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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 10 Science and 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.

Click for specific information about the 2012 Tournament and about the 2011 and 2010 Tournaments including results.

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 (AYPT), which is held in Brisbane in March each year and 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

In 2010 and 2011, there were seven problems in the common set from which teams investigated five. For 2012 there will be four problems in the common set, from which teams should investigate three.

Organisation of a Tournament

Note: The following files have not yet been updated to reflect the new structure for 2012.

 Type

Filename

Filesize

Microsoft Word

Regulations of the Physics Tournament

52.2 kB

The regulations include sections on team membership and supervision, the jury, description of team roles in a 'Physics Phyte', and the sequence of a stage in a 'Physics Phyte'. This is the version updated in January 2012.

Microsoft Word

Tournament Flyer

49.2 kB

The flyer is a two page description of the Tournament distributed at the 2010 Physics Teachers Conference.

Microsoft Powerpoint

Tournament PowerPoint

2.46 MB

The Powerpoint from the workshop at the 2010 Physics Teachers Conference.

Microsoft Word

Judging criteria

93.2 kB

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 beginning of Term 4. Click here for details.

Teachers that are thinking of entering teams the following year are welcome to attend the tournament.