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NC Science Olympiad

Air Trajectory

Division: B/C

NGSS Standards: MS-PS3-2; MS-PS3.A; MS-PS3.C

Event Rules: See the National Rules Manual

National Event Page: Air Trajectory B/C

Description:

Prior to the competition, teams will design, construct, and calibrate a single device capable of launching projectiles onto a target.

Materials:

Each team must impound only one launch device, projectiles, and calibration data (if prepared). Items must be moveable by the participants without outside assistance. The device must be impounded with the mass(es) detached, which altogether must not exceed the limits in 3.b. The calibration data are the only papers or notes that the competitors may bring into the competition area and must be impounded.

-Each team may bring tools, supplies, writing utensils, and two stand-alone calculators (Class III) for use (these items need not be impounded).

-Participants must wear eye protection during device setup and operation. Teams without proper eye protection must be immediately informed and given a chance to obtain eye protection if time allows.

-Participants must be able to answer questions regarding the design, construction, and operation of the device per the Building Policy.

Scoring:

High Score wins.

FAQs

10/28/24: Can a student alter the ball they choose?

As of currently, that would be fine. There is no rule about the projectile being “unmodified”. So as long as the projectile 1. Is the correct size (1-3 in) 2. stays spherical. 3. Doesn’t damage or alter the floor … you should be fine to modify it. However do keep an eye on the national event clarifications to see if that changes (https://www.soinc.org/faq/air-trajectory-div-c).

12/19/24: 1. What are the parameters of distance to the left or right?  The rules are specific about the distance along the imaginary line, but we do not understand the angle to calibrate off-center for the far target?

6.e has that covered: The marked center of the far target may be anywhere up to 2.00 m in intervals of 0.5 m for Regionals, 0.25 m for States, and 0.10 m for Nationals to the right or left of the imaginary centerline.

2. The rules discuss the possibility to request a bucket to be placed up to 2m to the right or left of the imaginary center line.  Is the maximum distance left or right for the far target also 2m?  Should they plan to calibrate to both 1.0m and 2.0m off-center or could it be at any distance such as 1.5m off-center?

The bucket can be anywhere on the firing area that isn’t already a target. It is not restricted by specific spacing or distances from other targets. It’s meant to be reasonably difficult to hit. So yes, it may be as far off center as 2m on either side.

3. The bucket seems to be a possibility to gain an extra 500 points.   Why do the rules say it is available “if requested”?  There does not appear to be down side to try for the bucket?

A team only gets an attempt at the bucket if their first shot at either target lands within 500mm of the center of that target. And then the shot at the bucket is instead of their second shot at that target. So they forfeit the ability to get a better target score opting to attempt the bonus points. And those bonus points are split into two parts 1. hitting the bucket, worth 200, and then having the impact location being the inside bottom of the bucket for an additional 300, up to the total 500 possible bonus.  There’s some math there to decide if that’s worth it, and I’d leave it up to the team to do that calculation … but I’ll say every “point” is equivalent to being 1mm closer to the center of the target.

4. For the competition there are 2 targets. The near target will be raised and the far target will be ground level. My questions are: will the 2 targets be in line with each other? Specifically, will the team have to launch their projectile over the near target to hit the far target? If so, will that mean that they might not have a direct line of sight from the launch area to the far target if they are sitting on the floor while they are setting up their launcher?

Yes. I would  plan for the teams having to launch their projectile over the near target to hit the far target. There may be a slim chance, pending how the supervisor sets it up on the day of, that the far target might be out wide enough for the team to place their device in the firing area in such a way that won’t have to go over … but don’t go in expecting that. I can’t immediately speak for how the near target will be elevated, but in previous years it has been a PVC frame/scaffolding (vs a “solid” column of plywood or the like) so teams should at least be able to see the target on the ground for aiming purposes.

Event Resources