A couple points to emphasize...

1. The actual rules will be as announced that day - there can be changes from what you see here. This makes it a little more competitive.
2. Certain events are for the Senior Division others for the Junior Division.
3. The Airplane contest and Egg Drop contest rules are not listed here.

All students are invited to participate in our 10th Annual Science Field Day. Field Day events introduce students to problem solving situations where they use their cooperative learning skills. Each event is different, but all events challenge students to think on their feet. We encourage solutions which are creative, yet within the rules. This is an event for students: teachers, please, no coaching during the event. Please emphasize good sportsmanship concepts to your students: the "officials" are volunteer teachers trying to provide fun learning experiences! If you are interested in participating in the Science Field Day, please indicate so on the ticket order form. Science Field Day is divided into two divisions. Junior Division for grades 3 -8, and Senior Division for grades 9-12. An entry form and preliminary rules for each event will be sent to you. Rules are subject to change, and final rules are those announced over the PA on May 17th. Let your students practice ahead of time to meet the general challenges and encourage them to be ready to adapt to any new wrinkle in the final rules!

PAPER TOWER

Each team will be given one piece of paper and one strip of tape. The object of the event is to build the tallest freestanding structure from these materials.

Competition:

1. Each school may enter one team of four students.
2. Each team may have only one entry.
3. The sheet of paper will be 8.5" X 11" and the cellophane tape will be 25 cm long. Each may be torn into pieces and reassembled as desired. Parts may be rolled, folded or torn as desired (no scissors).
4. The time for construction is 20 minutes. Construction will cease immediately at the end of 20 minutes.
5. A tower shall be declared freestanding if it remains self-supporting for at least 10.0 seconds.
6. Height is determined by measuring the perpendicular distance from the floor to the highest point of the tower. Wind velocity is the concern of the team.

Scoring:

The tallest tower will receive 100 points. All other scores will be proportional.

THE ALUMINUM FOIL BARGE

Each team will be given one piece of 15 cm X 10 cm aluminum foil. The object of the event is to build a barge from the aluminum foil that will float the largest number of pennies.

Competition:

1. Each school may enter one team of four students.
2. Each team may have only one entry.
3. All pennies will be "wet" when used. No drying of pennies will be permitted.
4. The time limit for building the barge and for loading it with pennies is 15 minutes. All loading must stop at the end of 15 minutes regardless of whether the boat is full to capacity.
5. Once the boat sinks, regardless of the reason, the competition is over for that team.
6. To count all pennies aboard, the boat must float with the load for a minimum of 10 seconds. If the boat sinks before that time has passed, the last penny(ies) will be deducted from the total. (NOTE: A "handful of pennies may not be dropped on the boat with the idea of deducting 1 from the total!)

Scoring:

The team with the most pennies in the barge will receive 100 points. All other scores will be proportional.

CENTER OF MASS (Cantilever)

Each team will be given a set of blocks that are basically identical. The object of this event is to build a stack of blocks that has the greatest overhang.

Competition:

1. Each school may enter one team of four students.
2. Each team may have only one entry.
3. No additional materials may be used in the construction
4. Each team will have a time limit of 20 minutes to construct the overhang.
5. The block structure must be freestanding.
6. The measurement of overhang will be made horizontally from the edge of the first/bottom block

Scoring:

The team with the greatest overhang will receive 100 points. All other scores will be proportional.

FERMI QUESTIONS

Students from each school will be given a set of "Fermi Questions" to answer. A Fermi Question seeks a fast, "order of magnitude" estimate for a quantity which is difficult or impossible to measure directly.

Example: How many BB's are needed to fill a basketball?

Click here to see more Fermi questions with some answers.

Competition:

1. Each school may enter one team of from one to four students.
2. Each student must work individually. Do not help or consult team members. The time limit is 15 minutes.
3. Answers must be a power of 10. If the answer is 10N (N is a whole number), the answer is N. Example: if you estimate the answer is 1200, write down 3 as your answer (since 1200 is about 103.)
4. No calculators, computers or slide rules are allowed.
5. All work may be done on the answer sheet. Showing work is not a factor in scoring.

Scoring:

A. An answer (i.e., power of 10) is scored as follows:

1. "Correct" estimates are awarded 2 points.
2. Estimates within +/- 1 of the "correct" answer are awarded 1 point.
3. In the event of a tie, estimates within +/- 2 of the "correct" answer are awarded 1/2 point.

B.The team score will be determined by averaging all students' scores for that school.

C.The team with the highest average score will receive 100 points.

All other scores will be proportional.

RULING PARAMOUNT'S KINGS DOMINION

We challenge students to compete for your school while enjoying the rides at Paramount's Kings Dominion! Come to Science Day prepared to measure--ie.,"rule"--Paramount's Kings Dominion. Bring any devices you may need--no materials will be supplied to you. Operating in the greatest Physics Laboratory in the world, students will measure (estimate) such quantities as: height of something approachable; height of something not approachable; maximum velocity; average velocity; maximum g's; extra g's; etc. Teachers, please no help once the event begins!

Competition:

1. Obey all normal safety rules for visitors to the park.
2. Each team of 4 students will pick up one entry form while attending the Physics Demonstrations.
3. Teamwork is great, but turn in only one entry per school.
4. Come up with measurements in the seven categories listed on the entry form. Please pay attention to what units are called for on the entry form.
5. Your results must be turned in by 2:00 o'clock at the Field Day Pavilion (behind Scooby Doo). The location of where to turn in the events may change. Pay attention when you arrive at the competition.

Scoring:

Points will be awarded as indicated on the entry form, using "answers" obtained with help from the Paramount's Kings Dominion Engineering Staff. The raw score of the top team will be converted to 100 points. All other scores will be proportional.

PENDULUM HURLER

The object of this event is to launch a steel ball bearing from the Pendulum Hurler so that the ball hits as close as possible to a target on the floor.

Competition:

1. Each school may enter one team of four students.
2. Each team will work with the same piece of apparatus: a specially constructed rigid pendulum made of a solid metal rod suspended by a ball bearing support mounted on top of a table. The "cannonball" will be a drilled steel ball bearing. The ball starts off on the end of the pendulum. The ball is launched when the pendulum swings down and hits a horizontal rod.
3. We suggest that each team have an equation prepared before beginning the competition which will allow them to make use of the following data (if needed): height the projectile mass is above the floor, horizontal distance to the target, mass of the ball, and length of pendulum. Each team will be allowed to make their own measurements of lengths (mass of the ball will be supplied to all groups).
4. Each team will draw for a horizontal distance to the target. The range will be set by the judge.
5. The target will be a circular marker approximately 6.0 cm in diameter. A direct hit will be scored if the projectile impacts on the pad during its descent. Bouncing onto the pad or striking the floor first will be scored as a miss.
6. Each team will be given 5 minutes from the location of the target to their first launch. Each team will have two opportunities to hit the target. NO PRACTICE SHOTS WILL BE ALLOWED.
7. Only one competitor may touch the apparatus for the launch, although team members may assist with measurements and provide advice. Each team must supply their own protractor, if needed.
8. After the first launch, one minute will be allowed to make the second launch.

Scoring:

The following equation will be used: SCORE = where "D" = range of the projectile

X1= miss distance of the first attempt

X2= miss distance of the second attempt

The team with the highest score will be awarded 100 points. All other scores will be proportional.

HOUSE OF CARDS

The object of this event is to design and build the tallest structure supporting the greatest load.

Competition:

1. Each team may have only one entry.
2. The structure must be built using only elements provided: a set number of index cards and/or pieces of 3 X 5 paper, plus a set length of tape. Exact materials will be announced on Science Day. Parts may be rolled, folded, torn, and reassembled as desired (no scissors).
3. The structure must be free standing: cannot be taped to the floor.
4. The structure must be built so that a 3/8" dowel can pass vertically through the center (this is part of the loading apparatus).
5. No additional materials may be used in the construction.
6. All building and testing will stop at the end of the allowed time.
7. At this time each team must declare the height of their structure: either "one card high" (3 inches), "two cards high" (6 inches), etc. The chosen height may not be changed later. The height is determined by where the load rests (ie., a weak "antenna" won't help!).
8. The structure will be tested by placing a board on top of the structure, and then adding weights. There must be a location for these so that the load is a minimum of 3 inches (one side of an index card) above the floor. Then weights will be added.
9. Each team will load their structure themselves. If weights fall off, the structure is declared "collapsed."
10. To count all weights, the structure must support the load for a minimum of 10 seconds. If the structure collapses before that time has passed, the last weights will be deducted from the total. "Collapse" means a combined drop of as much as one inch from the original (does not have to totally flatten to be declared "collapsed.")

Scoring:

The raw score is the chosen height, cubed, multiplied by the greatest load supported.

RAW SCORE=( H )3 ( L )

The team scoring the greatest raw score will receive 100 points. All other scores will be proportional.

EGG DROP

The object of this event is to design and build a landing-craft vehicle for an uncooked chicken type egg such that the egg will fall unharmed from increasing heights.

Competition:

1. Each team may have only one entry.
2. The structure must be built using only materials provided. Exact materials will be announced on Science Day. Parts may be rolled, folded, torn, woven or stuck into each other and reassembled as desired (no scissors).
3. No additional materials may be used in the construction.
4. The structure must be attached to the egg; creating a "landing pad" on the ground is not allowed.
5. We must be able to remove your egg or otherwise FULLY inspect it after each drop. If the egg cannot be fully inspected DURING the event, YOU ARE DISQUALIFIED.
6. Do not start construction until given the signal. All building and testing will stop at the end of the allowed time.
7. Elimination rounds will be conducted. Survivors will be dropped from increasing heights. Repeated "drop-off's" will determine the final winners. The minimum initial height and drop-off increments will be announced.

Scoring:

The team scoring the greatest height will receive 100 points.

All other scores will be proportional.

If several teachers from the same school are bring students, they must coordinate.

There is one team per event from a school, so if the English department has one group at the park and the physics teacher has a second group, the two teachers must talk and come up with one team between them per event (can be different teams for different events, but one per school not one per teacher).

There is one team per event from a school, so if the English department has one group at the park and the physics teacher has a second group, the two teachers must talk and come up with one team between them per event (can be different teams for different events, but one per school not one per teacher).