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2011 Stanislaus County Regional Science Olympiad Rule Clarifications

Request a Rules Clarification Here
As of February 25, 2011 no further rule clarification's will be accepted

 
Astronomy C
As follows:  EACH TEAM (instead of each student, or each team member) may bring the suggested materials.

Ornithology B/C
As follows:  EACH TEAM (instead of each student, or each team member) may bring the suggested materials.

Compute This B
Microsoft Office 2010 will be used for this event.

Question:
I was shocked to see that Microsoft Office 2010 will be used in this event. The rules book clearly states that we are to avoid proprietary software, and to allow web-based Google Docs or other such sources. Our team has been practicing with Google Docs. Will they not be allowed to do so at the competition?

Response:
The rules state the following:
3.a. To eliminate proprietary software and version issues, teams will access a web site with an Open Office, MS-compatible word processor and spreadsheet (e.g., Google docs) to use during the competition.

Due to the setup required Google Docs will NOT be used. As stated, Microsoft 2010 will be used for this event. Teams should be familiar with excel and word. All teams will use Microsoft 2010.

Sumo Bots Clarifications

3.  i. Teams have two minutes to force the opponent from arena.  If no winner in two minutes, then
        lighter of the two bots wins. 
        Further clarification: the winning/losing time is recorded on the score sheet. 
   k. If a part falls off during the competition, the clock is stopped and pieces are removed and match            
        continues.  Further clarification: repairs cannot be made during a match.  If a bot becomes
        inoperable during a match for five seconds the match is over and the inoperable bot forfeits.   

     l. If judge determines that a bot is taking a defensive posture or is backing away continually for 15 seconds, time
        will be called (stopped) and the team will receive a 15 second penalty (15 seconds added to their final
        time) and competition resumes.  Second stalling penalty and team forfeits the match.

    m. If bots become entangled so that neither bot can move for 10 seconds, the judges stop the clock
         and teams place their bot at the ring’s start position, and competition will resume. Further clarification:
         team members separate their bots carefully so the bots are not damaged.  If a bot is damaged 
         while being separated, the judge will make the responsibility call if one is needed.  If one bot
         can still move, the competition continues.

A disabled bot or a bot that falls on its side, cannot be repaired or righted during the match.  A bot must maintain contact with the arena floor (flying bots not allowed). 

     o. Any team that continues to operate their bot after time has been called will forfeit the match. 
         Further clarification: the judge decides an appropriate signal to stop such as a whistle or
         countdown and has final decision on what constitutes a “stop”. 

     s. If a bot is damaged during competition, the students may make repairs to the bot between matches. 
         Further clarification: repairs can be made between the teams scheduled matches.  An area
         in the testing room will be provided for repairs that do not require the use of a transmitter. 
         If a team wants to test their bot using their transmitter, they will be escorted to a secure area
         and supervised.

Battery Buggy:
The event track width will be 2 meters, so that there will be 1 meter on either side of the center line. The dimension of the bottom of the bucket will be 26.4 cm.

     Below are rules clarifications from the National Science Olympiad website:

Events requiring Eye Protection #5 (High Impact Protection - ANSI Z87+) - Goggles with lenses identified as Z87+ regardless of markings on other parts of the goggles and Spectacles identified as Z87+ with side shields regardless of markings on other parts of the spectacles will be acceptable for events requiring High Impact Protection #5.

Chem Lab 2.c., Forensics 2.c., Crimebusters, 2.c., Can’t Judge a Powder 2.e. (bold is re-worded to acknowledge that only one item of clothing needs to reach the wrist): Students must wear the following or they will not be allowed to participate: closed-toed shoes, ANSI Z87 indirect vent chemical splash goggles (see http://soinc.org), pants or skirts that cover the legs to the ankles and a long sleeved lab coat that reaches the wrists and the knees or a long sleeved shirt that reaches the wrists and a chemical apron that reaches the knees.

Sounds of Music: 1. Description: Only wind instruments (Aerophones) and percussion instruments (Idiophones and Membranophones) are allowed, no stringed instruments (Chordophones) or Electrophones are allowed. To determine whether or not an instrument is allowed, check the musical instrument classification list: http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/appendix/instruments/Modinstrume...and http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/appendix/instruments/instrumentmain.html

Optics B & C:  3.c.iv specifies a wall height of 10 +/- 0.5 cm, in order to allow for the walls to be built out of standard 1"x4" lumber, the walls may actually be 9 +/- 0.5 cm high. 4.b.i. & 4.b.ii. If a team has 7 out of 10 correct, use 0.7 (not 70) as the percentage correct. 4.b.iii. "t" is in seconds. 4.b.iv. TP is the Target Point (i.e., any point on one of the vertical Lines that is called the "mark" in 3.c.xii. for Div. B and 3.c.xi. for Div. C).
Scoring example:  A team correctly answers 7 out of 10 questions on Part 1 and 70 out of 100 on Part 2.  They take 37 seconds to setup the laser shoot and the laser beam ends up 21 mm away from the target point/mark:

Part 1 score: 7/10 = 0.7 x 30 = 21 points
Part 2 score: 70/100 = 0.7 x 30 = 21 points
Part 3 time score: ((300 - 37)/300) x 10 = 8.766 points
Part 3 accuracy score: 30 - (21 / 10) = 27.9 points

Optics B & C:
Section 3.c.vi should read "... at a height of approximately 1.5-6 cm above the LSS" to accommodate various diameter lasers.

Section 4.b.iv. If the laser strikes another wall instead of the wall the target is on, the distance shall be the sum of the straight line measurements from the target to the corner along one wall and from the corner to the laser dot along the other wall. 

Section 3.c.v. The mirror faces will initially be covered with a post-it note or other easily removable non-reflecting, opaque material.

Section 3.c.i. Timing will stop when the competitors remove the material covering the face of the one mirror in Division B or both mirrors in Division C. Competitors must not make any additional adjustments to the mirrors once the material is removed.

Optics Div. B & C:  3.a.i. should read "Law of reflection (Specular/Diffuse)