Are students expected to complete the entire experiment, including all data and all trials, and not make up or extrapolate data for points they do not have time to take?

Yes, students are expected to complete the entire experiment, including all data and all trials, and not make up or extrapolate data for points they do not have time to take. Par 4 "Any student not addressing the assigned question or topic area will be ranked behind those who do, because not conducting an experiment is a violation of the spirit of the event."

Are ball bearings allowed for the construction of the rotor?

Yes, ball bearings would be allowed in the construction of the rotor. They cannot be part of a commercial rotor assembly (Rule 3a).

Are the students allowed to push the blades just before they drop the devices?

No, students may not push or start the blades into rotation before or after they release the device, please refer to Rule 3.a.line 2.

Can the device be put in diagonal direction of the 51x51x51 cube?

No, the device must be in launch flying configuration and fit within the 51 x 51 x 51 cube with one face of the cube on the floor.

Do curved wings on a rotor count as catching air (aka. parachute)?

If the curved wings act as a parachute it is a parachute. If the wings are curved and the rotors are spinning then generally it is not a parachute. The event supervisor will make the determination.

If a part of the rotor OTHER THAN the cup touches the floor first, is that considered to be a competition violation?

Yes, this would be a competition violation and the team would be put in either Tier 3 or Tier 4 depending upon the survival of the egg.

Is device, that fits in 51x51x51 cube before beginning, but won't fit when in flight, be legal?

The device must fit inside the 51 cm x 51 cm x 51 cm cube at all times. Realize that the imaginary cube would rotate with the device. Nothing is allowed to break that imaginary cube's plane at any time.

Is the device required to make one complete rotation in flight in order to be considered a rotor and not a parachute?

Any device not rotating would be considered a parachute. Making on complete rotation is not the determining factor of a rotor versus a parachute, Rotor blades that capture air is a parachute.

May the blades be affixed to a solid shaft such that they rotate together as a unit in descent?

Yes

May the device begin to rotate before it is dropped?

The device CANNOT begin to rotate before it is released for timing. The competitors need to hold their device so that rotation does not begin before the device is dropped.

May the device have rotors spinning around multiple axes, like a Chinook helicopter?

No, all rotors must spin around a central axis as stated in rule 3.a. That would mean only one axis is allowed.

May the rotor spin independently on an axis?

Yes, the rotor may spin independently on an axis.

What constitutes a Parachute?

If the rotor captures air it will be considered a parachute. Covering on the rotor must be taut so that when the device is dropped the covering does not bulge, capturing air.

What criteria will be used to determines if a rotor will be disqualified as a parachute?

The event supervisor will use his/her best judgement as to whether the rotor captures air and/or is acting as a parachute.