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Re: Optics B/C

Posted: January 11th, 2017, 10:40 am
by Unome
meierfra wrote:This is a question for those of you that have done Optics already at an invitational. I have to run Optics next month with 12 teams in 50 minutes (twice). I can't do it with one LSS box. If I put the 2 LSSs near each other and stagger them, then when one team starts, they can see what the other team is doing. If I put the 2 LSSs on opposite sides of the room, then I worry about getting consistent directions and measuring, etc.
How has it been done at the invitationals you've attended? Do most of the teams take most of their 4 minutes?
What if you took a piece of plywood or something and just placed it down as a divider between the two boxes?

Re: Optics B/C

Posted: January 11th, 2017, 1:47 pm
by chalker
Unome wrote:
meierfra wrote:This is a question for those of you that have done Optics already at an invitational. I have to run Optics next month with 12 teams in 50 minutes (twice). I can't do it with one LSS box. If I put the 2 LSSs near each other and stagger them, then when one team starts, they can see what the other team is doing. If I put the 2 LSSs on opposite sides of the room, then I worry about getting consistent directions and measuring, etc.
How has it been done at the invitationals you've attended? Do most of the teams take most of their 4 minutes?
What if you took a piece of plywood or something and just placed it down as a divider between the two boxes?

I usually run with 2 LSSs on tables abour 4-6 feet apart. Teams are generally too concerned with their own LSS to look at the other one. Even if they did, it's hard to gain much advantage since everyone uses different techniques and tools. Many teams take far less than 4 minutes.

Re: Optics B/C

Posted: January 11th, 2017, 2:57 pm
by antoine_ego
I'm having a great deal of difficulty finding things on absorption spectra and whatnot. Does anyone have any resources that would be helpful?

Re: Optics B/C

Posted: January 11th, 2017, 3:17 pm
by chalker
antoine_ego wrote:I'm having a great deal of difficulty finding things on absorption spectra and whatnot. Does anyone have any resources that would be helpful?
A good place to always start is Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_spectroscopy

Re: Optics B/C

Posted: January 12th, 2017, 2:59 pm
by Bob_117
Hey guys, just wondering what most of y'all are planning on doing the laser shoot. Are y'all planning on using all five mirrors and the bonus mirror? And do you think the bonus mirror is even worth it since it is just 5 points (it seems like it is a small reward for the risk)?

Re: Optics B/C

Posted: January 12th, 2017, 3:02 pm
by Bob_117
I don't think there is anything on absorption spectra here but there is quite a bit of other stuff.
https://www.newport.com/resourceListing ... y%3AOptics

Re: Optics B/C

Posted: January 12th, 2017, 7:00 pm
by impossiblesphere
hi, on the rules it talks about reference materials needing to be secured in a 3 ring binder

these reference materials can be used during both the written portion and the laser shoot part, right?

Re: Optics B/C

Posted: January 12th, 2017, 7:27 pm
by jkang
impossiblesphere wrote:hi, on the rules it talks about reference materials needing to be secured in a 3 ring binder

these reference materials can be used during both the written portion and the laser shoot part, right?
Surprisingly the rules never explicitly state that the binder can be used during all parts of the competition, but I would assume that this is true considering that has for other physics events (compound, time, etc).

Re: Optics B/C

Posted: January 12th, 2017, 8:25 pm
by jonboyage
jkang wrote:
impossiblesphere wrote:hi, on the rules it talks about reference materials needing to be secured in a 3 ring binder

these reference materials can be used during both the written portion and the laser shoot part, right?
Surprisingly the rules never explicitly state that the binder can be used during all parts of the competition, but I would assume that this is true considering that has for other physics events (compound, time, etc).
Under 2b it says "Competitors may bring any measuring tools, premade templates, writing utensils and any type of calculators for use during any part of the competition."

Re: Optics B/C

Posted: January 13th, 2017, 6:40 am
by Bob_117
jkang wrote:Here's my optics test from the recent UT-Austin invitational (key). If you have any questions about it, feel free to PM or email me!
I was looking at this test and am stuck on problem 5. How do you find the focal length of a lens without knowing the radii of curvature? Sorry if it's a bit of a dumb question, I'm new to this event.

Thanks