Book Choice for the Physics Olympiad

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the selection of books for preparing for the Physics Olympiad, focusing on various resources that can aid in learning physics and solving olympiad-level problems. Participants share their experiences and recommendations regarding textbooks and supplementary materials.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest using problem books like Irodov's for olympiad preparation, while others emphasize the importance of foundational textbooks for learning physics.
  • One participant recommends "Physics for Scientists and Engineers" by Giancoli for its problem-solving focus, noting it has less theory compared to other university textbooks.
  • There are mixed opinions on the effectiveness of "Fundamentals of Physics" (FOP), with some asserting it covers necessary theory while others express concerns about its depth in certain topics like electromagnetic waves and quantum physics.
  • Several participants mention the importance of calculus in understanding physics concepts and solving problems, with some questioning whether certain books can be comprehended without prior calculus knowledge.
  • One participant shares their experience with the Canadian CAP exam, noting the challenges of specific problems and the need for a solid understanding of concepts.
  • There is a discussion about the varying difficulty of problems in different books and how they compare to national and international olympiad questions.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the preparation process for experimental tests and seek advice on relevant resources.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on which book is the best for preparing for the Physics Olympiad, as multiple competing views and recommendations are presented. There is also disagreement regarding the sufficiency of certain textbooks in covering all necessary topics.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention limitations in their current resources, such as the lack of coverage in certain advanced topics in "Fundamentals of Physics" and the varying levels of difficulty in problem sets across different books. Some express the need for additional learning materials to fully prepare for the olympiad.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students preparing for the Physics Olympiad, educators seeking resources for teaching physics, and anyone interested in understanding the variety of materials available for learning and problem-solving in physics.

abhikesbhat
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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!
 
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If you know your stuff already you can buy problem books which can help you with olympiad problems.

Irodov's book is probably one of the best.
 
Yeah I only know Kinematics so far, so which book is best to LEARN physics while preparing for the olympiad.
 
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Fundamentals of Physics, Irodov's, Feynman lectures and watch MIT lectures, would do.
 
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Oh yes, Lewin's MIT lectures are amazing.

By the way, what grade are you in (to the OP)??
 
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Physics/8-01Physics-IFall1999/VideoLectures/index.htm

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Physics/8-02Electricity-and-MagnetismSpring2002/VideoAndCaptions/

Oh and do past contest. First the pre ones. (Pre-pre one first if there is one.) Then the IPhO. You should be reasonably ready if you do it. It takes a lot of time and conmittment but its nothing impossible. I only did some Fundamentals of physics and bit of Feynman and MIT lectures, I don't think I made it. For Fundamentals of Physics, do ALL the odd number problems. (I didn't do all the problems and now I'm going over everything again.)
 
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I am also preparing for the Physics Olympiad, so thanks for all the advices.

By the way, how's Fundamentals of Physics? Is it a good book? Does it delve further into theory or is it mostly a problem solving book?
 
thrill3rnit3 said:
I am also preparing for the Physics Olympiad, so thanks for all the advices.

By the way, how's Fundamentals of Physics? Is it a good book? Does it delve further into theory or is it mostly a problem solving book?

It has most of the theory you have to know. But IPhO contest questions are harder, of course. Some of the harder FOP questions are like easiest contest hard part questions. FOP covers first year univeristy physics and that's basically what you need to know to get into IPhO.
 
  • #10
Bright Wang said:
It has most of the theory you have to know. But IPhO contest questions are harder, of course. Some of the harder FOP questions are like easiest contest hard part questions. FOP covers first year univeristy physics and that's basically what you need to know to get into IPhO.

I understand. How about in comparison to national olympiads? Since you said FOP covers what I need to know to get into IPhO, then the problems are about the same difficulty as national physics olympiad (U.S.) ??
 
  • #11
im in grade 8
 
  • #12
No I have FOP and the problems are challenging, but i can complete them. I am sure if I could complete them then they would not be on the iPho
 
  • #13
http://www.jyu.fi/kastdk/olympiads/ go to "The Syllabus" FOP covers most of the material. I guess you have to learn more about Electromagnetic waves, Quantum Physics and Matter. There's only one chapter in FOP on EM waves, I don't think that covers everything. There's no chapter on matter or quantum physics.

I'm in Canada so I do the CAP exam. There's always 3 hard questions that's worth most of the marks. In 2006 there's one almost exact question on CAP that's on the FOP. But that's the 1st level exam. I have no clue what the US National is like.

FOP is mostly for you to learn the material, understand the concepts and do some simple problems. With MIT Lectures you can see some experiments and it will make the book easier to go though. (Lewin is a great lecturer.)

Feynman Lectures can help to understand the concepts and develop intuition. (really only vol. 1 and 2 are needed.)

Then Irodov's is the book that develop your problem solving skills. (Some of Irodov's about the same level as IPhO, I heard. I have the book but didn't have the time to study it. I heard some are even harder than IPhO, since its really designed for good university students.)

abhikesbhat, Grade 8 is really early to start this wow. I only started studying at the end of Grade 11. First try learning the grade 11 and 12 material, though my grade 11 and 12 books are really bad. Though you might want to learn a lot math before you start learning physics, calculus is a must! (even though IPhO says its not needed, then they have solutions in calculus form.)
 
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  • #14
How did you do on the test Bright Wang?
 
  • #15
thrill3rnit3 said:
How did you do on the test Bright Wang?

Really bad. The results didn't come out yet, but I did really bad. Just hoping that I can go to the camp. But for Canada you have to do problem sets (Unless you get top 3) to go to the camp.

What grade are you in?
 
  • #16
Bright Wang said:
Really bad. The results didn't come out yet, but I did really bad. Just hoping that I can go to the camp. But for Canada you have to do problem sets (Unless you get top 3) to go to the camp.

What grade are you in?

I'm currently in 10th grade. I'm studying Mechanics right now, hopefully I can finish that and E&M by the end of the summer so that I can just focus on problem sets by the start of next year (that's when the qualifying tests begin).
 
  • #17
So, I'm going to the training camp. There's a experimental test, how can I prepare of it? Any books on this?
 
  • #18
Bright Wang said:
So, I'm going to the training camp. There's a experimental test, how can I prepare of it? Any books on this?

And you said you did really bad :rolleyes:
 
  • #19
Oh that was beacuse of the problem sets. The exam results didn't came out yet.
 
  • #20
so what's the camp for? do they select the physics team from the training camp?

I'm not really sure how the system works for you guys...
 
  • #21
Haha I am doing the exact same thing. But I'm doing multivariable calculus along with it. Done with most of the syllabus except modern physics.

Trust me, i have used Giancoli, Serway, University Physics, Halliday Resnick WALKER, Halliday Resnick KRANE and Knight. I have purchased Serway, UPhysics, Halliday Resnick KRANE.

IMO, University Physics and Halliday Resnick Krane are the KINGS. What I like about Halliday Resnick Krane though is that they can explain very well with half the amount of words. And the problems are good too.

Get Halliday Resnick Krane. And yeah, use Irodov too. Another good book is A guide to Physics Problems by Sidney B. Cahn etc.
 
  • #22
What grade are you in?
 
  • #23
I'm not in America, but it's equivalent to grade 10 there.
 
  • #24
Bright Wang said:
Fundamentals of Physics, Irodov's, Feynman lectures and watch MIT lectures, would do.
Does it involve calculus? Does the Giancoli book involve calculus?
 
  • #25
lesalphae said:
Does it involve calculus? Does the Giancoli book involve calculus?

All the books I said needs calculus. Don't know Giancoli. You need to learn calculus anyways, you can't do physics without calculus.
 
  • #26
I guess what I'm trying to say is whether I can understand it without a calculus knowledge. I tried reading the Barron's Physics C study guide and I couldn't understand a thing.
 
  • #27
lesalphae said:
I guess what I'm trying to say is whether I can understand it without a calculus knowledge. I tried reading the Barron's Physics C study guide and I couldn't understand a thing.

Calculus is a tool used in many physics problems, and the derivations of a lot of formulas are easier understood with calculus than with algebra.
 
  • #28
Thanks to both of you :)
 
  • #29
hello . I'm new member . I am in grade 11 and read FOP unit 1-11 . I can solve national physics olympiad and FOP problems . but difficulty can solve irodovs . can you guid me that what should I do now and what else I have to know ? by the way , in my country , the first stage of exam is on febreury . thank you very much .
 
  • #30
shima said:
hello . I'm new member . I am in grade 11 and read FOP unit 1-11 . I can solve national physics olympiad and FOP problems . but difficulty can solve irodovs . can you guid me that what should I do now and what else I have to know ? by the way , in my country , the first stage of exam is on febreury . thank you very much .

First learn all the concepts in IPhO. Are you done that?
 

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