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Science Olympiad

News and Info

We have added a session for the Game On (B and C) event at 1:00 p.m. This is a trial event that will be run at the state competition next year. The session will begin at 1:00 p.m. and will last about an hour and a half. The faculty member who developed the event will be running it and will be available until 4:00 p.m. for questions.

To Bring List As Of October 29, 2009

Build It Day is an opportunity for teams to get guidance and have questions answered but teams must supply materials and plans and do the building themselves.

Click Here for Science Olympiad Build It Day schedule information

List of Items to Bring:

Most events require some sort of eye protection. These will be needed for Build It Day also.
There will be a room available with power tools.

Stop Watches

Paper and Pencils for sketching

Metered measuring sticks

Elevated Bridges
(2) 36" long sticks of 3/16" x 3/16" balsa (minimum quantity-- bring extra)
(8) 36" long sticks of 3/32" x 3/16" balsa (minimum quantity)
(1) half-ounce bottle of gap filling CA glue, rated 5 to 15 seconds. Bob M likes the "Bob Smith" glue in the purple bottle, which is frequently sold with the hobby shop's name on it. Get it at a hobby shop; stay away from supermarket super-glue! (We should have Zap-a-Gap glue available for this event.)
(1) Exacto #17 "chisel point" cutting blades, and an Exacto knife handle to hold it. THE USUAL POINTED BLADE PEOPLE USE IS DANGEROUS AND ALSO DAMAGES THE WOOD!
Masonite boards to build on (24in x 3in or larger). If you have more than one pair of rookies, have them work in shifts, or build opposite halves at different times
Large-scale, large-size grid/graph paper if you don't have a plan.
Extras (great to have for a competitive bridge):
Fine-tooth razor saw, 42-52 teeth per inch
Self-stick sanding boards/sandpaper
Scotch tape
Paper towels for cleanup

All balsa wood must be 1/4" x 1/4" cross section or smaller, and 1/4" diameter for dowels. Not all balsa wood is true to size and a piece with a nominal dimension of 1/4" can sometimes be larger. If in doubt order a piece that is 3/32".
An accurate way of measuring the cross section of the balsa wood is to use vernier calipers. We will have these at the build day but it is encouraged for teams to bring their own. A ruler can be used but is not as accurate.
Any commercial bonding agent can be used. Refer to the rules for more detail.
Please remember to bring eye protection for testing the bridges.

Egg-O-Naut
Several 1 L plastic soda bottles
Several 2 or 3 L plastic bottles
Cheap plastic drop plastic drop cloth or dry cleaner bag or other material for parachutes
Nylon upholstery thread or light weight string (upholstery thread is better) for a tether
2" clear tape or duct tape
Small cottage cheese type container or frosting containers
Reinforcing rings
paper towels or tissue paper
eggs - grade A large
Cardboard or wood to trajectory guidance

Physical Science Lab
Hot glue and glue gun
2"clear tape or duct tape
Rulers
protractors
Any or all of the following
2 L pop bottles
Detergent bottles
Milk jugs
Paint stirrers

Wright Stuff
Cutting board
Waxed paper
Exacto knife or razor blades
pre-built plane if possible
plane kit

Balsa wood in the following dimensions:
    1 pc. 3/16" x 3/8" x 12" (medium to firm grade)
    1 pc. 3/32" x 3/16" x 12"
    1 pc. 1/8" sq. x 12"
    4 pcs 1/16" sq. x 36"

Trajectory
If you have a launcher from previous seasons and think you can refit it to meet this season's specifications, bring it along, plus whatever you think you will need to do the refitting. If you have your own design, that's fine; assistance is still available, but I cannot design your launcher for you.

For a each new launcher based on a typical design, you will need:
(1) 4 ft (square) piece of 3/4" thick plywood. NO chipboard, particleboard, or mdl board! The problems aren't worth saving $4.
(3 minimum) pieces of 1 x 4 lumber, 4ft long. Eyeball each board and get the straightest ones. White wood-- expensive wood not necessary.
(1) Ball to toss: Tennis ball, racquetball, hackey sack or ping-pong ball-- your choice (or combination)
(1) spray paint cap, or something similar, to cradle the projectile
Non-metallic stretchy solid: Floppy rubber tubing, bungee cord. Your choice or an assortment. Also, find eye SCREWS that can accept it.
Graph paper, pencils, ruler, clipboard
(4 min) steel corner braces. 2" x 2" x 3/4" or larger, plus screws
(1) hook & eye porch door latch & heavy string (if you wish to go electric launch, I have wiring plans and caveats available)
(12 each min) Wood Screws, #12 x 1-1/2" long, both round head and flat head.
Quality door hinge a 3/8" or larger steel bolt, 6 inches long or longer with 4 nuts, 2 lock washers, and 4 large washers to fit.
Sheet of non-slip rubber mesh shelf liner.
If you have no access to drill presses or precision tools, I strongly suggest getting (2) pieces of 3 ft x 3 ft or larger pegboard (brown stuff with lots of holes pre-drilled in it) AND a dozen #10 x 3/4in, round head screws and washers.

TOOLS: Screwdrivers that fit screws, wood glue, some large clamps, tape measure, cordless drill if you don't like waiting in line. I don't like hammers and nails for this event.

Mousetrap Vehicle
To make the vehicle that I will be demonstrating the following materials will be needed:
2 threaded rods 30 cm in length and either 1/4" in diameter or 10-24
20 nuts to fit rods
8 washers 3/4" or greater outside diameter with a large enough hole for threaded rod
5 eyescrews
a piece of wood or plywood between 3/16" and 3/4" thick by 2 ½" to 4 " wide and 16 to 18" long
at least 2 mousetraps, 4 would be better
4 woodscrews 1/2" long
1 metal coat hanger or other stiff wire
If you have wrenches that fit the nuts, bring them also.

BATTERY BUGGY
Things that they should bring, a scavenger hunt if you would...
Battery powered cars (to sacrifice for parts and/or modify)
Threaded rods with matching t-nuts
Spare wheels with hubs that will fit on threaded rod
Batteries
Knife switches
Momentary switches
Paper clips
Small bolts with matching wing nuts and washers
4" X 24" Sheet of balsa/bass wood (or similar) that can be used to modify or make chassis. It needs to be easy to cut and work with - but not too flimsy or flexible.
set of wrenches
level
square
pencil
various tools (saw, screwdrivers, drill, etc.)
2 lengths of 1/4" x 18" threaded rod
1/4" nuts (16)
5/16" washers (8)
3/8" eye screws (4)
1/4" wing nut
4 to 8 used CDs

MISSION POSSIBLE

Builders: Please come with materials (or completed stuff) for your box, step A, your battery setup, two other steps, and (suggested) a third step "just in case". You are welcome to take part in ALL option lessons, so long as you're actually building YOURS.

REQUIRED: If you have a frame/box already built, with the INSIDES within the 50cm x 50cm x 80cm dimensions (remember, the box is IMAGINARY), bring it.

If not: bring THREE sheets of plywood, 1/2in or 3/4in thick, 2ft x 4ft. PLYWOOD, not particle, pressed, or chipboard. One 4 ft piece of 1 x 2, reasonably straight.

REQUIRED Step A: bring a golf ball and a small mousetrap Trap should have the trip plate and keeper bar (tyhe single stiff wire, not the killer bar) in relativelu unbent shape. NOT A RAT TRAP!

OPTIONAL STEP C: 1/4in diameter threaded rod, 12-18 inches long, and a under-12V motor. I have a solution to gearing problems to show.

OPTIONAL STEP D: Radio Shack sells a pack of three sizes of magnet wire. It comes in different colors. Get it. ALso, a toggle. snap or lever switch.

OPTIONAL STEP E: Get a toaster from Goodwill. Bring it intact. We'll open it on site.

OPTIONAL STEP F: Two lab air pistons/syringes, and a length of tubing to fit. Small amount of cooking oil if doing hydraulics. if doing pneumatics, we have plenty of air here.

OPTIONAL STEP G: Yet another golf ball. Pulley, string, Also, anything convenient that's heavier than a golf ball.

OPTIONAL STEP H: Balloons. WARNING: be aware of latex allergies amongst your team!

OPTIONAL STEP I: 3-12V DC motor. The bigger and beefier, the better. Also, EITHER a pe-made propeller or materials (thin wood for vanes).

OPTIONAL STEP J: Bring ideas; this will be discussed. I probably have more than you have. This is important, as it's a tiebreaker.

ALSO BRING: Basic hand tools (screwsrivers, wrenches,, scissors, tape measure, ruler, pencils, wire cutter, regular & needle nose pliers
Notepad with a hard back (clipboard?), pens, hilighters.
Good wood glue (Titebond or better, NO ELMER'S SCHOOL GLUE!)
#8 & #10 wood screwSlavens, 1 inch thru 2 inch sizes (assortment)
SIX D-cell batteries (if doing motors at BID)
Assortment of wire
Wood and metal c-clamps. Just bring whatever you have.
(if possible) Soldering iron and safety stand, 20 to 45 Watt range, plus ROSIN (not plumbing/acid) solder
Scrap wood to add to my pile.

SAFETY GOGGLES: Impact-resistant. You don't need chem splash. The most dangerous part of not wearing safety glasses is ME catching YOU without them! I am legendary for this; if you hate me for it, hate me with 20/20 vision.

YOU MUST WEAR Jeans, a shirt with sleeves, and closed-toe shoes.

I (Uncle Fester) WILL BRING: scrap wire, a demo for Option B, many scraps of wood, a bin of recycled hardware (nuts, bolts, screws,and what-all imaginable), sample gears, assortment of switches and motors, typical wiring diagrams, handouts of building/mission hints & advice, electrical meters, etc. Some stuff will be no-questions free, some free-with-permission, and some for-trade.

GAME ON A session on Game On, a new computer event that will be run at the state competition and at some regionals, will be held at 1:00 on Saturday.
If any coaches want to preview the material, they can find it at http://www.aharrisbooks.net/scratchChallenge

JUNKYARD CHALLENGE
Required Materials:
Four unmodified mechanical "snap trap" mousetraps (with bases less than 6.0 cm X 12.0 cm)
1 standard unmodified goll bal
Eye protection #5

Possible Materials:
Tape
Straws
Film canisters
Rubber bands
Surgical supply tubing
Plastic spoons
String
Milk cartons
Masking tape
Index cards
Paper
Pipe cleaners
Hot glue
Styrofoam cups
Wooden craft sticks
CDs