Simple Machines B/Compound Machines C

[chinesesushi]

Would not the 0.7638 violate the significant digits?

I believe the significant digits rules only pertains to the written section, because that's the only place requirement is listed. Being as such, the way the scoring works it looks like it does not matter whether or not you include significant digits; however, I suggest submitting a rules clarification or asking the event supervisor at the competition what they desire about whether or not they want you to factor in significant figures in the answers for the ratio.

Also note that in Part 2, your score is based upon how close you are to the correct answer. Thus even if you add in random extra digits, the event supervisor already has a good way to 'penalize' you for not getting the correct answer - there is no mechanism to completely dq your answer just because you didn't follow sig fig rules in your calculations.

The whole purpose of sig figs is to help ensure estimation errors don't end up propagating through scientific experiments and calculations such that they end up being viewed as important (e.g. to ensure not just accuracy, but also precision). That doesn't really apply to the device testing portion of this event, since we are just asking you to try to estimate the masses as quickly and best you can.

Yep, so if your answer is 0.7638 but the ES only measures to 2 sig figs of 0.76 you might get taken off points because 0.7638-0.76 has some error. Obviously if the ES is experienced he'd probably round your answer to the number of sigfigs in the actual value but sometimes weird things happen with scoring XD.

[slytherin]

Wait, what are sigfigs? I'm really confused..

[samlan16]

Wait, what are sigfigs? I'm really confused..

It's basically a way of simplifying/rounding numbers such that every number in a set of data has a similar number of digits. In SO, sig figs are only required for C division.

http://soinc.org/sites/default/files/up ... 2-5-12.pdf

[slytherin]

Wait, what are sigfigs? I'm really confused..

It's basically a way of simplifying/rounding numbers such that every number in a set of data has a similar number of digits. In SO, sig figs are only required for C division.

http://soinc.org/sites/default/files/up ... 2-5-12.pdf

Ok thanks, I'm in B division so it doesn't really apply to me..

[slytherin]

So I'm a part of 5 events, and 3 of my events don't allow for a full binder so I don't hole punch my notes so I can save space. Do you think it's ok if my notes, not a part of my Simple Machine notes are in the rings as long as my notes for Simple Machines are in the rings?

[blindmewithscience]

Quoting from the Compound rules sheet (I assume that it's the same wording for Simple...) "All reference materials to be used during all parts of the competition must be secured in a 3-ring binder, so that regardless of orientation nothing can fall out". I would do one of these things:
a) Play it safe and just take out those notes and keep them somewhere safe during the competition. Give them to a team member, coach, etc.
b) Buy a set of these (or something similar-there's cheaper at some nearby store I'm sure): They hold papers in binders without the need for hole-punches.
c) Submit an FAQ at the official soinc.org website.

And wow, 5 events. How many people are on your team?

[samlan16]

Quoting from the Compound rules sheet (I assume that it's the same wording for Simple...) "All reference materials to be used during all parts of the competition must be secured in a 3-ring binder, so that regardless of orientation nothing can fall out". I would do one of these things:
a) Play it safe and just take out those notes and keep them somewhere safe during the competition. Give them to a team member, coach, etc.
b) Buy a set of these (or something similar-there's cheaper at some nearby store I'm sure): They hold papers in binders without the need for hole-punches.
c) Submit an FAQ at the official soinc.org website.

And wow, 5 events. How many people are on your team?

Even for a school with 45+ competitors, doing 5 or more events is really not that uncommon because coaches like trying people who are good at one event out on a similar one. I have done 6 before, and I know someone who did 7.

[slytherin]

Quoting from the Compound rules sheet (I assume that it's the same wording for Simple...) "All reference materials to be used during all parts of the competition must be secured in a 3-ring binder, so that regardless of orientation nothing can fall out". I would do one of these things:
a) Play it safe and just take out those notes and keep them somewhere safe during the competition. Give them to a team member, coach, etc.
b) Buy a set of these (or something similar-there's cheaper at some nearby store I'm sure): They hold papers in binders without the need for hole-punches.
c) Submit an FAQ at the official soinc.org website.

And wow, 5 events. How many people are on your team?

Ok thanks, I'll get those sheet protectors...
And we've already made our final team so there's 15 people on our team..

[slytherin]

Quoting from the Compound rules sheet (I assume that it's the same wording for Simple...) "All reference materials to be used during all parts of the competition must be secured in a 3-ring binder, so that regardless of orientation nothing can fall out". I would do one of these things:
a) Play it safe and just take out those notes and keep them somewhere safe during the competition. Give them to a team member, coach, etc.
b) Buy a set of these (or something similar-there's cheaper at some nearby store I'm sure): They hold papers in binders without the need for hole-punches.
c) Submit an FAQ at the official soinc.org website.

And wow, 5 events. How many people are on your team?

Even for a school with 45+ competitors, doing 5 or more events is really not that uncommon because coaches like trying people who are good at one event out on a similar one. I have done 6 before, and I know someone who did 7.

Just saying, there aren't ever 7 time slots at an event so (not to be rude or anything) but I'm pretty sure that's not true... Unless it's a prelim but that doesn't matter because your coach didn't really assign those to you..

[syo_astro]

Actually you can do seven. Builds don't take a full hour always (in fact, often it doesn't as long as it's not the build+study stuff like MagLev was or how even Simple/Compound Machines is). You could do like four builds in maybe two slots alone, and then you have say four other slots, which results in *eight*. You could also finish tests really early...but that probably is a really bad idea for many reasons. I've only ever done five events once in middle school, which wasn't that competitive, and I think having a balanced team (near everyone handling three to four events) is usually better if possible. Also, some alternatives would be maybe getting your partners to bring it to the event, using a folder, etc. It doesn't sound like a big issue, but good luck!