<p>I was a Semifinalist for the USA Physics Olympiad this year. I want to make the camp next year. Does anyone have any tips on getting past semifinals and to the camp? I've been watching MIT open courseware with Walter Lewin with 8.01 and 8.02, and I recently got the Feynman Lectures along with the Halliday/Resnick/Krane Fundamental Physics textbook which I heard is pretty good. Any other resources I should use? Oh, and next year I'm taking AP Bio instead of AP Physics C. Do you think I should change that, or can I self study the Physics C type problems for olympiad? Thanks. </p>
<p>do problems, study college stuff.</p>
<p>I would recommend learning the first 2 years of college math. Calc 1,2,3. Differential equations along with linear algebra and advanced practical physics classes.</p>
<p>What is the average score needed on the F=ma exam to advance to semifinals?</p>
<p>I am a sophomore taking BC Calculus and am using the Resnick/Halliday textbook to self-study Physics C. I am planning on taking the F=ma exam next year (junior year) and will be taking Physics C in school then.</p>
<p>Based on my situation, is it feasible for me to aim for semifinals on my first try? Is there a particular way to tackle the studying (esp. over the summer holidays)?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>If by first try you mean next school year and not next year in January, then yes it’s feasible. You should aim for around a 14 on f=ma, but aim higher if you want to be a better award than just semifinalist. I think you can be a gold semifinalist, silver, etc. to tackle studying just read through resnick/Halliday. Do all the odd questions and problems for each chapter so you can check them in the back of the book. If you want to do well on semifinals read up on electricity and magnetism, and quantum mechanics. Also learn vector calculus; a good book for that would be “Div, Grad, Curl and all that”. And the 8.01 and 8.02 lectures by Walter Lewin would be a great resource, which are still available on YouTube if you look for them. Over summer holidays just do tons of problems. Take advantage of all that free time to take timed F=ma exams. When you finish one check the problems you got wrong. Before looking at the solution, try to come up with the right answer on your second try. Also for more problems I’d recommend Problems in Introductory mechanics (I think that’s the name) by David morin. When you run out of F=ma exams do the problems in this book, or start trying the semifinal exams. And for those take them untimed because it’s more important to find the correct solution on your own no matter how long it takes. The semifinals will really test your understanding and make the F=ma exam seem much easier. Good luck!</p>
Thanks for your help.
I am new to College Confidential, and its value has already been proved. There are numerous physics resources out there, and my strong mathematical base should help. Now I know what I will be doing this summer!
Thanks again.