It's About Time

It's About Time is a physics and building event. It started in 1990 and ran as an event until 1998, but was brought back as an actual event for the 2009 tournament (Division C).

Overview
This event tests student's knowledge of time and their skill in building a timekeeping device. The test portion covers general topics in the physics and history of time, with everything in between. The second portion involves a timekeeping device to determine the amount of time, between 10 and 300 seconds (5 minutes), with a precision of 0.1 seconds.

Teams may bring one 3-ring binder of any size and a non-programmable calculator, though the calculator may only be used during the written portion of the test, not during the time trials. Stop watches, scales, etc. are allowed to calibrate the device before the trials begin, but will not be allowed during the actual test.

Time Trials and Time Devices
Students will use their pre-built devices to determine the time intervals of five trials. More points are deducted per 0.1 second error in Trial 1 and is lessened in the later trials.
 * 1) Trial 1 will be from 10-30 seconds
 * 2) Trial 2 will be from 30-90 seconds
 * 3) Trial 3 will be from 90-180 seconds
 * 4) Trial 4 will be from 180-300 seconds
 * 5) Trial 5 will be from 10-300 seconds

Constrictions

 * The timekeeping device may not use electricity or chemical reactions.
 * The device cannot exceed 80cm�.
 * The device must be impounded.

Testing
There are sound files for every possible time trial located at the national site (see links below). However it should be noted that problems may arise when using the files on Microsoft Windows Media Player, so it would be best when testing to use another program.

Devices
Your best bet would be to build a water or pendulum clock, however if building a water, sand, or clock that uses moving parts (such as marbles), make sure that all spillage is contained. Points can be deducted if water or sand are spilled on the table or floor, or if something drops.

For pendulum clocks, the most important factor is the length of the pendulum, not the weight at the end (though there should be sufficient mass at the end of the pendulum). Pendulum clocks will also need to last five minutes without becoming too inefficient. Sand clocks are also an option, however there are too many variables to consider for it to be a viable clock. The sand may clog the hole, and moisture would also provide an obstacle.

Written Test
The written test will constitute 50% of the final grade, the other half being the results from the time trial portion. Students may bring with them one 3-ring binder of any size to help them with the test. However it is a good idea for teams to know as much of the information possible as time will be short and with only 20-30 minutes to take the test. Teammates will be strapped for time, so knowing as much as possible without having to search through a binder, along with splitting the test up should allow the longer tests to be completed.

Students should be prepared for math problems, history questions, and anything and everything that has to do with time. Topics such as horology (the study of timekeeping), space-time, atomic clocks, and even old phrases and proverbs that deal with time could be in the test.

Be prepared for anything, as any physics questions having to do with measuring time may show up, though the test will provide any necessary equations. There will be much that deals with geography, mainly latitude and longitude, as well as time zones and differences between locations. Radioactive decay problems usually show up, as well as geology time problems. Astronomy plays a large part, including different planetary times. History questions can be prevalent, such as the history of clock making and key dates in horology, as well as calendars of other cultures, such as the Mayan calendar. This event has a large range of questions that stretch across many disciplines of science. There are usually some factoid type questions. The questions can be in any format, multiple choice, short answer, true-or-false, long answer, mathematical (be sure to show work), plotting, among others.

Sample Questions

 * If it is 10:30 p.m. EST, what time is it in New Zealand?
 * From where does the phrase, "a stitch in time saves nine" originate?
 * How long ago was the planet Earth formed?
 * What is the difference between a sidereal and solar day?
 * The abbreviation NIST stands for what?
 * On what is the second based?
 * How many leap seconds have been implemented?
 * On which day of the week will the next February 29 occur?
 * How long is a year on the planet Jupiter?
 * What is today's Julian date?

Links

 * New York Coaches Conference
 * It's About Time Official Site
 * Clarifications of It's About Time Rules