International Baccalaureate Physics Physics Olympics

Physics Olympics Students form teams of three. Teams compete in three events. One of the events is a “calculation” event.

(visit PO website for more info) Physics Olympics Students form teams of three. Teams compete in three events. One of the events is a “calculation” event. Make a team of three Show me that you can “calculate.” Sign up with me for your three events. (visit PO website for more info) Plan transportation, meals, shirts, and construction.

Calculation events Students form teams of three. Teams compete in three events. One of the events is a “calculation” event. Air track - Centripetal force Spring constant - Magnetic field Trajectory * Laser shoot

Calculation events One of the events is a “calculation” event. Air track - Centripetal force Spring constant - Magnetic field Trajectory * Laser shoot Your team must pre-qualify by solving a related physics problem. Here are some practice problems:

Air Track Your team must pre-qualify by solving a related physics problem. Here are some practice problems: A 50.0 gram load sits on a 200.0 gram glider. The glider is 15.0 cm long and is 85.0 cm from a photogate. If a 35.0 gram weight pulls on the glider, how long will the photogate be blocked?

Air Track  

Centripetal force Your team must pre-qualify by solving a related physics problem. Here are some practice problems: You hang a 150.0 gram mass from a string and use it to whirl a rubber stopper in a 45.0 cm radius circle. Your partner times 20.0 revolutions in 7.68 seconds. What is the stopper’s mass?

Centripetal force  

Spring constant Your team must pre-qualify by solving a related physics problem. Here are some practice problems: You hang a 150.0 gram mass from a spring and observe it oscillate vertically. Your partner times 20.0 cycles in 7.68 seconds. When a different mass is oscillating, the stopwatch reads 9.64 seconds. What is the other mass?

Spring constant  

Magnetic Field Your team must pre-qualify by solving a related physics problem. Here are some practice problems: You hold a magnetic compass 5.0 cm due north of a wire. When a switch is closed, current in the wire makes the compass deflect 62°. What is the strength of the magnetic field at a distance of 22.0 cm?

Magnetic Field  

Trajectory Your team must pre-qualify by solving a related physics problem. Here are some practice problems: You work on a 75.0 cm tall table. A marble ball is released from a ramp and rolls along the level table top. Your partner times it with a stopwatch—he says it takes 0.84 seconds to roll a meter. How far from the table will the ball land?

Trajectory The ball will be in the air for t = (2y/g)1/2 t = 0.391 sec You work on a 75.0 cm tall table. A marble ball is released from a ramp and rolls along the level table top. Your partner times it with a stopwatch—he says it takes 0.84 seconds to roll a meter. How far from the table will the ball land? The ball will be in the air for t = (2y/g)1/2 t = 0.391 sec The ball’s speed is v = 100cm / 0.84 sec v = 119 cm/sec The range is v*t Range = 46.5 cm

*Laser shoot Your team must pre-qualify by solving a related physics problem. Here are some practice problems: You go into a room with a red line on a table and a post-it note on the wall. Position a semicircular dish of water at the end of the line and a tiny mirror 50 cm away so that when a laser beam is aimed down the red line the beam will hit the center of the post-it note. You have 10 minutes.