ● Science Books

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Ology Study List

-ology Word Description acarology The study of mites and ticks. acridology The study of grasshoppers and locusts (infraorder Acrididea). A branch of biology that studies organic particles, such as bacteria, fungal spores, very aerobiology small insects, pollen grains and viruses, which are passively transported by the air. allergology The study of the causes and treatment of allergies. amphibiology The branch of zoology that deals with the class Amphibia. anemology The study of wind. anesthesiology The study of anesthesia and anesthetics. anthropology The holistic scientific and social study of humanity, mainly using ethnography as its method. apiology The scientific study of honey bees and honey-making. The scientific study of spiders and related animals such as scorpions, pseudoscorpions, arachnology and harvestmen, collectively called arachnids. archeology The study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. archeozoology The study of faunal remains or the items left behind when an animal dies. arteriology The branch of angiology dealing with arteries. arthropodology The study of arthropods. astacology The study of crayfish. The study of the theoretical effects of astronomical bodies and forces on the Earth's astrometeorology atmosphere. atomology The study or doctrine of atoms. audiology The study of the auditory and vestibular systems, and associated disorders. bacteriology The scientific study of bacteria, especially in relation to disease and agriculture. barology The study of gravity and weight and their relation. biology The study of life and living organisms and their morphology, anatomy, and physiology. The branch of biology dedicated to the study of organisms that live in caves and are biospeleology collectively referred to as troglofauna. brontology The study of thunder. cardiology The study of the heart. carpology The study of the structure of seeds and fruit. cartology The creation of charts and maps based on the layout of a territory's geography. cerebrology The science that deals with the cerebrum or brain. The branch of zoology concerned with the order Cetacea, which includes whales, dolphins, cetology and porpoises. chelonology The study of turtles or tortoises (order Chelonia). chemoimmunology The branch of chemistry that studies the chemical processes in immunology. chromatology The study of colour. chronology The study of things in order of time or the study of time. cirripedology The study of barnacles. climatology The science that deals with climates, and investigates their phenomena and causes. clownology The study of being a clown. coccidology The study of scale insects, mealybugs, and organisms within the superfamily Coccoidea. coleopterology The scientific study of beetles (order Coleoptera). conchology The study of mollusks and their shells.

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coprology The study of feces. crustaceology The branch of zoology dealing with crustaceans. cryptology The study and practice of analyzing encoded messages, in order to decode them. cyclonology The study of cyclones. cynology The study of dogs. cytology The study of cells. demology The study of human populations, activities, social conditions, and behaviour. In archeology, the science that uses dendrochronology to date wooden material from dendroarcheology archeological sites. The science that uses the spacing between the annual growth rings of trees to date their dendrochronology exact year of formation. dendrogeomorpholog The science that uses dendrochronology to study changes to the Earth's surface over time. y dermatology The study of skin. dermatoneurology The study of nerves of the skin. desmidiology The study of single-celled algae. eccrinology The study of the secretion of the eccrine glands. ecohydrology The study of the interactions between water and ecosystems. ecology The scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment. encephalology The study of the brain and its function, structure and anatomy, and diseases. enterology The study of the intestinal tract. entomology The scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. The study and analysis of the patterns, causes, and effects of health and diseaseconditions in epidemiology defined populations. eremology The study of deserts. The branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes the characteristics of different ethnology people and the relationship between them. A planetary science discipline concerned with the geology of the celestial bodies such as exogeology the planets and their moons, asteroids, comets, and meteorites. felinology The study of cats. filicology The study of ferns. gastroenterology The branch of medicine focused on the digestive system and its disorders. gelotology The study of humour and laughter. gemology The scientific study dealing with natural and artificial gemstone materials. The area of geology that deals with the distribution and movement of groundwater in geohydrology the soil and rocks of the Earth's crust (commonly in aquifers). geotectology The study of the structure of the Earth's crust; geotectonics. gerontology The study of the social, psychological, cognitive, and biological aspects of aging. The scientific study of glaciers, or more generally ice and natural phenomena that involve glaciology ice. graminology The scientific study of the grasses (family Poaceae). grossology The study of things that are disgusting or gross. heliology The study of the sun. hemipterology The study of true bugs (order Hemiptera). The branch of medicine that incorporates the study of liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, hepatology and pancreas as well as management of their disorders.

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The branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (gymnophiona)) herpetology and reptiles (including snakes, lizards, amphisbaenids, turtles, terrapins, tortoises, crocodilia ns, and the tuataras). heteroptology The study of true bugs (suborder Heteroptera). hippology The study of horses. The study of support systems in wetlands such as the interactions between water and hydroecology wildlife habitats. The scientific study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other hydrology planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability. hyetology The scientific study of precipitation. hypnology The scientific study of sleep. iatrology The study of medicine. ichthyology The branch of biology devoted to the study of fish. immunology A branch of biomedical science that covers the study of immune systems in all organisms. irenology The study of peace. kinology The branch of physics that deals with the laws of motion. kymatology The study of wave motion. A branch of medicine that deals with disorders, diseases and injuries of the vocal apparatus, laryngology especially the larynx. A branch of entomology concerning the scientific study of moths and the three superfamilies lepidopterology of butterflies. limacology The branch of zoology which deals with slugs. lithology The study of rocks, with particular emphasis on their description and classification. meteorology The study of the atmosphere and related phenomena such as weather. metrology The science and study of measurement. microbiology The study of microorganisms. A branch of climatology that studies microclimates which are small, local region having a microclimatology unique pattern of weather or weather effects that differ from the local climate. microphytology The study of very small or microscopic plant life. mnesiology The study of memory. momiology The study of mummies. mycetology The study of fungi. myrmecology The branch of entomology focusing on the scientific study of ants. nephology The study of clouds. neurobiology The study of the nervous system including the brain. noology The systematic study and organization of everything dealing with knowing and knowledge. oceanology The branch of Earth science that studies the ocean; oceanography. odonatology The study of dragonflies and damselflies (order Odonata). olfactology The study of smell. oncology The branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. oology The study of eggs, especially those of birds. ophidiology The study of snakes (clade Ophidia). ophthalmology The branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. ornithology A branch of zoology dealing with the study of birds. osteology The scientific study of bones. Page 17 of 44

A branch of medicine which studies normal and pathological anatomy and physiologyof otology the ear (hearing and vestibular sensory systems and related structures and functions). paedology The study of children's behavior and development. paleoanthropology The scientific study of human fossils, and the evolution of modern man. paleobotany The branch of paleontology that deals with the study of plant fossils. paleoentomology The study of prehistoric insects. paleoichthyology The study of fossil and ancient fish. paleoornithology The study of ancient and prehistoric birds and their evolution. paleophytology The study of ancient plants and plant fossils; paleobotany. parasitology The study of parasites and how they interact with their hosts. pestology The study of pests. pharyngology The scientific study of the pharynx and its diseases. photoecology The study of or application of aerial photography to ecology and land management. photology The study of light. phycology The scientific study of algae. planktology The study of plankton. The study of behavior and mind, embracing all aspects of conscious and unconscious psychology experience as well as thought. pulmonology The study of the respiratory system and its organs. radiology A medical specialty that uses imaging to diagnose and treat diseases seen within the body. rhinology The study of the nose, including the sinuses. scatology The study of feces. The study of natural sediments (silt, clay, and sand) and of the processes by which they are sedimentology formed. The scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or seismology through other planet-like bodies. serpentology The study of snakes. spongiology The study of sponges (phylum Porifera). taxology The technique or study of identifying, naming, and classifying things; taxonomy. theriology The study of mammals. tidology The science or study of tides. A branch of biology, chemistry, and medicine concerned with the study of the adverse toxicology effects of chemicals (poisons) on living organisms. trachelology The study of the neck and related injuries and disease. urinology The study of urine and the urinary system. venology The study of veins. vermeology The study of worms. The study of volcanoes, lava, magma, and volcanology related geological, geophysical and geochemicalphenomena. woodpeckerology The study of woodpeckers xenology The study of extraterrestrial life the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, zoology evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct, and how they interact with their ecosystems.

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3rd Grade Only – Tower Building (1 hour – Sign Up Event)

Description: Teams will build the tallest tower to hold the largest mass for the longest amount of time using the least amount of supplies.

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 2-4 Volunteer Judges (at least 2 per session)

Maximum Number of Participants per School: 2 students per 15 registered or portion thereof

Description: Teams will build the tallest tower to hold the largest mass for the longest amount of time using the least amount of supplies. This event has a building component and a written test.

Teams need to bring: ● Pencil, pen or marker, a ruler/straight edge, scissors and protractor.

Safety Requirements: ● Indirect-vent Safety Goggles or Safety glasses labeled ANSI Z87.1+ (impact rated). All competitors must always wear their eye protection during the competition. Eye Glasses are not Eye Protection.

Materials Provided at Event: ● 1 meter of masking tape ● 30 – Paper Straws ● an object with a mass no less than 50 grams and no more than 500 grams

The Competition: Construction Phase: Timed 35 Minutes ● For student safety, the craft sticks may not be broken or cut. ● Teams will construct a tower that rises the greatest possible distance from its base and be able to support the object when placed at the top most point of the tower. ● The manufacture of the straws will remain secret until the day of the competition. ● The Event Supervisor will announce on the day of the competition the object, its flat base size, the mass of the object each tower will have to hold, and the manufacturer of the straws. ● The mass of the object will be no less than 50 grams and no more than 500 grams. ● The tower must support the object for a least ten seconds and no more than 30 seconds. ● Teams may cut the tape into any shape or size. ● The Event Supervisor will record the amount of masking tape and straws left for each team. ● Any team using any tools or materials other than those listed above will be ranked below all other teams.

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Challenge Phase: ● Teams will have 3 minutes to complete the challenge phase. ● The Event Supervisor will measure the height of the tower to the nearest millimeter (1mm) to the point where the weight will be placed before the challenge begins. ● When given permission teams will place the tower on a flat surface ● The tower may not be placed so that it is supported in any way by any horizontal or vertical obstruction. ● No sticky part of the tape may touch the top or sides of the flat surface. ● Timing begins when teams place the mass on the tower and remove their hand. ● The challenge will end when the tower fails to hold the object or the end of the 30 seconds. ● The Event Supervisor or appointed judge will be the official timekeeper.

Written Test ● The written test for this event will cover the basic concepts of building towers and bridges. It may include: ○ Tension ○ Compression ○ Truss ○ Type of bridges ○ Types or towers ○ Building techniques (L vs X vs K etc.)

Event Supervisor Records: ● Height of Tower ● Time to structural failure ● Amount of unused masking tape and straws for each team

Scoring: To calculate the total team score the Event Supervisor will average the team placements for the building and written test to find the final team placement. ● Teams with the highest tower that holds for the longest time will rank ahead of all others measured to the nearest millimeter (1mm) and 1/100th of a second by the Event Supervisor or appointed judge. Will account for 50% of the total team score. ● The written portion of the event will account for 50% of the total team score.

Tiebreakers: ● Least amount of masking tape. ● Time to structural failure. ● Selected questions on the written exam.

Possible Resource: ● Science Olympiad Student Center Wiki - https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Towers

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Anatomy – Homeostasis (30 minutes - Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 1 Volunteer

Maximum Number of Participants per School: Six: 3 teams of 2

Description: Teams will demonstrate their knowledge of homeostasis in the human body. Homeostasis refers to stability, balance, or equilibrium within a cell or the body. It is an organism’s ability to keep a constant internal environment. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations.

Teams need to bring: Pencils

Optional Materials: Any notes that fit on one piece of paper - double sided.

Safety Requirements: None

The Competition: Students will take a written test to answer topic questions on the cardiovascular which may include: ● To identify the process by which body systems are kept within certain limits. ● To explain the role of feedback mechanisms in homeostasis. ● To distinguish negative feedback from positive feedback. ● To identify and example of two organ systems working together to maintain homeostasis. ● To summarize the role of the endocrine system in homeostasis. ● To outline the result of a disturbance in homeostasis of a body system.

Scoring: Points will be awarded for each correct response. The team with the highest accumulated score is the winner. ● Ties will be broken by the accuracy or quality of answers to select questions chosen by the event supervisor prior to the competition. Or ● The event supervisor will compare tests and the team that incorrectly answers the first question in order will place below the other team. ● E.g. Team one correctly answers the first three questions and team two correctly answers the first two questions but misses the third. Team one will place higher than team two.

Possible Resources: Open Curriculum: https://opencurriculum.org/5385/homeostasis-and-regulation-in-the-human-body/ Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/high-school-biology/hs-human-body-systems/hs- body-structure-and-homeostasis/a/homeostasis

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Astronomy – Evolution of a Star (30 Minutes - Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 1 Volunteer

Maximum Number of Participants per School: Six: 3 teams of 2

Description: Teams will demonstrate knowledge about the evolution of star from birth to death. This event has a written test.

Optional Materials: One double sided 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper with any notes the students want to bring.

The Competition Students will take a written test to answer topic questions about stars which may include: ● Star Life Cycle ● Protostars ● Interstellar Clouds ● Cloud Collapse ● Comparing ● relative sizes ● temperature ● composition ● density

Scoring: ● Points will be awarded for each correct response. ● Ties will be broken by the accuracy or quality of answers to select questions chosen by the event supervisor prior to the competition. Or The event supervisor will compare tests and the team that incorrectly answers the first question in order will place below the other team. E.g. Team one correctly answers the first three questions and team two correctly answers the first two questions but misses the third. Team one will place higher than team two.

Possible Resources NASA: https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/how-do-stars-form-and-evolve Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/cosmology-and-astronomy/stellar-life-topic/stellar-life-death- tutorial/v/birth-of-stars

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Boomilever (1 hour – Sign Up Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 2-4 Volunteer Judges (at least 2 per session)

Maximum Number of Participants per School: 2 students per 15 registered or portion thereof

Description: Teams will build the longest boomilever to hold the largest mass for the longest amount of time using the least amount of supplies. This event has a building component and a written test.

Teams need to bring: ● Pencil, pen or marker, a ruler/straight edge, scissors and protractor.

Materials Provided at Event: ● 4 – Popsicle/Craft sticks ● 1 meter of masking tape ● 20 – Paper Straws ● an object with a mass no less than 50 grams and no more than 500 grams ● a wooden wall for attaching the boomilever and testing

The Competition: Construction Phase: Timed 35 Minutes ● For student safety, the craft sticks may not be broken or cut. ● Teams will construct a boomilever that extends the greatest possible distance from the base and be able to support the object when placed at the most 5 cm from the end of the boomilever that is furthest from the testing wall the team. ● The manufacture of the straws will remain secret until the day of the competition. ● The Event Supervisor will announce on the day of the competition the object and the mass of the object each boomilever will have to hold, and the manufacturer on the straws used. ● The mass of the object will be no less than 100 grams and no more than 750 grams. ● The boomilever must support the object for a least ten seconds and no more than 30 seconds. ● Teams may cut the tape into any shape or size. ● The Event Supervisor will record the amount of masking left for each team. ● Any team using any tools or materials other than those listed above will be ranked below all other teams.

Challenge Phase: ● Teams will have 3 minutes to complete the challenge phase. Page 23 of 44

● The Event Supervisor will measure the length of the boomilever to the nearest millimeter (1mm) before the challenge begins. ● When given permission teams will attach the boomilever to the side of the testing wall, within a 12 cm by 12 cm, area using a clamp. (The teams will choose from either a pressure clamp or c-clamp.) ● The clamp may only hold the boomilever to the wall and may not support any part of the boomilever. ● All support parts of the boomilever must rest against the testing wall. ● No sticky part of the tape may touch the top or sides of the flat surface. ● Timing begins when teams place the mass on the end of their boomilever and remove their hand. ● The challenge will end when the boomilever fails to hold the object or the end of the 30 seconds. ● The Event Supervisor or appointed judge will be the official timekeeper.

Written Test ● The written test for this event will cover the basic concepts of building boomilevers and bridges. It may include: ○ Tension ○ Compression ○ Truss ○ Type of bridges ○ Types of Boomilever/Cantilever ○ Types or towers ○ Building techniques (L vs X vs K etc.) ○ Principles of Cantilevers

Event Supervisor Records: ● Length of boomilever ● Time to structural failure ● Amount of unused masking tape by each team ● Team score on the written portion of the test

Scoring: To calculate the total team score the Event Supervisor will average the team placements for the building and written test to find the final team placement. ● Teams with the longest boomilever that holds for the longest time will rank ahead of all others measured to the nearest millimeter (1mm) and 1/100th of a second by the Event Supervisor or appointed judge. ● The written portion of the event will account for 50% of the total team score.

Tiebreakers: ● Least amount of masking tape. ● Time to structural failure.

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Boomilever Testing Wall

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Cell Biology - (30 Minutes – Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 1 Volunteer

Maximum Number of Participants per School: Six: 3 teams of 2

Description: This event tests participants’ knowledge of cells and cell processes. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations.

Teams need to bring: Pencils

Optional Materials: Any notes that fit on one piece of paper double sided.

Safety Requirements: None

The Competition: Part 1: Students will answer questions about the following…. ● Cells, Similarities and differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and plant and animal cells. ● Structure and function of cell organelles. ● Specialized cells. o Muscle Cells o Nerve Cells o Red Blood Cells o Leaf Cells o Root hair Cells ● Cell transport. ● Cell Division and Cell Cycle. ● Stem cells and cancer cells. Part 2: ● Students should be able to identify slides or images of cells and cell organelles. Part 3: ● Students should be able to predict the outcome of cell transport experiments. Scoring: ● Points will be awarded for each correct response. ● Ties will be broken by the accuracy or quality of answers to select questions chosen by the event leader prior to the competition.

Possible Resources: ● Biology for Kids: http://www.biology4kids.com/files/cell_main.html ● Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/structure-of-a-cell

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Code Busters - (30 minutes – Signup Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 1 Volunteer

Maximum Number of Participants per School: 1 team of 5 students

Description: Teams will receive a set of up to 10 nonsense letters and numbers and will pass the codes from teammate to teammate.

Teams need to bring: Pencils. On paper

Safety Requirements: None.

Materials provided at event: ● Paper ● Codes The Competition: ● This is a timed event. Each team will have 5 minutes to relay the codes between each other correctly. ● The Event Supervisor will time to the nearest 1/100 of a second. ● Team members must be familiar with all the letters, numbers and symbols created by a computer keyboard with or without the shift key engaged. ● Handwriting counts. If the code is not legible it will not receive a score. The judge’s decision is final. ● Team member 1 will receive the codes on paper. They may not show the codes to any other team member. They will whisper the code to member 2; who in turn whispers to member 3 and so on. ● Team member 5 will write the codes after receiving it from team member 4. ● Lower case and upper-case letters are different. A lower case letter will not substitute in scoring for an upper-case letter. ● Members 2 through 5 may never see the starting codes. Member 1 through 4 may never see the finished codes. ● The teams may restart the codes as often as they want. ● The time will start when team member 1 receives the first code. Scoring: ● Teams receive a score for each correct or partially correct code. o 1 point for each correct letter, number or symbol in the sequence in the correct order. o 1 point for a complete correct answer Examples ● Code #2 is – 78ghJT4. The team writes 87hgjT4. The team earns 2 points. T, 4 are correct and in the correct order. ● Code#3 - *&65tyU3. The team writes x^65tyu3. The team earns 5 points. 6, 5, t, y and 3 are correct and in the correct order. Tiebreakers: ● Teams with the most complete correct answers. ● Teams with the faster time will rank ahead of the second team.

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Describe it. Build it. (30 Minutes – Sign Up Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 2-3 Volunteer Scorers

Maximum Number of Participants per School: 2 students per 15 registered or portion thereof

Description: One student will describe an object and how to build it, and their partner will try to build the object in real time.

Teams need to bring: Nothing.

Safety Requirements: None.

Materials provided at event: For the Describer: ● An object made of small items such as arts & craft supplies, or commercial building sets (e.g., Legos, K'Nex, etc.) or a combination of these items that they will describe to their partner.

For the Builder: ● The builder will have a complete set of materials needed to build the object. (Note that extra materials, not used in building the object, may be included in the set.)

The Competition: ● Each team will have 5 minutes to describe and build the object presented for this competition. ● The builder may not see the object. ● The describer may not see what the builder is creating. ● The builder may begin as soon as the event supervisor starts the timer.

Scoring: ● Event Supervisors will score the completed object based on a point system that awards points for each material placed in the proper location and with the correct connection as on the original object. ● Pieces connected correctly to an incorrect located or connected piece will receive full credit (i.e., no penalty for "error carried forward").

Scoring Penalties: ● Tier violations occur if the builder looks at the object, or the describer looks at the builder’s product. Teams with tier violations will be ranked behind all other teams without violations.

Additional Information: ● A sample object and score sheet from the B division “Write It, Do It,” which is very similar to this event is available on the Virginia Science Olympiad website (www.virginiaso.com), under the Events tab.

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Dynamic Planet – Volcanoes (30 minutes – Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 1 Volunteer

Maximum Number of Participants for all Schools: Six: 3 teams of 2 students

Teams need to bring: Pencils

Optional Materials: One double sided 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper with any notes the students want to bring.

Safety Requirements: None

The Competition: Teams will answer questions on a written test. Topics may include but not limited to: o Types of volcanoes o Parts of a volcano o Current and historic volcanic activity

Possible Resources: United States Geological Survey: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/education.html Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/search?page_search_query=volcanoes

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Flying Fossils – (30 minutes – Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 1 Volunteer

Maximum Number of Participants for all Schools: Six: 3 teams of 2 students

Description: Teams will demonstrate their knowledge of the fossil record as it relates to flying species. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations. Teams need to bring: Pencils

Optional Materials: One double sided 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper with any notes the students want to bring.

Safety Requirements: None

Possible Resources: The Virtual Fossil Museum: https://goo.gl/tE9qGX Smithsonian Institute: https://goo.gl/H8yjQ1

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Kinematics (30 minutes – Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 1 Volunteer

Maximum Number of Participants per School: 2 students per 15 registered or portion thereof

Description: Teams will demonstrate their understanding of the laws of motion and their abilities to calculate data using formulas for force, motion, and vectors. This event has a written test about the basic data points used during an experiment and will include observations of or conducting an experiment.

Team Needs to Bring: Sharpened Pencils, One-four function calculator (non programmable), one sheet of paper with any formulas the team wants to use during the competition.

The Competition: Teams will answer questions on a written test, in a series of team stations, and conduct an experiment calculating the rate at which an object changes position. ● Topics may include: ● Analyzing the motion of an object in terms of its position, velocity, and acceleration (with respect to a frame of reference) as functions of time. ● Interpreting and applying Newton's three laws of motion. ● Solving problems of distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration. ● Independent, dependent, constant, hypothesis, and conclusion

The Experiment: Teams will observe the Event Supervisor conducting a simple experiment twice using a ramp and “vehicle.” They will then complete the Experimental Design Diagram to the best of their ability.

Scoring: ● Points will be awarded for each correct response on the written test. ● Points will also be awarded for each correct response completing the Experimental Design Diagram ● Ties will be broken by the accuracy or quality of answers to select questions chosen by the event leader prior to the competition.

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Logical Thinking – (30 minutes – Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 1 Volunteer

Maximum Number of Participants for all Schools: Six: 3 teams of 2 students

Description: Teams will demonstrate their problem-solving skills by solving as many logic puzzles as they can within a set given time. These puzzles may be math, language, or picture orientated. This event has a written test. Teams need to bring: Pencils

Optional Materials: None. No notes may be brought to this event.

Safety Requirements: None

The Competition: Teams will answer questions either on a written test or at a series of team stations. ● If this is a station event the participants will move from station to station, with the length of time at each station predetermined and announced by the Event Supervisor. ● No participant may to return to unfinished stations but may change or add information to their original responses while at other stations. ● Topics may include but are not limited to: o Math Puzzles o Language Puzzles o Picture Puzzles Scoring: Points will be awarded for each correct response. The team with the highest accumulated score is the winner. ● Ties will be broken by the accuracy or quality of answers to select questions chosen by the event supervisor prior to the competition. Or ● The event supervisor will compare tests and the team that incorrectly answers the first question in order will place below the other team. ● E.g. Team one correctly answers the first three questions and team two correctly answers the first two questions but misses the third. Team one will place higher than team two.

Possible Resources: Puzzle Baron’s Logic Puzzles: https://goo.gl/77VSCx Wikipedia Category: Logic Puzzles: https://goo.gl/qRGdMZ Thinkfun Logic Puzzles: https://goo.gl/REMTpR

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Orienteering (30 minutes – Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 1 Volunteer

Maximum Number of Participants for all Schools: Six: 3 teams of 2 students

Description: This is an orienteering event. Teams will follow a set of directions using map, pacing and compass skills to find locations within the Science Olympiad competition. This event may be held outdoors in good weather. This event has a written test and a “hands-on” component.

Teams need to bring: Pencils

Optional Materials: None. No notes may be brought to this event.

Safety Requirements: None

Team Needs to Bring: A liquid-filled orienteering compass; labeled with the team, school or owner’s name, pencils, and a centimeter ruler. A 4-function calculator is the only allowed electronic device. No other electronics allowed including rangefinders and electronic compasses.

● Teams may bring: a protractor, and other measuring devices, 4-function calculator, and a magnifying glass.

Materials Provided at Event: A written test, maps and instructions for each team.

Safety Requirements: None

The Competition: ● Teams will have to answer questions about the parts of an orienteering compass and Topographic Maps. ● Topics may include map symbols and features, scale, distances between locations/features, compass rose, borders and boundaries, walking/driving directions, map coordinates. ● Teams will have to walk a predetermined route using a compass, map, and their pacing to collect clues. ● Teams will receive a set of directions that, if completed correctly, will bring them back to the starting point. No team from the same school will have the same directions. No team starting at the same time will have the same directions. All teams may visit the same points at different times. ● At each stopping point in the directions, teams will write down the clues they find. Pacing is important; there will be “dummy” points with incorrect clues. ● An international orienteering symbol will mark all stopping points. ● The Event Supervisor and one judge will time each team to the nearest 1/100th second. ● Teams will estimate the time it takes for them to find all their clues.

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● If the event is indoors, teams caught running during the event will receive a 5 second penalty.

Scoring: Teams will receive a ranking on each of three scoring components. The rankings will then average into a total to the nearest 1/100th of a point. ● Time to complete the course - Correctness of the data collected - Correct number of answers on the written questions - Example: Team #24 ranks 3rd in time, 7th in data collection, and 5th on the written questions. Their average is 5th place.

Tiebreakers 1. Time to complete the course

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Parachute Straw Egg Drop (60 minutes – Sign Up Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: • 1 Event Supervisor • 2-4 Volunteers (at least 2 needed)

Maximum Number of Participants per School: 2 students per 15 registered or portion thereof

Description: Teams will make a device and parachute out of paper straws, masking tape, Kleenex paper, and thread to hold a large raw egg. The device containing the egg will be dropped from a fixed height to a target. This event has a building component and a written test.

Safety Requirements - Eye Protection Safety glasses labeled ANSI Z87.1+ (impact rated). All competitors must always wear their eye protection during the competition. Eye Glasses are not Eye Protection.

Teams need to bring: Must bring and wear safety goggles; teams may bring plumb lines.

Materials provided at the event: ● 4 paper - non-flexible paper straws ● 25 cm of one-inch masking tape ● Scissors ● One raw egg wrapped in plastic wrap or inside a snack/sandwich size plastic bag ● 1 meter of General-Purpose Thread

The Competition: It is a tier violation if the team does not create a parachute that fully opens for their device. ● Team members will have 20 minutes to construct a device to cushion the egg and prevent it from cracking or breaking. ● No tape may be attached to the egg. ● No tape may be attached to the snack/sandwich size plastic bag. ● The snack/sandwich bag may not be opened, nor may air be added to the bag. ● Each team will have 5 minutes to drop the device from a height of 2-3 meters to a target. ● There will be ONE drop per team from the prescribed height. Plumb lines will be allowed. ● Maximum drop height will be the top of a 2-story school stairway. Minimum drop will be from the top of an elementary school bleachers. ● A team whose egg is broken before their drop may request a second egg but will be penalized 100% of the distance from the target (e.g., a measurement of 20cm from the target will be scored as 40cm.) ● The distance measured for each team is the distance from the center of the target to the FARTHEST point on the container (or the farthest point of any piece of the container, if it breaks during the fall) where it comes to rest in the target area. (There is no penalty for the container bouncing, rolling or breaking on impact, other than the broken egg penalty, if applicable.) ● At the end of their drop the competitors will open their device so the supervisor may check the egg. ● A broken egg is one that when rolled upon a paper towel will leave a damp spot.

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The written test: Items that may be included on the written test are: • Eggs and Egg Grading • Basic concepts of skydiving

Scoring: Teams will be tiered in three separate groups. ● Tier 1: Teams whose egg does not break during the drop will be ranked by distance from the target (including the "second egg" penalty, if appropriate) to the farthest point of their container or farthest piece of their container. ● Tier 2: Teams whose egg breaks during the drop will be ranked behind Tier 1, in order of distance from the target, again taking any "second egg" penalty into account. ● Tier 3: Teams that drop empty containers will be ranked behind Tier 2, in order of distance from the target.

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Pentathlon (30 minutes – Sign Up Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 2-4 Volunteers (at least 2)

Maximum Number of Participants per School: Ten: 2 teams of 5

Description: Five physical skills are interspersed with science questions in an obstacle course that will be run in a relay race style where each student passes the baton or tags the next student. A sixth physical skill and science question may be performed by the group.

Materials provided at event: All materials are provided.

Safety Requirements: Appropriate athletic attire including closed-toe shoes.

The Competition: ● Each leg of the relay will feature questions from any of the following categories: Forces, Motion and Energy; Life Processes and Living Systems; Interrelationships in Earth Space Systems; Earth Patterns, Cycles and Changes; Resources; Matter; all content is derived from the grade 3-5 Virginia state standards for science. ● Students will work as a team to complete a 5-person relay. ● Each member of the relay must complete 1 physical activity followed by completing an academic science challenge. ● The relay continues until all 5 team members have finished. ● A sixth activity may have to be completed by the team followed by a question for the team to answer. ● The physical activities will include events such as: a dash, crossing a balance beam, dribbling a basketball around a row of safety cones, running through 6 tires on the ground, a Frisbee throw for accuracy, etc. ● One student in the relay will complete each stretch of the relay. ● Each team will be timed from the start of the first leg until the team completes the final challenge. For the academic challenges team members will have a maximum of 2 minutes to answer the questions otherwise they will be forced to pass the baton on to the next team member. ● Students who may not be able to complete the physical challenge due to some physical limitation may designate another team member to complete the physical challenge for them, but they must complete the academic challenge on their own. ● Each physical and academic challenge must be completed before proceeding to the next station. The only exception is if students do not answer the academic challenge in 2 minutes they must pass the baton onto the next teammate. Scoring: The Event Supervisor or Judge will record the total time for a team to complete the Pentathlon to the nearest 1/10th of a second. The overall lowest time wins.

Tiebreaker: The tiebreaker will be the number of correct answers.

Possible Resources: Virginia Department of Education: https://goo.gl/vo4oEM Page 38 of 44

Shock Value (30 minutes – Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 1 Volunteer

Maximum Number of Participants per School: Six: 3 teams of 2

Description: Teams will answer questions and may do hands-on activities involving direct current circuits, basic electricity, and magnetism. This event has a written test.

Team needs to bring: ● Sharpened pencils (2-3)

Optional materials: Teams may bring any notes that fit on a single sheet of double sided paper.

Materials provided at event: ● Event supervisors will provide answer sheets and may provide batteries (AA, C or D), wire, lamps, switches or similar components; any necessary tools; circuit sets (such as Snap Circuits®), samples of conducting and non-conducting materials, magnets, breadboards, LED lights and similar hands-on materials. This event will not use lithium batteries.

Safety Requirements: ● No AC power will be used.

The Competition: ● This event may or may not include a student rotation through stations assessing knowledge in areas including dc circuits, batteries (commercial and/or homemade), household electrical safety (questions only - no hands-on activities related to AC power), and conducting and non-conducting materials and their uses. ● This event will include written questions. ● Stations may include questions or hands-on activities to assess students’ knowledge of these subjects. ● Students should understand basic electricity concepts, series and parallel circuits, simple Ohm’s Law calculations, electron flow in circuits, etc. ● How did we get here? Major early historical moments and scientists in electricity.

Possible Resources: ● Science Olympiad - Shock Value: http://www.soinc.org/shock_val_b ● SciOly: http://scioly.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=166&t=4951 Page 39 of 44

Simple Machines (30 minutes – Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: • 1 Event Supervisor • 1 Volunteer

Maximum Number of Participants per School: 2 students per 15 registered or portion thereof

Description: Teams will demonstrate their understanding of simple machines. This event has a written test and may include “hands-on” stations.

Team Needs to Bring: Sharpened Pencils, scissors, One-four function calculator (nonprogrammable), one sheet of paper with any information the team wants to use during the competition.

Safety Requirements: Must wear safety glasses labeled ANSI Z87.1+ (impact rated) or goggles.

The Competition: Teams will answer questions on a written test, in a series of team stations, or build set of simple machines.

Topics may include: ● Types of simple machines ● Identifying the simple machine within a compound machine ● Building examples of simple machines from everyday items ● Discussing with the Event Supervisor or Judges the concept of or the uses of simple machines

Scoring: Points will be awarded for each correct response or simple machine built. The team with the highest accumulated score is the winner. ● Ties will be broken by the accuracy or quality of answers to select questions chosen by the event supervisor prior to the competition. Or ● The event supervisor will compare tests and the team that incorrectly answers the first question in order will place below the other team. o E.g. Team one correctly answers the first three questions and team two correctly answers the first two questions but misses the third. Team one will place higher than team two.

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Submersibles (60 minutes – Sign Up Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: • 1 Event Supervisors • 2-4 Volunteers

Maximum Number of Participants per School: 2 students per 15 registered or portion thereof

Description: Teams will build a device to create neutral buoyancy within a saline water environment using a set of given materials. This event has a building component and a written test.

Teams Need to Bring: ● Sharpened Pencils, scissors, One-four function calculator (nonprogrammable), one sheet of paper with any information the team wants to use during the competition. ● One chart or graph on 8 ½ x 11 paper showing at least 5 experiments to achieve buoyancy.

Materials provided at event: ● Plasticine clay, play dough, or plumbers’ putty, straws (paper or plastic), 25cm of masking tape, small paper clip, a 12 to 16-inch-tall container filled at least ¾ full with a 1% to 10% saline solution.

The competition: Written Test ● Teams will take a written test on buoyancy concepts. The questions may relate to fish, submersibles, and under water exploration. This will account for 50% of the team score. Submersible ● No teams may squeeze the container. ● No teams will test their submersible in the container at any time. ● Teams will build a Cartesian submersible using the given materials. The diver will then be placed in the container of saline solution so that the diver comes to rest at a designated midway point in the container. ● Teams will mark a reference line on their submersible. This event supervisor will use this reference line to measure in millimeters the distance between the midway point and the reference point. Scoring: ● The Event Supervisor will rank teams based on the written test scores. Highest score to lowest. ● The Event Supervisor will rank teams based on their distance to the midway point of the container. Lowest distance to farthest. ● The two rankings will be averaged for the team placement. ● Ties will be broken by using the best written test placement. ● Any rules violation will result in that team being given a tier violation and ranked behind all other teams. Possible Resources Khan Academy: Fluids - https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/fluids

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Virginia Ornithology (30 minutes – Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: • 1 Event Supervisor • 1 Volunteer

Description: Teams will demonstrate their knowledge of birds the live in or frequent Virginia. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations.

Maximum Number of Participants per School: Six: 3 teams of 2

Team Needs to Bring: Sharpened Pencils, one double-sided sheet of paper with any content the team wants to use during the competition, hand lenses, and rulers.

Possible materials provided at event: Pictures, drawings, or other items relating to Virginia herpetological life, and assessment materials provided by the event supervisor.

Safety requirements: None

The competition: Teams may ● Rotate through stations to identify Virginia bird species. And/or ● Teams may answer questions about the following topics: 1. How habitat and environmental conditions impact ornithological life. 2. How bird species use adaptation to survive. 3. Land management to support ornithological species.

Possible Resources: ● Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/ ● Audubon Guide to North American Birds: https://www.audubon.org/bird-guide

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The Wright Stuff (30 minutes – Scheduled Event)

For a school to successfully run this event they need: ● 1 Event Supervisor ● 2 Volunteers

Description: Each team will build one paper plane for the longest time aloft. Students will provide an estimate of their time before their flight. This event has a building component and a written test.

Maximum Number of Participants per School: 2 students per 15 registered or portion thereof . Safety Requirements: Must wear safety glasses labeled ANSI Z87.1+ (impact rated)

Teams Need to Bring: ● Pencils, a ruler/straight edge, scissors, and a team chart showing testing results for the launching for a practice plane. The chart must be on 8 ½ x 11 inch size paper and contain a minimum or 5 launches for both distance and time.

Materials Provided at Event: ● Each team will receive two sheets of 8 ½ x 11-inch, 20-pound copy paper, one small paper clip, and cellophane tape.

The Competition: Construction Phase: Timed 15 Minutes ● No Coaches, parents, or spectators in the building area. ● The Event Supervisor will inform the teams of the type of plane they are to construct and will announce the height of the flight area. ● Teams must write their team designator on their plane. ● During the construction phase the team will give the Event Supervisor their estimate, in writing, for the time that their plane will stay airborne, or the distance it will travel. ● Teams do not need to use all the supplied materials for this event. ● Teams may make more than one plane. ● The plane may not be a wadded up into a paper ball. ● All paper clips must stay in their original shape and may not be bent into another other shape.

Flight Phase: ● Teams will give the Event Supervisor their best estimate for how long their plane will fly before any practice launches. ● Teams will receive one official flight. Students may not artificially launch the plane. ● Each team will have 3 minutes to record an official flight. ● During their 3 minutes, the teams may take practice flights and adjust their plane. The clock will not stop. The Event Supervisor will give a 30 second warning before the practice time expires. ● Practice flights will not count as an official flight. ● No other teams may practice during another teams’ flight practice.

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● All flights will start from the same starting point and from a flat-footed position with both feet on the ground; No running or fast walking starts. ● Teams must inform the Event Supervisor when they are ready for their official flight. ● If a flight begins before the end of 3 minutes it may continue until the plane comes to a rest. ● Timing will start when judges see the plane leave the hand of a team member. ● The Event Supervisor and at least two other judges, will measure and record the time for each plane to the 1/100th of a second. ● Teams will receive a second flight if there is a malfunction during timing. ● During an official flight, time will continue if the plane bounces off an object but will stop when the plane gets stuck or comes to a complete rest. ● Teams must not follow their plane after their official flight. They must wait until the Event Supervisor allows them to retrieve their plane. ● The Event Supervisor will allow coaches, parents and spectators to watch from a safe distance based on space constraints, and only in a designated area. ● It is a rules violation if Coaches, parents, mentors or spectators talk to the teams before they have their official flight.

Scoring: ● The Event Supervisor will place teams based on the longest timed flight to the nearest 1/100 of a second. ● The Event Supervisor will place teams based on the differences between the actual flight time and their estimated flight time. ● The Event Supervisor will place teams based on their scores on the written test. ● Any rules violation will result in that team being ranked behind all other teams. ● The Event Supervisor will average each teams’ three placements to decide on the final team placements.

Tiebreakers: ● Tiebreaker No. 1: The team with the closest estimate to the actual flight time to the nearest 1/100 of a second. ● Tiebreaker No. 2: Completeness of the team chart showing testing. Teams showing more testing details will be ranked above others. (Minimum requirement: 5 distance launches and 5 timed launches)

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