Practical guide to Physics Olympiads

Here you can find a collection of the most interesting Physics problems for any skill level
ilus-mainvideo-06

Who is that for?

For beginner level Physics enthusiasts
Get a clear vision about where to start your studies without being overwhelmed
For winning medals at APhO/IPhO
Hone your skills for Nationals rounds of Physics competitions or APhO/IPhO with a collection of cherry-picked problems
For acing JEE Advanced
After some preparation to Physics Olympiads, any JEE Advanced Physics question will seem as a piece of cake

Explore chapters

Category
Skill level
Kirchhoff's circuit laws

Kirchhoff's circuit laws

Electromagnetism
This section covers Kirchhoff's current and voltage laws, including their application in describing...
Beginner
Recommended resources for beginners

Recommended resources for beginners

General
Beginner
Recommended resources for Intermediate level

Recommended resources for Intermediate level

General
Intermediate
Recommended resources for Advanced level

Recommended resources for Advanced level

General
Advanced
Average velocity

Average velocity

Mechanics
This chapter discusses problems of 1D motion with constant velocities that vary across different int...
Beginner
Projectile motion

Projectile motion

Mechanics
Intermediate
Kinematics of chasing

Kinematics of chasing

Mechanics
This chapter is dedicated to kinematics problems where the direction of an object's motion changes b...
Advanced
Ohm's law in a vector form

Ohm's law in a vector form

Electromagnetism
Intermediate
Superposition for resistors

Superposition for resistors

Electromagnetism
Advanced
Fourier's law for heat transfer

Fourier's law for heat transfer

Thermodynamics
Advanced
Radius of curvature

Radius of curvature

Math
Intermediate
Dimensional analysis

Dimensional analysis

General
Intermediate
Polar coordinates

Polar coordinates

Math
Advanced
Adiabatic invariants

Adiabatic invariants

Mechanics
Advanced
Dissociation

Dissociation

Thermodynamics
Intermediate
Diverging lenses

Diverging lenses

Optics
Beginner
Knowledge of fundamental physical constants

Knowledge of fundamental physical constants

Experiment
Advanced
Physical properties of common materials

Physical properties of common materials

Experiment
Advanced
Drawing plots

Drawing plots

Experiment
Advanced
Linearization

Linearization

Experiment
Advanced
Overview of Physics Olympiads

Overview of Physics Olympiads

General
Beginner
Interference

Interference

Optics
Intermediate
Problem solving strategies

Problem solving strategies

General
Beginner
Intro to projectile motion

Intro to projectile motion

Mechanics
Beginner
Shadows
For Premium Subscribers

Shadows

Optics
Beginner
Plane mirrors
For Premium Subscribers

Plane mirrors

Optics
Beginner
Kinematics of non-stretchable ropes
For Premium Subscribers

Kinematics of non-stretchable ropes

Mechanics
Intermediate
Optimal linear trajectories
For Premium Subscribers

Optimal linear trajectories

Mechanics
Intermediate
Optimal parabolic trajectories
For Premium Subscribers

Optimal parabolic trajectories

Mechanics
Intermediate
Optimal trajectories with using differentiation
For Premium Subscribers

Optimal trajectories with using differentiation

Mechanics
Intermediate
Reachable boundaries in kinematics
For Premium Subscribers

Reachable boundaries in kinematics

Mechanics
Intermediate
Kinematics of ropes and pulleys
For Premium Subscribers

Kinematics of ropes and pulleys

Mechanics
Beginner
Motion with constant velocity
For Premium Subscribers

Motion with constant velocity

Mechanics
Beginner
Ray tracing for converging lenses
For Premium Subscribers

Ray tracing for converging lenses

Optics
Beginner
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle
For Premium Subscribers

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle

Modern Physics
Advanced
Images of extended objects in converging lenses
For Premium Subscribers

Images of extended objects in converging lenses

Optics
Beginner
Resistors in series and parallel
For Premium Subscribers

Resistors in series and parallel

Electromagnetism
In this chapter is introduced the concept of resistor with stating the rules for connection of resis...
Beginner
Special cases of interference
For Premium Subscribers

Special cases of interference

Optics
Advanced
Calorimetry
For Premium Subscribers

Calorimetry

Thermodynamics
Beginner
Apparent images caused by refraction
For Premium Subscribers

Apparent images caused by refraction

Optics
Intermediate
Work and energy
For Premium Subscribers

Work and energy

Mechanics
Beginner
Momentum
For Premium Subscribers

Momentum

Mechanics
Intermediate
Oscillations. Dynamical approach
For Premium Subscribers

Oscillations. Dynamical approach

Mechanics
Intermediate
Viscous friction
For Premium Subscribers

Viscous friction

Mechanics
Intermediate
Displacement of small element
For Premium Subscribers

Displacement of small element

Mechanics
Intermediate
Uniform grid
For Premium Subscribers

Uniform grid

Mechanics
Intermediate
Superposition of mass
For Premium Subscribers

Superposition of mass

Mechanics
Intermediate
Applications of integral
For Premium Subscribers

Applications of integral

Math
Intermediate
Applications of Integral 2
For Premium Subscribers

Applications of Integral 2

Math
Intermediate
Dry friction
For Premium Subscribers

Dry friction

Mechanics
Intermediate
Konig's theorem
For Premium Subscribers

Konig's theorem

Mechanics
Intermediate
Angular momentum
For Premium Subscribers

Angular momentum

Mechanics
Intermediate
Mirror effect in kinematics
For Premium Subscribers

Mirror effect in kinematics

Mechanics
Intermediate
Sinusoidal equations
For Premium Subscribers

Sinusoidal equations

Mechanics
Intermediate
Equations of harmonic motion
For Premium Subscribers

Equations of harmonic motion

Mechanics
Intermediate
Systems with behavior of a simple pendulum
For Premium Subscribers

Systems with behavior of a simple pendulum

Mechanics
Intermediate
Applied differentiation
For Premium Subscribers

Applied differentiation

Math
Intermediate
Resistance of infinite circuits
For Premium Subscribers

Resistance of infinite circuits

Electromagnetism
Intermediate
Star to triangle transformations
For Premium Subscribers

Star to triangle transformations

Electromagnetism
Intermediate
Effective resistance
For Premium Subscribers

Effective resistance

Electromagnetism
Intermediate
Rigid structures
For Premium Subscribers

Rigid structures

Mechanics
Intermediate
Introduction to trigonometry
For Premium Subscribers

Introduction to trigonometry

Math
Beginner
Recurrent relations
For Premium Subscribers

Recurrent relations

Math
Advanced
Vector diagrams for interference
For Premium Subscribers

Vector diagrams for interference

Optics
Advanced
Applications of Snell's law of refraction
For Premium Subscribers

Applications of Snell's law of refraction

Optics
Advanced
Maxwell's equations
For Premium Subscribers

Maxwell's equations

Electromagnetism
Intermediate
Maxwell's distribution
For Premium Subscribers

Maxwell's distribution

Thermodynamics
Advanced
Stretching
For Premium Subscribers

Stretching

Mechanics
Advanced
Driven oscillations. Resonance
For Premium Subscribers

Driven oscillations. Resonance

Mechanics
Advanced
Stability analysis
For Premium Subscribers

Stability analysis

Mechanics
Advanced
Deviation in central fields
For Premium Subscribers

Deviation in central fields

Mechanics
Advanced
Zero mass (almost)
For Premium Subscribers

Zero mass (almost)

Mechanics
Intermediate
Application of matrices
For Premium Subscribers

Application of matrices

Math
Advanced
Parametric equations
For Premium Subscribers

Parametric equations

Math
Advanced
Drift
For Premium Subscribers

Drift

Electromagnetism
Intermediate
Snell's law of refraction
For Premium Subscribers

Snell's law of refraction

Optics
This chapter is dedicated to the concept of light refraction, with a quantitative characterization b...
Beginner
Mean free path
For Premium Subscribers

Mean free path

Thermodynamics
Intermediate
Counting molecules of gas
For Premium Subscribers

Counting molecules of gas

Thermodynamics
Intermediate
Non-quasistatic processes
For Premium Subscribers

Non-quasistatic processes

Thermodynamics
Intermediate
Molar heat capacity
For Premium Subscribers

Molar heat capacity

Thermodynamics
Intermediate
Adiabatic process
For Premium Subscribers

Adiabatic process

Thermodynamics
Intermediate
Effective capacitance
For Premium Subscribers

Effective capacitance

Electromagnetism
Intermediate
Surface tension
For Premium Subscribers

Surface tension

Mechanics
Intermediate

How does it work

1
Read theory
Each chapter has a short, easy to digest theory about some laws of Physics
2
Explore examples
After each theory section are given relevant examples for strengthening your understanding of a new topic
3
Solve problems
Hone your skills with interesting challenging problems and learn best practices from corresponding official solutions

About author

Hi! My name is Pavel đź‘‹. I am a big fan of Physics Olympiads and I would like to share my enthusiasm in competitive Physics with more people. My relevant experience is following:
  • Participated at APhO/IPhO as a student in 2006
  • Team leader at APhO/IPhO 2014-2019
  • Created problems for multiple Physics Olympiads including WoPhO (2012) and IPhO (2014)
I hope you will enjoy learning with PhysOlymp 🙂
Pavel Levchenko
Founder of PhysOlymp.com
My Awards & Achievements
$20 000 prize for the most creative theoretical problem
Gold medal at regional International Physics Olympiad after Zhautykov (~20 countries)
Honorable mention at IPhO 2006
Honorable mention at APhO 2006

Frequently asked questions

Why PhysOlymp?
PhysOlymp is loved by thousands of students for its unique collection of carefully selected problems, which are a pleasure to deal with. You will learn a lot by trying to solve those problems and comparing your approach with official solutions.
How much does it cost?
Premium account at PhysOlymp.com costs $9.99 USD/month with a monthly subscription or ~$6.7 USD/month with an annual plan. Premium subscription unlocks the entire content of this portal with all levels of difficulty. Besides there are multiple opportunities to win promo codes by participating in online competitions
Is information about my credit card secure?
Payments for Premium subscriptions at PhysOlymp.com are processed with Paddle.com, which is one of the leaders in the FinTech industry. PhysOlymp.com does not have access to information about your credit card, while our payment processing provider Paddle.com handles security issues very seriously. Therefore you should not worry about mishandling information of your credit card
How do I cancel?
Canceling Premium subscription at PhysOlymp.com is easy, by pushing a single button at your account settings under “Manage subscription” section
Do you sell my personal data?
PhysOlymp.com uses some minor cookies, which are essential for your experience of login into the PhysOlymp.com system. Also we use some analytics services for getting an idea about traction of the product among users. However, none of that data is sold to the third parties
Can I use it from multiple devices?
Sure, content of PhysOlymp will display nicely on any devices, such as laptops, tablets or mobile phones. Feel free to use our portal from several devices with the same login
Ready to learn?
Join thousands of other students who found PhysOlymp as a great tool for their studies
Get started

Contact us

physolymp@proton.me
Don’t hesitate to reach us with any questions or suggestions
© 2024 PhysOlymp.com