Detector Building
Welcome to Detector Building! In this event, teams will build a durable Conductivity Device that will accurately measure and display both voltage and concentrations of NaCl in parts per million (ppm) from 0 to 5000 ppm of different water samples.
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 2022 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
- Detector Building Article from Texas Instruments (New 11/17/21) - 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 (Posted 12/13/21)
- 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
- 2022 National Test Packet
- New! 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
- Practice Test - 2021 UT Austin Invitational
- Practice Test - 2021 BirdSO 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
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:
- Score sheet and team checklist
- Event Supervisor Guide
- Legal & Illegal Sensor Examples
- Event Logistics Manual - (Updated 01/05/22 - made a minor edit to Food Science and added the updated ceiling height modifiers for the Flight events) Contains information for the 2022 Event Slate as well as information concerning COVID-19 precautions and Satellite and mini SO tournament formats!
Career Connections
