Laser Slalom 2008

Goal:

To direct a laser beam around an obstacle and back to its original point of incidence using only mirrors, which are to be placed in the light path by students in positions and orientations of their choosing.

Problem:

A laser will be placed at the end of one of the tables with a target placed a specified distance away on the other side of the room. When the laser is turned a target dot will marked on the paper on the wall on the other side of the room. This is your original point of incidence which will be your “target”.

An obstacle will be placed a fixed distance away from the laser and in the path of the laser. The laser, obstacle and target cannot be moved during the competition. Your team will only use mirrors to reflect the laser.

Each team must divide into 2 groups, design and implementation. The design group will be responsible for coming up with the mathematical solution to the problem and providing the implementation group with plans to execute their solution. The implementation group will be responsible for executing the plan without directions and modifications.

Competition:

The teams will have 5 minutes to take measurements of the setup for the solution. After that time the design teams will be given 20 minutes to complete a detailed solution. The implementation teams will layout the original path of the laser. They also can practice setting up the lasers.

After the design teams complete their solutions, they will give the plan to their implementation group and they will have 10 minutes to execute the plan. You are allowed to turn the laser on 3 times for 10 sec to check your positioning. At the end of 10 minutes, I will turn on the laser and check how close you are to the original target.

The class will be split into teams and then each team will be responsible for picking the members of the design and implementation teams. Each member can only be on one team. You will be provided with protractors, rulers and graph paper as needed.

Grading:

The project is worth 30 pts in the test category, 20 points for the detailed solution and 10 pts for the experimental solution. Each member of the team will receive the same amount of points. You will be graded on the accuracy of your solution and effectiveness of implementing the solution. Any deviation from the plan will lose points.