USAPhO Advanced course reviews all necessary topics required for the USAPhO including mechanics, thermodynamics (heat capacity, laws of thermo, gaseous processes, heat transfer, entropy), electricity and magnetism (electric fields, potentials, circuitry, magnetic fields, Lorenz force law, Maxwell’s equations, nature of light, magnetic induction), waves (wave equation, intensity, sound, Doppler shift), optics (refraction, lenses, mirrors, diffraction), relativity (Einstein’s postulates, time dilation, length contraction, simultaneity, relativistic quantities). Focus will be on practice and drilling.
Target Competitions
Target Grades
9-12
Who should Take This Course
- Students who can solve around 3/6 questions on the USAPhO Semi-final in the time given
Who should Skip This Course
- Students who have qualified for USAPhO Team
Exam Weeks
Practice Exams will be given/solved.
Homework
There are weekly homework sets.
Resources
Lecture/Homework problems and solutions will be available on the course management system.
Curriculum
Fall course is not required for the spring course, nor is the spring course required for the fall course.
Weeks | Fall | Spring |
---|---|---|
1 | Wave Motion | Temperature |
2 | Superposition & Standing Waves | Heat & The First Law of Thermodynamics |
3 | Geometric Optics | Kinetic Theory of Gases |
4 | Diffraction & Interference | Heat Engines & Entropy |
5 | Fluids | Exam Week |
6 | Exam Week | Electric Fields |
7 | Relativity Part 1 | DC Circuit Elements |
8 | Relativity Part 2 | Magnetic Fields |
9 | Atomic & Nuclear Physics Part 1 | Inductance |
10 | Atomic & Nuclear Physics Part 1 | Maxwell’s Equations |
11 | F=ma Review | Exam Week |
12 | Exam Week | Exam Week |