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Event Description. Tests knowledge of time, astronomy, physics, etc.Includes 2 parts: testing of a pre-constructed time keeping device and a written exam2 students per team allowedCompetitors allowed to bring:A 3 ring binder with material from any sourceWriting utensilsTools and supplies to c
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1. Midwest Science OlympiadCoaching AcademyIts About Time Overview
2. Event Description Tests knowledge of time, astronomy, physics, etc.
Includes 2 parts: testing of a pre-constructed time keeping device and a written exam
2 students per team allowed
Competitors allowed to bring:
A 3 ring binder with material from any source
Writing utensils
Tools and supplies to calibrate / operate their device
Calculators for use on the test
Safety goggles
Not allowed in the room:
Watches
Cell phones
Time keeping devices (except for calibration purposes)
3. Time Keeping Device Built prior to the competition
Not allowed to utilize:
Commercial counters or timepieces
Electrical components
Chemical reactions
Must be built to contain spillage
Impound details:
Only allowed 1 device
Include everything needed to operate and calibrate
Must fit into an 80cm cube (except for cleanup supplies)
Must be able to be moved by the competitors
Mark everything with school name and number
Dont need to impound safety goggles
4. 2009 Rules Changes Only need to impound items required for Part I (device testing)
Balances / scales / test tubes / beakers / graduated cylinders / etc. are not considered counters and thus ARE allowed
A battery-operated electronic scale can be used to determine mass
The device can become larger than 80cm cube once setup
Devices must be constructed to minimize possible impacts on other teams when running
Time trials will run in the order listed in the rules
Teams are allowed to interact with the device during and between time trials
5. Example Time Devices Water / sand glass
Simple / torsional pendulums
Oscillating spring
6. K.I.S.S Principle!
7. Competition Part 1 5 min setup / calibration period (allowed to use stopwatches)
5 time trials
10 30 s
30 90 s
90 180 s
180 300 s
10 300 s
Target times are the same for all teams
Teams are NOT informed of the target times
Supervisor will use a tone emitting device to signal the start and stop of a trial (audio files are available at http://soinc.org/its_about_time_c)
At least 1 min between trials to reset and record result (to nearest 0.1 s)
8. Competition Part 1 Scoring Start with 10 points per trial (50 points total)
Penalty points deducted as follows:
10 30 s trial: 0.4 pts / 0.1s
30 90 s trial: 0.3 pts / 0.1s
90 180 s trial: 0.2 pts / 0.1s
180 300 s trial: 0.1 pts / 0.1s
10 300 s trial: 0.1 pts / 0.1s
Max penalty of 10 points per trial
Penalty of up to 10 points for spills / splashes etc
Penalty of 15 points for not cleaning up area
Supervisor should give team an opportunity to correct mess before assessing penalty
Time trial 5 is the first tiebreaker
9. Competition Part 2 Written test lasting 20-30 minutes
Questions may be multiple choice, true-false, problem solving, etc
Test worth 50 points
Designated question is the second tiebreaker
Example questions:
What is the sidereal time in NYC at 9:30AM on June 21, 2009?
What is the longitudinal time difference between St. Louis and Kansas City?
Calculate the length of a simple pendulum given its period
10. Suggested Areas of Knowledge History of the calendar, time keeping, etc
Time related terminology (sidereal, equinox, diurnal, etc)
Solar / celestial mechanics
Geographical terms (latitude, longitude, tropics, time zones, etc)
Significant dates (solstices, leap years, daylight savings, etc)
Physics equations related to time (velocity, periods, etc)
11. Suggested Study / Reference Materials Books:
Physics textbooks
Jespersen, James; Fitz-Randolph, Jane; Robb, John From Sundials to Atomic Clocks: Understanding Time and Frequency 1999
Websites:
http://soinc.org/its_about_time_c
Wikipedia (Time, Clock, etc.)
http://physics.nist.gov/GenInt/Time/time.html
Exploringtime.org
12. Tips and Suggestions Device Construction:
K.I.S.S principle
Get components from hardware stores, plumbing supply, toy stores, etc.
Minimize effort required to setup and reset device
Part 1:
Have defined roles for both team members
Alternate tasks for each time trial to alleviate fatigue
Compensate for human reactions when reading off elapsed time
Dont fiddle with device between trials
Part 2:
Review all questions before starting
Tackle easy ones first
Divide up questions between team members and work in parallel
Dont overload the binder with material