Metric Mastery B

[Skink]

274-what were the objects? If they were common, then there is your answer. It's not unreasonable to give you a softball, not permit you to touch it, and expect you to estimate mass. THat's part of preparing.

Droobles-that is an interesting take on it! I've given pendulums as instruments (the kids who hate me for this one have Chalker on the first page to thank), never the thing actually being measured. Very cool.

[-274degreesC]

There were some reasonable ones (fishing weight, rock) but there was also one where there was a long metal rod made of an unknown material. Without knowing the metal, it was very hard to estimate.

[ali941]

I think we had something similar. Your best chance is just random guessing at that point. I don't think that the event supervisors will be able to get a hold of a super light or super dense metal, so you should at least get partial points there by just assuming that it is iron or steel or some other common metal.

[-274degreesC]

Well, among common metals you have things like iron and aluminum, which have respective densities of 7.87 g/ml and 2.7 g/ml, so I think so far randomly guessing is our best strategy for this.

[sofan]

NEED A LOT OF HELP!!!!!!
My school is going to state and I volunteered for Metric Mastery because nobody else would.
1st: What do I do.
2nd: Can I please have tips.

Thanks

[mrburrito]

What you need to do is start measuring common objects, doorframes, tiles, etc. Figure out several lengths on your body, ecspecially your hands, or the distance between your hip to the floor. In terms of mass, get 50 gram weights, 100 gram weights, and 150 gram weights. Hold these and get used to the feeling. That's the metric crash course.

[Skink]

Be careful with that. Yes, know common values of things, like distances, but do not use your body as a measuring device. I have my suspicions teams are doing this a fair bit, actually. That or volume questions are just really easy...which I don't think is right.

[-274degreesC]

I agree with Skink. If you use your body to estimate you will be tempted to use it in competition which, if seen by the proctor can result in a DQ.

[sofan]

Be careful with that. Yes, know common values of things, like distances, but do not use your body as a measuring device. I have my suspicions teams are doing this a fair bit, actually. That or volume questions are just really easy...which I don't think is right.

What you need to do is start measuring common objects, doorframes, tiles, etc. Figure out several lengths on your body, ecspecially your hands, or the distance between your hip to the floor. In terms of mass, get 50 gram weights, 100 gram weights, and 150 gram weights. Hold these and get used to the feeling. That's the metric crash course.

I agree with Skink. If you use your body to estimate you will be tempted to use it in competition which, if seen by the proctor can result in a DQ.

Thanks

[rissapf13]

Yes, remember, the rules do say that measurement devices such as fingers and clothing are not allowed at the event. At an invitational in January I competed and got 19th place. Before regionals I practiced a lot, and I ended up getting first at regionals with a score thirty percent higher than the second place team. I believe any team can do well, but you really do have to practice.