MagLev
Are changes to the shape of the competitor-provided track allowed, such as a V-shaped channel track?
Yes, the track shape can be changed as long as the specific requirements listed in the rules are still met.
Are electromagnets allowed as the magnet for the vehicle and would there be any battery restrictions for them?
Yes. They can not exceed 9.0 V
Can the team members lift the car to turn the motor on and then place it back on the track?
No, they may not lift the vehicle to turn on the motor.
Can the vehicle touch the guide rail at all times or does the "inadvertent contact" rule apply here as well?
Side wall contact is of course unavoidable. Devices must be designed such that they do NOT rely upon side wall contact to help provide vertical support in place of the levitation magnets. Otherwise, general rule #2 applies to specific designs such as rollers / wheels / etc.
If a school sends multiple teams to compete at a single tournament, are those teams permitted to share a track during the competition?
Yes, teams may share tracks.
If students supply their own track, and the vehicle can travel both directions without changing the magnets, must they still be able to "modify the placement of the magnets" ?
No
Is it legal to have a strip of magnets running along each side wall of the track and car?
Yes, general rule #2 applies. However note rule 4.c. requires the height of the side rails to be measured from the top of the magnets, which would apply to magnets on the side wall.
Is there a max or min on the diameter of the propellors if they are not ducted?
The max diameter is limited by the max allowed height of the vehicle (20cm)see rule 3.b.line 2.
Is this to be interpreted as multiple motors can use multiple 9V sources ( ex 2 motors with 2 dedicated power sources ), or rather one 9V source used for multiple motors ?
Yes, there may be multiple batteries that total no more than 9.0 V for each motor.
May a lubricant (oil, wax, graphite, teflon, etc.) be applied to the sides of the vehicle and/or the track rails?
Note that 'damage' to the track is anything that might impact subsequent vehicle runs. Otherwise, general rule #2 applies.
May a student who builds his or her own track determine which end of the track the vehicle will start from, or is that choice up to the event supervisor?
No, supervisors will determine the location of the start and finish lines, per rule 5.a.i. Rule 3.k. also requires vehicles to be able to be modified to move in either direction down the track.
The MagLev track that I purchased from Science Kit (the Science Olympiad recommended vendor) is one quarter inch short of 4 feet. Will this be allowed?
Yes, that is acceptable.
The rules state teams must be able to modify the placement of the magnets so the vehicle can move in either direction. Can just motors be turned around so the car goes the other way or does the car have to be turned around and the magnets moved?
As long as it can be adjusted to travel in either direction, it doesn't matter what is being moved.
The rules state that rare earth magnets may not be used on the vehicle, but are they permitted on a competitor-provided track?
Yes. General rule #2 applies, they may be used on student built tracks.