Skip to main content

Search

Events
Learn
Join
Play
Programs
Officials
Snapshots
Participants
Info
Shop
Home

Science Olympiad

Breadcrumb

Home
Submit A Question And Rule Clarifications
Division B Events
Technology
Technology & Engineering Design

Technology & Engineering Design

Reveal Questions

Roller Coaster - Div B
Boomilever - Div B
- (Section: 2 / Paragraph: a / Line: 1)
  
  11/03/2025
  
  Does it count as having "designed" a Structure if a team copies a design without any significant (intentional) modifications?
  
  Yes, this would be allowed since the team would be selecting the wood, glue and assembling the device.
- (Section: 3 / Paragraph: g / Sub-Paragraph: ii / Line: 3)
  
  10/16/2025
  
  If a boomilever is designed to meet the construction parameters for the Load Scored BONUS option (touches test wall above the 15cm(B)/10cm(C) contact line) but does not hold the full 15kg, would the boomilever then receive a construction violation...
  
  NO, the team would not be penalized with a construction or competition violation if a BONUS was attempted but failed to hold the full load, and would be considered as a "Base Option" with a Tier 1 score (5.d.i).
- (Section: 7 / Paragraph: 1 / Sub-Paragraph: 1 / Line: 6)
  
  12/04/2025
  
  If a student marks the wood with a pen where they would like to put braces, is this a legal marking from the construction process, or is the "construction process" referred to in the rules the wood construction process, not the boomilever construc...
  
  Yes, wood marking is acceptable if only used for the Boomilever "construction process" per rule 7.a.
- (Section: 7 / Paragraph: d / Line: 3)
  
  11/04/2025
  
  Please clarify "adhesive tape". For example, when making a custom lamination, could one use a "transfer tape" which only leaves behind a layer of adhesive film?
  
  Alternate methods of applying adhesive for joining wood pieces can be acceptable if no other materials including the support or backer material transfer with the adhesive and become part of the structure.
Elastic Launched Gliders - Div B
Scrambler - Div B
- (Section: 3 / Paragraph: i / Line: 1)
  
  03/12/2026
  
  Are teams allowed to drill one hole across the depth of the backstop and fill it with a dowel to attach the backstop to the scrambler device?
  
  In concept yes that is allowed. However we will not prejudge specific devices as we can not evaluate all the details of the implementation.
- (Section: 3 / Paragraph: e / Sub-Paragraph: i & ii / Line: 1)
  
  12/04/2025
  
  Are teams allowed to drill two holes in the front of the backstop and fill them with dowels that extend out 3.0 to 4.0 cm from the face or do they need to glue the dowels on the flat face of the backboard (no holes or filled holes)?
  
  Yes, teams can drill holes in the front surface of the backstop for the purpose of attaching the dowels the egg will rest on.
- (Section: 4 / Line: 4)
  
  02/13/2026
  
  Are teams allowed to use a laser device for aiming?
  
  No lasers are prohibited by rule 4.d.iv. which prohibits electric or electronic sighting, aligning and guiding devices.
- (Section: 1 / Line: 1)
  
  11/03/2025
  
  Are teams allowed to use purchased scrambler kits?
  
  Kits are allowed. Preassembled devices are not permitted to be used.
- (Section: 3 / Line: 2)
  
  12/04/2025
  
  Assuming the base remains 100cm x 50cm, can the imaginary box be rotated to any position relative to the imaginary center line of the track?
  
  Yes, as long as the base remains 100cm by 50cm, it can be rotated to any position relative to the imaginary center line of the track.
- (Section: 8 / Paragraph: d / Line: 1)
  
  09/29/2025
  
  Can "Vehicle Measurement Point" be defined?
  
  The Vehicle Measurement Point is defined as the foremost tip of the egg that is attached to the Vehicle.
- (Section: 4 / Paragraph: 1 / Line: 1)
  
  12/22/2025
  
  Can teams from a single school share the launcher and falling mass?
  
  Yes, rule 4.a.i.(1) allows teams from the same school to share the launcher and falling mass as long as they remain in impound between teams competing.
- (Section: 3 / Paragraph: e / Sub-Paragraph: 1 / Line: 1)
  
  10/16/2025
  
  Can the solid wooden backstop ("no holes nor filled holes") be attached to the car via a dowel, screws, bolts, or other mechanisms that would effectively create filled holes? What if the dowel/screws etc do not infringe the front-most 1.1 cm of a ...
  
  Holes on the back side of the backstop for screws, bolts, dowels, or other attachment components are allowed for the purpose of attaching to the vehicle.
- (Section: 4 / Sub-Paragraph: iv / Line: 14)
  
  03/31/2026
  
  Can the students use a painter's tape on the track area floor as a part of aiming or aligning the launcher? Will it be a violation if they remove the tape before the run?
  
  No, competitors are not permitted to use tape of any kind on the floor during any part if the competition.
- (Section: 4 / Paragraph: D / Sub-Paragraph: viii / Line: 3)
  
  12/15/2025
  
  Could we request the optional bucket bonus for both runs?
  
  Yes, per rule 4.d.viii.3, the team may choose the bucket Bonus per run.
- (Section: 4 / Paragraph: d / Sub-Paragraph: v / Line: 1)
  
  02/10/2026
  
  During set up for a run with the bucket bonus, is the team allowed to touch/move the bucket to aim the launcher/vehicle than put the bucket back in place?
  
  The teams may request to have the bucket removed from the track during their 8 minutes to allow aiming or sighting. The event supervisor must replace the bucket before the run is made.
- (Section: 1 / Line: 1)
  
  12/29/2025
  
  How many calculators are allowed for this event?The event parameters mention a class III calculator but not how many per team.
  
  Rule 8.b. states that "Tools cannot be electric or electronic except for a stand-alone calculator (Class III)", therefore one calculator is allowed.
- (Section: 7 / Line: 1)
  
  10/16/2025
  
  I am confuesed as it never mentions this, but what if the scrambler goes out of the track, comes back and stops at the terminal barrier, fully in the track? Like for this year, if it curved around the bucket ?
  
  There is no penalty if the scrambler goes off the track during it's run and returns onto the track as long as no part of the scrambler passes the terminal barrier. The competitors assume the risk of this action as the event supervisor is not required to provide space beyond what is specified in rule 7.c.v.
- (Section: 7 / Paragraph: C / Sub-Paragraph: Iv / Line: 1)
  
  12/09/2025
  
  Regarding the bucket bonus, does the term optional mean the event supervisor can choose wether the bucket is on the track, or the participants can choose if the bucket is on the track, or if the bucket is on the track and participating in the bonu...
  
  Per rule 4.d.viii(3), the teams may choose "per run" to earn the optional Bucket Bonus. The event supervisor will place the bucket on the track following rule 7.c.iv when the competitors choose to run with the bucket on the tr
- (Section: 4 / Paragraph: d / Sub-Paragraph: iv / Line: 1)
  
  02/26/2026
  
  Since the track is (1) 1m wide on each side of the midline, and (2) ends at the terminal barrier (TB), would placing an aligning device either (1) >1m away from the midline, or (2) behind the TB, violate this rule and incur a Competition Violation...
  
  Yes, per rule 4.d.iv, a competition violation would be awarded as all alignment devices must be used within the defined track area.
- (Section: 4 / Paragraph: d / Sub-Paragraph: iii / Line: 4)
  
  02/13/2026
  
  Teams are wrapping the transparent plastic bag multiple times around the egg to create a cushion and/or obscuring the rounded part and/or tip of the egg. Are there any regulations around this?
  
  Yes, per rule 4.d.iii(4) the ES may require the competitors to place the egg in a "thin" plastic bag, however to be considered "thin" the leading and back tips of egg and must only have one layer of the bag covering it to avoid cushioning the egg from potential impacts.
- (Section: 4 / Paragraph: viii / Sub-Paragraph: 3 / Line: 3)
  
  10/16/2025
  
  Teams may opt to earn the Bucket Bonus by navigating around the bucket during a run. If a team selects the Bucket Bonus for their second run, the 8-minute counter will start once the Event Staff (ES) has set up the bucket or is it included in the ...
  
  No the setting of the bucket by the event supervisor is not counted against the competitors 8 minute time, however the team must pause their setup work while the time is paused for the bucket to be placed.
- (Section: 4 / Paragraph: d / Sub-Paragraph: iv / Line: 1)
  
  02/02/2026
  
  The sighting, aligning, and guiding devices must be placed and used within the defined Track area, which is defined in section 7.c.v from the Terminal Barrier to 1.0 m behind the Start Point. Could we pass the Start Point and use aligning or guidi...
  
  Yes, aligning devices may be placed anywhere on the defined track area, as long as they are removed before each run.
- (Section: 8 / Paragraph: H / Sub-Paragraph: I / Line: 1)
  
  12/16/2025
  
  This rule says that if the egg breaks on the first run, the second run is scored as a failed run.My question is: if the egg breaks, is the run on which the egg breaks a failed run?
  
  No, if the egg breaks on the first run, the first run will have a competition violation for the broken egg, and the second run will be scored as a failed run.
- (Section: 4 / Paragraph: d / Sub-Paragraph: viii / Line: 1)
  
  12/29/2025
  
  When taking a bucket shot, can vehicle be placed at an angle horizontally so that the tip of the egg is on starting point, but the part of vehicle is beyond starting line? Without slanted positn, curved path can't be traced and if slanted, some pa...
  
  Yes, parts of the Scrambler device may be beyond the Start Point without a penalty provided the tip of the egg is above the Start Point.
- (Section: 4 / Paragraph: d / Sub-Paragraph: viii / Line: 1)
  
  02/13/2026
  
  Will covering the Start Point with the apparatus or device such that the point is not fully visible constitute a violation?
  
  Yes, there will be a competition violation if the event supervisor is unable to verify the tip of the egg is above the Start Point.

‹ Technology
Roller Coaster - Div B ›

Science Olympiad Sponsors

The Ohio State University

Atwell

Avantor Foundation

USC

Cleveland-Cliffs

NAAEE

Double Good

3M YSC

SkyCiv

onshape

Amcor

InGenius Prep

MxD

JST

Midnight Science Club

STEMConnector

mHUB

Prequel

NFFS

CCIR

CodeHS

International Motors

IQMP

Empowerly

SO USA Fdn

American Red Cross

Tks

Aerospace Corporation

MDRT

3DMD

© 1999-2026 Science Olympiad Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit
2211 York Road, Suite 207, Oak Brook, IL 60523
Tel: 630-792-1251

Sitemap

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram
Alumnet
ScienceOlympiadTV

User account menu

Log in