Practical guide to Physics Olympiads

Here you can find a collection of the most interesting Physics problems for any skill level
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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
This section explores more complex scenarios in projectile motion, where it may be beneficial to app...
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
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Shadows

Optics
Beginner
Plane mirrors
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Plane mirrors

Optics
Beginner
Kinematics of non-stretchable ropes
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Kinematics of non-stretchable ropes

Mechanics
Intermediate
Optimal linear trajectories
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Optimal linear trajectories

Mechanics
Intermediate
Optimal parabolic trajectories
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Optimal parabolic trajectories

Mechanics
Intermediate
Optimal trajectories with using differentiation
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Optimal trajectories with using differentiation

Mechanics
Intermediate
Reachable boundaries in kinematics
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Reachable boundaries in kinematics

Mechanics
Intermediate
Kinematics of ropes and pulleys
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Kinematics of ropes and pulleys

Mechanics
Beginner
Motion with constant velocity
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Motion with constant velocity

Mechanics
Beginner
Ray tracing for converging lenses
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Ray tracing for converging lenses

Optics
Beginner
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle
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Heisenberg's uncertainty principle

Modern Physics
Advanced
Images of extended objects in converging lenses
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Images of extended objects in converging lenses

Optics
Beginner
Resistors in series and parallel
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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
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Special cases of interference

Optics
Advanced
Calorimetry
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Calorimetry

Thermodynamics
Beginner
Apparent images caused by refraction
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Apparent images caused by refraction

Optics
Intermediate
Work and energy
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Work and energy

Mechanics
Beginner
Momentum
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Momentum

Mechanics
Intermediate
Oscillations. Dynamical approach
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Oscillations. Dynamical approach

Mechanics
Intermediate
Viscous friction
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Viscous friction

Mechanics
Intermediate
Displacement of small element
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Displacement of small element

Mechanics
Intermediate
Uniform grid
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Uniform grid

Mechanics
Intermediate
Superposition of mass
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Superposition of mass

Mechanics
Intermediate
Integration by layers
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Integration by layers

Math
Intermediate
Integration by time
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Integration by time

Math
Intermediate
Dry friction
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Dry friction

Mechanics
Intermediate
Konig's theorem
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Konig's theorem

Mechanics
Intermediate
Angular momentum
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Angular momentum

Mechanics
Intermediate
Mirror effect in kinematics
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Mirror effect in kinematics

Mechanics
Intermediate
Sinusoidal equations
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Sinusoidal equations

Mechanics
Intermediate
Equations of harmonic motion
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Equations of harmonic motion

Mechanics
Intermediate
Systems with behavior of a simple pendulum
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Systems with behavior of a simple pendulum

Mechanics
Intermediate
Applied differentiation
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Applied differentiation

Math
Intermediate
Resistance of infinite circuits
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Resistance of infinite circuits

Electromagnetism
Intermediate
Star to triangle transformations
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Star to triangle transformations

Electromagnetism
Intermediate
Effective resistance
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Effective resistance

Electromagnetism
Intermediate
Rigid structures
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Rigid structures

Mechanics
Intermediate
Introduction to trigonometry
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Introduction to trigonometry

Math
Beginner
Recurrent relations
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Recurrent relations

Math
Advanced
Vector diagrams for interference
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Vector diagrams for interference

Optics
Advanced
Applications of Snell's law of refraction
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Applications of Snell's law of refraction

Optics
Advanced
Maxwell's equations
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Maxwell's equations

Electromagnetism
Intermediate
Maxwell's distribution
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Maxwell's distribution

Thermodynamics
Advanced
Stretching
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Stretching

Mechanics
Advanced
Driven oscillations. Resonance
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Driven oscillations. Resonance

Mechanics
Advanced
Stability analysis
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Stability analysis

Mechanics
Advanced
Deviation in central fields
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Deviation in central fields

Mechanics
Advanced
Zero mass (almost)
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Zero mass (almost)

Mechanics
Intermediate
Application of matrices
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Application of matrices

Math
Advanced
Parametric equations
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Parametric equations

Math
Advanced
Drift
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Drift

Electromagnetism
Intermediate
Snell's law of refraction
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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
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Mean free path

Thermodynamics
Intermediate
Counting molecules of gas
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Counting molecules of gas

Thermodynamics
Intermediate
Non-quasistatic processes
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Non-quasistatic processes

Thermodynamics
Intermediate
Molar heat capacity
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Molar heat capacity

Thermodynamics
Intermediate
Adiabatic process
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Adiabatic process

Thermodynamics
Intermediate
Effective capacitance
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Effective capacitance

Electromagnetism
Intermediate
Surface tension
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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

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