Clarifications

National Clarifications:

Please review ALL clarifications and Frequently asked Questions (FAQ) on the NSO website. Once you have done that, please review the ILLINOIS clarifications for the events (below). In any case where a National and Illinois clarification conflict, the Illinois clarification will be used.

National Science Olympiad event clarifications

National Science Olympiad Frequently Asked Questions

Illinois Clarifications & FAQs:

We will be in the Satellite format this year
Please see critical dates and deadlines on the State 2022 page.
All 23 events will count toward medals and advancement to the State and National Tournaments
We will be following the 2022 rules (download at Soinc.org)
Any part of an event that normally would be tested at the tournament will be done at the team’s own school and videoed (by the team) prior to the tournament day.
We will use the Scilympiad.com platform for all virtual tournaments
The "device" portion of the events listed below will be scored as follows:

Crave the Wave It’s About Time Detector Building WiFi Lab

100% of points - build device and show it works
50% of points - build device and it does not work (video d/n show that it works correctly)
0% of points - did not build device

Build/Hybrid Event information
IMPORTANT: All State devices must be tested within the prescribed state timeline period described below and validated by showing a cellphone with the testing date clearly in the video frame and in pictures.

State Timeline and due dates:

Beginning 3/31 at 12:00 am
Ending 4/20 at 5:00pm (and fully submitted via scripts by 5PM)

Adult Assistance to Participants

Only the 2 team participants and the coach (acting as the event supervisor) should be in the video.
Coaches should act as the event supervisor and only show measurements that an event supervisor would judge.
Coaches should NOT handle the apparatus or instruct the students how to run the event.
Coaches are allowed to record the video, but students should compete without outside direction from parents or coaches.

Photo Clarity

Photos must be clear and in focus to allow determination of compliance with all applicable construction requirements. Failure to do so will result in a Tier 2 placing.
Coaches should carefully review the posted event guidelines located in the scripts.
The testing date should be shown by adding a cellphone with the date visible to the picture frame.

Video Submissions

Please make sure all links are through youtube (instructions)
Change viewing rights so the video is accessible by anyone with the link.
Coaches are allowed to upload to youtube if students do not have access. Prior to uploading, coaches should verify that all parameters are clear in videos and pictures.
The testing date should be shown by adding a cellphone with the date visible to the video frame at the start of the video.
Q: If a student does not understand or is not allowed to upload to YouTube, and they do not have a link to put in the script for this, are they penalized if they simply put in a shared Google link to their video?
A: No penalty but if sharing settings are wrong that part can’t be scored and the team will not be asked

Competition Parameters

All competition parameters (measurements) must be viewable and verificable in the submitted videos and pictures for state. Event Supervisors must be able to read measurements from the video/photos.

Time Stamp

All pictures and videos must have a timestamp from a cell phone, that is between March 31 at 12am and no later than April 20, and be clearly visible in the pictures/videos.
The testing date must be clearly in the picture and video frames such that they can be read by the event supervisors. Coaches should verify the readability before submission.

Build/Hybrid Links

Build links are available starting March 31 at 12am, please make sure these links work with your school internet system prior to the April 20, 5pm deadline.
The links may need to get whitelisted by your tech department for students to use.
Uploading Times
- Please be patient with the scripts.
- If you click multiple times, then it will slow the system and take longer to upload.
- April 20 at 5pm is the final deadline but please submit sooner rather than later.
- Once you have uploaded, you will see this image on the screen:

IL Specific Event Clarifications

Division B:

Electric Wright Stuff
- Event construction requirement 3f
  - Photo of the marking on the batteries (showing 1.5V alkaline) and charging systems must be submitted.
  - Photo of the marking of capacitor showing voltage (less than 3V) and capacitance (5F or less). Failure to do so will result in a Tier 2 placing.
- Q: We had many teams in our regional tournament utilize a commercial kit for electric wright stuff. The charging port that is attached to the plane from one or more kit manufacturers contains a circuit board & resistor which are excluded in the rules. Is this allowed?
  - A: No. The circuit board would be considered part of wiring. The charge jack (on board plane) would be a connector and switch. These are allowable. However, a resistor is not an allowed component onboard the plane. A resistor is allowed in the charge system (offboard). If the resistor is onboard but not used, it should be removed. According to the Rules those components are not allowed which would mean these planes should be Tiered or assessed a Construction Violation.
- Flight Log
  - All numerical measurements must be in metric units. (This includes ceiling height, motor length, etc.) Torque measurements are exempt.
  - A single flight log must contain data for all required parameters for ten flights. This flight log does not have to be for the plane that is flying in the video.
- Flight Videos
  - Flight times reported in the script and flight times shown in the videos must match.
  - Score times are based on flight times shown in the video.
  - If you process 2 planes (airplane A / airplane B), please identify which plane you are using in the video and which plane is in each photograph.
  - There is no longer a need to show the stopwatch throughout the video. Please only show the required elements of the flight.

Division B and C:

Bridges
- Q: Can a coach check to make sure the load bucket was secured properly on the chain before testing? Can a coach act as an event supervisor to remove the testing bucket from the bridge and place it on the scale to measure?
  - A: Yes, these are safety items that an event supervisor might do at an in person event. The event supervisor/coach should be careful not to instruct competitors on event issues, but only on safety concerns.

Ping Pong Parachute
- Practice Logs: Must contain data for all required parameters
- Goggles should be worn at all times during the preparation and the launch
- Keep the appropriate distance from the launcher after pressurizing.
  - Labels must be presented and easily seen.
- Q: Ping Pong Parachute-clarification needed on device rule 3a-what pictures are acceptable to show that it is a 20oz CARBONATED beverage-does the label need to remain on for the picture and the launch?
  - A: A picture of the label (on the bottle or off) needs to be submitted through the script.

Division C:

Wright Stuff
- Flight Log
  - All numerical measurements must be in metric units. (This includes ceiling height, motor length, etc.) Torque measurements are exempt.
  - A single flight log must contain data for all required parameters for ten flights. This flight log does not have to be for the plane that is flying in the video.
- Flight Videos
  - Flight times reported in the script and flight times shown in the videos must match.
  - Score times are based on flight times shown in the video.
  - If you process 2 planes (airplane A / airplane B), please identify which plane you are using in the video and which plane is in each photograph.
  - There is no longer a need to show the stopwatch throughout the video. Please only show the required elements of the flight.

Div. A - Elementary:

There are no ISO clarifications at this time.