Optics B/C

[Gracie19]

Ummm I was confused about the laser shoot at the South Western PA regionals for Division B(I know it was a long time ago, but this has been bugging me). I thought that the mirror was supposed to be in a fixed position, and we adjusted the angle, but there we could put the mirror anywhere we wanted, at any angle we wanted, just as long as it was in the laser's path, which would be obvious to do anyways. Even so, it made the laser shoot easy, but I think that means that I spent a lot of wasted time thinking of a formula that would help.
Thoughts?

[chalker]

Ummm I was confused about the laser shoot at the South Western PA regionals for Division B(I know it was a long time ago, but this has been bugging me). I thought that the mirror was supposed to be in a fixed position, and we adjusted the angle, but there we could put the mirror anywhere we wanted, at any angle we wanted, just as long as it was in the laser's path, which would be obvious to do anyways. Even so, it made the laser shoot easy, but I think that means that I spent a lot of wasted time thinking of a formula that would help.
Thoughts?

That's the way the rules intend the event to work. Look at rule 3.v. that says the mirror must be easily relocated on the LSS. (relocated is different from rotated)

[tuftedtitmouse12]

that actually was my interpretation, but thank god my partner thought of it as YOU move the mirror, and asked the people at the science olympiad website for clarifications...also, there have been clarifications i think earlier in this thread

[Infinity Flat]

Has anyone had any questions regarding the physical cause behind the color of objects? (e.g. dissipative absorption, nonresonant scattering)
I was just reading about it, and was surprised I hadn't seen it on any tests.

[tuftedtitmouse12]

hmm...for most tests, especially at state level, they don't really focus on part two, with the physical optics, but more about part one, with the geometric optics and all the math

[Infinity Flat]

hmm...for most tests, especially at state level, they don't really focus on part two, with the physical optics, but more about part one, with the geometric optics and all the math

I find that a little hard to believe, as the two sections are supposed to be worth an equal part of your score. I guess the geometric optics section can seem longer because of the math and such, though.

[tuftedtitmouse12]

nope...i swear, the states test for optics had NOTHING about physical optics...

[Infinity Flat]

nope...i swear, the states test for optics had NOTHING about physical optics...

Weird... maybe it's different for B division.

[googlyfrog]

For me, geometric/physical optics are usually evenly split up. But maybe that's because I like the math a lot better than anything else, and it seems to go faster for me.

[tuftedtitmouse12]

hm...because i studied both evenly and to my uttermost dismay, there was nothing on physical optics...should that be a rule? like having at least SOMETHING about each topic...