DESCRIPTION: The event consists of two parts. The first part requires the student to construct a mechanical device, prior to the tournament, that will measure time to the nearest tenth (0.1) second for time intervals between 1 and 300 seconds. The second part is a test of time which will include questions regarding the concept of time, timekeeping, astronomy, physics, mechanics and horology.

A TEAM OF UP TO: 2

APPROXIMATE TIME: 1 hour

THE COMPETITION: 1. A team must make their own timepiece. NO SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS (e.g. ring stands, burets, masses, etc.) MAY BE USED. No commercial counters or timepieces or parts of commercial counters or timepieces will be allowed. Students will construct and bring one device that measures time to the nearest tenth (0.1) second. The device may be a water or sand glass, any type of pendulum (simple or torsional), oscillating spring, or other non-electrical type device.
2. Teams will be given five minutes to calibrate their device against a stopwatch or other timing device (provided by the student).
3. Teams will be given a test and answer sheet. Questions may vary and may be multiple choice, true-false, completion, or problem solving calculation type. Point value may vary with difficulty of question. All formula, constants, or basic euations will be provided. Students may use non-programmable or programmable calculators during the written exam.
4. Each team may bring one 8.5" x 11" sheet of notes for Part 2 of the competition. When two students are competing together as a team, communication between them must be done in very quiet whispers or by pen and paper.

SCORING: Part 1, Time measuring device: Students will be given 50 points. Errors in time measurement will generate penalty points which will be subtracted from the initial 50 points. The score for this part of the event can not go below zero, i.e. error penalty cannot be more than 10 points per trial. Teams will measure five different time intervals to the nearest tenth (0.1) second. Table 1 gives the penalty points for each trial.

Table 1
Time Measurement . . . . . Time Interval Range . . . . . Penalty Points +- 0.1 sec error
. . Trial 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 to 30 sec . . . . . . . . . . 0.5 pts per 0.1 sec
. . Trial 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 to 90 sec . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 pts per 0.1 sec
. . Trial 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 to 120 sec . . . . . . . . . .0.2 pts per 0.1 sec
. . Trial 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 to 300 sec . . . . . . . . . 0.1 pts per 0.1 sec
. . Trial 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .any of the above . . . . . . . . .0.1 pts per 0.1 sec

Part 2, Written Test: Students will be given a test and some work paper on which calculations may be preformed. The test will be worth 50 points. The total of the scores from Part 1 and Part 2 will determine the winner, i.e. the highest total will win. Ties will be broken first by the largest score from Part 1 and second by the shortest time needed to complete Part 2.
For sample questions go to the Time Tests.