What is Physics olympiad: Definition and 82 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. 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...
  2. M

    Searching for Physics Olympiad Exercises? Need Help!

    Well I've been looking for sites that offer physics olympiad type exercise but i can't find any. If you guys know any good sites, that would be a big help thank you very much.
  3. N

    Have you taken on the challenge of the British Physics Olympiad A2 challenge?

    Not sure where this goes, but since it's an education thing, I figured here would be the best place. Hi all, I'm planning on sitting the British Physics Olympiad A2 challenge in a few weeks and I was hoping to see what people thought about it and see if anyone here is either doing it this...
  4. F

    Preparing for Singapore Physics Olympiad

    The syllabus should be similar to that of IPhO's. I have lecture notes and tutorials from my teacher, but the tutorials come with answers without solutions, and so I'm hoping for somebody to recommend a book with excellent questions for preparation for PhO and with solutions included. Is...
  5. U

    Solve World Physics Olympiad (WOPHO) Problems Together

    Is anyone solving the worlds physics olympiads (wopho) problems? If so, I suggest starting a disccusion about the problems to help each other. In my opinion the problems are difficult and hard just to even understand the situoations that are given.
  6. P

    Upcoming Physics Olympiad Test

    Homework Statement Abullet of mass m strikes a pendulum of mass M suspended from a pivot by a string of length L with a horizontal velocity v0. The collision is perfectly INelastic and the bullet sticks to the bob. Find the minimum velocity v0 such that the bob (with the bullet inside)...
  7. J

    F=ma Physics Olympiad Exam question 19: Constant power

    Homework Statement A car has an engine which delivers a constant power. It accelerates from rest at time t = 0, and at t = t0 its acceleration is a0. What is its acceleration at t = 2t0? Ignore energy loss due to friction. Homework Equations P=W/t, W=Fd, F=ma The Attempt at a...
  8. N

    Physics Olympiad 2010 practice test question # 23

    Two streams of water flow through two U-shaped tubes (the two U-tubes are facing away from each other, but touching each other at the base of the 'U's). The tube on the left has cross-sectional area A, and the speed of the water flowing through it is v. The tube on the right has cross-sectional...
  9. E

    What's a recommended online book for studying analysis for the Physics Olympiad?

    Hi, I am looking for a good online book in order to study analysis.. I haven't studied it at school, but I think that it will be useful during Physics Olympiad.. So what do you suggest me doing?
  10. A

    Preparing for physics olympiad

    Hello! I am a high school student and I am preparing for physics olympiad and I need some help regarding resources. Talking about what I have done , I have read Physics by Resnick and halliday 5th edi both volumes.I have also read Thomas's Calculus(most part). and I am currently doing 'An...
  11. V

    What Are the Answers to the Physics Olympiad Past Papers?

    So my teacher entered me for the Physics Challenge for GCSE students(test from the makers of the Physics Olympiad, for gifted students), which is intended for students of 16 years of age; year 11. I'm 15, and I'm in year 10, so i don't know why my teacher entered me.. Anyway, I have to...
  12. L

    Non linear motion ( Physics olympiads question )

    Homework Statement A cat sitting in a field suddenly sees a standing dog. To save its life, the cat runs away in a straight line with speed u. Without any delay, the dog starts with running with constant speed v>u to catch the cat. Initially, v is perpendicular to u and L is the initial...
  13. 1

    Top Physics Olympiad Books for 11th Graders: Recommendations and Tips

    I'm an 11th grader finishing Mechanics and Emag and I would like to ask you for your advice on textbooks and material I will need to cover to prepare for next years Olympiad. The book I used for Mech/Emag is by Tipler/Mosca. I have heard Halliday/Resnick is good but I don't know for which topics...
  14. R

    U.S. Physics Olympiad F=ma 2008: Problem 12

    12. A uniform disk rotates at a fixed angular velocity on an axis through its center normal to the plane of the disk, and has kinetic energy E. If the same disk rotates at the same angular velocity about an axis on the edge of the disk (still normal to the plane of the disk), what is its kinetic...
  15. A

    F = MA Contest and physics olympiad prep

    Hello, I was just wondering as to how I can prepare myself for the F=ma contest and other preliminary competitions that are part of the physics olympiad. Besides doing past F=ma tests, is there any other way to prepare? (this question is specifically targeted to those who have...
  16. J

    What Determines the Arc Radius of an Ion in a Magnetic Field?

    http://www.princeton.edu/~jdpeters/docs ... piad99.pdf I can't understand why the answer is E. The velocity with which the ion enters the magnetic field is determined by 1/2 m v^2 = q V ans so v is proportional to sqrt(q/m). The radius of the arc in a magnetic field of strength B...
  17. A

    Book Choice for the Physics Olympiad

    What are the best books to use for preparing for the Physics Olympiad? I have University Physics and Fundamentals of Physics? Which one is better? Thank you!
  18. thrill3rnit3

    Preparing for the US Physics Olympiad

    any tips? What topics are usually covered in the qualifying exams? How is the level of difficulty? Is it harder or easier than Irodov's problems? Finally, what level of math is assumed? thanks.
  19. V

    Advice on international physics olympiad

    Hi guys. I only recently heard about this competition calle the International Physics Olympiad and am really interested to enter. I am currently in Yr 10 and love physics. But i do not believe that i know enough of physics considering the standards of the education here. Please give me some...
  20. A

    International Physics Olympiad

    Is there a specific book or website that i can use to help me get to the IPho. I haven't learned much physics.
  21. A

    International physics olympiad

    i have heard of this contest. how can i prepare to go in? i am willing to work hard. i am going to be a freshman in high school next year.
  22. C

    Physics Olympiad US: Register by Dec 19th - Deadline?

    hey guys, Ijust sent my regostration for Physics olympiad (US). Do you know if they count on postmark or the day the mail arrives to consider which one is late? Cause the deadline of payment is Dec 19.
  23. E

    US Physics Olympiad qualifying exam (Mechanics)?

    So I read Irodov was the best prep for the Physics Olympiad, but what if I'm in Physics B and just completed a semester's worth of mechanics? I'm currently in Pre-Calculus if that matters. Another thread I read says most problems can be solved using differential eqs. but neither my current...
  24. S

    Preparing for US Physics Olympiad | Tips & Strategies

    Anyone have suggestions for doing well in this competition in the US?
  25. alexmahone

    Physics olympiad - electrostatics

    (Any number of options may be correct.) Three concentric spherical shells have radii r, 2r and 3r with charges q1, q2 and q3 respectively. Innermost and outermost shells are earthed. Then, (a) q1+q3=-q2 (b) q1=-q2/4 (c) q3/q1=3 (d) q3/q2=-1/3 The answer key tells me that (a), (b)...
  26. P

    Prepare for Physics Olympiads with Advanced Texts - Expert Advice

    Hey everyone, I would like to know if there are any physics texts out there which prepare people for olympiads? I googled but i didn't find much. I won't say excellent, but I'm a good physics student with an A average in class and I'm studying way ahead of my class. I am learning calculus and...
  27. P

    Links to Physics and Maths Olympiads

    Hi, I am in need of very hard physics and maths problems from olympiads best in English/German/Russian. Thanks
  28. D

    Physics Olympiad Preparation:-How to begin?

    Hello! I am new to this forum as you can see.I wanted to know that how should I start preparing for the National Physics Olympiad,from the very begining.I do know some MECHANICS but it is not enough to crack the olympiads.What should be my strategy,How should I proceed. P.S-I was quite...
  29. U

    Is full month break enough time to learn?

    ok, is 15 days of 3+hours a day, and then 1 month of totally hardcore studying(at least 10+hrs a day, doing this during the break) enough to qualify for the physics olympiad semifinals, IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE? do you think it could be done, if right now i don't know physics, but i do know cal 1...
  30. S

    Books for International Physics Olympiad Preparation

    what books should one follow if he or she gets selected and want to participate in International Physics Olympiad?
  31. M

    Preparing for the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)

    Hey, So I'd like to do the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) next year, and I was wondering what any of you wonderful physicists would suggest as adequate preparation, particularly those who have done IPhO before. I live in Ontario so I've looked at the University of Toronto Prep...
  32. O

    Cracking the Physics Olympiad Problem: Expressing V in 5 Parameters

    hey, I have a tough time cracking this one The other problem is: Imagine a glass tube with steel rings around it which have a conductancy rho and a half diameter of R. they are spaced with a distance H. inside the glass tube is a much smaller glass tube. Through it you drop a magnet with mass...
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