about

January, 2009

To: Youngstown Area High School Physics Teachers, Physics or Science Club Advisors

From: Roy McCullough, YSU Physics and Astronomy Department

Subject: 30th Annual YSU Physics Olympics

Entry Deadline: March 13, 2009

You and your students are cordially invited to participate in the 2009 YSU Physics Olympics competition, which will take place on March 21 beginning at 8:00 a.m. on the YSU campus.

There is one change to the rules this year: a clarification in Physics Phloater. The boats need to be air driven; no water propellers are permitted. The full set of rules is available on the Physics Olympics web page at http://www.cc.ysu.edu/physics-astro/Physoly.htm.

A high school may enter only one (1) team in the competition. Each team will consist of four (4) to twenty (20) high school students. In order to involve as many students as possible, it is recommended that competitors enter no more than four (4) events. While participation in all events in not required, teams should plan to enter as many events as possible.

To help defray the operating costs, each team will be assessed an entry fee of $20.00, which is to be returned with the registration form, also available on the web site. (PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO YSU PHYSICS OLYMPICS; NO PURCHASE ORDERS UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.)

Scoring in all events will be on a 15-14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 points system for first through fifteenth places, respectively. The team with the highest point total at the end of the competition will be declared the winner. Trophies will be awarded to the top five teams in the competition; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in the individual events will be awarded medals; 4th through 15th place finishers will receive ribbons. In addition, we hope to again supplement these awards with prizes donated by various companies.

The physics joke/limerick contest will again follow the Quiz Show Final (and before the announcement of the results of the overall competition). The physics joke/limericks must be delivered by students before a live audience, which will serve as judges. Certificates will be awarded in the following categories: (1) Best Physics Joke, (2) Worst Physics Joke, and (3) Best Physics Limerick.

REMINDER: Devices from previous years may not be used again, including PPBL, PHPH, FM, etc. All devices are marked at the registration table. Also, please remember that this is a competition that involves student-built items and student-presented items. Parent and teacher help should be of the verbal nature.

Please share this information with your physics class(es) and with the Physics or Science Club at your school. If you decide to enter this year’s competition, complete and return the entry form with the $20.00 entry fee, to:

Roy McCullough
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Youngstown State University
One University Plaza
Youngstown, OH 44555

before March 13, 2009

We hope you and your students can join us for a day of “Phun Physics” at Youngstown State University. If you have any qestions about the competition, email me at rmccullough-at-ysu.edu, call me at (330) 941-7110 or Physics Department Secretary Mary Lynn Savage at (330)941-3616. If you would like a paper copy of the rules, call Mrs. Savage or e-mail her at msavage-at-ysu.edu.