Compute This

2008-09-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

September 24,2008

Event parameters: no calculators and recource materials. blank tablet paper and writing instruments may be used if wanted. we can construct our own publicly accessible website.
the competition: we will be provided an IBM PC with word prossesing spreadsheet www browser, and internet access. include up to 5 short answer questions. They may involve analysis of data previously collected or require additional facts to be gathered via internet search.

October 2, 2008

The Competition:
a) During the competition, each team will be povided with a single IBM Compatible PC with word processing (MS word), spreadsheet(MS Excel), WWW browser (MS explorer), and Internet access.
b) Teams will be given a problem in the area of geological and environmental
science, and all required info. will be located on websites within the http://www.usgs.gov/
domain.
c)October 9, 2008- The problem statement will require the capture of quanative info. from the internet followed by the spread sheet data entry and graphical presentation. A specific chart format9(e.g., line chart, pie chart, stacked column chart, ect.) will be defined in the problem statement. All charts must include labeling for each axis (including units of measure) and legends to properly label data within the chart. (i.e.elements within a pie chart, multiple lines in a line graph, etc.)
October 9,2008
We will go to www.soinc.org and get sample questions to get ready for competition.
Compute This (B) - Teams will be presented with a problem which requires quantitative data capture from the Internet and the presentation of data in a graphical format.
October 15, 2008
high score wins based on a)completeness and accuracy of quantitive data collected-20 points. b)completeness, accuracy, and format of graphical data presentation-30 points. c)answers and URLs associated with short answer questions-50 points. the tiebreakers shall be: 1)the number of short answer questions correctly answered. 2)the completeness and accuracy of quantitive data collected. 3)the overall quality of graphical data presentation.

October 22,2008
We went on the science olympiad website but it wouldn't let us look at examples. We got really ticked off!

October 23, 2008
Today, we are reviewing the rules of our event so that we can get a better understanding of it. Last time, we did not let the information sink in. This time, we will.

November, 3, 2008

We are creating a binder, and studying for the event. For 2009, all problems will be focused on the topiclogical and environmental science, and will be extracted from the grater www.usgs.gov internet domain.
sample question: Which soviet spacecraft was the 1st to achieve a "soft" lunar landing? prior to this mission how many soviet spacecrafts had tried, but failed, to achieve a soft landing?
answer: luna-9, 4-5 failed attempts

November 5, 2008
Obama won!!!!
we are going to create an exel graph on the graphical problem.

november 24,2008
today we are dicussing the event with Mr. Cicotte. Then hes going to create a question and then we will answer nit after we get practice with graphing and writing information.

November 25, 2008
Today we are working on our question that Mr. Cicotte gave us to work on.

January 13, 2009
we aren't working on the soviet spacecraft question, we're working on the floodwater questoin, and we arnt working on computethis till next week. we just etited the blog cuz we saw your comment. now we're working on anatomy.

January 15, 2009
we will work on our question.

January 16, 2009
we will work on our quesition again.

science crime busters

2008-09-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

september 16, 2008

Today in science olympiad, we read and highlighted the rules. We learned that we will have to wear pants or skirts that cover the legs and ankles. We also must wear lab coats, and safety gloves are optional. We also have to wear closed toed shoes and OSHA-approved non-vented or inderect vented chemical splash goggles.

We are going to a candle for burn tests on fiber samples. We will have 12 to 15 unknowns with one to two mixtures containing two of the solids with asterisks.

Solid= sand(white), powdered limestone, vitamin C, table salt, sugar(crystal), flour, gypsum, corn starch, baking soda, powdered gelatin, powdered Alka-Seltzer

October 1,2008

In Science Crime Busters (SCB) the collected evidence and other data given could be used in a mock crime scene analysis to solve a crime problem. A scenario will be developed such as the following: a bank robber enters a bank and hands the counter person a note, which says "Give me all your money" The robber escapes with the money, but a white powder remains. later, suspects are brought in. Chromatographic analysis of the ink from their pens is proformed an order to identify the robber. Each suspect's powder is then compared with the powder found at the crime scene, and so on.

October 3, 2008

The Competition: There will be 4 parts and then the analysis of the Crime.The event will consist of evidence from parts 3a, 3b, and 3c at all the competitions and up to 2 parts of the crime scene physicle Nationals. All competitions will require the analysis. Questions can only be asked on the evidence areas found at the Crime Scene, so for instance if DNA was not one of the pieces of evidence found at the crime scene, no questions about DNA can can be asked.

October 17, 2008
a)qualitative analysis:the unknown common matierials will be taken from the following lists.
i.solids:anhydrous sodium, acetate, *sand(white), *calcium carbonate(powdered limestone), vitamin C(ascorbic acid), *table salt(NaCl), *sugar(crystal), *flour, *gypsum(calcium sulfate 2h2o), *corn starch, *baking soda, *powdered gelitan, *powdered Alka-Seltzer, yeast.
ii.Non-powdered metals: aluminum, iron, zinc, magnizeum, copper, and tin.
iii.liquids: lemon juice, rubbing alcohol(isoporpyl), household ammonia (3%), water, vinagar, hydrogen paroxide(3%).

October 24,2008
at the regional competition, we will have 12-15 unknowns with one to two mixtures containing two of the solids with asterisks. at the state level, we will have 15-18 unknowns and will have at least 2 mixtures containing 2-3 of the solids with astrisks. at the national level, we will have 18-20 unknowns with at least two mixtures containing at least 2-3 solids with astrisks. the unknowns will be identified by preforming tests such as solubility, acidity, magnetic property, color, density (by hefting the sample in its container), and odor. every team gets the same set of unknowns and the scenario will identify which containers hold the mixtures.

November 12, 2008

Today we did the finger printing nd hair analysis work sheets.
The activiy sheets are in our science plympiad binder.
In the competition there is a god chance that we will have to study finger prints of all of the finger prints and hair of several suspects, counting animals.

November 13, 2008
Today and yesterday, we are sorting all of the chemicals and other things in our box of stuff to bring. we need to see what we can bring and what we will get disqualified for. we will sort it and put the stuff that we can't bring into another box. we will label the "bad" box and put it in the storeroom.

December 1, 2008
Today in science olympiad we are seeing what we will have to do, and how to do it. like the hair and finger samples. we will also do things with our box and probably re-mark all the bottles.

December 2, 2008
we are doing the same thing yesterday, and rying to finesh it.

December 3, 2008
Today my partner, nate, is gone, so i will be looking at the S.O. website and looking to get an insight on how nate and i are going to have to do the hair samples and finger print examination.
if it is complicated and we have to have a certain type of equipment, we will get it, and do more research. if its the exact opposite, we will get an even better insight on the event.
i just found out that there are different hairs for different races!

December 4, 2008

today i will show nate what i did yesterday, and continue the study.

December 5, 2008
today we are going to study part two (above=part 1) on sinthetic and natural fibers in a crime scene. if we finesh fibers, we will go on to pt. 3, Crime and Evidence.

January 5, 2009!!!!!!
today we are practicing finger prints and searching for websites that might help us in competition.

January 6, 2009

we will continue the study of finger prints and searching for website that might help us in competition.

January 7, 2009
today, after school, me, sam, and, zach found out how to find the ph levels of solids. it took a lot of time to find them all and write them down. scince sams handwriting is really bad. i will typ our findings about each chemical tomorrow cause i ran out of time today.

January 8, 2008

we are continuing our study from yesterday and i will search for websites that might help us in competition.

January 9, 2008
today, we finished the table of all of the chemicals that we have. we also found the ph ouf the ones we did not get the preveious day.

Science Olympiad

Compute This

science crime busters