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Victorian Young Physicists' Tournament
What do the students do
The AIP (Vic Branch) Education Committee has established a competition for Year 11 physics students. In the course of the year, in teams of three, students will carry out a range of experimental investigations drawn from a common set, then later in the year on the first week in December, present and defend their findings in scientific discussions with other teams.
To find out specific information about the 2010 Tournament, click here
Typical problems for investigation are:
- Popping body A body is submerged in water. After release it will pop out of the water. How does the height of the pop above the water surface depend on the initial conditions (depth and other parameters)?
- Steel balls Colliding Two large steel balls with a thin sheet of material (e.g. paper) in between may “burn” a hole in the sheet. Investigate this effect for various materials.
- Magnetic spring Two magnets are arranged on top of each other such that one of them is fixed and the other one can move vertically. Investigate oscillations of the magnet.
- Kelvin water dropper: Construct a Kelvin water dropper. Measure the highest voltage it can produce. Investigate its dependence on relevant parameters.
- Liquid light guide A transparent vessel is filled with a liquid (e.g. water). A jet flows out of the vessel. A light source is placed so that a horizontal beam enters the liquid jet (see picture). Under what conditions does the jet operate like a light guide?
- Electromagnetic cannon A solenoid can be used to fire a small ball. A capacitor is used to energise the solenoid coil. Build a device with a capacitor charged to a maximum 50V. Investigate the relevant parameters and maximise the speed of the ball.
Aims of the Tournament
This event is designed to encourage research skills, team work and communication skills. It is modelled on the Australian Young Physicists’ Tournament, which is held in Brisbane in March each year. Teams participating in the Victorian event can also participate in the national event the following year. At the national event in Brisbane an Australian team is selected to compete at the International Young Physicists' Tournament, which is held later at the mid year. Check the AYPT website for a link to IYPT.
Release of Problems
- There will be eight problems in the common set, of which teams should investigate five.
- Many of the problems in the common set used for the Victorian competition will be selected from those used for the Brisbane event.
- The eight problems will be released in two stages.
- Stage 1: Three problems will be released at the beginning of the school year, and
- Stage 2: the final five in early August.
- While some problems will be of a general nature, one or more of the first batch will relate to Unit 1 content, while some of those in the second batch will relate to Unit 2 content.
Organisation of a Tournament
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The regulations include sections on team membership and supervision, the jury, description of team roles in a 'Physics Phyte', the sequence of a stage in a 'Physics Phyte', the rules of problem challenging and rejection, grading and sequence for the Final. | |||
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The flyer is a two page description of the Tournament distributed at the 2010 Physics Teachers Conference. | |||
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The Powerpoint from the workshop at the 2010 Physics Teachers Conference. | |||
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Assessment criteria to be used by the judges in a Physics Phyte. There is a separate criteria sheet for each of the roles of Reporter, Opponent (all Phytes) and Reviewer (final only). | |||
Registration
If schools are likely to be involved, they should send an expression of interest early in the school year, as there are likely to be support events for interested teachers and students alike during the year. Official entries will be due by the end of Term 3. Click here for details.
Schools that are thinking of entering next year are welcome as spectators this year, but they will also need to register their intention to come and watch.