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I hope this is okay to ask,

This is my first year of doing thermodynamics and I am just starting to experiment with different devices. What are some of the ending temperatures/scores anyone got from their device after 30 minutes. So far, the variables I've tested with so far are using 150 ml, starting at 90 C, no ice water, and for 30 minutes. I just want to see where I am and around where everyone has got, or maybe really good scores

By the way, my highest temperature is 63.3 degrees C

I am very confused on how the prediction score is scored, how do we maximize it? Can someone please explain, thanks.

arv101 wrote:I am very confused on how the prediction score is scored, how do we maximize it? Can someone please explain, thanks.

The closer your predicted temperature is to the internal beaker's actual final temperature, the higher the prediction score. Hence, well-rounded testing beforehand (i.e. testing that covers for most or all possible targets, including variations in cooling time, initial temperature, and water volume) allows you to more accurately predict how your device will react for a certain combination of those variables - since you make your prediction after the event supervisor announces the cooling time, initial temperature, and water volume, you can use your data to determine a good estimate.

Unome wrote:

arv101 wrote:I am very confused on how the prediction score is scored, how do we maximize it? Can someone please explain, thanks.

The closer your predicted temperature is to the internal beaker's actual final temperature, the higher the prediction score. Hence, well-rounded testing beforehand (i.e. testing that covers for most or all possible targets, including variations in cooling time, initial temperature, and water volume) allows you to more accurately predict how your device will react for a certain combination of those variables - since you make your prediction after the event supervisor announces the cooling time, initial temperature, and water volume, you can use your data to determine a good estimate.

WAIT This means you can't wait until the last minute to build your device...

chalker wrote:

daisyjo888 wrote:Hello, I'm new to the forum and new to a lab event. Does anybody know if we have to build the 20cm x 20cm x 20cm cube or will there be a cube at the event from the sponsor/event leaders? Just wondering...

To be clear, your device (which you build before the competition) just has to be able to fit into a 20cm cube. It can be smaller than that and doesn't have to be cube shaped.

Thanks! That really helps.

Okay, another crazy question. What type of thermometer is used during the competition?

Unome wrote:

arv101 wrote:I am very confused on how the prediction score is scored, how do we maximize it? Can someone please explain, thanks.

The closer your predicted temperature is to the internal beaker's actual final temperature, the higher the prediction score. Hence, well-rounded testing beforehand (i.e. testing that covers for most or all possible targets, including variations in cooling time, initial temperature, and water volume) allows you to more accurately predict how your device will react for a certain combination of those variables - since you make your prediction after the event supervisor announces the cooling time, initial temperature, and water volume, you can use your data to determine a good estimate.

Thanks but aren't their like 3000 combinations for division B in total? I tried to bring that down by using incriments of 5 but its still over 100 ! How are you guys practicing this?

arv101 wrote:

Unome wrote:

arv101 wrote:I am very confused on how the prediction score is scored, how do we maximize it? Can someone please explain, thanks.

The closer your predicted temperature is to the internal beaker's actual final temperature, the higher the prediction score. Hence, well-rounded testing beforehand (i.e. testing that covers for most or all possible targets, including variations in cooling time, initial temperature, and water volume) allows you to more accurately predict how your device will react for a certain combination of those variables - since you make your prediction after the event supervisor announces the cooling time, initial temperature, and water volume, you can use your data to determine a good estimate.

Thanks but aren't their like 3000 combinations for division B in total? I tried to bring that down by using incriments of 5 but its still over 100 ! How are you guys practicing this?

The last time Thermodynamics was in rotation, someone tested ~20 points and made a regression of some sort (quadratic?) to estimate scores. - apparently it worked well.

Unome wrote:

arv101 wrote:

Unome wrote: The closer your predicted temperature is to the internal beaker's actual final temperature, the higher the prediction score. Hence, well-rounded testing beforehand (i.e. testing that covers for most or all possible targets, including variations in cooling time, initial temperature, and water volume) allows you to more accurately predict how your device will react for a certain combination of those variables - since you make your prediction after the event supervisor announces the cooling time, initial temperature, and water volume, you can use your data to determine a good estimate.

Thanks but aren't their like 3000 combinations for division B in total? I tried to bring that down by using incriments of 5 but its still over 100 ! How are you guys practicing this?

The last time Thermodynamics was in rotation, someone tested ~20 points and made a regression of some sort (quadratic?) to estimate scores. - apparently it worked well.

Ah so you are saying that I should test key points and then make a formula based of of that?

arv101 wrote:

Unome wrote:

arv101 wrote:
Thanks but aren't their like 3000 combinations for division B in total? I tried to bring that down by using incriments of 5 but its still over 100 ! How are you guys practicing this?

The last time Thermodynamics was in rotation, someone tested ~20 points and made a regression of some sort (quadratic?) to estimate scores. - apparently it worked well.

Ah so you are saying that I should test key points and then make a formula based of of that?

Yes, I would recommend trying multiple types of regressions to see which one works best. Ideally, you should have a five-dimensional (four inputs) regression, with Estimated final temperature=F(Initial water temperature, Water volume, Cooling time, Room temperature) - although that is very difficult, and you could probably get very good results by just creating one three-dimensional (two inputs) regression for each volume (since there's only a few for regional and state levels) and ignoring the room temperature.