Division A Events

Teams will build a simple 4-wheeled vehicle that uses the power of forced air, provided by blowing up a balloon, to travel to a specified point. This event has both device and written testing.

Team members will take turns drawing representations of scientific terms or concepts using vocabulary based on all the 2024 events while the other team members guess the term being drawn.

This event tests participants’ knowledge of the Cardiovascular system within the human body. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations.

This event tests participants' knowledge of cells and cell processes to include prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and the differences between plan and animal cells. This event has a written test and may/may not include "hands-on" stations.

Each team will build a device that uses a hydraulic system to accomplish the task of lifting a 100g weighted object at least 30 cm while holding the weight for 30 seconds. This event has a building component and a written test on hydraulic concepts.

Teams will build at least one Dihedral Magnus Effect or Tumblewing Glider. They will then use their glider to navigate an “obstacle” course for the best time. This event will take in a large room or hallway. This event has a building component and a written test on basic flight concepts.

Teams will build a simple 4-wheeled vehicle that uses power provided by rubber bands and propelled air movement to travel across a specified distance the fastest. This event has both device and written testing.

Trial Event: The team will create a solar powered racer from a provided kit. Once created the team will try to be the fastest racer down the track using the light of a flashlight. This event has a written test on basic solar energy vocabulary and concepts.

Teams will build a device to create neutral buoyancy within a 20% saline water environment using a set of given materials. This event has a building component and a written test on buoyancy and principles of submersibles.

Each team will build a strong, stable, and free-standing bridge to hold a 300-gram mass for 1 minute. This event has a written assessment on techniques for building and for the types of bridges.

This event will test a team's ability to design and build a simple catapult to launch a small item onto a target. This event has both a building and written test component.

This event will test students' knowledge of star formation, basic concepts of star gazing, and reporting on a specific constellation across cultures. This event has a written test and a written report component.

This event tests participants’ knowledge of the four fundamental forces. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations.

This event uses the International System of Units. Teams will need to accurately estimate and measure the physic properties of objects in SI units. Properties to be measured may include mass, volume, density, area, force, distance, time, and temperature. This event has a written test and may/may not include "hands-on" stations.

Teams will demonstrate their knowledge of the fossil record during the Paleozoic era. To include fossil formation, and half-life calculations. This event has a written test and may/may not include "hands-on" stations.

This event tests participants' knowledge of Radioactivity and Radioactive elements. This event has a written test and may/may not include "hands-on" stations.

This event tests participants’ knowledge of the properties of matter. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations.

Teams will build a strong, stable tower using coffee stirrers and masking tape. The winner will be the team that builds the highest tower with the fewest stirrers while holding a mass of 300 grams. This event has a building component and a written test.

Teams will demonstrate their knowledge of the fossil record as it relates to known Jurassic fossil species. This event has a written test and may/may not include "hands-on" stations.

Teams will demonstrate their knowledge of the impact of human development in the different ecosystems found in the 5 regions of Virginia. This event has a written test and will require a written report on the ecosystems of a single region.

Teams will build a barge to hold the greatest amount of cargo, measured in grams, before sinking. This event has a building component and a written test on Archimedes principle, displacement, buoyancy and flotation.

This event tests participants’ knowledge of native trees of Virginia. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations. It requires a written report on the native trees found on the team's school grounds.

Teams will participate in an activity involving the positioning of mirrors to direct a Class 2 laser pointer towards a target. The event has a written test on the geometric and physical concepts of optics.

Teams will design and build a paper rocket to launch a ping poing ball attached to a parachute to stay aloft for the greatest amount of time. Every effort will be made to hold this event inside with a high ceiling. If a suitable space is not available, the event will run outdoors if the weather cooperates. This event has a building component and a written test on the history of parachutes.

Teams will demonstrate their understanding of the six simple machines by creating and testing a "Rube Goldberg" device. The materials given teams will be able to create examples of the 6 simple machines. This event has a building component and a written test on simple machine concepts.

Each pair of students will make a device out of paper straws and masking tape to hold a large raw egg enclosed in a plastic bag. The device containing the egg will be dropped from a height, between 3 and 5 meters high, to a target. This event has a building component and a written test of egg knowledge.