Optics B/C

[cngu23]

Well, to measure the angle, you could just line up the front of the mirror with the mirror line on your template, which would be the most accurate way.
Also, there is a real accurate setup using 4 mirrors at -45 degrees and 45 degrees, that could be used no matter how the obstacles are set up. This could be used a sort of a backup, since it only uses 4 mirrors, or you can change the last mirror, and add in the 5th mirror.

That's exactly what I did, and I got 39.5/40 points. Just out of curiosity, what programs do you guys make your templates with? Or do you draw them?

Did you make templates, or use the 4 mirror method? You get 4 points for each mirror used, so it's only a good idea if you are willing to risk the 4 points. And for templates, its easier to draw them so you can get the exact size you need. Its just that the angles may be less accurate, but the error should not be too significant.

[hscmom]

Chalker,

Are you the one that answers clarification questions for nationals for optics? Our coach submitted one recently and hasn't yet heard back... I know this is a busy season, but our students are waiting for an answer... What is the turnaround time on clarifications?

Thanks

[hexagonaria]

Well, to measure the angle, you could just line up the front of the mirror with the mirror line on your template, which would be the most accurate way.
Also, there is a real accurate setup using 4 mirrors at -45 degrees and 45 degrees, that could be used no matter how the obstacles are set up. This could be used a sort of a backup, since it only uses 4 mirrors, or you can change the last mirror, and add in the 5th mirror.

That's exactly what I did, and I got 39.5/40 points. Just out of curiosity, what programs do you guys make your templates with? Or do you draw them?

Did you make templates, or use the 4 mirror method? You get 4 points for each mirror used, so it's only a good idea if you are willing to risk the 4 points. And for templates, its easier to draw them so you can get the exact size you need. Its just that the angles may be less accurate, but the error should not be too significant.

I pretty much used the 4 mirror method, but I aimed a few centimeters off from the target, and then used a template to place a mirror that corrects for it on the back wall. That way I use all
five mirrors, and get the full 20 points for them

[chalker]

Chalker,

Are you the one that answers clarification questions for nationals for optics? Our coach submitted one recently and hasn't yet heard back... I know this is a busy season, but our students are waiting for an answer... What is the turnaround time on clarifications?

Thanks

I'm one step in the chain of answering questions. I haven't seen any Optics ones recently... but that doesn't mean it's not sitting in the queue. Sometimes it can take a couple weeks. What was the question?

[hscmom]

Wow, chalker, thanks for asking. I didn't realize that the questions could just sit there gathering dust. I am sure I am not asking it as well as my coach did but I'll try.

1) I understand that the students can create templates to help them position the mirrors. If they put a template down and then move the mirrors around them, can the templates remain in place during the laser shoot or do the students have to find a way to remove the templates (perhaps making templates the remain above the mirrors???) before the shoot?

2) The scoring rubric mentions "modifying the LSS" what exactly was the rule committee anticipating that the students might do? Write on the LSS? Tape something on the LSS? Remove a wall??? Wrench the laser around so it's not pointing totally forward? Bottom line: using a template and leaving it in the LSS during the shoot is NOT "modifying the LSS" right?

I'm sure I didn't say these questions right. Some of our students are hoping to use a template for the shoot but are hesitant to get too dependent on it in case it turns out they cannot use it! So, with 16 days until Regionals (yikes!) they want to either (a) practice hard with the templates or (b) make sure they have a backup in case templates are either not allowed or must be removed before turning on the laser.

Thanks for your help -- I think we didn't realize that it takes a while for clarifications...

[chalker]

Regarding the speed of which questions are officially answered, please keep in mind that there are several people involved in the process and nearly all of them are volunteers that have full time jobs and are very active in SO in many other ways (i.e. coaching, running tournaments, etc) My unofficial thoughts on these:

If they put a template down and then move the mirrors around them, can the templates remain in place during the laser shoot

Yes.. general rule #2 applies here: http://soinc.org/ethics_rules

using a template and leaving it in the LSS during the shoot is NOT "modifying the LSS" right?

Correct

[hscmom]

Regarding the speed of which questions are officially answered, please keep in mind that there are several people involved in the process and nearly all of them are volunteers that have full time jobs and are very active in SO in many other ways (i.e. coaching, running tournaments, etc) My unofficial thoughts on these:

If they put a template down and then move the mirrors around them, can the templates remain in place during the laser shoot

Yes.. general rule #2 applies here: http://soinc.org/ethics_rules

using a template and leaving it in the LSS during the shoot is NOT "modifying the LSS" right?

Correct

Thanks -- I realize that the clarification process takes a while! I hope it didn't sound like I was rushing the process, just saying it hadn't happened yet. Thanks also for the unofficial responses. That helps a lot. We just want to do things right and not assume things -- that can really shoot you in the foot.

[cngu23]

Did you make templates, or use the 4 mirror method? You get 4 points for each mirror used, so it's only a good idea if you are willing to risk the 4 points. And for templates, its easier to draw them so you can get the exact size you need. Its just that the angles may be less accurate, but the error should not be too significant.

I pretty much used the 4 mirror method, but I aimed a few centimeters off from the target, and then used a template to place a mirror that corrects for it on the back wall. That way I use all
five mirrors, and get the full 20 points for them[/quote]

alright
did you make the templates on computer or hand drawn? I am currently hand drawing them, but if the degree is just a little bit off, it can cause a huge change in the final result.

[hexagonaria]

Did you make templates, or use the 4 mirror method? You get 4 points for each mirror used, so it's only a good idea if you are willing to risk the 4 points. And for templates, its easier to draw them so you can get the exact size you need. Its just that the angles may be less accurate, but the error should not be too significant.

I pretty much used the 4 mirror method, but I aimed a few centimeters off from the target, and then used a template to place a mirror that corrects for it on the back wall. That way I use all
five mirrors, and get the full 20 points for them

alright
did you make the templates on computer or hand drawn? I am currently hand drawing them, but if the degree is just a little bit off, it can cause a huge change in the final result.[/quote]
I used a trial version of smartdraw to make mine. You still have to do a bit of geometry to get the angles right though.i'm looking for an easier program to use. I can email then to you if you want.

[foreverphysics]

I can use Geometer's SketchPad (GSP) to make pretty accurate templates. Of course, that's not my primary tool anymore, but it's good because it measures your angles accurately (down to the hundredths). It's pretty easy to use. However, it does cost a bit of money ($50). I get off easy on this because it's already downloaded on our school laptops, so I didn't need to purchase it.
If you're a good programmer, you can make your own program. I can't program for the life of me, but using programs that others have made is decidedly easier.
And of course, there's the fallback GSP.