Many of the other host universities now have a liability and photo form for the SciO participants and coaches. Does Emory require any special permission forms now? I just wanted to double check as, occasionally, these have been added on or sent out at the very last minute.
RH Asks: For Robot Arm, I just want to clarify that the computer can be used as a power source through a USB 2.0 cord which always limits voltage to 5 volts (meets the requirements). The use of the computer satisfies the general science olympiad remote control rules https://www.soinc.org/sites/default/files/uploaded_files/Remotecontrolgeneralrules150730.pdf
While the ES contemplates this, feel free to provide a little analysis here in the comments.
Thanks for your quick response. I’m confused though, does “visible” means 100% visible?
For example, say that there are 3 coins: 2 on the bottom (not overlapping), and the 3rd one is dropped on the top of them so that it partially overlaps both of them.
Assuming the inner circle can only contain 2 coins, Team A thinks that only 100% visible would count allows points to be counted. Because of this, they decide to drop the third coin outside into one of the outer circles to still gain points. This makes their total point to be 27 (2 *10 + 1 * 7).
Team B thinks that as long as part of the coin that is covered is visible, its points will still be counted. Thus, they place 3 coins in the inner circle in a way that’s described in the first paragraph, and based on their thinking. they would get 30 points.
This is why I believe that the clarification between whether only 100% visible coins and partially visible coins that are counted is crucial.
Quite a variety of interpretations. I’ve generally heard it interpreted that if a penny is located over or under another penny, neither of them will be scored, since that seems to be what 7.a is saying. Thus in the above example under the interpretation that I’ve heard most often, Team B would score no points for any of the pennies, since they are all over or under another penny. Hence a team that picked up a stack and placed it on the target would get no points for any of the pennies.
Is pennies being scored so long as they are visible meant to be a tournament-specific clarification? In which case, if a penny is completely under another penny but still visible from the side, should it be considered visible? (and still scored regardless of the fact that it’s under/over another penny?)
My name is Irene Cho and I’m a competitor for the state competition representing Johns Creek High School. I have a couple questions regarding the optics laser shoot.
1) Can we put tape down on to the board as long as it comes off at the end?
2) Are we required to take out all protractors, string, (tape) etc along with the mirror coverings at the end of the 4 minutes allotted? Or can we take it out after the laser is turned on and our points are assessed?
The event supervisor replies:
1. That’s a tricky question. The relevant written rule I’ve been given is “Competitors must not mark on or modify” the laser shoot apparatus. Here’s how I will be interpreting that: if you put a piece of tape on the wall of the apparatus and you’re clearly using it for a reference spot, that’s against the rules. That would count as a “mark”…the same as taking a pencil and putting a dot on the wall to help you keep track of some geometric process. However, teams are allowed to bring templates and tools. If your tape is clearly being used simply to hold a tool to the wall, then that’s ok.
And as a heads-up: the bottom of our apparatus will be a piece of paper on a tabletop (not a bare tabletop). So any tape put down there will never come back up cleanly and you’d be assessed a penalty for “modifying” the apparatus when the paper inevitably rips/crinkles as you remove the tape.
2. The clock stops running (and you can’t move, nudge, etc anything else) when you first remove a mirror covering. It’s ok if your tools/templates remain on the laser shoot apparatus while we check out where your laser beam ends up and tally up your score.
I was wondering and just wanted to make sure if the Georgia State Tournament will be using the GA Herpetology list instead of the Nationals list? There are instances where the event supervisor doesn’t know about a state-specific list and use the nationals list instead.
Hi, regarding a question about helicopters, will the AC in the racquetball courts be turned off? And if the AC isn’t allowed to be turned off, is it possible to maybe get some magnetic vent covers from Home Depot or something to temporarily cover the AC vents? Thanks!
I see last year’s answer to the question about the AC and the racquetball courts. I apologize for the repeat. I’m assuming that these dimensions reported from 2017 are the correct ones: “The room is 6 meter x 20 meters. The ceiling is 6 meters. The walls have no obstructions. The ceiling is not smooth.” as these seem consistent with a racquetball court. I seem to recall helicopter being run there in that year.
What hotels are close to campus that you would recommend?
The closest is the University Inn http://www.univinn.com/. It is not a chain. I am not sure about bus parking if that is a concern, so inquire. They have larger multi room apartments, too.
The Emory Conference Center Hotel is also close, and unfortunately VERY expensive. However their weekend occupancy rate is often low. I would approach the front desk manager try to negotiate. If you are not good at negotiating, everyone has a friend who loves a bargain. Sick ’em on the job. http://www.emoryconferencecenter.com/
This is a nice property but often booked — Holiday Inn Express http://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/decatur/atlde/hoteldetail
Beyond that, the I85 / N Druid Hills Rd is the best selection https://www.google.com/maps/search/hotel/@33.8319547,-84.3410257,16z
Many of the other host universities now have a liability and photo form for the SciO participants and coaches. Does Emory require any special permission forms now? I just wanted to double check as, occasionally, these have been added on or sent out at the very last minute.
No such forms here.
RH Asks:
For Robot Arm, I just want to clarify that the computer can be used as a power source through a USB 2.0 cord which always limits voltage to 5 volts (meets the requirements). The use of the computer satisfies the general science olympiad remote control rules
https://www.soinc.org/sites/default/files/uploaded_files/Remotecontrolgeneralrules150730.pdf
While the ES contemplates this, feel free to provide a little analysis here in the comments.
Laptops are allowed for Robot Arm
Ultimately it is the event supervisors decision about whether to return tests. We returned all we had permission for.
Hi,
For Robot Arm, Rule 7.a, it says “Any penny under or over another penny or not visible to the ES must not receive any points.”
If pennies are overlapping each other, do you take out both of them or only the top one?
Thanks,
Lisa
Thanks for your quick response. I’m confused though, does “visible” means 100% visible?
For example, say that there are 3 coins: 2 on the bottom (not overlapping), and the 3rd one is dropped on the top of them so that it partially overlaps both of them.
Assuming the inner circle can only contain 2 coins, Team A thinks that only 100% visible would count allows points to be counted. Because of this, they decide to drop the third coin outside into one of the outer circles to still gain points. This makes their total point to be 27 (2 *10 + 1 * 7).
Team B thinks that as long as part of the coin that is covered is visible, its points will still be counted. Thus, they place 3 coins in the inner circle in a way that’s described in the first paragraph, and based on their thinking. they would get 30 points.
This is why I believe that the clarification between whether only 100% visible coins and partially visible coins that are counted is crucial.
Thank you for your help,
Lisa
Quite a variety of interpretations. I’ve generally heard it interpreted that if a penny is located over or under another penny, neither of them will be scored, since that seems to be what 7.a is saying. Thus in the above example under the interpretation that I’ve heard most often, Team B would score no points for any of the pennies, since they are all over or under another penny. Hence a team that picked up a stack and placed it on the target would get no points for any of the pennies.
Is pennies being scored so long as they are visible meant to be a tournament-specific clarification? In which case, if a penny is completely under another penny but still visible from the side, should it be considered visible? (and still scored regardless of the fact that it’s under/over another penny?)
We will observe the rule as written: “Any penny under or over another penny … must not receive any points.”
We will observe the rule: “Any penny under or over another penny or not visible to the ES must not receive any points.”
Hello,
Can you please provide the dimensions and ceiling height of the room where the helicopter event is going to be conducted?
Thank You,
Uma
The room is 6 meter x 20 meters. The ceiling is 6 meters. The walls have no obstructions. The ceiling is not smooth.
Dear, Tournament Director
My name is Irene Cho and I’m a competitor for the state competition representing Johns Creek High School. I have a couple questions regarding the optics laser shoot.
1) Can we put tape down on to the board as long as it comes off at the end?
2) Are we required to take out all protractors, string, (tape) etc along with the mirror coverings at the end of the 4 minutes allotted? Or can we take it out after the laser is turned on and our points are assessed?
The event supervisor replies:
1. That’s a tricky question. The relevant written rule I’ve been given is “Competitors must not mark on or modify” the laser shoot apparatus. Here’s how I will be interpreting that: if you put a piece of tape on the wall of the apparatus and you’re clearly using it for a reference spot, that’s against the rules. That would count as a “mark”…the same as taking a pencil and putting a dot on the wall to help you keep track of some geometric process. However, teams are allowed to bring templates and tools. If your tape is clearly being used simply to hold a tool to the wall, then that’s ok.
And as a heads-up: the bottom of our apparatus will be a piece of paper on a tabletop (not a bare tabletop). So any tape put down there will never come back up cleanly and you’d be assessed a penalty for “modifying” the apparatus when the paper inevitably rips/crinkles as you remove the tape.
2. The clock stops running (and you can’t move, nudge, etc anything else) when you first remove a mirror covering. It’s ok if your tools/templates remain on the laser shoot apparatus while we check out where your laser beam ends up and tally up your score.
I was wondering and just wanted to make sure if the Georgia State Tournament will be using the GA Herpetology list instead of the Nationals list? There are instances where the event supervisor doesn’t know about a state-specific list and use the nationals list instead.
Herpetology questions are drawn from the national and the state list.
Hi, regarding a question about helicopters, will the AC in the racquetball courts be turned off? And if the AC isn’t allowed to be turned off, is it possible to maybe get some magnetic vent covers from Home Depot or something to temporarily cover the AC vents? Thanks!
I am sorry but it is not possible to turn off the AC on the racquetball courts. We have also not been able to find a method to cover the vents.
Wright Stuff:
Can you please share dimensions of the racquetball courts for the competition?
Do you know if the air will be on or off for competition?
Thank you.
The racquetball court is rectangular: 40 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 20 feet high. The air will NOT be turned off.
I see last year’s answer to the question about the AC and the racquetball courts. I apologize for the repeat. I’m assuming that these dimensions reported from 2017 are the correct ones: “The room is 6 meter x 20 meters. The ceiling is 6 meters. The walls have no obstructions. The ceiling is not smooth.” as these seem consistent with a racquetball court. I seem to recall helicopter being run there in that year.
I apologize for taking up your time.
Is Wright Stuff really being run in the raqcuetball courts instead of the basketball gym as in previous years?
Dear J. Yes. I am very sorry to say that this is the best space available. Our gym is hosting a sports tournament.