Congratulations! Your team will be one of many teams competing for prizes and glory in the University of Maryland Physics Olympics.
Rules: Links to the rules for each event are above, and we hope that your team will enter all events.
Scoring: There may be some changes in the assignment of Team Scores, but the event scoring will be as described in these rules. In the event that teams are tied, the results of the Egg Drop (and if a tie still exists, the results from the Bridge Building) will be used as a tie breaker.
Number of Participants: It's easiest if there is one team from each school with a maximum number of team members set at 12. These team members should be distributed among the various events, according to each event team size. (By special arrangement, there can be more than one team from a school. No student can be on more than one team.)
Closing Ceremony: We encourage all teams to remain for the closing ceremony which usually begins by 2:00 and finishes by 3:30.
Attire: Teams may choose to identify themselves with T-shirts, hats, or ribbons to identify themselves as a team.
Lunch: Team members should bring sack lunches. We will supply the sodas.
Free parking in parking garage PG2 shown on the map. Park on the second level and exit at the southeast stairwell.
EVENT TEAM SIZES
AND ROOM ASSIGNMENTS
I. Bridge Building (Small Lecture Hall 1410)
Three team members may prepare and enter a wooden bridge, built according to the event rules, which will be loaded in a manner specified by the rules. The bridge which can support the greatest load before collapsing will win this event.
II. Egg Drop (Loading Dock Area; Construction Area in third floor laboratory)
Four team members may participate in this event. Rules will be provided at time of registration. Packaging will occur during the morning. The team constructed Egg Preservers will be dropped by the judges at about 12:00 P.M. from a window of the building. Surviving eggs will garner points for the dropping team.
III. Laser Bullseye (Rooms 1219 and 1402)
Three team members will be asked to use optical equipment (semi-circular dish, and mirror), and to perform calculations to direct a laser beam to a Bullseye.
IV. Balloon Distancer (Front hall)
Three team members may design and construct a vehicle using a balloon filled with air as its only energy source. The vehicle which goes the furthest on a smooth, level surface will win this event.
V. Projectile Contest (Large Lecture Hall 1412)
Three team members may build a device to launch a golf ball from a randomly chosen position within a launch area on the floor in such a manner that, after passing over a barrier and experiencing one bounce, it strikes (on or near) bulls eye whose position is also set by the luck of the draw.
VI. Optics Encounter (Rooms 1208 and 1214)
Three team members use various lenses and mirrors individually or in combination to produce an image of a light cross at a specified point along an optical rail.
VII. MYSTERY EVENT #1 (Room TBA)
EVERY TEAM MUST PARTICIPATE.Three team members.
VIII. MYSTERY EVENT #2 (Room 0405)
EVERY TEAM MUST PARTICIPATE. Three team members.
Each event has been assigned a Chief Judge. These are experienced Olympics teachers who will serve as the official source of information about an event and serve as the Chief of each judging team at the time of the Olympics. Questions about the rules or character of any event should be directed to the Chief Judge by telephone, either at school or at home. Appeals of rulings by Chief Judges are to be directed to the Supreme Judges.
Supreme Judges:
TBA (Supreme Judge)
TBA (Associate Supreme Judge)
Chief Judges for individual events:
I. Bridge Building
TBA, Chief Judge
TBA
II. Egg Drop
TBA, Chief Judge
TBA
III. Laser Bullseye
TBA, Chief Judge
TBA
TBA
IV. Balloon Distancer
TBA, Chief Judge
TBA
V. Projectile Contest
TBA, Chief Judge
To Be Announced
VI. Optics Encounter
TBA, Chief Judge
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
VII. Mystery Event #1
TBA, Chief Judge
TBA
VIII. Mystery Event #2
TBA, Chief Judge
TBA
For questions or comments regarding this web site, please contact Dr. Matt Bobrowsky, Director, Physics Lecture-Demonstration Facility by e-mail at msb@umd.edu or by phone at (301) 405-6045.