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FAQ
How are teams chosen?
This is an invitational competition. Teams are invited by national sponsors who are involved in the fuel cell industry. In some countries, teams have been appointed based on previous performance in earlier competitions. In other countries, teams are appointed based on their academic standing.
What are the requirements for members of a team?
Team members must be currently enrolled in a secondary level school or institution. They must be between the ages of 14-18, and they must be able to obtain passport and visas necessary to travel to San Antonio, Texas.
Are coaches or teachers required to accompany the team?
No, we will have full-time chaperons for the students from the time they arrive at the airport until they leave. If students decide to extend their stay beyond the dates of the competition, the competition will no longer be responsible for students after breakfast on Thursday, October 18. Coaches and teachers are welcome to accompany students at their own expense.
In our qualifying competition, the fuel cell team had four members. Can the additional members come to support us in San Antonio?
We do not recommend that other students accompany the team. The additional students will have a great deal of unsupervised time. If additional students accompany the team, they will not be chaperoned by IYFCC staff. They will be required to pay full price for rooms and meals which can be coordinated by IYFCC.
Can we bring different team members for the car competition, the lift competition, and the quiz bowl?
No, the team must consist of only two students and those students must compete in all three elements of IYFCC. Will we have time to build our car and lift when we arrive in San Antonio? You will be asked to deliver your car and lift to IYFCC staff before 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 13.
Can we use resource materials during the Academic Bowl?
The only allowable resources are language dictionaries and vocabulary sheets. The vocabulary sheet can be prepared in advance by students and must be approved before the event by the IYFCC Director, Kathleen Quinn Larson. Only approved dictionaries and vocabulary sheets will be allowed.
What will the format of the questions be?
In each round there will be three multiple choice questions and seven short answer questions.
What happens if people in the group disagree about the correct answer?
Only the elected team captain can turn in answers. He/she will make the final determination about which answer to submit.
Can a group challenge the decision of the judges about the correct answer?
Yes, a challenge can be brought before the judges, but it must be brought to the judges attention before the next question is delivered. There will be a period of about 30-60 seconds before each question. In the event of a challenge, only the group captain may speak to the judges to argue for a change in decision.
What material will the questions cover?
Questions will come from the book Hydrogen Hot Stuff Cool Science and the Fuel Cell Handbook DVD. The topics will include general science, chemistry, physics, fuel cell technology and renewable energy topics from these two sources. Every question will be able to be answered directly from information in the two sources.
What components are we required to use on the car?
You must use the fuel cell provided at the competition. It may have more power than the one you receive in the practice kit. You must replace the practice fuel cell with the new fuel cell at the competiton. We do not recommend you travel on an airplane with the fuel cell unless you check it in checked baggage. The motor will be the same one provided in the competition kit. You must use the new motor provided at the competition. You may use any other parts included in the practice kit, but you are not required to do so.
Are there any prohibited items?
You may not use hydrides or compressed hydrogen storage. You may not use additional motors or fuel cells other than those required. If you are unsure about a component, please contact Kay Larson at kay@iyfcc.com for approval of questionable components.
What are we allowed to bring with us?
You should bring a car that is completely built. However, remember that you will need to replace the fuel cell and in doing so, you might need to make some adjustments to your car in San Antonio.
What will you provide for us to use to make adjustments.
There is a picture on the website that includes all of the tools and materials that will be available to you in San Antonio. Each team will have access to all of the tools and materials. Your car should be completely built and you might not need to use any of the tools or materials. They are available for you in the event that you need to make major changes.
How much time will we have to work on our car in San Antonio?
You will have 2 hours to make adjustments to your cars once being provided with the competition fuel cell and motor.
What will the track be like?
The track is a thin layer of black rubber. You can see pictures of the track by clicking on some of the pictures on the Home Page. One difference from last year is that the track will have side boards that will be 3” high.
Will there be a guide wire to make my car go straight?
No, this year there will be no guide wire. It is up to you to be sure your car goes straight. There will be side boards, so your car will not go off the track into another track, but you want to design a car that will be able to continue going if it hits the side board.
Once we lift the load 6cm does it have to stay that high?
The critical point is at the 30cm line. At the 30cm line, the load must be 6cm high. It doesn’t matter for how long it has been that high, as long as it is that high when the load crosses the 30 cm line.
What should the load be?
The load can be anything you like. We hope you will be creative and make this event fun by having creative loads to carry. You might represent your country or your state or your sponsor or your favorite food or cartoon character in what you decide to carry with your lift. The important thing is that it is artistic and fun!
How will the load be measured?
We will have a scale that will measure grams in one gram increments. You must be able to remove your load from the lift so that it can be weighed. The weigh-in will be 20 minutes before the beginning of the event.
Can I use a pulley that gets power from something other than a fuel cell?
The work of moving the lift forward and lifting the load must both be powered by a fuel cell. You may use one fuel cell for each task, or you can put the fuel cells in series or parallel to power both at the same time. No power sources other than the fuel cells will qualify. If you have questions about designing your lift, please contact IYFCC director Kay Larson in advance kay@iyfcc.com.