Detector Building
Welcome to Detector Building! In this event, teams will build a durable Mass/Force Sensing Device that will accurately measure and display both voltage and actual masses of different solid samples ranging from 20 to 1,000 grams.
The information below should not be interpreted as an extension of the rules. You can find free online copies of the current rules for download on the 2023 Rules page of the Science Olympiad website. The official rules in the current Rules Manual take precedence. This event is generously supported by Texas Instruments.
Resources & Links
- Rules Clarification (Issued 10/19/22)
- Detector Building Article from Texas Instruments - This article details changes to the event for 2022 as well offers some tips on preparing your device.
- Detector Building Webinar Recording from Texas Instruments - Getting Started, Resources & How-to's
- Detector Building Solution Instructions
- Build It with TI: Science Olympiad blog post
- Check out the TI STEM Projects website for Science Olympiad activities like Detector Building
- Sample Activities from Texas Instruments
- Info on Texas Instruments educator workshops
- Information about Arduino microcontrollers
- How to use breadboards
- Information about LEDs
SO Store & Ward's Science Materials
- Detector Building Digital Download DVD
- 2023 National Test Packet
- 2022 National Test Packet
- Official Ward's Science Science Olympiad kit for Detector Building
Texas Instruments makes material available to Science Olympiad teams through their Educator Loan program. Teams interested in borrowing equipment to practice with learn more about this program here.
Practice Problems & Tests
- New! Practice Test - 2023 Ohio State University Invitational
- New! Practice Test - 2022 UT Austin Invitational
- New! Practice Test - 2022 Rickards Invitational
- Practice Test - 2022 National Invitational
- Practice Test - 2022 SOLVI Invitational
- Practice Test - 2022 MIT Invitational
- Practice Test - 2022 Northwestern Invitational
- Practice Test - 2022 UChicago Invitational
- Practice Test - 2021 UT Austin Invitational
- Practice Test - 2021 BirdSO Invitational
Event Supervisor Resources
In addition to the resources on the Event Supervisors page, Detector Building Event Supervisors should be sure to use the following resources:
- 2023 Score sheet and and team checklist
- Event Logistics Manual (Updated 12/02/22 to fix an error with regard to resources allowed for Environmental Chemistry)
- Event Supervisor Guide
- Legal & Illegal Sensor Examples
Career Connections
