Division B/C Clarifications

Rule 3.c. corrections:

• 3.c.xiv. 47 Tucanae X9

• Delete 3.c.xv.

• Renumber 3.c.xvi. to 3.c.xv.

Rule 2.b. - Participants do not need a lab coat or goggles.

Botany is a trial event - while individual medals are awarded, it does not count towards the team score. Either alternates or members of the competition team may compete in the event, however each school may only send one pair to compete.

Rule 6. Test Apparatus: A list of possible questions, tasks, stations and/or examples that will help to demonstrate how the event may be run.

Rule 4.f. - Logs will not necessarily be returned to teams. Teams should keep their original log and submit a copy to the Event Supervisor.

The Rail Fence Cipher - Science Olympiad rules do not define Rail Fence. ACA rules allow encryption to be either writing into the rainfence pattern on the zigzag and reading off on rows, or writing into the pattern on rows and reading off on the zigzag. Are both encryptions allowed?

Only the pattern where the cipher text is written in rows and the plaintext is read through the zigzag is allowed. For example with the cipher text "RFEALECIN" would be written into three rows of "R F E" "ALEC" and "IN" and would be read out via zigzag as "RAILFENCE".

Rule 3.e.v. - Relating to the Fractionated Morse Cipher, will it always end with the last letter or will there be an XX at the end to mark the end of the word?

No. For a Fractionated Morse Cipher, the cipher can end with 0,1, or 2 X at the end depending on how many are needed to pad to a group of 3 symbols.

Rule 3.b. - …All supporting circuits must be assembled on either a solderless or solderable breadboard. The following are construction violations: preassembled devices, load cells, preassembled load cells where the strain gauges are already wired together or attached to a flexible material, parts taken from such a preassembled load cell, printed circuit boards…

National FAQ dated 12/2/22 regarding a team’s request to mill their own circuit board - While Nationals is allowing a team to mill its own circuit board, VASO will not allow it.

Formatting error corrections:

• Rule 5.Part II.a.ix(4) should become Rule 5.Part II.b.

• Rule 5.Part II.a.ix(5) should become Rule 5.Part II.c.

These rules apply to all tournament levels.

VASO considers writing code to be an integral part of building a device, so the Constructed Devices Policy applies to the code as well as the physical device. To ensure this policy is being followed, teams will be required to transfer a copy of their source code file (after they have modified it during the setup period) onto a USB flash drive provided by the Event Supervisor. The team is responsible for ensuring they will have a way to connect the provided USB flash drive to their laptop or calculator.

Rule 4.e. - Logs will not necessarily be returned to teams. Teams should keep their original log and submit a copy to the Event Supervisor.

Environmental Chemistry Equipment - Teams should not bring electrolysis equipment or glassware larger than 100-mL capacity. It is recommended that teams do bring enough disposable pipettes (droppers) and beakers to create and analyze up to 6 solutions during the session block. The glassware holding the solutions must have a wide opening (>1.25 inches) to allow for measurements. Teams should also bring spot plates, gloves, and the allowed writing utensils, ruler, binder, and non-programmable, non-graphing calculators.

Experimental Design will be run at the 2023 State Tournament. This is a substitution for the Experiment & Data Analysis event that VASO ran at Written Test Day; VASO will NOT be running both events at States.

Rule 4.e. - Logs will not necessarily be returned to teams. Teams should keep their original log and submit a copy to the Event Supervisor.

The Constructed Devices Policy of VASO states the judging conditions under which teams are allowed to use kits to build the devices for VASO tournaments.  Because Rule 3a specifically allows for kits to be used in the construction of the aircraft, Event Supervisors will not apply the "Use of Kits" portion of the policy to craft built from kits.  In other words, Event Supervisors will not require that the devices built from complete kits to be substantially and materially customized.  However, teams should carefully evaluate any kit for compliance with the current year rules - even kits that claim that they are Science Olympiad approved.

Rule 5.e.iv. - When launching their device, participants must stand or sit directly on the floor.

Rule 5.a. - At the State tournament, the two divisions of Flight will share a large gym with a number of other building events. Thus the event will probably have roughly one third of the gym. The entire gym is 31.5m long x 35.3m wide x 8.0m high (to the bottom of the girders).

2023 National Tree List (Pg 2, Column 1, Line 4) - Moris Morus rubra (Red Mulberry)

Rule 3.e. - Can different parts of the "one" mechanism trigger the signal (i.e. 3 sections of a mechanism trigger the same signal)?

Every signal happens because something (a mechanism) directly causes it to happen. For example, the bell sounding is a signal, but the sound is caused by a hammer striking the bell. The flag being raised is the signal, but it is caused by a string pulling it up the pole. The hammer and the string are the mechanism. The mechanism must be the same in all instances, so, in order to allow for the next signal, the mechanism will need to reset itself for the next signal (i.e. the hammer must retract back or the string must go slack to let the flag back down). However, multiple different components or parts in the device can initiate the action of the mechanism that causes the signal (i.e. different cogs initiating the hammer action or different elements pulling the flag’s string).

Minerals List (Column 2) - "Willemite*" and "Zircon*" should not be indented underneath "Tourmaline Group" since they are not members of the Tourmaline Group.

Rule 3 (Construction Parameters) - The entire track must not be fully enclosed and the ball should be easily removable for the entire roller coaster, not just the loop in 3.k.ii. For the ball to be considered “easily removable”, the device/track must not have to be manipulated by the Event Supervisor to get the ball out.

Add a rule 4.b.iv. - If a kit was used to build the team’s device, the Design Log must also include an explanation of at least one substantial modification made to the kit as required by the Constructed Devices Policy.

Rule 4.e. - Logs will not necessarily be returned to teams. Teams should keep their original log and submit a copy to the Event Supervisor.

Rule 3.c. - During setup, time will be paused so students can demonstrate their mass falling without the vehicle attached. If the mass contacts the venue floor or has the potential to damage it, a construction penalty will be assessed per rule 3.c. and students will be required to launch using a VASO-provided cushion.

Rule 3.c. - The protective pad/cushion referenced in this rule is considered part of the device and must fit within the allowed Scrambler device dimensions. VASO expects it to actually protect the venue's floor from damage, not just prevent the mass from contacting the floor.

Rule 3.e. - ...The egg backstop must be built of any rigid material, and it must have a flat surface of 5.0±0.5 cm wide by 5.0±0.5 cm high by 1.27 cm (0.50”) thick 1.1 cm or thicker.

Rule 3.a. - Teams, even if they are from the same school, may NOT share an energy propulsion system (launcher) in VASO tournaments.

Rule 3.f. - Since dowels sold as “¼ inch dowels” are typically slightly narrower than that, VASO will accept dowels that measure approximately ¼ inch.

Rule 3.g. - Event Supervisors at VASO tournaments will not allow the egg to be placed inside a bag.

Add a rule 4.b.iv. - If a kit was used to build the team’s device, the Design Log must also include an explanation of at least one substantial modification made to the kit as required by the Constructed Devices Policy.

Rule 4.e. - Logs will not necessarily be returned to teams. Teams should keep their original log and submit a copy to the Event Supervisor.

Scoring Changes: Changing the distribution of points between the heat and prediction score and fixing a typo in the heat retention factor.

Rule 5.e. - Heat Score (HS) = (HRF/Highest HRF of all teams) x 15 20 points;

HRF (Heat Retention Factor) = (final beaker water temp - starting beaker water temp)/ starting beaker water temp

Rule 5.f. Prediction Score (PS) = (PE/Highest PE of all teams) x 25 20 points;

PE (Prediction Estimate) = (1-(abs (final beaker water temp - predicted final beaker water temp) / final beaker water temp)). The minimum PS possible is 0 points.

At VASO States, Solar Power will NOT be an impound event.

Solar Power is a trial event, using VASO-specific rules. While individual medals are awarded, it does not count towards the team score. Either alternates or members of the competition team may compete in the event, however each school may only send one pair to compete.

Rule 4.h. - VASO will test using Vernier probes which will be left in the device during the 10-minute testing. The device must be able to accommodate this in such a way that the probe touches the water during the entire testing period. Probe dimensions: The stainless-steel part of the probe is 108mm long and has a diameter of 4mm. The plastic handle is 75mm long and 12mm in diameter. See the probe picture.

Rule 4.b. - VASO will use a clear, incandescent 150-watt bulb, with a color temperature of 2850 Kelvin.

Song Excerpt (States) - The excerpt of Battle Hymn of the Republic original published in the Rules should be discarded and the State Tournament will use this version where the notes below G4 were re-written to different notes within the G4 to G5 octave.

Rule 6.b.iv. Song Score (SS) = (Device Song Score/Highest Device Song Score of all teams) x 15 points 20 points

In order to protect the floor at States , Storm the Castle devices will be required to launch off a VASO-provided piece of plywood placed on the floor. The plywood will be 1/2” thick, 4 ft square and will be sanded.

In order to protect the floor at States, Trajectory devices will be required to launch off a VASO-provided piece of plywood placed on the floor. The plywood will be 1/2” thick, 4 ft square and will be sanded.

Section 6: Is the bucket in the same location if two bucket shots are taken (one after being close to the near target and one after being close to the far target)? Does the bucket shot have to follow the shot that earned it?
The shot does not have to be taken immediately after the shot that earned it. The bucket is at the same location for both shots.

Rule 5.b.ii. 0.25 m Timing Line - a line of 2.5 cm tape, approximately 70 cm long, to be placed perpendicular to and centered on the imaginary Center Line. The edge of the line closest to the Start Point must be 0.25 cm m from the Start Point.

Rule 3.e. - Since dowels sold as “¼ inch dowels” are typically slightly narrower than that, VASO will accept dowels that measure approximately ¼ inch.

Add a rule 4.b.iv. - If a kit was used to build the team’s device, the Design Log must also include an explanation of at least one substantial modification made to the kit as required by the Constructed Devices Policy.

Rule 4.e. - Logs will not necessarily be returned to teams. Teams should keep their original log and submit a copy to the Event Supervisor.

Rule 5.II.c  - At VASO States, teams will be given the opportunity to make 5 connection attempts within a 7 minute testing time.

Rules 2.d. and 7.f. - As this is not an impound event, VASO is not requiring teams to bring their device in a box and will not be awarding the Submission Bonus (SB).