Optics B/C

[Dinhh]

umm, yeah, my partner and i downloaded and printed it off about 2 weeks ago, LOL. and we've been having problems with finding all the answers..
soo much links, do u have a answer key availble? it would BE SOOO HELPFUL : ]

[ichaelm]

I could write an answer key for a lot of the questions. I will do that either today or tomorrow, depending on homework. But for some of the questions, the important part isn't just knowing the answer, it's knowing why! The best way to learn is to have a good teacher. Maybe there's a physics teacher at your school who knows about physical or geometric optics, or maybe another science olympian at your school who can help you out! You can also just find a good textbook on the subject. And, I'll possibly be on the scioly IRC chat this afternoon, if you want me to specifically explain some answers to you. Or, if you just post which questions you don't understand here, I could answer them here for everyone! I'm happy that people have been using my test, though

[ichaelm]

Ok, it's up on the test exchange here. It's not the best resource, though, so do you have any questions to ask me, Dinhh?

[EpicNguyen8]

Can you explain how to get number 7,9, and 11? (sorry for the newby question)

[ichaelm]

Can you explain how to get number 7,9, and 11? (sorry for the newby question)

7. Whenever a ray of light reflects off of a mirror, it bounces off at the exact same angle at which it hit the mirror. So if it hits the mirror at 0.5 radians, it bounces off at 0.5 radians. Refer to this diagram from Wikimedia:



9. This is Snell's law. It's just an equation. You can find an explanation here.

11. This is total internal reflection. It's just another equation. You can find an explanation here.

If it's hard to understand those equations, you might need to learn some more trigonometry.

[EpicNguyen8]

Thanks. I knew all of the equations but i wasn't sure what situations to use them in.

[brobo]

Any calculator seems a bit generous, so just to be on the safe side, that includes graphing calculators, programable, etc?
I've programed a calculator I was able to borrow, and even make a cool little ap where you can set the size of the LSS, where the laser is, where the target is, and it tells you where the mirror should go and at what angle. This is allowed.... right? Just the more I prepair for this event, the easier it seems.

[Hanelia]

Any calculator seems a bit generous, so just to be on the safe side, that includes graphing calculators, programable, etc?
I've programed a calculator I was able to borrow, and even make a cool little ap where you can set the size of the LSS, where the laser is, where the target is, and it tells you where the mirror should go and at what angle. This is allowed.... right? Just the more I prepair for this event, the easier it seems.

See, that is the benefits of having a graphing calculator
I decided not to buy it after I realized it cost about $100.
I'm fairly sure that's allowed, Since a calculator is allowed- what's wrong with a normal calculator that only has a program in it?

[brobo]

Any calculator seems a bit generous, so just to be on the safe side, that includes graphing calculators, programable, etc?
I've programed a calculator I was able to borrow, and even make a cool little ap where you can set the size of the LSS, where the laser is, where the target is, and it tells you where the mirror should go and at what angle. This is allowed.... right? Just the more I prepair for this event, the easier it seems.

See, that is the benefits of having a graphing calculator
I decided not to buy it after I realized it cost about $100.
I'm fairly sure that's allowed, Since a calculator is allowed- what's wrong with a normal calculator that only has a program in it?

Most events don't allow those types of calculators.
Also, I was able to borrow mine from my Algebra teacher- can you do the same?

[Littleboy]

Don't you guys need them for school?
Why would they let them for some events but not others?

Edit
How do you program your calculators? I cannot figure it out.