Overview

Physics is one of the most challenging subjects in high school.  Our problem solving approach to Physics not only prepares the students to succeed in their Physics classes, but also in their college applications with demonstration of passion, committment and results through extra-curriculum activities in physics competitions.

The American Association of Physics Teachers is responsible for recruiting, selecting and training the USA Physics Olympiad teams each year to compete in the International Physics Olympiad Competition.  The selection process consists of three phases:

• Preliminary Exam: 75-minutes, multiple choice exam on Classical Mechanics.  Top 400 students will be recognized and advance to the next round.
• Quarterfinal Exam: 60-minutes, free-response exam on Mechanics and Electrostatics.  Top 150 students will be recognized and advance to the next round.
• Semifinal Exam: 3-hour, free-response exam on all area of Physics: Mechanics, Electromagnetics, Thermodynamics & Fluids, Relativity, Nuclear &Atomic Physics, and Waves & Optics.  Top 20 students form the U.S. Physics Team.
• U.S. Physics Team Training Camp: The U.S. Physics Team members will participate in the nine days, all expense-paid, U.S. Physics Team Training Camp.
• U.S. Physics Team: The top five students and one alternate will constitute the U.S. Physics Traveling Team to compete at the International Physics Olympiad Competition.

N110 - Physics Problem Solving

This course is designed for middle school students who have completed Algebra I and want to extend their learning from math and general science to Physics.  Many schools offer a Conceptual Physics class in an attempt to teach physics without the need of advanced math.  We believe gifted students are capable of handling advanced math concepts used in general physics.  Therefore, this course provides an alternative to Conceptual Physics by focusing on Newton Mechanics and related math concepts.  About 40% of SAT II Physics exam questions are related to Newton Mechanics, which translate into a scoring range between 500 - 650.  We encourage our middle school students to take the SAT II Physics exam immediately following this class.  An above average SAT II Physics score will enable the students to take the AP Physics B directly in high school.

N210 - Introductory Physics Olympiad/Honors Physics

This course enhances the content in Classical Mechanics and Electrostatics.

The course places a special emphasis on physics problem solving by using problems selected from the USA Physics Team preliminary exams.

N220 - Intermediate Physics Olympiad/AP Physics B

This course enhances the content typically found in an AP Physics B class.  It follows College Board AP Physics B course requirements and prepares the students to take the AP exam.

The class will also enchance students' opportunities to advance to the Semi-Final round of the USA Physics Team selection process.

N230 - Advanced Physics Olympiad/AP Physics C

This course enhances the content typically found in an AP Physics C class.  It follows College Board AP Physics C course requirements and prepares the students to take the AP exam.

The class will also enhance students's opportunities to succeed in the Semi-Final round of the USA Physics Team selection process.