Unites States National Physics Olympiad
The current procedure to select the U.S. Physics Team consists of two exams, the preliminary "F=ma" Exam and the Semifinals. After that, the top 20 finishers are invited to join the U.S. Physics Team at the training camp. In previous years, there have been free response questions on the preliminary round as well as a quarterfinal round in between the preliminary and semifinal. As of 2014, there are only two rounds of testing.
Preliminary Exam: This exam is known as the F = ma contest. There are 25 multiple choice questions in 75 minutes focusing only on noncalculus mechanics. One point is awarded for each correct answer and a quarter point penalty deducted for each incorrect answer. The cut-off was 15.5 in 2012, 12.25 in 2013, and 12.5 in 2014.
Semifinal Exam: The top 300-400 students from the preliminary exam will be invited to take this free response, calculus-based exam covering all topics in introductory physics: Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Thermodynamics, Fluids, Relativity, Nuclear and Atomic Physics, and Waves and Optics. There are two parts in the exam. Part A has 4 problems to do in 90 minutes. Part B has 2 problems to do in 90 minutes.
Training Camp: The top 20 finalists in the nation based off the scores of the above exams are invited to a rigorous training camp at the University of Maryland. There students receive heavy theoretical and experimental training and take a barrage of tests. Finally, the top five students are selected to participate in the International Physics Olympiad.
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P403: Advanced Physics Olympiad - F=ma test
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P404: Advanced Physics Olympiad - Physics Team Seminar
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