All Olympiad Teams are automatically registered for this event. Come ready to participate.

A series of 15-20 'simple' physics demonstrations will be described by a UM Faculty member.  A question about each demonstration will be posed for the teams to consider. Each team will then come to a consensus answer. Answers for each question will be provided by watching the demonstration happen.

Laser Maze

A laser beam is to be guided through an optical maze onto a bull's eye target. Three mirrors must be aligned such that the laser beam bounces off all mirrors and passes through circular apertures to be placed in specified areas along the beam path. The laser is turned off during most of the alignment procedure.  

Team size = 2,  View details

Teams of two to three students construct a barge from the materials provided before the contest. Points toward the final score are awarded for a quiz and for the maximal amount of weight the barge can carry before it sinks. Both the building and the loading of the boat have to be performed within a specified time limit determined by the judges.

Team size = 2-3,   View details

Each team is given a kit consisting of various mechanical and electronic parts to design, build and race a model solar car.  During the competition the students will race their car on a timed course.  The fastest time wins.

Team size = 2-4,   View details

Hot-Air Balloons

Each team will attempt to loft as much sand as possible to a minimum altitude within a specified time window using a tethered hot air balloon.  Click here for the description of how to build a simple balloon for practice.

Team size = 2 or 3,  View details

We will simulate high-energy particle beam collisions by having students at opposite ends of a long hallway launch large hovering pucks at each other for a near head-on collision. The goal is to scatter each puck off to 90 degrees (i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the incident “beam” directions). Markers set at regular angular intervals (for example at 10 degree intervals) will be used to judge the accuracy of collision.

Team size = 2 or 3,  View details

Before coming to the Physics Olympiad, participants build a water-balloon catcher and an adjustable-range catapult capable of hurling standard-size water balloons (about 3'' in diameter, 200g) distances between 20 - 50 feet over an obstacle of between 2 and 20 feet high.  During the competition two teams take aim at each other’s catapult.  A distance between 20-50 feet separates the catapults, and the obstacle is placed between them.  The operation of the catapult is triggered by one of the two students that comprise a team. The second student is tasked with defending the catapult with the water-balloon catcher and must stand no closer than 3 feet and no further than 6 feet from the catapult.  Balloons are launched simultaneously. The first team to successfully hit the other team’s catapult without having their own hit wins and moves on to the next round.  A hit is determined either by a direct strike on a catapult or when a balloon bursts in the process of defending the catapult.  If neither team scores a hit after six tries, each team gets a single chance at an undefended catapult and the one to strike nearest the other wins.