Division A Events

Teams will build a barge on-site to hold the greatest amount of cargo, measured in grams, before sinking. This event has a short knowledge assessment.

This event tests participants’ knowledge of native trees of Virginia. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations.

Each team will build and fly a forced air propelled paper rocket using provided materials towards a target set at a distance while flying through an elevated hoop. This event may take place outside, inside, or both depending on site restrictions for events. If the event takes place outside it may be delayed or canceled if inclement weather with rain or lightning predicted, but not wind. This event has a written test.

Each team will build a strong, stable, and free-standing bridge from 25 paper drinking straws and 1 meter of tape. The team that build the tallest bridge and holds an object for 10 seconds with the fewest straws will be the winner. This event has a written test component.

Teams will demonstrate their understanding of plate tectonics and how it relates to continental drift. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations.

Teams will build a device out of given materials to travel a distance while holding a golf ball and stopping as close to a designated finish point as possible. All building of devices will take place during the competition. This event will have a short-written test about the basics of gravity.

Teams will create a simple lighted telegraph to send and receive messages in morse code between two stations placed between 1 and 2 meters apart.

This event tests participants’ knowledge of atoms and the trends seen in the Periodic Table. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations.

This event tests participants’ knowledge of matter and might be asked to build a model of a common compound. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations.

Teams will demonstrate their understanding of plate tectonics and how it relates to continental drift. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations.

Teams will build a strong, stable tower from index cards and masking tape. The team that builds the highest tower with the fewest cards and the smallest area base while holding a mass no less than 100 grams and no more than 1000 grams will be the winner. This event has a written test.

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

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

This event tests participants’ ability to provide rough estimates of a quantity to a series of Fermi Questions.

Each team will build a device that will use a hydraulic system to accomplish a task.

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

Teams will build a simple 3-wheeled vehicle that uses power provided through an elastic source to travel a specified distance within a specified area.

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

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

Teams will build two paper planes to try and accurately hit a target. This event may take place outside, inside, or both depending on site restrictions for events. If the event takes place outside it may be delayed or canceled if inclement weather with rain or lightning predicted, but not wind.

Teams will receive a challenge at the competition. The challenge could be anything. For example, building a contraption, creating an ecosystem for an animal, or traveling to a distant star. The team will not have any advance notice of the topic.

This event tests participants’ knowledge of creating and interpreting data tables and graphs. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations.

This event tests participants’ knowledge of native trees of Virginia. This event has a written test and may/may not include “hands-on” stations.

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

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.

Contestants will build and test one paper cup helicopter of any design using the materials provided at the competition.