Physical Science & Chemistry Reveal Questions Chemistry Crime Busters - Div B (Section: 2 / Paragraph: a / Line: 1) 12/15/2025 The rules say "each participant may bring one 8.5x11 sheet of paper." Does that mean that each team of up to 2 may bring 1 sheet, or that each individual (up to 2 on a team) may bring 1 sheet, so a team of 2 may bring 2 sheets? Each participant may bring 1 sheet, so a team of 1 may bring 1 sheet and a team of 2 may bring 2 sheets. The sheets do not need to be identical but can contain different information. Food Science - Div B Physics Hovercraft - Div B (Section: 3 / Line: 1) 12/22/2025 A student came across a problem while making the hovercraft. The brushless fan he is trying to use needs an integrated circuit and the rules say that we can’t use an integrated circuit unless it’s an integral part of the motor. Rule 3.f. We c... If the fan cannot be run without a separate integrated circuit, it is not compliant with the construction parameters and will have to be replaced. Fans with compliant brushless motors are readily available. (Section: 3 / Line: 1) 10/16/2025 12v batteries sold at shop and online with 12v labelled are actually higher than 12v when charged (10 cells * 1.2=12v since each cell is 1.2v nominal, but often 1.4-1.5v when charged). Commercially labelled 12v nimh packs are allowed right in this... Per rule 3d, the ES is to calculate voltages based on the manufacturer’s original labels on the batteries. (Section: 3.b / Line: 3) 12/04/2025 3.b line 3 said inflated skirt must continuously contact with the base surface. Does this mean a inflated skirt is required for a hovercraft. No, an inflated skirt is not required. (Section: 4 / Paragraph: c / Line: 1) 10/16/2025 4.c states "...8 minutes to adjust and repair their vehicle and make test runs. Practice runs are not allowed." Could you please clarify what is considered a test run (allowed) vs. a practice run (not allowed)? A Test run is an official, scorable run. (Section: 5 / Paragraph: a / Line: 2) 01/08/2026 5.a states that a “smooth” surface is required for a competition setup. Does that mean that any sort of start/end line demarcation that would make the surface unlevel (such as masking tape) would be prohibited for competitions? No. The presence of such markers will still be considered smooth surfaces. (Section: 4 / Paragraph: d / Line: 1) 11/03/2025 Are supervisors intended to post Target Times and Bonus Target Times at impound? Are they allowed to, if they wish? Or are the times required to be kept secret? No, Rule 4d states that teams will be given the Target Time at the start of their testing period. Rule 4n states that the team will be given the Bonus Target Time when they become eligible to try for the bonus. (Section: 5 / Line: 1) 04/01/2026 Are teams allowed to clean the track using either dry or wet towels? Teams may dry-sweep the track, but may not wet or apply any cleaning solution to the track. (Section: 2 / Paragraph: b / Line: 1) 09/30/2025 Are tools with integrated circuits, such as multimeters or voltmeters, that are connected to the hovercraft's circuitry during the 8-minute testing period, but removed before a run permitted? Yes. Construction parameters refer to parts of the hovercraft. Tools are not considered part of the hovercraft. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: (f) / Line: 1) 12/16/2025 Are transistors allowed? No, they are not on the allowed list of components in rule 3f. (Section: 4 / Paragraph: i / Line: 1) 11/04/2025 Are we allowed to start our hovercraft against the side of the track as long as we show levitation and aren't using the wall as support, and instead use it because our hovercraft veers to the side, or are we forced to start in the middle of the tr... Yes the hovercraft can be started anywhere along the start line. (Section: 4 / Paragraph: k / Line: 1) 02/10/2026 Are you allowed to touch your hovercraft when giving the 3, 2, 1 countdown and then let go when you say go? No. The hovercraft must be held in place solely by the Event Supervisor's block. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: a / Line: 1) 01/08/2026 As long as I'm within the size parameters, can I put free-spinning wheels on the corners of my hovercraft to reduce friction along the wall(s)? 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: B / Line: 4) 03/06/2026 Can a hovercraft use the side rails to propel itself (as long as it only contacts the inner portion)? The hovercraft is allowed to touch the side rails, beyond that we will not prejudge specific designs as we can not evaluate all the details of the implementation. (Section: 2 / Paragraph: b / Line: 1) 01/13/2026 Can a student bring multiple batteries to impound as long as the hovercraft runs under 12V? Yes, spare batteries may be impounded. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: 1 / Sub-Paragraph: 1 / Line: 1) 02/26/2026 Can a student slightly lift the vehicle during initial inflation of skirting, so long as the vehicle remains levitated afterward with no additional assistance? Yes, this is allowed. (Section: 5 / Paragraph: e / Line: 1) 01/23/2026 Can a team hold their hovercraft at the top of the ramp until it is launched or does the team have to let it rest against the foam pad at the start line held by the event supervisor? A team may not hold the hovercraft as it is launching. It must be held in place by the event supervisor's block. However, the event supervisor's block can be placed anywhere behind the start line if requested by the team. (Section: 3) 02/03/2026 Can students switch thrust fan to improve the timing. For example one fan for 6 second target and another fan for 20 second target? Yes. That is within the spirit of the rules, but all safety / construction parameters must be met and this must be completed during the 8 minute testing period. (Section: 2 / Line: 1) 01/13/2026 Event Parameters - 2.b states that teams can bring spare parts and supplies. Can passive components like resistors be switched with spare parts after TT or BTT is announced. Yes, resistors may be switched with spare parts during the 8 minute testing period. Timing does not stop for students to make these changes. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: 1 / Sub-Paragraph: 1 / Line: 1) 03/10/2026 For lift fans or blowers, is a thin plastic sheet covering the entire vehicle bottom (such as skirting) considered sufficient for the dowel test, or must there be additional "hard" guarding as there would be without the plastic sheet? We can't prejudge specific devices. The dowel cannot contact the fans in an unsafe manner - if the vehicle bottom is thin enough to cause the dowel to push it into the fan and create a safety hazard then it would not be adequate and not be legal. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: f / Line: 1) 03/12/2026 Given switches that are mechanically activated by a motor, and electromechanical DPDT relays, what determines a "manually-operated" switch? A manually-operated switch is one that is operated by hand. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: 1 / Line: 1) 10/28/2025 I know circuit boards are not allowed, but for connection purposes would a solderable breadboard be allowed for making wiring connections? Yes, bare breadboards are allowed as long as the entire circuit is visible for inspection. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: c / Line: 7) 12/29/2025 If I am not using a skirt does the bottom of the part have to be covered so the dowel can't touch it or just from the top being that is getting protected by the floor or is it being tested in the air. Rule 3.c. requires all propellers/impellers, including those under the vehicle, to have shielding. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: d / Line: 4) 03/04/2026 If I spin a flywheel before the start of the run, release a pendulum before the run start, or use a mousetrap, does the energy from said flywheel, pendulum swing, or mousetrap count as outside energy sources? Yes, those would all be outside energy sources and prohibited by the rules. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: f / Line: 1) 01/19/2026 If a digital multimeter is mounted on the device but placed in series with a manual switch that is turns it off before the run, may the voltmeter tack the trip down the track as part of the weight of the device? No. Integrated circuits are not allowed on the hovercraft itself, and so a multimeter may not be part of the hovercraft as it travels down the track on a run. (Section: 3 / Line: 1) 10/01/2025 Is a rheostat an allowed electrical component? A rheostat is basically a potentiometer for higher voltage and current and, as it was described in a question to me from a clinic participant, a potentiometer would not be safe with this amount of vol... A rheostat is an allowed component. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: b / Line: 3) 12/04/2025 Is continuous or near-continuous contact permitted between the ground and a portion of a non-inflated skirt? For example, if one corner or side of the craft is dragging or frequently touching the ground. Yes. Rule 3.b. considers the skirt to be "inflated" if the vehicle is levitating, whether or not the entire skirt truly appears inflated. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: f / Line: 1) 12/16/2025 Is it permissible to use battery placeholders ("dummy" batteries) to adjust the voltage on astring of batteries? They have the same form factor as standard batteries (inour case AA cell) and works as a conductor. We are using these to adjust t... Yes, they are acting then as wires. However, since they resemble batteries, it must be clear from the manufacturer markings on them that they are dummy cells. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: b / Line: 3) 03/30/2026 Is it permitted to use a motorized wheel for propulsion on our hovercraft instead of two fans? Specifically, can we use one lift fan for hover and a motor-driven wheel that constantly contacts and pushes against the inside wall of the track to mov... In concept that may be allowed. However we will not prejudge specific devices as we can not evaluate all the details of the implementation. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: f / Line: 1) 03/09/2026 Is it still a manually operated switch if it is mechanically triggered later on in a run, without a human hand directly touching it the moment it is triggered? This is assuming you set up the switch with manual operation prior to it triggering/swi... No. "Manually-operated" means operated by hand and this applies to both setup and triggering. (Section: 4 / Line: 1) 03/30/2026 Is the starting block always placed flush to the start line? Ex: a team wants the block placed further back to start their vehicle at the top of the ramp, and the block be placed right below their vehicle. Or they want the block at an angle. The Hovercraft must be held in place by the event supervisor's block, which can be placed anywhere behind the start line if requested by the team. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: b / Line: 1) 11/03/2025 Is there a minimum amount of rise required for the levitation test? Some crafts may rise sub-mm -- is that acceptable? No, there is no minimum stated. The Event Supervisor will need to make their best judgement, but it should be noticeable that the machine rises (Section: 3 / Paragraph: f / Line: 2) 10/16/2025 It says we can use a brushless motor, but it doesn't explicitly address the ESC (Electric Speed Controller), nor PWM (Pulse-width modulation) control. Please confirm if we can use ESC and PWM control. Rule 3.f. says that integrated circuits that are not integral parts of a commercial motor are not permitted. A part is integral if it is manufactured as part of the whole rather than supplied separately. A ESC or PWM that is not integral to the motor is not allowed. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: f / Line: 1) 03/12/2026 It says wires are allowed but is it OK if alligator clips are on the wires and used to connect them to motors? Yes, that is allowed. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: d / Line: 1) 10/16/2025 May a hovercraft have multiple circuits that are separate from each other and under 12 volts, even if the combined voltage of all batteries is over 12 volts? Yes, each separate circuit can have a maximum of 12V per manufactures labeling. (Section: 4 / Paragraph: l / Line: 1) 03/04/2026 Nothing in the rules prohibits someone following their hovercraft down the track and placing their hand or some other object behind the driving fan, such that they are not touching it but still changing the airflow around it to allow for more thru... No, this is not allowed. Rule 1 says that the vehicle is self-propelled, thus teams may not interact with a run once it has begun. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: f / Sub-Paragraph: i / Line: 1) 12/09/2025 Rule 3.f. lists the permitted electrical components but does not mention fusing. Can an inline 12V fuse (such as an automotive fuse) be used without penalty? Yes. A fuse is essentially a specialized resistor and is allowed (Section: 4 / Line: 5) 03/17/2026 Rule 4.n makes reference to restrictions on the Bonus Target Time being those of listed in 5.d. However 5.d describes the photogates. Rule 4.d seems a more appropriate reference. Can you clarify if (a) this is a typo or (b) how we should interpret... Yes, this is a typo. It should be the restrictions in rule 4d, not 5d. (Section: 4 / Paragraph: e / Line: 2) 03/04/2026 The rule states ‘if a team has 3 incomplete runs their testing period is over’. Same is stated in the Team Checklist - 2026; then why is there a column for 4th Run in the Team Checklist ? This is leading to illegal 4th run during competitions. A team can have four runs if the first two are incomplete, the third run is complete, and then the fourth run is their Final Run (Rule 4.e.). (Section: 3 / Paragraph: 1 / Line: 1) 03/04/2026 The students use manual switches, but the switches can be activated by the air pressure of the fan. Is this allowed?Thanks,Man No, a manually-operated switch is one that is directly operated by hand. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: b / Line: 1) 12/30/2025 The text mentions “continuous contact of the inflated skirt” is allowed, but does not state that an inflated skirt is mandated or not. Can a rigid or non-inflated foam skirt be used as long as the vehicle levitates when pushed down and rises, ... Yes, a skirt is not required as long as the vehicle passes the levitation test. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: f / Line: 17) 03/06/2026 Under Electrical components stated manually-operated switches is allow. Is a PWM motor speed controller allow? Is a light dimmer allow? Rule 3.f. states that integrated circuits (other than those that are an integral part of a commercial motor) are not permitted. PWMs and most modern dimmers contain an integrated circuit and are therefore not allowed. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: 1 / Line: 1) 11/04/2025 Would banana jack ports (for connecting a multimeter during calibration/setup) be an allowed component? Yes, connectors are allowed. Circuit Lab - Div B (Section: 2 / Paragraph: a / Line: 1) 10/28/2025 Are teams allowed to bring two or more binders? Yes, teams may choose to contain their resources however they wish. Rule 2a states that participants are responsible for organizing and containing their notes efficiently. (Section: 3 / Paragraph: d / Line: 1) 12/30/2025 What defines a basic multimeter (i.e. versus some other unspecified type)? In general, the multimeter must be stand-alone and non-programmable and not be able to store information or access the internet. The local Event Supervisor will make the decision if the multimeter is allowed. (Section: 2 / Paragraph: a / Line: 1) 10/30/2025 What is the maximum number of binders that participants are allowed? Per rule 2a, the only restriction is "Participants are responsible for organizing and containing their notes efficiently" Thermodynamics - Div B ‹ Would a pre-made (commercial) electronic conductivity probe be allowed for use in the salinometer, as long as it is only a sensor component? Chemistry ›
