Optics B/C

[chalker]

What's the best resource for questions that have a state feel to them? What do they tend to focus on in the geometric part v. the physical optics part?

Since you are from Ohio, the BEST resource would be the event supervisor running it at the State tournament (which happens to be me;). But in all fairness, I'm not going to provide any specific guidance other than to point out I essentially wrote the rules and thus will be obviously sticking closely to them. You can see some of my old tests in the Test Exchange if you want to look at what I've done historically.

[hexagonaria]

Yes, i'm back in optics! did you guys miss me? Haha

EDIT: This is crazy! http://www.blindspottest.com/

[winneratlife]

The problem with more mirrors is that there is a greater chance of the angle not reflecting right. Also, you have to be sure to put the middle of the mirror at the intersection of the lines. Also, not knowing where the barrier is located means that either you have to make several different templates for different situations or you have to learn how to draw and set down the mirrors quickly within the 4 minutes. Anyways, congrats on the gold!

So it's actually not that difficult? (as in, a 45 degree angle template will produce consistently successful results for an even number of mirrors? as long as you keep it simple and don't try to put in a 5th mirror with 30 degree angles)

[Infinity Flat]

The problem with more mirrors is that there is a greater chance of the angle not reflecting right. Also, you have to be sure to put the middle of the mirror at the intersection of the lines. Also, not knowing where the barrier is located means that either you have to make several different templates for different situations or you have to learn how to draw and set down the mirrors quickly within the 4 minutes. Anyways, congrats on the gold!

So it's actually not that difficult? (as in, a 45 degree angle template will produce consistently successful results for an even number of mirrors? as long as you keep it simple and don't try to put in a 5th mirror with 30 degree angles)

Well, depending on the block layout and the size of the mirrors, there will be instances in which a simple 45 degree set up won't work very well.

[cngu23]

The problem with more mirrors is that there is a greater chance of the angle not reflecting right. Also, you have to be sure to put the middle of the mirror at the intersection of the lines. Also, not knowing where the barrier is located means that either you have to make several different templates for different situations or you have to learn how to draw and set down the mirrors quickly within the 4 minutes. Anyways, congrats on the gold!

So it's actually not that difficult? (as in, a 45 degree angle template will produce consistently successful results for an even number of mirrors? as long as you keep it simple and don't try to put in a 5th mirror with 30 degree angles)

Well, depending on the block layout and the size of the mirrors, there will be instances in which a simple 45 degree set up won't work very well.

I think a 45 degree set up can work in any situation. There are only 3 obstacles, so it should be easy to find one way to use the 45 degree angles. I don't think the obstacles can make it so that you are unable to place 4 lines through the setup.

[tuftedtitmouse12]

The quote thing is getting slightly out of hand, but for Div B, we have one obstacle. Therefore, you make 45 degree angles around the obstacle and then the last mirror you with it. For Div C however, you say that there are 3 obstacles? Either how, it shouldn't get too nasty...

[ttboy99]

Does anyone know any good links to study guides or such for bright line and absorption spectrum? That's the part of the test that I understand the least.

[SciBomb97]

http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys301/le ... lines.html
https://www.e-education.psu.edu/astro80 ... l3_p6.html

[2win]

As for the mirrors, for either division, it's pretty simple if you start with 45 degree mirrors. For Div C, it all depends on the final mirror, if you use 4 45° mirrors, then the 5th mirror is the key to hitting the target (and placement of the 5th mirror depends on the setup of the blocks, so you'd have to be flexible with your use of the 45° mirrors)

I'm not sure if I made any sense at all... but yeah...

[Stormageddon]

The problem with more mirrors is that there is a greater chance of the angle not reflecting right. Also, you have to be sure to put the middle of the mirror at the intersection of the lines. Also, not knowing where the barrier is located means that either you have to make several different templates for different situations or you have to learn how to draw and set down the mirrors quickly within the 4 minutes. Anyways, congrats on the gold!

You can walk in with like 4 small squares of paper with 45 degree angles on them. (May be my backup, just in case something fails.) You don't necessarily have to align the center of the mirror along with the line. No matter where the laser hits, if you put the mirror at 45 degrees, the laser will always bounce off at the same angle. You just need to make sure that the reflected ray hits the next mirror.

Just bring in protractors...