Transcript Astronomy - Virginia Science Olympiad

Physics Events
Melissa Booker
Physics Teacher
Robinson Secondary
[email protected]
Event Format
Part I—Test on Geometric and Physical
Optics
 Part II—Laser Shoot
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 Basics—Kids need to figure out where to
place to mirror so that a laser beam will
travel around a barrier to a target
Event Parameters
Competitors may bring tape measurers,
rulers, protractors, and use any type of
calculator for use during the competition
 All reference materials to be used during
the competition must be secured in a 3ring binder; materials must be 3-hole
punched so that nothing can fall out.
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Laser Shoot Parameters
561 cm x 10.0 0.5cm x 35 1cm
 Barrier along the center line, 2-4cm in
width
 Two mirrors
 Target along back
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Event Format
Part I—Test on Wind Power and the
physics of wind power
 Part II—Student pre-built blade
assembly is tested on CD motor
apparatus; maximum current generated
(in mA) recorded
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Event Parameters
20” box multispeed fan
 Support stand
 Clamp
 LOAD RESISTOR of 5.0-7.5 applied to
everyone’s device (same applied by
event supervisor to everyone)
 Spring-load type CD clip found on
PORTABLE BATTERY POWERED CD
PLAYERS

Blade Assembly
Parameters
Must be mounted to
a CD so that it can fit
on the CD motor
assembly
 Blades must be
between 25.0-28.0cm
long
 CD may be cut, but
inside ring that
attaches to motor
must remain intact
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Earth and Space Science Events 2011
General Format
Typically in test format although this
year it specifies that it may include one
or more stations
 Likewise, may be shown objects to
identify through powerpoint
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Event Parameters

Laptop OR 3-ring binder (any size)
 Materials in binder MUST be hole-punched
and inserted into the rings (notebook
sleeves allowed)
Programmable Calculator allowed
 Internet access is NOT allowed

Topics for 2011
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Quasars
Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs)
Galaxy Clusters & Groups of Galaxies
Star Formation
SUPERMASSIVE Blackholes
Galactic Structure
Globular Clusters
Type Ia & Type II Supernovae
Eclipsing Binaries
X-ray Binaries
Some Deep Space Objects
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Epsilon Aurigae (Eclipsing Binary/Argol
Variable)
NGC 6240 (Two galaxies colliding, each with a
supermassive blackhole at center)
3C321 (System of two galaxies rotating
around each other) “Death Star Galaxy”
 supermassive blackhole

Cen(taurus) A (lenticular galaxy)
 Radio galaxyactive galactic nucleus
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Stephan’s Quintet (5 visually linked galaxies, 4
form galaxy group)
MACSJ0717 (Galaxy cluster)
Bullet Cluster (two colliding galaxies, evidence
for dark matter)
Perseus A (Seyfert galaxy)
Possible Tasks
Analysis multiple wavelength images of the DSO’s
(should have each DSO in multiple wavelength
images)
 Analysis of light curves (Cepheids, RR Lyrae, Type
Ia Superova) with distance calculations (PeriodLuminosity, distance modulus)
 Analysis of spectra—Doppler shift and Doppler
broadening
 Orbital Motion of Binaries
 Cosmological Distances (Parallax, Distance
Modulus, Cepheids, Type Ia Superova, Red shift
and Hubble’s law)
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General Format

Test format, although may include
stations
Event Parameter
Allowed four (4), double-side 8.5”x11”
pages of notes
 Allowed up to two (2) non-graphing
calculators.

Topics

Earth’s Fresh Waters
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Interpret USGS topo maps
Stream drainage systems
Channel types
Sediment
River valley forms and processes
Perennial & intermittent stream flow
Groundwater
Karst features
Lake formation and types, lake features
Wetlands
Dams and levees
Hydrologic cycle
Pollution
Tasks
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Analysis of features on topo map
 Watershed boundaries, elevation, gradient,
direction of flow, drainage pattern, valley
shapes, erosional landscapes, depositional
features
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Water table contour map
 Indicate direction of groundwater movement
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Analysis of data on thermal structure of
a lake
 Determine how stratification changes
seasonally
Event Format
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Stations—Emphasis on Fossil
Identification
 Given a set amount of time to move
between stations; cannot return to a station
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Answer questions about classification,
habitat, ecologic relationship, behaviors,
dating and correlating rocks
Event Parameters
Allowed one (1) magnifying glass
 Allowed one (1) published field guide
 Allowed one 3-ring binder (any size)
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 Materials must be 3-hole punched and
inserted into the rings
Topics
Conditions required for fossilization
Modes of preservation
 Relative dating
 Absolute dating
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 Radiometric, half-life, carbon dating
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Geologic time scale
Index Fossils
Fossils bearing sedimentary rocks
Modes of life
Environments
Mineral and organic compounds of skeletons
Taxonomic hierarchy
Features of major fossil groups
Major paleontological events
Know and tab the list!
Students should tab in their guide each
fossil on the 2011 fossil list
 Students should know index fossils and
the geologic period during which it
thrived
 Buy a fossil kit and have kids practice!
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Event Format
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Tests or stations
Event Parameters
Allowed up to five (5) two-sided 8.5” x
11” sheets of paper containing
information from any source
 Allowed metric ruler, protractor, triangle
 Allowed any kind of non-graphing
calculator
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Topic: Human Impact on the
Environment
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Causes, consequences & evidence for human impact on the
environment
Analyze and interpret remote sensing images
Math computations to analyze or express quantitative data
Understand concepts and terms related to the sustainability of the
terrestrial, oceanic, and atmospheric environments on earth
 Development and resource extraction
 Radiative balance of atmosphere
 Natural and man-made sources of greenhouse gases
 Changes in land, atmospheric, and oceanic temperatures
 Carbon, nitrogen, and hydrologic cycles
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Understand principles of satellite imagery
Interpret digital data presented numerical on a grid
Resources
Science Olympiad Store—Remote Sensing
CD
 NASA
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 http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/ (Tutorial on Remote
Sensing)
 http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/eos_homepage/for_ed
ucators/educational_dvd.php (Dynamic Earth-NASA Our Ever-Changing Planet)
 http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/index.html (NASA
Looks at Earth)
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UCAR
 http://www2.ucar.edu/news/backgrounders/underst
anding-climate-change-global-warming