Science Crimebusters/ Forensics: (B/C)

Aug 1-3 Notes from Science Olympiad Teacher Training Camp

- Presented by Brent Horn (Utah event coordinator)

 

            A. Safety Issues

                        a- problems

                             - don’t follow rules

                        b- What to wear

                             - Apron/lab coat

                             - Closed toe shoes

                             - Chemical splash goggles (OSHA)

                             - No shorts (Capri’s ok)

            B. What to bring

                        - Sharpies/writing utensils

- Ph Scale and paper (scale should be on container of pH paper or student should know scale

                        - Gloves if you want them

                        - What the rules require the student to bring in

                  C- What is in the event?

                        - Shoe print

                        - Ink

                        - Unknown powders/ metals (50-60% of score)

                        - Items found at crime scene

                        - Essay: articulate reasons why/ how they came to the conclusion about the

                                    suspect

                  D- Competition

                        - Chromatography (do this 1st because it takes the longest)

                                    make cheat sheet for identifying chemicals (pH, soluble)

            when training, start by having students look at & identify different

                        powders

                        - Finger printing

                                    Patterns (arches, whorls, tents)

- Cross out/eliminate pattern types from suspects whose fingerprints don’t match evidence, then look at details of fingerprints comparing to the evidence

            - DNA - Electrogerrograms- digital outputs

      E- Helpful hints

            - Essay: 

                        Needs to be in communication form - not just in their head, for example:

This is what I did . . ., This is what I saw. . ., This is what it means . . ., and these were my conclusions. . .

Have students do descriptive writing for practice.

            Will probably do fibers but not plastics (in 2008)

            Go online for samples of human and animal hair

            A good reference is the forensics textbook by Richard Saferstein

      How to approach/train for this event:

Teach students problem solving skills

            Identify what you know- highlight facts of crime scene

            Then identify what you don’t know

            What questions do I have to answer?

            Analyze:

                        Identify associations between suspects and crime scene

                        Write down associations

                        Analyze everything

                        Answer all of the given questions

 

            Understand manufacturing - what things are use for (chemicals etc)

            Don’t make assumptions-just look @ evidence  

 

Does this evidence answer the issue of the case

Does this result answer my question – Who did it?

Evidence of fingerprints don’t place a person there at the time of the crime

 

 

Sat, Oct 27

Cryptology should always be the first task in the event - train kids to begin

                        the event by starting with the cryptology to get that going firstCreate flow charts by testing the things

            $15.00 send samples of Palmers Easy

            Hands on plastics www.teachingplastics.org (Free)

            Tire tracks

                        Use tempura paint and butcher paper to practice with

            Blood splatters

                        Use 2% milk and food coloring - about the same consistency as blood

 

          Science Crimebusters/Forensics Resources:

                    http://fso.creol.ucf.edu/conference

                    User Name conference  Password cc2007

                    East - Orlando Oct 19-20, 2007

                    Science Crimebusters

                    Fingerprint Quiz.doc

                    Fingerprint examples.doc

                    IMG 0820.jpg - IMB 0836.jpg (pictures of powders on a rug and

                              shoe soles)

 

          Science Crimebusters Notes from Sharon Miya

              from Coaches Conference in San Francisco

 

Resources

          www.virtualsciencefair.org/2004/fren4j0/

          www.middleschoolscience.com/myspow.html

          www.middleschoolscience.com/flowchart.html

          safety-identification-products.com/fingerprint-information.html

          www.polymers.eezway.com For samples of polymers

 

            One student should work on powder identification and partner goes to collect other

                        evidence around the roomSpot plates recommended for powders

            On fingerprints students should know loops, whorls, and arches; make sure they look at all

                        the suspects

            Do chromatography first

            Use tempura paint to make tire prints

            Know difference between human, dog, and cat hair

            Make blood splatter using red tempura paint or 2% milk and food coloring

 

 

 

Scrambler (B):

Fri, Oct 26 Science Olympiad Teacher Training Camp

Presented by Wayne Sumner (Utah event coordinator)

Scoring:

          How quickly you are to the barrier without touching it and

            How quickly you got there (time is more critical than getting closer to

                        the barrier)

Work on your time, a faster time is awarded more points

            A simple machine (a pulley) is used for weight so you can accelerate

                        the car with more than 1G (look for ideas on the internet)

            Know how many times the wheel will turn from the starting point to

                        the stopping point - use a wheel counter made with a wing nut

                        (wing nut stops the car) Most difficult part is stopping the vehicle before touching the barrier

            You get two runs - the first one is to see if the floor is clean & where you

                        need to break; the second is for the competition

            Make a seat/bench for the egg to sit on

            Simple is best

Sat, Oct 27

Going straight is key - very important

            Distance is measured from center point on wall

            2x time + distance from wall (points are based on these factors)

            Stopping close is more important

 

            Hints for a good scrambler:

                        the lighter the vehicle, the faster it will be

                        Be sure axels are perfectly parallel

                        Good friction on wheels to reduce skidding

                        Lots of good designs on internet

                        A longer vehicle will go straight better than a shorter vehicle

 

Wayne Sumner is willing to help anyone with their scrambler events: E-mail: wsumner@dsdmail.net and # (801) 721-5852

 

          Scrambler Notes from Sharon Miya

              from Coaches Conference in San Francisco

 

Important to go straight down track since stopping as close as possible to the center

                        mark

            Distance given at event—8 to 10 meters

            A separate propulsion system gives faster acceleration

            Light car will accelerate faster

            Braking mechanism—threaded rod with wing nut

            Wheels should provide good friction to reduce skidding at the stop

            Research design ideas on internet

            Axles must be perfectly parallel or it will veer to left or right

 

Simple Machines (B):

Fri, Oct 26 Science Olympiad Teacher Training Camp

Presented by Wayne Sumner Fri, Oct 26

 

Key formulas to know:

Ideal Machine Efficiency (IMA = Din/Dout)

                        Actual Machine Efficiency (AMA= Fout/Fin)

                        Efficiency E=A/I

Slogans to remember formulas:

IMA & AMA = I didn’t doubt A fout over fin

            Efficiency = He has artificial intelligence

Best place to find bearings is to buy a pair of in-line skates at DI

 

          Simple Machines Resources:

                    http://fso.creol.ucf.edu/conference

                    User Name conference  Password cc2007

                    West - San Francisco Oct 5-6, 2007

                    Simple Machines

                    SimpleMachinesAnswerKey.pdf

                    SimpleMachinesNationalEvent.doc

                    SimpleMachinesWebsiteRef.doc

 

 

Sounds of Music ( C):

Aug 1-3 Science Olympiad Teacher Training Camp

Presented by Frank Stevens (Utah event coordinator)

 

Competition consists of:

                  Assigned music piece

                  Scale

                  Range

Composition of own choosing – it is ok to use music processor to write music in correct key, # of sharps, etc.

 

 

Sat, Oct 27

            Know wavelength theory

            Keep it simple in building instruments

            Make sure instruments are durable

            Use different categories of instruments (string, wind, etc)

                        

          Sounds of Music Resources:

          http://fso.creol.ucf.edu/conference

          User Name conference   Password cc2007

          West - San Francisco Oct 5-6, 2007

          Sounds of Music

                    SoundBasicsStudent.pdf

                    SoundBasicsTeacher.pdf

                    Sounds of Musics Coaches Conference 2007 Background.doc

                                         (background information on Sounds of Music)

          Sounds of Music Notes from Trish Wade

          Coaches Conference in San Francisco

Before students start building

Teach them how to tune or have them try it with supplies (tuning forks,

                         electric tuner)

Students must understand about wave theory

Resonance

Nodes

What is vibrating

Beat frequency

Have students keep it simple

Things to keep in mind

Must have 2 different instruments

Shorter wavelength = higher pitch

Make sure the instruments are rugged & transportable

Bring in band members – students who understand music theory

Instruments should be as different as possible

Must play God Bless America

Instruments must stay within their octaves

Students must design instruments in 2 different categories out of four