Book Choice for the Physics Olympiad

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the best resources for preparing for the Physics Olympiad, with participants recommending specific textbooks and study materials. Key suggestions include "Fundamentals of Physics" by Halliday, Resnick, and Walker, "Problems in General Physics" by Irodov, and "Physics for Scientists and Engineers" by Giancoli. Participants emphasize the importance of problem-solving practice, particularly through past Olympiad questions, and highlight the value of supplementary resources like MIT lectures and the Feynman Lectures for conceptual understanding.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, particularly in mechanics and electromagnetism.
  • Familiarity with calculus, as it is essential for solving many physics problems.
  • Knowledge of Olympiad-level problem-solving techniques.
  • Access to recommended textbooks such as "Fundamentals of Physics" and "Problems in General Physics" by Irodov.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study "Problems in General Physics" by Irodov to enhance problem-solving skills.
  • Review "Physics for Scientists and Engineers" by Giancoli for a strong foundation in physics concepts.
  • Watch MIT Physics lectures by Walter Lewin to gain insights into experimental physics.
  • Practice with past Physics Olympiad problems and national exam questions from the USA and Canada.
USEFUL FOR

Students preparing for the Physics Olympiad, educators seeking effective teaching resources, and anyone looking to deepen their understanding of advanced physics concepts and problem-solving strategies.

  • #31
Hello everyone.I'm new here! and I do study for the Physics olympiad,too.I have finished all the chapters of FOP.and so I'm studying Classical Mechanic-Daniel Kleppner ,Jerry B. Marion and Electrodynamics-Grifits.But I wanted to ask where can I find national physics questions of USA and China(in english)? I really need them for practice.
 
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  • #32
Erfan said:
Hello everyone.I'm new here! and I do study for the Physics olympiad,too.I have finished all the chapters of FOP.and so I'm studying Classical Mechanic-Daniel Kleppner ,Jerry B. Marion and Electrodynamics-Grifits.But I wanted to ask where can I find national physics questions of USA and China(in english)? I really need them for practice.

There`s many Chinese Olympiad books(in mandarin though), probably more than any other country. You can find pass exams with google.

here are some problems from Canada:
-http://www.physics.utoronto.ca/outreach/poptor/PrevProb.html
-CAP exam.
-Sir Issac Newton Exam -- Tons of questions on Classical Mechanic (you have to buy the book though(there's 2 but might be not very challenging))

Irodov's "Problems in general physics" are great.

I love Feynman lectures.

Good luck!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #33
Thank you for your guidance!
I'm downloading the problems of Canada and I should find the other two.
 

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