Event+Descriptions


 * 2012 EVENT DESCRIPTIONS **
 * Anatomy & Physiology ** - This event encompasses the anatomy and physiology of selected body systems, this year limited to respiratory, excretory, and digestive systems. Can be done as written test or stations. Team of 2.


 * Astronomy ** - Teams will demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of math and physics relating to stellar evolution and type Ia supernovas. Can be done as a PowerPoint in an auditorium style room, written test, or stations.


 * Bottle Rocket ** – Prior to the tournament, teams construct up to 2 rockets designed to stay aloft for the greatest amount of time. Rockets are 1 liter or less, parachutes are NOT allowed, no separation.


 * Chemistry Lab **- Teams will demonstrate chemistry laboratory skills related to periodicity and oxidation/reduction. Requires lab space. Combination of written test and lab work/stations.


 * Designer Genes ** – Students will solve problems using their knowledge of Molecular Genetics, Biotechnology, and Population Genetics.


 * Disease Detective ** - This event requires students to apply principles of epidemiology to a published report of a real-life health situation or problem on the topic of Food Borne Illness. Typically done as a written test.


 * Dynamic Planet ** - Teams will work at stations that display a variety of earth science materials and related earth science questions. (Topic - Earth's Fresh Waters). Can be done as stations or a written test.


 * Experimental Design ** – Teams will work through a series of stations, where given a set of information/ objects, teams will perform tasks according to parts of the scientific method and answer questions relating to that step of the scientific method. Teams of 3.


 * Fermi Questions ** – Teams answer science related questions that seek a fast, rough estimate of a quantity that is typically either difficult or impossible to actually measure. Example- how many gallons of water are in the ocean? Answers are given as a power of ten, so 7000 = 7 x 103 = answer is 3.


 * Food Science ** – Teams will answer questions and do lab experiments on site about food chemistry, focus on baked goods, viscotester, and nutrition. No notebook.


 * Forensics ** – Teams will identify the perpetrators of a crime by using only analysis of powders, fibers, and glass found at the scene of a crime. Set to rotate through topics each year, with very specific listed requirements for what needs to be known.


 * Forestry ** – Students will identify, describe, and answer questions about various trees and their ecological characteristics. Official tree list is provided. Run as stations.


 * Gravity Vehicle ** – Teams build a car and ramp, powered by gravity (rolling down the ramp), calibrated to run a certain distance as fast as possible. Track distance announced after impound.


 * Helicopters ** – Students will construct and test free flight rubber-powered helicopters prior to the tournament to achieve maximum flight times. Can be done in gym or in a classroom if classroom has relatively few obstructions on the ceiling (helicopters dance across ceiling). Approx. room dimensions will be released to participants ahead of time.


 * Microbe Mission **– Teams will answer questions, solve problems and analyze data pertaining to microbes. Probably stations, can also be a written test. Official Microbial Disease list provided.


 * Remote Sensing ** - Teams use maps and satellite imagery to explain earth’s hydrosphere. Sit down test or stations.


 * Rocks and Minerals ** – Students will identify, describe, and answer questions about various rocks/minerals and the rock cycle. Official rock list is provided. Run as stations.


 * Shock Value **– Students will compete in activities involving understanding of electricity, magnetism and simple electrical devices. Station event.


 * Sounds of Music ** – Prior to the competition, students will build two instruments of any type based on a 12 tone tempered scale, prepare to describe the principles behind their operation and be able to perform a major scale, a required melody (St. Anthony Chorale) and a chosen melody with each. Teams will answer questions about their instruments and the physics of sound, etc, in one room then perform their instrument in another.


 * Storm the Castle ** – Prior to the tournament, teams design, construct and calibrate a device (trebuchet) that uses only the energy of a falling counterweight to launch a projectile as far and as accurately as possible. Event leader provides weight and projectile, to be announced after impound.


 * Towers ** –Team members design and build the most efficient tower. Scoring formula has been updated to place more emphasis on taller towers holding more weight.


 * Water Quality ** – Teams will evaluate aquatic environments. 3 parts. Part 1: general testing questions on ecology, water cycle, nutrient cycle, food webs, etc. Part 2: Macro-flora and fauna section, identification based on provided list, and their significance. Part 3: Water monitoring and analysis-, interpret data related to salinity, pH, phosphates, turbidity, dissolved O2, etc. Actual testing limited to salinity, teams must build/bring/demo own salinometer.


 * Write It, Do It ** - A technical writing exercise where one student writes a description of a contraption and the other student will attempt to recreate it using only the written description.