Air Trajectory
This is a BUILD event. Design, construct, and calibrate a single device capable of launching projectiles onto targets at two different heights. Up to two people per team. Device will be need to be impounded the morning of the event.
Build Event: An event where participants are given some specifications about a device or object they are expected to design, create, and test in advance of the tournament. The devices or objects are often modified on site to account for an unknown parameter prior to testing or evaluation.
Air Trajectory is in the Physical Science & Chemistry category.
SciOly 2025 ChatBot
- Ask School AI ChatBot about SciOlyThe rules of each of the events can be hard to understand. If you have a question, want some study tips, ask this school-approved chatbot. Please use your real name when you begin the conversation.
Official Science Olympiad Website
- Science Olympiad Website (Nationwide) Here you'll find more resources and all the official information about the national tournament and its rules. Please note, we are Division B (middle school), part of the Lower Hudson Regional tournament, which is held in Scarsdale, NY, so dates and times for our events will differ but rules are the same.
- Lower Hudson Regional Science Olympiad Competition Website Information about the regional competition in Scarsdale will be posted here.
Books on Air Trajectory @ HCC Library
These books are in on a cart in the library. If you want to bring one home to read more, just ask where the Science Olympiad books are!
Projectile Science by Call Number: 531 WOOISBN: 9781619306769Publication Date: 2018Chapter 2: "Tracking Trajectories" has very useful information for Air Trajectory students, including:
Formula for determining the maximum height of a projectile (p. 36) and testing launch angles (p. 48)
Official SciOly 2025 Rules
- Air Trajectory RulesView the rules for Air Trajectory only in this PDF. Use your school Google account to access.
- Official Rules for Division B Science Olympiad Use your school Google account to access this document with all the official rules for Division B (middle school) Science Olympiad 2025 for all events.
- Rules Revisions & Rules ClarificationsAny changes to the rules that are necessary but published after the official rules were released are published here. Check your event to see if any rules changes have been made before the competitions. You can also use the "Rules Clarification" form here to ask a clarifying question and a real judge will respond.
Helpful Resources
- Air Trajectory resource page on the Official Science Olympiad WebsiteDescriptions, guides, and more from the official Science Olympiad national site.
- Projectile Data Lab Simulator: PhET UColoradoUse this simulator to help determine the angles that will predict the distance of a launch.
You can change the projectile to a golf ball from a menu on the upper right side of the screen, you can move the launcher (cannon) down to a height of 0, and you can lower the speed of the item being projected and play around with different angles to see how it affects the distance. - AIR TRAJECTORY WIKI on SciOly WikiContains some helpful tips to help understand the Air Trajectory tournament, but be careful as it may not be updated for this year's event.
- Air Trajectory Kit InstructionsThese are the instructions that came with the Air Trajectory kits we purchased for the 2025 SciOly.
- Air Trajectory Score SheetThis is what the judges will use to score the Air Trajectory devices the day of SciOly. Take a look to see what they're looking for.
- Air Trajectory ChecklistHere's a checklist judges will use the day of the event to score your team's performance.
