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Re: Water Quality B/C
Posted: April 15th, 2012, 7:53 pm
by 135scioly
alethbridge wrote:The problem we have found seems to be with the clay. It can dry out, change shape slightly, not seal correctly, absorb water. What I have found to be more accurate is to use different materials that are impermeable to water. I have had much more accuracy using a pipette or plastic syringe. The bulb part at the bottom I filled completely with sand (if you do not fill it completely, the air pocket will make the salinometer tip to the sides). Then, because my pipette was not long enough to keep the top above water, I plugged it with some clay and cut a straw in half and pushed the straw onto the pipette. I then taped over the edge of where the straw connects to the plastic pipette. I then started with my 0% solution and marked the line, then I mixed a 10% solution and marked the line. Then using my ruler I made a line that was 1/2 way in-between and then just experimented with eyeballing the other 4 lines in between 0 & 5 and 5 & 10 to make them equally spaced. I have tested this salinometer with other % solutions and it seems to be fairly accurate now. Here is a link of what the plastic pipette looks like (ask your science teacher if they have some!) and I used a larger straw that seemed to fit snugly. I cut the tip of the pipette somewhat to be able to pour the sand in. Hope this is helpful.
Thanks so much for this! I made my salinometer the night before using your way and although I didn't place in water quality at state(got thrown into the event last minute... Thats also why i was making my cheat sheet and salinometer the night before) im pretty sure i got the salinity right!
Re: Water Quality B/C
Posted: April 16th, 2012, 4:32 am
by cngu23
hpfananu wrote:We took our state test today and it had mostly Dynamic Planet stuff with Base Levels, flow rate, stream gradients and sediment patterns etc.
Has anyone found this on any other test or was it just this weird test? The events are slightly related but I think it's slightly wild to expect us to know all about Dynamic Planet and general Water Quality...
I don't think the material for dynamic planet (flow rates, stream gradients, etc.) fits under the water quality rules.
Re: Water Quality B/C
Posted: April 28th, 2012, 7:27 am
by ptkid
For nats how much is everyone studying?
Re: Water Quality B/C
Posted: April 28th, 2012, 11:15 am
by hpfananu
Do you guys know if we are allowed to bring a graduated cylinder for our salinometer?
Re: Water Quality B/C
Posted: April 28th, 2012, 11:16 am
by quizbowl
hpfananu wrote:Do you guys know if we are allowed to bring a graduated cylinder for our salinometer?
At NY states this year, we were permitted to use a graduated cylinder, as long as we were the last ones to go in our time slot.
Re: Water Quality B/C
Posted: April 28th, 2012, 2:55 pm
by honeybunchesofoats
When calculating the cumulative index, class 5 isn't included right?
Also, is the water quality rating always:
-Excellent = 23
-Good = 17-22
-Fair= 11-16
-Poor= 10 or less
Thanks in advance!
Re: Water Quality B/C
Posted: April 28th, 2012, 6:20 pm
by jcreeps27
Any body else from PA notice that the States test was practically identical to the Rustin Invitational Test that was canceled? That doesnt seem fair. I got third so I'm not complaining, but it doesnt seem fair to the schools who didnt get the test because I'm pretty sure it wasn't publicly available (we got ours in an email after the Invitational competition was canceled).
Re: Water Quality B/C
Posted: April 28th, 2012, 6:23 pm
by havenguy
However, jcreeps, some teams that weren't going to the Rustin invitational placed.
Re: Water Quality B/C
Posted: April 29th, 2012, 4:51 pm
by FlyingMonkey85
quizbowl wrote:hpfananu wrote:Do you guys know if we are allowed to bring a graduated cylinder for our salinometer?
At NY states this year, we were permitted to use a graduated cylinder, as long as we were the last ones to go in our time slot.
Odd, at NY States (B) this year, I was told that I was not allowed to bring a graduated cylinder as they provided one.
Re: Water Quality B/C
Posted: April 30th, 2012, 8:06 pm
by LoopQuantumGravity
Is there any way to find out what container the salt water will be in at nationals? At states, they gave us a 500 mL beaker, and everyone's salinometer was too long.