Inquiry

Circuit Lab

Overview: This event consists of a written test in addition to a hands-on task. For the written portion, participants will be tested on their knowledge of historical discoveries involving electricity, circuit diagrams, AC/DC currents, electromagnetism, and logic gates. Participants will be able to bring one 3-ring binder of notes. The hands-on task will require that participants will be familiar with the usage of breadboards. Specific examples of potential tasks are listed in the Science Olympiad rules manual.

External Resources:

https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/digital-logic/all

Code Analysis

Overview: Participants must be able answer questions regarding Java code. Questions will require participants to determine whether a set of Java code can be run without incurring an error. If the code can run, then participants must be able to determine the correct output of the code. Participants may only bring two single-sided pages or one double-sided page of notes. Problems may involve usage of fundamental operators, data structures, Java methods, and format specifiers.

External Resources:

https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Code_Analysis

https://www.w3schools.com/java/default.asp

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/java/java_files_io.htm

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/java/java_data_structures.htm

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/Java-Bitwise-Operators

Codebusters

Overview: Up to three participants must decode encrypted messages or encode messages with certain ciphers. Points will be allocated based on the difficulty of the ciphers. Participants are not allowed to bring resources into the event but can bring a 4 or 5 function calculator. The numbered alphabet and tables for the Vigenere, Baconian are provided.

External Resources:

Great Source for learning the different ciphers:

https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Codebusters

Practice Tests:

https://toebes.com/codebusters/Samples/Code%20Busters%202018%20Test%201.pdf

https://scioly.org/tests/files/codebusters_2019_c_captainstryouts-scarsdale_key.pdf

https://scioly.org/wiki/images/7/78/CodeTest.pdf

Experimental Design

Overview:

Competitors design and execute an experiment based on the topic and materials provided. The description of the experiment and outcome its outcome will be recorded the provided space and sections outlined in the test packet.

External Resources:

Great Source for getting to know the sections required in the packet:

https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Experimental_Design

Write It Do It

Overview:

This is a two part competition where partners will chose to be the role of "writer" or "doer". The writer is responsible for writing instructions to recreate a structure provided to them during the test. The doer must reassemble that structure with the same materials using the instructions written by their partner. Scores will be based on the accuracy of the recreation to the original.

External Resources:

https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Write_It_Do_It