2009 Chevron Science Olympics - Senior High Blog

Calgary Herald Article

2009-12-03T15:15:00.000-08:00

This Saturday, December 5th 2009 we will be featuring highlights and photos from the junior and senior high Chevron Science Olympics in the City Section of the Calgary Herald. Make sure to check it out!

Overall Results

2009-11-26T17:43:00.001-08:00

Here are the rankings for each of the events. The 1st ranked team in each event scored 100 points, the second place team scored 98, the third place team scored 96, and so on. To determine the overall results, those three scores were added together.

Thank you to everyone involved in this fantastic event and Congratulations to our winners!

Team Name	Power of Wind	Down-stream	The Rope, the boot and the bowling ball	OVERALL
The Really Smart Team	6	8	12	6
The Other Really Smart Team	3	3	2	2
The Other Other Really Smart Team	1	2	4	1
Quantum Quarks	9	1	1	3
Going, going gone with the wind	5	7	5	4
Noll	23	16	11	15
CANCELLED
Passing Wind	25	11	18	22
Dief 2	8	22	21	17
Dief 1	18	14	26	24
Intuitively Obvious	15	19	14	14
Psi-Yotes	22	13	22	23
Sci-Yotes	28	9	10	13
Bling Kings	14	17	7	10
Monty π’ons Flying Circus	7	21	8	7
Google-lites	26	28	25	28
The Destroyers of µ	17	26	9	19
Voltaic Charge	19	24	24	27
(Vernon)²	21	12	17	16
Quanternions	20	18	15	20
The Bownesians	27	4	6	8
The Trojans	24	27	3	21
ACC	11	6	27	12
Top Gun	16	25	20	25
Pir Fakir Raab	12	20	19	18
The Discoverers	10	15	13	11
The Searchers	13	23	28	26
ETURNITIY	4	10	23	9
Occam's Razor	2	5	16	5

Merit Awards

Going, going gone with the wind.	Most Creative Presentation
Passing Wind	Best Teamwork
Monty π’ons Flying Circus	Most Enthusiastic
(Vernon)²	Ingenious Design

When do I drop off my turbine?

2009-11-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

Bring your turbine to the TELUS World of Science on Event Day. Plan to be here at 8:00 am so you have time to register and put your turbine in the event room (Creative Kids Museum). Please make sure you turbine is labeled with your team name and school.

This Saturday

2009-11-18T08:38:00.000-08:00

The competition is this Saturday! Hope everyone is getting excited!

Please plan on getting to the TELUS World of Science at 8:00 am so you can register your team and put your turbine in the event room.

A team schedule and a map has been emailed to all teachers. Please read over the schedule BEFORE you arrive and make sure you understand it. There is also a brief description on how the Power of Wind event (wind turbines) will run. Time is very limited for the Power of Wind event and it is very important that teams stick to the schedule.

Media release forms were due last Friday. If you have not faxed them in please do so ASAP (fax: 403-268-8337). Thank-you.

Please remember to bring a calculator, a pencil/pen and a smile!

See you on Saturday
Jen and Katie

Is alright if we take the motor out of its cardboard casing?

2009-11-16T11:51:00.001-08:00

Yes

Can we funnel the air?

2009-11-16T09:12:00.000-08:00

You can only design a funnel-like component for your turbine if it is 30 cm away from the fans AND is attached to the turbine completely. This design challenge specifically says one free standing model turbine - so if the funnel is attached directly to the turbine, creating one solid piece, then yes. If it if a separate structure with its own base, then no.

Media Release Forms

2009-11-13T15:44:00.000-08:00

Media release forms were due by today (13 November). If you have not faxed them in yet please do so ASAP.

Fax: 403-268-8337

Thanks

Parking on Event Day

2009-11-13T15:42:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately we will NOT be able to supply free parking on event day. The City of Calgary owns our parking lot and parking regulations have changed.

Thanks for understanding

What do we need to bring to the event?

2009-11-13T15:39:00.000-08:00

You should bring:

- Wind turbine (make ahead)
- Calculator
- pencil
- eraser
- smile

Get ready to have a fantastic day! It is going to be fun!

Where is the event?

2009-11-13T15:38:00.001-08:00

The event is being held at the TELUS World of Science
701 11 Street SW
Calgary

Event Day- Awards Ceremony/Family and friends.

2009-11-13T15:34:00.000-08:00

Parents and friends of the teams are invited to attend the awards ceremony in the Discovery Dome Theatre from 1:15 to 2:00 pm. These individuals will be issued a free ticket at the front desk upon entry. Please note that free tickets will only be issued from 12:45 pm to 1:30 pm.

During the event times (9:00 to 12:10) only the teams and supporting teacher are permitted to attend the event. No other students may help the team on event day.

If parents and friends would like to be in the building before 12:45 then regular admission charges will apply.

Thanks

Will there be lunch?

2009-11-13T15:33:00.001-08:00

Yes, there will be a pizza lunch for all participating students and teachers.

If one of my students are sick can we still attend?

2009-11-13T15:31:00.000-08:00

Yes

Can we use lego gears?

2009-11-11T08:50:00.000-08:00

yes

How will energy be measure - revised...PLEASE READ

2009-11-10T14:21:00.000-08:00

Voltage and current output from the turbines will be measured to calculate energy output. A 10 ohm (approx) resistor will be used.

How wide is the door to the classroom?

2009-11-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

We have decided to run the event in the Creative Classroom in our Creative Kids Museum. One of the doors to the room is very wide and a turbine that is 1.3 m wide will fit through.

can we touch our Wind Turbine during the 30 second timed period?

2009-11-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

Teams cannot touch their wind turbine during the 30 second timed period. However, at the beginning of the round, fans will be turned on and teams will have 15 seconds to remove their hands from the wind turbine before the timed period begins. You can touch your turbine during this 15 second period. Points will be deducted for touching your turbine during the 30 second timed period.

Weights and tie breaker

2009-10-30T11:38:00.001-07:00

Will the weights used to secure the windmill be counted towards the weighing in case of a tie? Yes.

Facts about the fans

2009-10-30T11:14:00.000-07:00

- two side-by-side industrial fans

-raised ~70 cm above the ground (they will be on top of a table)

- Sure Flame FN20 fans

- 1725 RPM

-1/2 Hp

- 20" (fan not the blade)

Cellphones, ipods and electronic equipment!

2009-10-29T10:38:00.001-07:00

In order to ensure a fair competition, please leave all cellphones, ipods and other eletronic devices at home! You cannot have them with you during the competition. If you do have them on/with you, you may be disqualified from the event.
Thanks for understanding

Presentations

2009-10-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

Will we have our turbines with us during the presentation?

No, you will be giving your presentation WITHOUT your turbines (they will be in a different room). You are welcome to bring other props for the presentation.

Will there be a projector, lap top and screen to give our presentation with?

No, there will not be a projector, lap top or screen available. Presentations will be given on stage in our Creative Kids Museum. No powerpoint please. Teams only have 2.5 minutes to give their presentations and there is not time to set up electronic presentation equipment. You cannot bring additional people to set up additional gear.

Registration and Motors!

2009-10-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

You must be officially registered for the Science Olympics to pick-up a motor.

Jen or Katie will send you an email when your motor is ready to be picked up. If you have not officially registered and received an email from Jen or Katie you will NOT have a motor waiting for you. If you are coming to the facility to register please email Jen beforehand so they can have a motor ready. Thank-you.

To pick up your motor, please go to the Front of House at the TELUS World of Science. Inform the cashier that you are there to pick up your motor for the Chevron, Science Olympics – Senior High Event. Let them know your school’s name and teacher representative. They will ask you for id. You do not need to be the teacher representative to pick it up but you must show id and let them know which team they are picking up a motor for. Each team gets ONE motor only. You will need to sign for the motor.

Please contact Jen if you have any questions about this ( Jennifer.Talerico@calgaryscience.ca )

Fan Placement

2009-10-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

The rules state that fans are ~ 70cm from the ground. Is this measurement from the center of fan, the bottom of the fan, or the top of the fan?

This measurement is from the bottom on the fans. We will place them on top of a 'standard' elementary lunch table.

What materials can I use to build my turbine?

2009-10-23T10:23:00.000-07:00

The choice of materials is up to your team however you cannot use prefabricated items that are used/designed for air flow/movement/production etc. Therefore, items such as fans, pinwheels, blower wheels cannot be used. Parts from a pre-made wind turbine or windmill kit may also NOT be used.

We encourage teams to be creative in their design. Teams may use other prefabricated materials if they are specifically designed for other uses. The more creative the better! So items like skate boards, curtains, paperclips, scooters etc are totally acceptable. Use your imagination!

If you have any questions about this please let me know.

Scoring- Make Ahead Event. Slight changes please read!

2009-10-23T10:18:00.000-07:00

Teams can earn points in four ways* (out of 100%):
1) The energy output from the turbine over the timed period (45%)
2) Maximum peak energy output reached (10%)
3) 2.5 minute group verbal presentation (30%)
4) Ingenuity of design (15%) – addition to teachers guide*

How will the energy be measured? Modified please read

2009-10-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

Voltage and current output from the turbines will be measured to calculate the energy output. A 10 (approx) ohm resistor will be used.

Can I use gears?

2009-10-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

Great question! Yes, you may use gears if you wish. They can be prefabricated.

How do I get my team's motor?

2009-10-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

You must be officially registered for the Science Olympics to pick-up a motor. Jen Talerico will send you an email when your motor is ready to be picked up.

To pick up your motor, please go to the Front of House at the TELUS World of Science. Inform the cashier that you are there to pick up your motor for the Chevron, Science Olympics – Senior High Event. Let them know your school’s name and teacher representative. They will ask you for id. You do not need to be the teacher representative to pick it up but you must show id and let them know which team they are picking up a motor for. Each team gets ONE motor only. You will need to sign for the motor.

Note: only teams that have successfully registered for the event and have received an email from Jen Talerico will have a motor waiting for pick-up. Please contact Jen if you have any questions about this ( Jennifer.Talerico@calgaryscience.ca )

Can other students/parents come and watch?

2009-09-22T15:20:00.000-07:00

Parents and friends of the teams are invited to attend the awards ceremony in the Discovery Theatre from 1:15 pm to 2:00 pm.

During the event times (9:00 am to 12:10 pm), only the teams and supporting teacher are permitted to attend. No other students may help the team on event day.

Motors

2009-09-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

The motors for the make ahead event are on there way! We expect them to arrive any day (they are at US Customs). When they arrive, we will post it on the blog and registered teams will also be notified. Thank-you for being patient.

Once the motors are in, they will be left at our Front of House with registered team name attached. We will email the team's supporting teacher with the details.

Question: What type of motor is it?

We have ordered:
Tamiya RC 540 Motor (Part #7435043)
You can buy them at hobby shops such as PM Hobby Craft

Question: Are you supplying a motor or a generator?

We are supplying a motor but it will be 'acting' as a generator. Mechanical energy from the turbine you build will be converted to electrical energy that we will then measure.

Multiple Teams

2009-09-22T12:29:00.001-07:00

Schools are welcome to register two teams of students to take part in the Science Olympics. If you would like to register a third team, then it will be added to the wait list. Closer to the registration deadline, if there is still room, we will happily accept a third team from your school.
Thanks!

Welcome!

2009-07-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the TELUS World of Science, Chevron Science Olympics, Senior High Competition Blog!

If you have any questions please read through the blog first.

If your question has not been answered email:
Jen Talerico
jennifer.talerico@calgaryscience.ca

Jen will keep the blog up to date with all the questions and answers asked about the competition.