1. Eight teams take part in this competition. Each team consists of an American and Russian half team.
2. The same six problems are offered to all teams. Two problems are demonstrations (requiring explanation of the result of experiment shown in the screen). Two problems are about physics (answer may be a formula or number) and two problems are mathematical.
3. The problems are given to the teams sequentially, one by one, simultaneously for all teams. The formulations are given in through a web site set up for this competition.
4. Each team will compose an answer to the problem in the text box on the IPO Screen. Answers will be judged on this text alone.
5. Time allocated for each problem is 12 minutes. When time is called, the competition software will automatically collect contents of the response text box for judging. All team responses to a particular question will be electronically sent to the judging panel for that question. While this panel deliberates, the contest will continue (after a 3 minute break). To prevent the loss of a response in the event of communication, or equipment failure, each team will also prepare a written response on paper. Writing must stop (even in the middle of a word) at the moment time is called. If the electronic response is available, or easily recoverable, it will be the only response judged for that half team.
6. In each half-team the final decision about wording of the answer is taken by a leader (captain) who is elected before the competition.
7. The team can discuss the problems freely during the time limit, suggest solutions and compose the answers. For discussion between the Russian and USA half-teams, real-time communication is established using both text and graphics. In the case of connection failure the half-teams continue to work separately. Communication between different teams is not allowed.
8. If the Russian and USA students have different opinions each half-team can give their own answers. A half-team's response is scored from zero to five points (Five points for the complete and correct answer). The points earned by both halves of the team are summed up. So, the full team can get from zero to 10 points after each problem.
9. No explanations are given concerning the formulations of problems. The captain can speak to the referees if technical problems arise (such as computer failure, etc.). The students can use calculators, dictionaries, and compendiums of physical constants (but not compendiums of physical equations).
10. As each judging panel concludes its task, their decision is relayed to San-Diego where the running totals for each team will be posted on the web site. In the event of local communication failures, the panel will report the results by phone so that all sites can display a current total.
11. The winning team is the one with the highest score. If two teams get equal high scores both will win. If all eight get the same sum all are winners and the problem organizing committee will be fired. Winning of the practice session is regarded as formality and is not counted in the main competition.
12. If any half-team at one site loses the connection with the competition software, and its electronic answer get lost, the response for that team will be judged by local panel based on the written answer(s).
13. These rules may be corrected before the final competition.
Note that your answers to the questions will be collected automatically
when time is up. That means that if your response text box on the
contest
site is empty, your half team will not have a response recorded (your
score will be zero). To avoid being caught without an answer, consider
the following advice.
There will be a competition clock visible to all contestants. Watch the clock and be prepared as time draws near.You can cut and paste from net meeting into the response text box on the contest site. As soon as you have part of the answer formulated in Netmeeting, you may want to paste it into the response box. This way there will be something there to judge.
It may be wise to assign the duty of preparing the written response to a particular half-team member who is not entering the electronic response.
Do not write only numbers or a bare equation, even if you think the answer is obvious. Try to add some explanation, since this will also be evaluated. It could happen that your numerical work has an error and then you would receive zero points if that was all the judges had to evaluate. If you include correct reasoning with your answer, you can receive a partial score.
Also, if you do not have a complete answer, write what you do know about the solution. You will not be given negative points for the things you write, so you are better off providing something.
Do not write only numbers or a bare equation, even if you think the answer is obvious. Try to add some explanation, since this will also be evaluated. It could happen that your numerical work has an error and then you would receive zero points if that was all the judges had to evaluate. If you include correct reasoning with your answer, you can receive a partial score.
Also, if you do not have a complete answer, write what you do know about
the solution. You will not be given negative points for the things
you write, so you are better off providing something.