Optics B/C

[DrKoolKat]

Okay never mind about the Optics B test. I found it.

[olaf_the_snowman]

Are competitors allowed to lift up the mirror covers a little bit for alignment purposes?

[John Richardsim]

Are competitors allowed to lift up the mirror covers a little bit for alignment purposes?

That would be up to the discretion of the event supervisor. I'd recommend doing a couple practice runs without being able to do so just in case it isn't allowed.

[DrKoolKat]

Are competitors allowed to lift up the mirror covers a little bit for alignment purposes?

I'd say no. I see the mirror covers as a way so that you can't look at the mirrors and see the laser pointer (because of how it reflects). But maybe that's not the purpose. I guess the supervisor may see that differently, though.

[DrKoolKat]

Do you think that we'll be able to use programs on our calculators for the study portion? The rules say any calculator...

[John Richardsim]

Do you think that we'll be able to use programs on our calculators for the study portion? The rules say any calculator...

Yes, I doubt any supervisor would try to disallow calculator programs despite the rules allowing for programmable calculators.

Make sure that if you do use a calculator program, that it actually saves you time. I tried using a program with refractive index calculations, but it ended up taking about twice as long to use the program.

[DrKoolKat]

Yo. How did everyone feel about the test?

[NeBH]

Yo. How did everyone feel about the test?

I thought it was pretty easy; I got done ~30 mins. early.
There weren't as many pictures/diagrams as I thought there would be. Also, the test was (for the most part) multiple-choice.

But, I ended up getting 24th place...
Oh, well... First year at Nats..
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[bernard]

Here are some ray diagram templates for those preparing materials that may need them.

[Froggie]

This probably has been asked a couple times already, but are you hitting the barrior mirror? This year we didn't because we didn't have one, (we had a barrior, but not a mirror on it ) but I was wondering if it was worth the risk. It seems hard to hit the barrior mirror, especially if it was facing the laser because you would have to find all the angles and incorperate it into your tactic or strategy.

[WhatScience?]

Assuming you are asking for the 2018 season by your post date, my partner and I consider the barrier mirror to be too big a risk. If you are able to use all five mirrors normally and be accurate (something that requires nothing but practice and a good template) you will be fine.