PHYSICS OLYMPIAD
MECHANICS
1. KINEMATICS
● Scalar vs Vector
● Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration
● Equations of Motion (Constant Acceleration)
● Graphical Analysis (x-t, v-t, a-t)
● Projectile Motion
● Relative Velocity
2. NEWTON'S LAWS OF MOTION
● Newton's Three Laws
● Free-Body Diagrams
● Tension, Normal Force, Contact Forces
● Equilibrium and Constraint Equations
● Friction (Static and Kinetic)
3. WORK, POWER AND ENERGY
● Work Done by Variable and Constant Force
● Kinetic and Potential Energy
● Work-Energy Theorem
● Conservation of Mechanical Energy
● Power and Efficiency
4. SYSTEM OF PARTICLES
● Center of Mass
● Motion of COM
● Conservation of Linear Momentum
● Collisions (Elastic, Inelastic, 1D, 2D)
5. ROTATIONAL MOTION
● Angular Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration
● Torque and Angular Momentum
● Moment of Inertia (Basic, Shapes)
● Parallel and Perpendicular Axis Theorems
● Rotational Kinetic Energy
● Rolling Without Slipping
● Conservation of Angular Momentum
● Gyroscopic Motion (Optional)
6. GRAVITATION
● Newton's Law of Gravitation
● Gravitational Field and Potential
● Orbital Motion (Circular and Elliptical)
● Kepler's Law
● Escape Velocity
7. OSCILLATIONS
● Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
● Equations of Motion and Energy in SHM
● Damped and Forced Oscillations (Basic)
● Resonance
THERMODYNAMICS AND HEAT
1. TEMPERATURE AND HEAT
● Thermal Expansion (Linear, Area and Volume)
● Heat Capacity and Specific Heat
● Calorimetry
● Phase Change and Latent Heat
2. KINETIC THEORY OF GASES
● Assumptions of Kinetic Theory
● Pressure Derivation
● RMS Velocity, Mean Free Path
● Degrees of Freedom
● Equipartition Theorem
3. THERMODYNAMICS
● Zeroth Law and Temperature
● Ideal Gas Law, Real Gas (Intro)
● Thermodynamics Processes (Isothermal, Adiabatic, Isobaric, Isochoric)
● PV Diagrams and Work Done
● First Law of Thermodynamics
● Internal Energy and Heat Capacity
● Second Law, Entropy (Intro)
● Heat Engines and Efficiency
● Carnot Engine
WAVES AND SOUNDS
1. WAVE BASICS
● Wave Parameters (Speed, Frequency, Wavelength)
● Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
● Wave Equation
2. SUPERPOSITION
● Interference (Constructive, Destructive)
● Standing Waves
● Beats
3. SOUND WAVES
● Speed of Sound in Different Media
● Doppler Effect (Source/Observer Moving)
● Sound Intensity, Decibel Scale
● Organ Pipes and Resonance
● Harmonics and Overtones
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM
1. ELECTROSTATICS
● Coulomb's Law
● Electric Field and Field Lines
● Electric Potential and Potential Energy
● Equipotential Surfaces
● Motion in Electric Field
2. GAUSS'S LAW
● Statement and Application (Symmetry)
● Field Due to Line, Sheet and Sphere
3. CAPACITORS
● Capacitance of Various Geometries
● Energy Stored in Capacitors
● Series and Parallel Combinations
● Dielectrics
4. CURRENT ELECTRICITY
● Current, Drift Velocity
● Ohm's Law, Resistivity
● Circuits: Series, Parallel
● Kirchhoff's Laws
● Wheatstone Bridge
● Meter Bridge, Potentiometer
5. MAGNETISM
● Magnetic Field and Force (Biot-Savart, Ampere's Law)
● Force on Moving Charge
● Force on Current-Carrying Wire
● Torque on Loop
● Magnetic Dipole
● Earth's Magnetism
6. ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION
● Faraday's Law
● Lenz’s Law
● Induced EMF
● Self and Mutual Induction
● Energy Stored in Induction
● Eddy Currents
7. AC CIRCUITS
● Alternating Current Basics
● RMS Values
● Reactance and Impedance
● LCR Circuits and Resonance
OPTICS
1. RAY OPTICS
● Reflection and Plane Mirrors
● Refraction, Snell's Law
● Total Internal Reflection
● Lenses and Mirrors: Focal Length, Image Formation
● Lens/Mirror Equations
● Optical Instruments: Microscope, Telescope
2. WAVE OPTICS
● Interference (Young's Double Slit)
● Diffraction (Single Slit)
● Polarization (Basic)
● Coherence and Fringe Width
MODERN PHYSICS
1. PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
● Einstein's Equation
● Threshold Frequency, Work Function
● Stopping Potential
2. ATOMIC PHYSICS
● Bohr's Model of Hydrogen
● Energy Levels and Spectra
● De Broglie Hypothesis
● Uncertainty Principle
3. NUCLEAR PHYSICS
● Structure of Nucleus
● Blinding Energy and Mass Defect
● Radioactive Decay (Laws, Half-Life)
● Nuclear Reactions: Fission, Fusion
4. SPECIAL RELATIVITY (ADVANCED, OPTIONAL)
● Time Dilation
● Length Contraction
● Mass-Energy Equivalence
EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS
1. VERNIER CALIPER, SCREW GAUGE
2. GRAPH PLOTTING AND INTERPRETATION
3. SIGNIFICANT FIGURES AND ROUNDING
4. UNCERTAINTY AND ERROR ANALYSIS
5. UNIT CONVERSIONS AND DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
