What is Physics olympiad: Definition and 81 Discussions

The International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) is an annual physics competition for high school students. It is one of the International Science Olympiads. The first IPhO was held in Warsaw, Poland in 1967.
Each national delegation is made up of at most five student competitors plus two leaders, selected on a national level. Observers may also accompany a national team. The students compete as individuals, and must sit for intensive theoretical and laboratory examinations. For their efforts the students can be awarded gold, silver, or bronze medals or an honourable mention.
The theoretical examination lasts 5 hours and consists of three questions. Usually these questions involve more than one part. The practical examination may consist of one laboratory examination of five hours, or two, which together take up the full five hours.

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  1. zero00

    Re-Learn Math for Physics Olympiad

    Hi, PF Currently I am trying to re-learning high school mathematics (because my high math school is bad) for university physics Olympiad in my country, the topic to be tested is. 1. Mechanics 2. Electromagnetism 3. Thermodynamics 4. Statistical Physics 5. Quantum Mechanics 6. Modern...
  2. SayedD

    Interpreting the Conservation of Momentum in a Splitting Object Scenario

    My method is silly but here is my attempt Initially we know that the kinetic energy is k = ##1/2mv^2## and the final kinetic energy at the moment before splitting is equal to ##(k + 3k/16)mv^2_1 = (19k/16)mv^2_1##. Substituting the value k to the second equation gives us ##v_1 =...
  3. A

    Classical Which problem book to do for Physics Olympiad?

    Hi there, I know this question has been asked a million times but I need some help. Essentially, I am studying for F=MA/UsaPhO with the goal to make camp or IPhO(?) this year. I have begun studying with University Physics with Modern Physics, and yesterday read the first chapter of the E&M...
  4. D

    Studying Competing in the International Physics Olympiad

    As I stated in the title, I'm trying to compete at the physics Olympiad and hopefully walk away with a decent ranking. I am currently a sophomore at a mediocre high school; I'm taking this Olympiad physics class for preparation. The course is once a week for 3 hours that is covering...
  5. R

    Intro Physics Need Help in Physics Olympiad prep

    Hello, can anyone give me the names of some textbooks or other study materials that can help me self study for the physics olympiad. I have never taken a physics class as I am only in 9th grade. My main aim for now is just to pass the F=ma exa ( The initial olympiad exam in the US) so if you...
  6. U

    Prepare for National Physics Olympiad in India: Tips for High School Students

    I am a new member here and decided to join Physics Forums to get help to prepare for Physics Olympiads. I am a high school sophomore. Going to be a junior soon. I have taken advanced Math classes via MIT OCW and the internet. I am also proficient with Mechanics, but nothing international...
  7. KushalBhanot

    How can I prepare for Physics Olympiad 2018 in the best way?

    Hi ! Please suggest me some preparation methods and books . My relatively strong part is mechanics . I am really looking forward to improve every topic of the syllabus . It would really be awesome if you would guide me with your wisdom . Also , if there are some experiences that you might want...
  8. T

    2008 us physics olympiad pendulum in electric field

    1. Homework Statement i was solving the 2008 semi final us physics olympiad paper when i got stuck on question B2 in part 2 http://www.aapt.org/Programs/contests/upload/olympiad_2008_semi-final_soln.pdf the link takes you a pdf with questions and solution however i don't understand the soution...
  9. O

    Book on thermodynamics for International Physics Olympiad?

    Hi! I'm a junior in high school studying for the IPhO and I've started learning thermodynamics as part of my preparation. I have a guide to the exam that says things like this will be tested: Carnot engine Kirchhoff's law Wien's law Stefan's law Stefan-Boltzmann law Newton's law of cooling...
  10. R

    Other Preparing for The International Physics Olympiad

    i want to know how much calculus and physics i should know and is it allow to use graphing calculator .
  11. D

    Testing Preparing for Physics Olympiads: Tips and Resources

    Guys, My teacher told me that i have to study for physics olympiad this year, but he is too busy too teach me intensively, so what should i do for my preparation?
  12. C

    Physics olympiad problem -- struggling with polar coordinates

    Homework Statement This is a physics olympiad problem; and I am still struggling with it. I will quote it here: " A particle moves along a horizontal track following the trajectory $$r=r_{0}e^{-k\theta}$$, where $$\theta$$ is the angle made by the position vector with the horizontal. Recall...
  13. Ankit Chowdhury

    Classical Which book is better for the physics olympiad?

    Which book is better for mechanics of physics Olympiad- 1)Introduction to mechanics by Kleppner-D.-Kolenkow-R.J.- or 2)Introduction to classical mechanics by David Morin. And for Emag 1)Electricity and Magnetism by Purcell and Morin or 2)Introduction to Electrodynamics by Griffiths For...
  14. H

    Physics Olympiad question resistance and Electric circuit

    Homework Statement In the fig all resistors have resistance R. If pd of V is applied across AB. 1)What is the outcome of joining C and D 2)Whats is the pd across CO 3)what is the resistance across A and B 4)What is the resistance across AO Homework Equations V=IR 1/∑R=1/R1 +1/R2 The Attempt...
  15. H

    Physics Olympiad question Electric circuit

    Homework Statement In the Circuit(pic attached) the following resistor combination is found. All the resistrs in the figure has resistance R ohms. What is the total resistance across AB? Homework Equations V=IR 3. The attempt at a Solution between point A and B there is only one resistor so i...
  16. T

    Problem solving skills for Physics Olympiad

    I am trying to do well in this year's National Physics Olympiad here to qualify for the APhO and IPhO team. So I need to increase my skill of solving physics problems. What books are the best for physics problems and also teaches the problem solving skills? I am already studying University...
  17. M

    Polish Physics Olympiad: Proving Adiabatic Reversible Process

    Homework Statement (56th Polish Olympiad in Physics, 2007) We have a tube of mass ##M##, consisting of two segments of diameters ##d_1, d_2##. The pistons (see the picture http://www.kgof.edu.pl/archiwum/56/of56-2-1-R.pdf) have mass ##m_1, m_2##. At the start the air inside had pressure...
  18. L

    British Physics Olympiad 2004 (GCSE)

    5. Point Q is 3m above and 4m to the North of Point P. Ignoring friction how much energy does it take to move a 5kg sack of potatoes from point P to point Q? These are multiple choice questions of the exam, so in the mark scheme it only says: A, B ... The question paper can be found...
  19. D

    Physics Olympiad: Links, Notes, Problems

    Does anyone knows links for physics olympiads ,lecture notes,problems ech?
  20. L

    Relativity text for Physics Olympiad

    Hi, I'm a 12th grade student from India, preparing for the Physics Olympiad. I've only a basic idea of Special Relativity, while the syllabus includes topics such as the relativistic Doppler effect, so I want to study up a bit. What text do you recommend? Please not one of those old texts...
  21. S

    What is a good way to train for the USAPhO?

    What is a good way to train for the USAPhO? I know doing a lot of problems is KEY, but I was wondering along the lines of the best books. I have Halliday and Resnick as well as University Physics (don't ask why >_>) so I was wondering if doing these books is enough to become a semi finalist...
  22. I

    VCE Physics Olympiad: Become a Physics Genius in a Year

    Hi, everyone Next year I'm thinking of doing a Physics Olympiad course, and I'm just wondering if anyone knows a good way of becoming a physics genius in about the space of a year. I have all the Feynman Lectures but are there any other really good physics books that might be useful (perhaps...
  23. R

    Questions of Physics Olympiad

    1. For a gas if p and v denote the co-efficient of volume expansion at a constant pressure and coefficient of pressure at a constant volume respectively, then 1)p>v 2)p<v 3)p=v 4)p=0 and v=0 2. The horizontal component(H), vertical component (V) and total intensity (I) of the...
  24. daniel_i_l

    Find Physics Olympiad Questions & Answers | Compadre.org

    I found past questions here: http://www.compadre.org/psrc/evals/olympiad.cfm" [Broken] Were can I find the answers? Also, were can I find similar kinds of questions? Thanks.
  25. C

    Testing Physics Olympiad US physics team qualifying exam

    Is there a place i could find the qualifying exam questions from the past years for practice?
  26. D

    Physics Olympiad: Award Percentages & Question 1

    Hi, I did the Olympiad this week and I found it very hard. Does anyone know what the percentages needed for the awards are. Also can anyone remember any of the parts of Question 1 as I found it very hard and i wanted to ask my neighbour who is a physics lecturer about it
  27. J

    British Physics Olympiad - Intellectual Masochism?

    Has anybody here done one of these? I just did the paper 2 and I feel like my brain's going to dribble out of my nose. ok, so the questions weren't quite that hard, but it was still evil (still, considering a gold is something like 50% - 60% so I don't suppose I did badly compared to...
  28. S

    P - What books are recommended for the U.S. Physics Olympiad?

    Hey you knowledgeable physics guys...what books are good for the Physics Plympiads? (the U.S. one)
  29. siddharth

    International Physics Olympiad 2005

    The 36th International Physics Olympiad was held at Salamanca in Spain from July 3-12. 342 contestants from 77 nations participated. India placed 6th with 5 medals(2 golds, 2 silver and 1 bronze). Piyush Srivastava(17) from Allahabad and Sameer Madan(18) won the gold medals for India. In fact...
  30. terryds

    Best physics video channel for Olympiad students?

    Hi.. I take a high school physics Olympiad. Could you please tell me what the best physics video channel on YouTube or other sites ? I'm looking for videos that gives an overview to an advanced problem (It can be IPhO level) and guide to the solution step by step..
  31. S

    Preparing for Physics Olympiads in 2 Months: Books to Study

    I want to prepare for upcoming national and international physics olympiad and i have about two months to do so. Can anyone suggest me a book topicwise or for complete physics. Thank You !
  32. A

    National Physics Olympiad Practical Round

    I realize questions about Olympiads have already been asked till death, but I think I haven't seen mine popping out anywhere, so here goes. Does anyone have any ideas on how to prep for the practical round of a physics Olympiad (not the IPhO, a national one). I can get papers for the I & APhO...
  33. H

    1994 Physics Olympiad Semi-Final Exam Question

    Homework Statement An experiment was conducted to investigate the time it takes water to pour out of a can through a little hole and the amount of water in the can. To find the dependence on the size of the hole, five large cylindrical containers of water of the same size were emptied through...
  34. B

    Physics Olympiad preparation

    I've got a Physics Olympiad coming up in a couple of months. Here is one paper from it: http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/olympiad/Downloads/PastPapers/BPhO_Round_1_2013_prt_2.pdf If you would look through a couple of the questions I'm sure you'll get the flavour. I'll reproduce one of them here...
  35. D

    International Physics Olympiad (IPhO): Assistance is needed

    International Physics Olympiad (Preparation)? Hey I'm a Danish student, who will start 11th grade after summer. I intend to get to the International Physics Olympiad 2014. I'm familiar with almost the whole syllabus, but I'm not strong in calculus yet (I know basics of differential...
  36. H

    How do I prepare for the Physics Olympiad?

    I realize this must have been posted to death already, but brushing over that: What's the best way to study for the (British) physics Olympiad? Feel free not to answer all of the following points (I've arranged it this way for clarity): Firstly: would it help in the regional finals to have...
  37. J

    Preparing for Your First Physics Olympiad: Tips and Strategies for Success

    Okay, guys. So the thing is I'll have to attend to Physics national olympiad (not a big country, so not big deal), but, when looking at last years exercises, I realized, that I have no idea how to solve them. Heck, I don't even understand the solutions, that teacher gave me! What I'd like would...
  38. N

    Preparing for physics olympiad. Need Guidance

    iam starting 11th grade this year and i want to appear in IPHO for the next two years. I am pretty talented and i am aiming for two golds. i have about ten months for the qualifier in my country . i know all theory and i have a pretty good grasp . i have solved many problems from resnick...
  39. N

    How good is IE IRODOV for physics olympiad

    Iam currently preparing for physics olympiad 2014 and i am using IE IRODOV as a problem book. i want to know whether its enough for ipho or should i buy some other book.i have solved about 150 problems from IE IRODOV.
  40. N

    Problem book for physics olympiads

    Iam preparing for physics olympiad 2014 . i have read all theory and had a good amount of problem solving from resnick halliday walker . i need a problem book with difficulty comparable to that of the international physics olympiads. I have IE IRODOV and SS KROTOV . which is a better book for...
  41. N

    International Physics olympiad preparationany ideas would be very helpful

    Iam from India starting 11th grade this year and iam preparing for International physics olympiad 2014 . i have completely read and solved Concepts of Physics I and II by HC Verma. iam currently solving problems from IE Irodov and SS Krotov and solved about 100 problems from those.i have about 8...
  42. S

    How to use these books for physics olympiad?

    Hi guys, I have Feynman lectures, University Physics, and Irodov problems in general physics with solutions. How do I make use of these books? Firstly, I must say that university physics textbook is rather simple to go through, but I've heard that Feynman lectures are better for physics...
  43. T

    2011 Physics Olympiad Problem 25

    Homework Statement A hollow cylinder with a very thin wall (like a toilet paper tube) and a block are placed at rest at the top of a plane with inclination θ above the horizontal. The cylinder rolls down the plane without slipping and the block slides down the plane; it is found that both...
  44. A

    Suggestion Physics olympiad discussion

    can we have a special area for physics olympiad discussion and problem collection(like problem papers of ipho, apho and usapho)?
  45. A

    Preparing for Physics Olympiads in 4 Months

    Hi, I'm new here, and I hope someone could help me out. I'm in grade 12, and plan to write the preliminary exams for the olympiads this year. The problem is, i have only around four months till this date. I went through a tough time in 11th as I switched schools, and in general my grades fell...
  46. C

    What topics should I focus on for the Australian Physics Olympiad?

    Hi, I'm entering in the Australian Physics Olympiad (which is the qualifying exam for the training camp, then you go on and do the international olympiad if you make the top 5 I believe in your field). I'm in year 10, though my maths is very strong (no doubt one of the strongest out of all the...
  47. P

    Physics olympiad book suggestion

    i am in class 11 and have recently completed my mechanics and thermodynamics. i want to participate in physics olympiad .i used resnick halliday ,irodov problems and iitjee related books.but the problems that come up at olympiads are typically harder than the problems in those books. so is...
  48. B

    Physics Olympiad Vector Acceleration

    Homework Statement A particle of mass 2.00 kg moves under a force given by F~ = −(8.00 N/m)(xˆi + yˆj) whereˆi and ˆj are unit vectors in the x and y directions. The particle is placed at the origin with an initial velocity~v = (3.00 m/s)ˆi + (4.00 m/s)ˆj. a. After how much time will the...
  49. B

    Conservation of Energy Physics Olympiad

    Homework Statement A ball of mass M and radius R has a moment of inertia of I =2/5MR. The ball is released from rest and rolls down the ramp with no frictional loss of energy. The ball is projected vertically upward o a ramp as shown in the diagram, reaching a maximum height ymax above the...
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