Black Box Challenge

Before you play: Look at the ray-behavior diagrams on the Black Box game Wikipedia page. Pay attention to the examples of a hit, deflection, reflection, miss, and detour.

Use ray results to deduce the positions of four hidden objects.

Your Mission

Four objects are hidden inside the box. Fire rays from the edge and use the results to work out where the objects are.

Be strategic! Try to locate all four objects using as few rays as possible.

Hit (H) — A ray that strikes an object stops and does not emerge.

Deflection — A ray passing directly beside an object is deflected 90° away from it.

Reflection (R) — A ray returns through the same opening where it entered. This can happen at the edge or after a double deflection.

Miss — A ray that interacts with no objects travels straight through the box.

Detour — A ray that emerges somewhere else after one or more deflections.

→ 1

Arrow points into the box = entry.

1 ←

Arrow points out of the box = exit.

→ 2H

H = Hit.

↔ 3R

R = Reflection.

Build your model as you go. Tap squares to mark possible object locations with a ?. Change your marks as new evidence changes your model. When you have marked four locations, tap Check My Model.

After the reveal, use a paper grid to draw and explain the paths of rays from your game.