SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

Submitted to: Linimol K. S.

Literature Physical Science
Submitted by : Jemma Gelgani K. X
Physical Science
RegNo. : 1333!1"
Submitted on : "#$!%$"!1#
SL
No
Content Page No
1 &ntroduction
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" 'istory
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3 (i)isions
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# *)ents
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*)ents ,or the "!1"$"!13 school
years
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- .rial/Pilot *)ents
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0
(istinction bet1een .rial and Pilot
*)ents
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.eam Structure
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% 2onclusion
0
1! Re,erence
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SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
Introduction
Science 3lym4iad is an 5merican elementary6 middle6 and high
school team com4etition in 1hich students com4ete in 7e)ents7
4ertaining to )arious scienti8c disci4lines6 including earth science6
biology6 chemistry6 4hysics6 and engineering. 3)er -60!! teams ,rom +!
9.S. states com4ete each year. .here are three le)els o, com4etition:
regional6 state6 and national. &n addition6 some states or 4ri)ate grou4s
o:er 7in)itational7 tournaments 1hich ser)e as 4ractice ,or regional and
state com4etitions. .eams 1hich e;cel at the regional com4etitions
ad)ance to the state6 and then to the national le)el. <inners later
recei)e se)eral =inds o, a1ards ,rom ribbons to tro4hies.
Science 3lym4iad is not associated 1ith the &nternational Science
3lym4iads6 1hich ,ollo1 a com4letely di:erent ,ormat and set o, rules.
Contents
History
.he 8rst recorded Science 3lym4iad 1as held on Saturday6
No)ember "36 1%0# at St. 5ndre1s Presbyterian 2ollege in Laurinburg6
North 2arolina. (r. (onald >arnes and (r. (a)id <etmore 1ere the
originators o, this e)ent. ?i,teen schools ,rom North and South 2arolina
4artici4ated in this e)ent. &t 1as
a day$long a:air6 1ith
com4etitions and
demonstrations ,or high school
students in the areas o, biology6
chemistry6 and 4hysics. .here
1ere ,our e)ent 4eriods during
this day and each e)ent 4eriod
had one ,un e)ent @li=e bea=er race or 4a4er air4laneA6 one
demonstration @li=e glassblo1ing and hologra4hyA6 and one serious
e)ent @li=e 4eriodic table BuiC or Science >o1lA. 5n article by (a)id
<etmore 1as 4ublished in the Journal o, 2hemical *ducation in January
1%0 documenting the success o, recruiting students through Science
3lym4iad. St. 5ndre1s Presbyterian 2ollege continues to host a Science
3lym4iad tournament to this day.D+E Fr. John 2. GJac=G 2airns 1as a
teacher at (o)er 'igh School in (ela1are 1hen he learned about the
Science 3lym4iad tournament in North 2arolina. 'e shared this
in,ormation 1ith (r. (ouglas R. Facbeth6 the (ela1are State Science
Su4er)isor. Fr. 2airns 1as a44ointed to a steering committee to
organiCe the 8rst Science 3lym4iad in (ela1are
1hich too= 4lace at (ela1are State 9ni)ersity in the s4ring o, 1%00. 5
1rite$u4 in .he Science .eacher o, (ecember 1%00 caught the attention
o, (r. Gerard PutC6 1ho 4ro4osed that the 4rogram be e;4anded
throughout the 9nited States. 5,ter com4etition tests in Fichigan at the
La1rence &nstitute o, .echnology and 3a=land 9ni)ersity in 1%3 and
1%#6 PutC and (ela1are director John 2airns too= their 4lan ,or a
national com4etition to the National Science .eachers 2on,erence in
>oston. .he 8rst National .ournament 1as attended by re4resentati)es
o, 10 states6 held at Fichigan State 9ni)ersity in 1%+. Since then6 the
4rogram has e;4anded greatly6 1ith -! teams 4resent in each di)ision
at the National .ournament. &n "!1"6 a Global 5mbassador .eam ,rom
Ja4an 1as in)ited to attend the national tournament at the 9ni)ersity o,
2entral ?lorida.
Divisions
.here are ,our di)isions in the hierarchy o, Science 3lym4iad:
(i)ision 51 ,or elementary school @grades K$3A
(i)ision 5" ,or elementary school @grades 3$-A
(i)ision > ,or middle school @grades -$A
(i)ision 2 ,or high school @grades %$1"A
'o1e)er6 the national tournament and generally state and regional
tournaments are only ,or di)isions > and 2. (i)ision 5 teams usually
ha)e se4arate interscholastic tournaments6 a4art ,rom the more
common intra$school com4etitions. Note that -th and %th graders ha)e
the o4tion o, com4eting in either o, the t1o di)isions in 1hich they
meet the grade reBuirements and are 4art o, the com4eting school. 5
middle school may6 ho1e)er6 only use u4 to + members 1ho ha)e
graduated to the ne;t school i, they are in %th grade or lo1er. Students
in grades lo1er than the di)ision in 1hich the school com4etes in may
also be on the team. .eams are restricted to 8)e %th graders ,or di)ision
> and se)en 1"th graders ,or di)ision 2. Students may not 4artici4ate
on multi4le teams6 e.g. a %th grader on both a high school and middle
school team 1ould not be allo1ed.
Events
Students com4ete in t1enty$three main e)ents6 1hich usually
occur on a single dayH done by a team o, limited numbers. *)ents ,all
under three main categories: Science 2once4ts and Kno1ledge6 Science
Processes and .hin=ing S=ills6 and Science 544lication and .echnology.
.hey are either =no1ledge$based @,or e;am4le6 1ritten tests on earth
science6 4hysics6 astronomy6 or biologyA6 hands$on @,or e;am4le6
chemistry lab 4racticalIsA6 or engineering$based @4artici4ants construct
a de)ice to do s4eci8ed tas=sA.
Kno1ledge$based e)ents generally ha)e t1o 4artici4ants either ta=ing a
test or mathematically analyCing data. *;am4les o, such e)ents are
(esigner Genes6 ?orensics6 and 2hemistry Lab.
'ands$on e)ents generally consist o, t1o 4artici4ants 4er,orming
e;4eriments or interacting 1ith 4hysical obJects to achie)e a certain
goal. Some e;am4les are >io$Process lab6 ?orensics6 or Science
2rimebusters. *ngineering$based e)ents ha)e a team o, t1o to three
4artici4ants. .hey are to construct a de)ice ,ollo1ing a s4eci8c e)ent7s
4arameters and test the de)ice against others. *;am4les include Robo$
2ross6 >ridge/.o1er >uilding6 and Storm .he 2astle.
.he maJority o, e)ents reBuire t1o team members6 though a ,e1 reBuire
more. &, one member is unable to attend an e)ent6 the other is able to
continue6 de4ending on the e)ent6 1ith the com4etition6 though at an
ob)ious disad)antage. &, the team has one a)ailable6 a bac=$u4 team
member may be 4laced 1ith the member as o44osed to their ,ormer
4artner.
.he list and rules ,or e)ents change and are u4dated e)ery year to
in4ut dynamism and to limit the ad)antages o, more e;4erienced
teams.
Events for the 2!2"2!# schoo$ years
Note that some e)ents are not included in the com4etition scores6 as
they are trial/4ilot e)ents.
Event Na%e Descri&tion
5natomy @>A
.eams 1ill be tested on their =no1ledge o, anatomy and
health conce4ts based on t1o 4re$selected body systems.
.his year6 the t1o are the ner)ous and integumentary
systems.
5natomy K
Physiology @2A
.his e)ent encom4asses the anatomy and 4hysiology o,
selected body systems6 this year limited to ner)ous6
immune6 and integumentary systems.
5stronomy @2A
.eams 1ill demonstrate an understanding o, the basic
conce4ts o, math and 4hysics relating to stellar e)olution
and .y4e && su4erno)as.
>oom le)er @>/2A Students 1ill build a cantile)ered 1ooden structure.
2hemistry Lab
@2A
.eams 1ill demonstrate chemistry laboratory s=ills related to
stoichiometry and eBuilibrium.
2ircuit Lab @2A
Students 1ill com4ete in theoretical and 4ractical acti)ities
in)ol)ing =no1ledge o, direct current @(2A electrical circuits.
2rime >usters @>A
.eams 1ill identi,y the 4er4etrators o, a crime or crimes by
using 4a4er chromatogra4hy and analysis o, un=no1n
solids6 liBuids6 and 4lastics ,ound at the scene o, a crime.
(esigner Genes
@2A
Students 1ill sol)e 4roblems using their =no1ledge o,
molecular genetics and biotechnology.
(isease
(etecti)e @>/2A
ReBuires students to a44ly 4rinci4les o, e4idemiology to a
4ublished re4ort o, a real$li,e health situation or 4roblem.
@*n)ironmental LualityA
(ynamic Planet
@>/2A
.eams 1ill 1or= at stations that dis4lay a )ariety o, earth
science materials and related earth science Buestions.
@GlaciersA
*lastic Launched
Glider @2A
Students 1ill design6 build and test t1o elastic launched
gliders ca4able o, the highest time alo,t.
*;4erimental
(esign @>/2A
Gi)en a set o, un=no1n obJects6 teams 1ill design6 conduct6
analyse and 1rite$u4 an e;4eriment.
?ermi Luestions
@2A
5 ?ermi Luestion is a science related Buestion that see=s a
,ast6 rough estimate o, a Buantity 1hich is diMcult or
im4ossible to measure directly. 5ns1ers 1ill be estimated
1ithin an order o, magnitude recorded in 4o1ers o, 1!.
?ood Science @>A
9sing their understanding o, the chemistry and 4hysical
4ro4erties o, ba=ing ingredients6 teams 1ill ans1er
Buestions at a series o, stations.
?orensics @2A
Students 1ill identi,y 4olymers6 solids6 8bres6 and other
materials in a crime scenario.
?orestry @>/2A
.his e)ent 1ill test student =no1ledge o, North 5merican
trees that are on the 3Mcial List.
Gra)ity Nehicle
@2A
.eams design6 build and test one )ehicle and ram4 that uses
gra)itational 4otential energy as the )ehicle7s sole means o,
4ro4ulsion to reach a .arget Point as Buic=ly6 as accurately
and as close to their 4redicted time as 4ossible.
'elico4ters @>A
Students 1ill construct and test ,ree Oight rubber$4o1ered
helico4ters 4rior to the tournament to achie)e ma;imum
Oight times.
'eredity @>A
Students 1ill sol)e 4roblems and analyse data or diagrams
using their =no1ledge o, the basic 4rinci4les o, genetics.
Kee4 the 'eat @>A
.eams must construct an insulated de)ice 4rior to the
tournament that is designed to retain heat. Students must
also com4lete a 1ritten test on thermodynamic conce4ts.
Fagle) @2A 2om4etitors may construct u4 to t1o sel,$4ro4elled
magnetically le)itated )ehicles 4o1ered by batteries that
turn u4 to t1o 4ro4ellers to mo)e the )ehicle do1n a
magnetic trac=. Students 1ill also be tested on their
=no1ledge o, magnetism and related to4ics.
Faterials Science
@2A
.eams 1ill ans1er a series o, Buestions or com4lete tas=s
in)ol)ing the scienti8c 4rocesses o, chemistry ,ocused in the
areas o, materials science.
Feteorology @>A
.his e)ent in)ol)es the use o, 4rocess s=ills as a44lied to
meteorology.
Fetric Fastery
@>A
Students 1ill demonstrate an intuiti)e ,eeling ,or estimating
then measuring metric units including mass6 )olume6 area6
sur,ace area6 ,orce6 distance6 time and tem4erature.
Fission Possible
@>A
Prior to the com4etition6 4artici4ants 1ill design6 build6 test
and document a GRube Goldberg$li=e de)iceG that com4letes
a reBuired ?inal .as= using a seBuence o, consecuti)e tas=s.
Fousetra4
Nehicle @>A
.eams 1ill design6 build and test a )ehicle using one
mousetra4 as the sole means o, 4ro4ulsion to reach a target
as Buic=ly6 accurately and close to their 4redicted time as
4ossible.
Reach ,or the
Stars @>A
Students 1ill demonstrate an understanding and basic
=no1ledge o, the 4ro4erties and e)olution o, stars6 o4en
clusters and globular clusters6 and normal and star$,orming
gala;ies.
Remote Sensing
@2A
.eams use remote sensing imagery6 science and math
4rocess s=ills to com4lete tas=s related to an understanding
o, *arth7s 'ydros4here.
Road Scholar @>A
ReBuires the accurate inter4retation and understanding o,
)arious ma4 ,eatures using a )ariety o, road and
to4ogra4hic ma4s.
Robot 5rm @2A
Prior to the com4etition teams must design6 build6 document
and test one robotic de)ice to mo)e scored items.
Roc=s and
Finerals @>/2A
.eams 1ill demonstrate their =no1ledge o, roc=s and
minerals.
Rotor *gg (ro4
@>A
5 team 1ill construct a helico4ter de)ice 1hich uses one or
more helico4ter rotors to sa,ely trans4ort a ra1 chic=en egg
,rom a s4eci8ed height to the Ooor.
Shoc= Nalue @>A
Students 1ill com4ete in acti)ities in)ol)ing basic
understanding o, electricity6 magnetism and sim4le
electrical de)ices.
Sounds o, Fusic
@>A
Students 1ill build t1o instruments based on a 1" tone
tem4ered scale6 4re4are to describe the 4rinci4les behind
their o4eration and be able to 4er,orm a maJor scale6 a
reBuired melody and a chosen melody 1ith each.
.echnical
Problem Sol)ing
@2A
.eams 1ill gather and 4rocess data to sol)e 4roblems.
.hermodynamics
@2A
.eams must construct an insulated de)ice 4rior to the
tournament that is designed to retain heat. .eams must also
com4lete a 1ritten test on thermodynamic conce4ts.
<ater Luality
@>/2A
.he e)ent 1ill ,ocus on e)aluating aBuatic en)ironments.
@?resh1ater/*stuariesA
<rite &t/(o &t
@>/2A
5 technical 1riting e;ercise 1here students 1rite a
descri4tion o, a contra4tion and other students 1ill attem4t
to recreate it using only the 1ritten descri4tion.
'ria$(Pi$ot Events
.rial/Pilot e)ents are6 at Regional and State tournaments6 e)ents
that are s4eci8c to that state that are being considered as e)ents ,or
the ne;t year. 5t Regionals and States6 these e)ents may count to1ards
the team7s score. 5t Nationals6 ho1e)er6 there is a com4letely di:erent
set o, .rial/Pilot e)ents6 sometimes =no1n as Galternate e)entsG
because the 4eo4le entering them do not ha)e to be on theoMcial
team. .hese do not count to1ards the team7s score6 but ribbons and
medals are usually a1arded.
Distinction )et*een 'ria$ and Pi$ot Events
.he terms Gtrial e)entG and G4ilot e)entG @also called Ge;4loratory
e)entGA are sometimes interchangeable6 both 4ertaining to an e)ent
that is not an oMcial6 national e)ent ,or the year. 'o1e)er6 at the
National .ournament6 there are o,ten t1o di:erences. ?irst6 in "!1!6 it
1as announced that medals 1ould only be a1arded
to the to4 3 in the .rial e)ents6 but not at all in the Pilot e)ents. 5lso6
the .rial e)ents are o,ten much closer to becoming oMcial e)ents ,or
,ollo1ing years than 4ilot e)ents. 5lmost all o, the .rial e)ents ,rom
recent National tournaments ha)e become oMcial e)ents 1ithin a ,e1
years o, the tournament6 1hile the same is not true ,or almost any o,
the 4ilot e)ents.
'ea% Structure
.eams are hosted by the school ,rom 1hich the 4artici4ants attend.
Science 3lym4iad is most o,ten run as an a,ter$school
e;tracurricular acti)ity6 but some schools o:er Science 3lym4iad
classes that allo1 students to recei)e academic credit ,or 4artici4ation.
5 teacher6 4arent6 or student @usually a )olunteerA coordinates the team
in 4ractice and 4re4aration ,or the com4etition. 3,ten there are others
1ho coach indi)idual e)ents as 1ell. 5 team can consist o, u4 to 1+
students and any amount o, alternatesH some states allo1 more
students 4er team. 5t the middle school le)el at nationals6 only 8)e
ninth graders are allo1ed to com4ete on one teamH at the high school
le)el6 only se)en t1el,th graders are allo1ed 4er team. 'o1e)er6 ,or
state com4etitions6 the rules may o,ten be di:erent. 'omeschool
grou4s may also ,orm teams to com4ete.
5lthough teams may ha)e an unlimited number o, alternates6 it is
im4licitly stated 1ithin the rules that com4etitors 4resent at the e)ent
must ha)e com4leted all o, the 1or= on their e)ent. .his is s4eci8cally
aimed at building e)ents. &t is illegal ,or teams to ha)e their alternates
as GbuildersG and their ,ormal team members as Gthin=ersG. Judges at
the e)ent are allo1ed to as= any Buestion o, the machine or contra4tion
in an e:ort to =ee4 the scenario abo)e ,rom occurring. Nonetheless6
com4etitors6 coaches6 and entire teams are e;4ected to ha)e integrity
and to abide by this rule.
5 great deal o, strategy usually goes into ,orming a team. Since
e)ents go on at the same time as other e)ents during a com4etition
and conOicts may occur6 the coach or coordinator must ma=e decisions
based on the com4etitor7s s4ecialty and ability in order to correctly
4lace him/her. Sometimes6 usually during the re,ormation o,
com4etitors 1hen a team ad)ances a le)el6 a com4etitor 1ho 1asn7t
originally 4lanned to com4ete in a certain e)ent may ha)e to com4ete
in it to 8ll the certain e)ent slot.
CONCL+SION
Science 3lym4iad is most o,ten run as an a,ter$school e;tracurricular
acti)ity6 but some schools o:er Science 3lym4iad classes that allo1
students to recei)e academic credit ,or 4artici4ation. .he maJority o,
e)ents reBuire t1o team members6 though a ,e1 reBuire more. &, one
member is unable to attend an e)ent6 the other is able to continue6
de4ending on the e)ent6 1ith the com4etition6 though at an ob)ious
disad)antage. 5lthough teams may ha)e an unlimited number o,
alternates6 it is im4licitly stated 1ithin the rules that com4etitors
4resent at the e)ent must ha)e com4leted all o, the 1or= on their
e)ent.
,E-E,ENCE
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