Science Crime Busters B

[SOroxmysox]

If you're thinking of the whole enviro chem thing, that was killed a couple months ago

When they released the updated projected events list, they dumped the enviro chem topic. If you remember, I ranted for about 2 pages on it in either the SCB thread or Enviro Chem. So this event is in no way related to enviro chem.

okay...right...then my question would be the same as SOninja's...

How does testing water relate to a case....

Hmm... Maybe it has to do with ph and testing if the ph is balanced. Yeah, I guess it's a pretty weird addition-- but at least its not dirt. :p Or maybe they will mix it with En. Chem. Ugh.

[Flavorflav]

How does testing water relate to a case....

Drowned person has water in the lungs and you have to figure out place of death? Thief had to swim a moat, so you test everybody's wet clothes? After solving the crime, you have to return a stolen endangered Whatever to its natural aquatic environment, so you test to find a suitable location for release?

[cryjea]

We have to write an essay?????

[fmtiger124]

We have to write an essay?????

Well kind of...It depends on the test.
Some tests give a series of short answer questions. Others may tell you to write an essay on your findings and your reasoning on who the perptrator is

[cryjea]

will they score based on how well the essay is written, like grammar and stuff?

[Phenylethylamine]

We have to write an essay?????

The "essay" has always (or at least, as far back as I know) been part of Crime; it's nothing new. It's usually a few questions based on the evidence (e.g., who committed the crime, in what order did the people enter the room, etc.) that you answer in a paragraph or a few sentences. It's nowhere near as scary as it sounds, but you do need to devote around 10 minutes to it (assuming only one of the partners is working on it; if both are working on it, it would take slightly less, albeit not as much less as you might think since all the questions are usually on the same page and thus hard to work on simultaneously).

[SOninja]

Yes it usually takes me (alone) a little less than 10 minutes for a fairly good essay.
Basically, you mention who did it (duh), all the evidence pointing to him/her, and why it wasn't anyone else.
Both times I've competed, they just gave me one lined sheet of paper for the essay.
Study the answer keys of practice tests and you'll see that it's actually very simple
(not to mention easy, after you practice a few times. Just have legible and fast handwriting.)

[2win]

i am now worried about identifying powders... i've never done that before...

[gyourkoshaven]

It's not too hard, just study a lot. Mixtures are a weak point of mine though.

[chzlover3]

Does anyone have any insight into testing water samples? like, what to use, look for, where to find resources?