Division C Events - High School

2012 - 2013 Sponsor

Anatomy & Physiology (Nervous, Excretory, Digestive)

This event encompasses the anatomy and physiology of selected body systems, this year limited to nervous, excretory and digestive systems.

Disease Detectives (Environmental Quality)

This event requires students to apply principles of epidemiology to a published report of a real-life health situation or problem.

 Macomb County Osteopathic Medical Association

Forestry

This event will test student knowledge of North American trees that are on the Official National Tree List.

Designer Genes

Students will solve problems using their knowledge of Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology

Water Quality (Fresh Water, Estuaries)

The event will focus on evaluating aquatic environments.

Astronomy

Teams will demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of math and physics relating to stellar evolution and type II supernovas.

Dynamic Planet (Glaciers)

Teams will work at stations that display a variety of earth science materials and related earth science questions.

Rocks and Minerals

Teams will demonstrate their knowledge of rocks and minerals.

Remote Sensing (Earth's Hydrosphere)

Teams use remote sensing imagery, science and math process skills to complete tasks related to an understanding of Earth's Hydrosphere.

Circuit Lab

Students will compete in activities involving knowledge of direct current (DC) electrical circuits.

MagLev

Competitors may construct up to two self-propelled magnetically-levitated vehicles with battery-powered motors that turn up to two propellers to move the vehicle(s) down a magnetic track.  Competitors must also be tested on their knowledge of magnetism and related topics.

Thermodynamics

Teams must construct an insulated device prior to the tournament that is designed to retain heat. Teams must also complete a written test on thermodynamic concepts.

Teams will demonstrate chemistry laboratory skills related to selected topics.

Forensics

Students will identify polymers, solids, fibers, and other materials in a crime scenario.

Material Science

Teams will answer a series of questions or complete tasks involving the science processes of chemistry focused in the areas of Material Science.  

Elastic Launched Glider

The object of this event is to design, build and test two elastic-launched gliders designed for the highest time aloft.  This event challenges students to build and test gliders that must be launched at floor level, ascend to a high point and then transitition into a slow descending  glide pattern.

Gravity Vehicle

Teams design, build and test one vehicle and ramp that uses gravitational potential energy as the vehicle's sole means of propulsion to reach a Target Point as quickly, as accurately and as close to their predicted time as possible.

Robot Arm

Prior to the competition teams must design, build, document and test one robotic device to move scored items.

Boomilever

Students design and build the most efficient cantilevered wooden structure.

Experimental Design

Given a set of unknown objects, teams will design, conduct, analyze and write-up an experiment.

Fermi Questions

A Fermi Question is a science related question that seeks a fast, rough estimate of a quantity which is difficult or impossible to measure directly. Answers will be estimated within an order of magnitude recorded in powers of 10.

Technical Problem Solving

Teams will gather and process data to solve problems.  This year focuses on Harmonics (open and closed tubes and strings) and Enzymatic reactions (yeast catalase and decomposition rates). 

Write It Do It

Technical writing exercise where students write a description of a contraption given to them at competition, and their teammates will attempt to recreate it using that written description and materials provided.

Division B Events - Middle School

2012 - 2013 Sponsor

Anatomy (Nervious, Digestive systems)

Teams will be tested on their knowledge of anatomy and health concepts including nervous and digestive systems.

Disease Detectives (Environmental Quality)

This event requires students to apply principles of epidemiology to a published report of a real-life health situation or problem.

Forestry

This event will test student knowledge of North American trees that are on the Official National Tree List.

Heredity

Students will solve problems and analyze data or diagrams using their knowledge of the basic principles of genetics.

Water Quality (Fresh Water / Estuaries)

The event will focus on evaluating aquatic environments.

Dynamic Planet (Glaciers)

Teams will work at stations that display a variety of earth science materials and related earth science questions.

Rocks and Minerals

Teams will demonstrate their knowledge of rocks and minerals.

Meteorology (Everyday weather)

This event involves the use of process skills as applied to meteorology.

Road Scholar

Requires the accurate interpretation and understanding of various map features using a variety of road and topographic maps.

Reach for the Stars

Students will demonstrate an understanding and basic knowledge of the properties and evolution of stars and their observation with different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum: Radio, Infrared, Visible, Ultraviolet, X-ray and Gamma ray. 

Food Science

Using their understanding of the chemistry and physical properties of baking ingredients, teams will answer questions at a series of stations.

Crime Busters

Teams will identify the perpetrators of a crime or crimes by using paper chromatography and analysis of unknown solids, liquids, and plastics found at the scene of a crime.

Sounds of Music

Prior to the competition, students will build two different instruments of any type based on a 12 tone tempered scale, prepare to describe the principles behind their operation and be able to perform a major scale, a required melody and a chosen melody with each.

Keep the Heat

Teams must construct an insulated device prior to the tournament that is designed to retain heat. Students must also complete a written test on thermodynamic concepts.

Shock Value

Students will compete in activities involving basic understanding of electricity, magnetism and simple electrical devices.

Mousetrap Vehicle

Teams will design, build and test a vehicle using one mousetrap as the sole means of propulsion to reach a target as quickly, accurately and close to their predicted time as possible.

Helicopters

Teams construct and test free-flight rubber-powered helicopters prior to the tournament to achieve maximum flight times.

Mission Possible

Prior to the competition, participants will design, build, test and document a "Rube Goldberg-like device" that completes a required Final Task using a sequence of consecutive tasks.

Boomilever

Team members design and build the most efficient catalevered wooden structure.

Rotor Egg Drop

Teams will construct an unpowered, autorotation helicopter device, which uses one or more helicopter rotors to safely transport a raw chicken egg from a specified height to the floor.

Metric Mastery

Students will estimate and then measure identical objects in metric units.  The properties to be measured may include mass, volume, density, area, force, distance, time and temperature.

Experimental Design

Given a set of unknown objects, teams will design, conduct, analyze and write-up an experiment.

Write It Do It

Technical writing exercise where students write a description of a contraption given to them at competition, and their teammates will attempt to recreate it using that written description and materials provided.

Division A Events - Elementary School

2012 - 2013 Sponsor

Students will identify anatomical structures of the human bones and muscles.

 Dr. Jim Skoney

Bridging the Gap

This event is designed to test the student's ability to think on their feet. They will be given a bag of appropriate materials which they will use to build a bridge. The bridge should be constructed to span the greatest possible distance while supporting a mass at its midpoint.

Charged Up

 Open Mind Development

Ecology Rangers

Students will be tested on their knowledge of the ecology of terrestrial biomes.  Additionally, they will be expected to understand how human activities have affected this ecology.

Don't Bug Me

 Elite Pest Management

Force and Motion

This event will test students knowledge of the motion of objects and the forces that affect them. Students need to understand force, motion, speed, gravity and contact and non-contact forces.

Grasp-A-Graph

Car Crash Eggspert

Each team will build a structure on top of a PineCar racer.  The structure will be designed to hold and protect an egg as the car is rolled down a progressively steeper series of ramps and crashed into an immovable barrier.

Reflection Relay

A team of three students will work cooperatively to determine the path a light beam takes, as it reflects off a series of plane mirrors.

 Family Eye Care Associates

Rock Hound

Students will prepare a chart and use it to identify various rocks and minerals.  Questions about the rocks or minerals, such as their color, specific gravity, relative hardness, reaction to 3 molar Hydrochloric acid, shape, and texture will be asked.

Rubber Band Catapult

Students will design and construct a catapult device, according to the parameters set forth in the rules, to shoot a rubber band at a target that is placed within a given range.

Starry, Starry Night

This event will test students' knowledge of astronomical facts and concepts relating to the earth, moon, solar system, celestial sphere, stars and constellations.  Additionally, students will also examine the life cycle of stars.

Water Rockets

Prior to the tournament, each team will use 2-liter soda/pop bottles to build one or more rockets propelled by pressurized air and water. Rockets will be launched at the tournament and time aloft recorded.  The rocket that stays aloft for the longest time will win.

Weather or Not

Students will be tested on their knowledge of weather and meteorology.  Topics may include: clouds, simple scientific weather instruments and their functions, weather patterns, severe weather, and weather photographs, drawings, or diagrams.  Questions may also include states of water, water cycle, weather terminology, atmosphere, and seasonal changes in weather.

Wildlife Safari

Students will demonstrate their ability to identify Michigan birds and their habitats through the use of field guides. They may view photographs of birds, mounts, and/or photographs of habitat.

 Detroit Zoological Society

Zowie Estimation