A competition for high school students to represent the United States at the International Physics Olympiad Competition. The mission of the U.S. Physics Team Program is to promote and demonstrate academic excellence through preparation for and participation in the International Physics Olympiad.

The USAPhO is an exam for U.S. residents by invitation. A cut-off score will be established on the F=ma so that individuals who score at or above the cut-off will be sent an invitation to sit the USAPhO exam. Additional individuals may be invited to sit the exam based on other criteria, even though they did not make the published cut-off score. Approximately four hundred individuals will be invited to sit the USAPhO. In exceptional cases, nonresident U.S. citizens might be invited to sit the USAPhO.

The U.S. Physics Team is a training program for U.S. citizens who will participate in the International Physics Olympiad.

1. The F=ma exam is a 75-minute exam with 25 multiple choice questions focusing on mechanics. Two versions of the exam are given, the F=ma A and F=ma B.
2. Approximately 400 students will be invited to take the USA Physics Team (USAPhO) exam, based on their scores in the F=ma exam. The USAPhO is a 3 hour free response exam where students are required to justify their answers. The exam is divided into two parts of 90 minutes each.
3. Approximately 20 students will be invited to be a part of the U.S. Physics Team, based on their USAPhO and F=ma scores, and attend a ten day training camp at the University of Maryland. At the end of the camp, five will be selected to represent the team at the International Physics Olympiad.

• Two versions of F=ma exams will be given on two dates in order to accommodate a larger number of participants.
• Both the F=ma and USAPhO exams must be proctored. It is expected that competitors will take the exam at their local school, though they may travel elsewhere if needed.
• For both the F=ma and USAPhO exams, a handheld calculator may be used. Its memory must be cleared of data and programs. You may use only the basic functions found on a simple scientific calculator.
• Only scratch paper provided by the proctors may be used in both the F=ma and USAPhO Exams. The proctors must collect it immediately after the exam, along with the exam booklets. None of these materials may be returned to students until after public discussion is allowed.

Website: https://www.aapt.org/physicsteam

Managing Organization: American Association of Physics Teachers

Contact:

programs@aapt.org
301-209-3340

Eligibility:
<ul> <li><strong>Students must be either U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents of the United States (green card holders) to participate in the F=ma or USAPhO exam.</strong></li> <li>If necessary, the F=ma exam may be taken at exam sites outside the U.S., subject to additional proctoring regulations. <strong>However, the USAPhO exam may only be administered in the U.S.</strong></li> <li>Students must be eligible to compete at the International Physics Olympiad to be invited to U.S. Physics Team training camp. This requires that they are U.S. citizens, or hold a green card and have attended school in the U.S. for at least three years.</li> <li>Due to the nature of the training program, students must be able to attend the U.S. Physics Team training camp for its full 10 days, and cannot attend camp more than twice.</li> </ul>

Registration Opens: January 1, 1970

Registration Closes: December 3, 2019

A competition for high school students to represent the United States at the International Physics Olympiad Competition. The mission of the U.S. Physics Team Program is to promote and demonstrate academic excellence through preparation for and participation in the International Physics Olympiad.

The USAPhO is an exam for U.S. residents by invitation. A cut-off score will be established on the F=ma so that individuals who score at or above the cut-off will be sent an invitation to sit the USAPhO exam. Additional individuals may be invited to sit the exam based on other criteria, even though they did not make the published cut-off score. Approximately four hundred individuals will be invited to sit the USAPhO. In exceptional cases, nonresident U.S. citizens might be invited to sit the USAPhO.

The U.S. Physics Team is a training program for U.S. citizens who will participate in the International Physics Olympiad.

1. The F=ma exam is a 75-minute exam with 25 multiple choice questions focusing on mechanics. Two versions of the exam are given, the F=ma A and F=ma B.
2. Approximately 400 students will be invited to take the USA Physics Team (USAPhO) exam, based on their scores in the F=ma exam. The USAPhO is a 3 hour free response exam where students are required to justify their answers. The exam is divided into two parts of 90 minutes each.
3. Approximately 20 students will be invited to be a part of the U.S. Physics Team, based on their USAPhO and F=ma scores, and attend a ten day training camp at the University of Maryland. At the end of the camp, five will be selected to represent the team at the International Physics Olympiad.

• Two versions of F=ma exams will be given on two dates in order to accommodate a larger number of participants.
• Both the F=ma and USAPhO exams must be proctored. It is expected that competitors will take the exam at their local school, though they may travel elsewhere if needed.
• For both the F=ma and USAPhO exams, a handheld calculator may be used. Its memory must be cleared of data and programs. You may use only the basic functions found on a simple scientific calculator.
• Only scratch paper provided by the proctors may be used in both the F=ma and USAPhO Exams. The proctors must collect it immediately after the exam, along with the exam booklets. None of these materials may be returned to students until after public discussion is allowed.

Website: https://www.aapt.org/physicsteam

Managing Organization: American Association of Physics Teachers

Contact:

programs@aapt.org
301-209-3340

Entry Fee:

Eligibility:
<ul> <li><strong>Students must be either U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents of the United States (green card holders) to participate in the F=ma or USAPhO exam.</strong></li> <li>If necessary, the F=ma exam may be taken at exam sites outside the U.S., subject to additional proctoring regulations. <strong>However, the USAPhO exam may only be administered in the U.S.</strong></li> <li>Students must be eligible to compete at the International Physics Olympiad to be invited to U.S. Physics Team training camp. This requires that they are U.S. citizens, or hold a green card and have attended school in the U.S. for at least three years.</li> <li>Due to the nature of the training program, students must be able to attend the U.S. Physics Team training camp for its full 10 days, and cannot attend camp more than twice.</li> </ul>

Registration Opens: January 1, 1970

Registration Closes: December 3, 2019