At least 50% of content at state will be over the 2 selected biomes for this year. For regionals the 2 selected biomes will make up less than 50% of the content.

SAMPLE EXAM

Question: May we use a multimeter to read our voltage?
Answer: You can use it to personally check your voltage. But, you may not use it to show the event supervisor your voltage.

Question: What are the words we should be studying for science word? Is there a list?
Answer: There is no list of words. The event covers all science words from every discipline of science! The only limits on words is that they must come from Middle school text books and be evenly distributed amongst the disciplines.

Clarification: The 2008 rules state that students have 10 minutes to complete two runs. If they choose to use part of their 10 minutes to clean the floor with a clean, dry towel (no sprays or other additives including water) approved by the supervisor –– that is their privilege. NO WATER will be provided by the judge and no water will be allowed to clean the floor at state competition.

Question: Can we bring our own tape (like duct tape) to tape egg on scrambler or do we have to use what is provided by the judge?
Answer: Everyone will use the masking tape supplied by the supervisor. Masking tape has worked well for 10-15 years.

Question: Our tower coach assumed that since the rules say, that the top 20cm of the tower need to be narrow enough for the shape with a diameter of 8cm to fit down around that portion of the tower, that means the device that will fit down around that portion of the tower will be circular. Is this correct? The key word was diameter. Please clarify.
Answer: First the 8 cm rule means that a circle with an 8 cm diameter can fit over the tower and slide down the tower until it is 30 cm or less from the bottom of the testing platform. Even though the tower is 50+ cm tall, you should measure from the base not the top of the tower for this requirement. Remember also that even though this is major, the most often made mistake is the overall height of the tower is to short of the 50 cm.

Question: According to the rules for trajectory: The teams are to supply their own projectile. The rules do not say one way or the other but, do you think we should allow them to use different projectiles in-between trials or should we insist that they stick to only one?
Answer: There is a rule clarification on the National site that answers the question of whether more than 1 projectile or rubber band can be impounded, and the answer is yes. For the actual competition though 3.d states that teams will provide " a " projectile that shall be pliable...... My interpretation of the rule is that you can impound all the stuff you might want to use but after coming to the line, you must go with only one projectile. a=1.

Clarification: Graphs and Tables (6.c.ii)
Upon impound, turn in 4 sheets of paper with 1 graph and 1 data table on each. A bar chart or a pie chart of the data is not considered of value for predicting.

Clarification: Safety Goggles (2.e)
Goggles (and only safety goggles) are allowed at State.

Question: Can you use a solid piece of balsa wood as long as it is not any bigger than 1/4" by 1/4" for any section of the side struts?
Answer: The answer is yes, but be careful. If you cut a piece 1/4 by 1/4 and I measure it to be bigger than 1/4 by 1/4 you will not be happy. It would be smarter to glue 2 1/8 by 1/8 pieces together, then if it is too big it isn't a problem because they are laminated or make sure they can't be measured as too big.

At least 50% of content at state will be over the 2 selected biomes for this year. For regionals the 2 selected biomes will make up less than 50% of the content.

A Lego Programmable Vehicle is allowed.

Q1: Can we use a 9-volt battery?
NO you cannot use a 9 volt battery. If you refer to section 2, part b you will see that to power the vehicle only one 4.8 volt battery pack or 4 individual cells rated at 1.5 volts each or less can be used to power the vehicle.

Q2: If the front wheel (suposing there is only one) of an electric vehicle built with 3 wheels crosses the center line but the backwheels stay on either side of the line, should the team be awarded the centerline score 10 points?
Under part 5 (scoring) d. A Center Line Score of 10 points will be awarded if the center tape remains completely within the vehicle's track between the start line and the finish line. Since there is only the single wheel on this front axel, the track of that axel is therefore just the width of that wheel. So if that wheel leave the tape the team should not receive the ten points. This would true if the single wheel were in the back. In addition, if the wheel is not as wide as the tape, it will never be within the wheel's track and therefore again no points.
Rule 2.e defines track as the distance measured on the widest axle, not the narrowest. And a FAQ on the national site specifically addresses this issue, (http://soinc.org/faq/questions.php?questionid=396): "Electric Vehicle - Div C Para. 2.b.4, and 5.d.1. If a contestant has a three wheeled vehicle, is the track width equal to the tire width for the single wheel? No. The vehicle's track is determined by the vehicle's widest axle. The Center Line Score is dependent on the tape remaining within the track of this widest axle."

Robots cannot be designed to cause damage to the playing field or box. Any robot that is considered by the event supervisor to be hazardous to the playing field, the box, or to spectators will not be allowed to operate until the robot can be adapted in such a way as to be safe and non-destructive.

Q1: Are points deducted if the deflated balloons get punctured or broken while removing them from the box?
Red balloons may be punctured or broken, but all parts of these balloons must be completely outside of the box to score those points. Blue balloons may be punctured or broken, but all parts of these balloons must be completely inside the goal box (which in turn must be vertical and resting directly on the field) to score those points.

Q2: Are we allowed to use a razor blades to pick up the balloon box?
The use of razor blades is not prohibited per se, but any robot action or design that causes damage to either the goal box or the field would be considered to violate the spirit of the competition.

Q3: Can a computer or cell phone be used as a controller for the robot provided they don't exceed the battery and frequency rules?
While phones and computers are not expressly prohibited, I don't believe either transmits within the accepted frequency bands. Also, the frequency must be clearly marked by the manufacturer on the transmitting device. So... both the battery requirement and the mfg. marked frequency requirement (27, 49, 75MHz) must be met.

Q4: Is it acceptable if a robot starts out as one part and then separates into two parts. The rules say a team can "only have one robot".
Short answer: this scenario describes 2 robots, not one.
For the long answer, go to the national FAQ found at http://soinc.org/faq/questions.php?questionid=291

Question: Is it only rosin for a musical instrument that can not be used, or if the rule bands any form of rosin, such as for a gymnast or a dancer.
It would seem very safe to say that "according to the rules" gymnastics rosin, since it "isn't intended for use on real professional violins" would be acceptable.

Question 1: For the state competition, A Penny for your Thoughts. It says in the rules that you can only start the coin sorter with one point of contact. I was wondering if you can continually crank the coin sorter.
Answer 1: While the AD may only activated by a single point of contact, the rules do not specify how long you may contact the AD. The rules state that after the AD is started you may not make any adjustments. SO.....Go ahead and Crank!

Question 2: Can we cut slots in a board before the competition?
Answer 2: Yes!