World Physics Olympiads Rules and Regulations

Beat the Champion

§1 Vision and Mission

World Physics Olympiad – Beat the Champion (WoPhO) is a secondary school level individual
physics competition initiated by Prof. Yohanes Surya, PhD. (founder of the Surya College of
Education or STKIP Surya). It is a unique competition that will last for a full year and consist of
three rounds:
1. Selection round
2. Discussion round
3. Final round
The respective missions of each round are:
1. Selection round: providing an opportunity for as many students as possible to participate
in a physics competition that is based on internet technology. Problems presented in the
selection round will encourage students to study advanced-level physics that will
indirectly enhance their general knowledge on physics.
2. Discussion round: providing an opportunity for the participants (see §5 for the definition
of participants) to discuss the problems and solutions of the selection round and other
problems at the level of the Physics Olympiad. This will also serve as a communication
forum for future physicists that will hopefully become a social network of physics
enthusiasts.
3. Final round: providing the ultimate challenge for all participants to contest the Asian and
International Physics Olympiads (APhO and IPhO) gold medalists. This will definitely
heighten the pressure and enhance the sense of competition.

§2 The Organizer
The three rounds of this competition will be organized separately:
Selection round will be conducted via the Internet by the Surya College of Education and an
International Jury.
Discussion round will be held conducted via the Internet by the Surya College of Education.
Final round will be organized by a Physics Society or an educational institution in the hosting
country.
The organizer is obliged to provide an equal opportunity to all participants without regards to
differences in ethnicity, religion, race and country of origin. There will be no political activity
against any individual, group or country in this competition.

§3 Examination Problems
The examination problems presented will be of comparable level of difficulty to the APhO/IPhO
problems.

 The Selection round problems will be chosen by the Surya College of Education and the
International Board.

 The Final round problems will be the winners of the “Problems for the World Physics
Olympiad Competition” (refer to Additional Rules and Regulations no. 1).

§4 Competition Organization (time and venue)

Selection round

 This round will run from February 1st to July 31st of each year.

 Participants solve the problems and submit the solutions via the internet.

Discussion round

 Discussions will be conducted via the Internet between August 1st and December 27th of
each year.

 Discussion topic will cover problems at the difficulty level of Physics Olympiads.

Final round

 The final round will be held between December 28th and January 3rd, carrying over to the
next year.

 The participants will celebrate the change of the New Year while at the competition.

 The participants can build a global young physicists community.

28 December - Arrival of participants
- Opening Ceremony
29 December Theoretical round Competition
30 December Experimental round Competition
31 December - Excursion/recreation
- Celebrating the coming of the New Year
1 January - Excursion/recreation
- Developing the global young physicists community
 2 January - Excursion/recreation
- Closing Ceremony
3 January Participants return to their home countries.

§5 Participants
Selection Round

 Students not yet at university level by June 30th of the competition year.

 Students under 20 years old by June 30th of the competition year.

Discussion Round

 Participants of the Selection Round.

 Anyone interested in following the discussion (Professors, Leaders, etc.)

Final Round

 APhO/IPhO gold and silver medalists of the competition year.

 Students who successfully passed the Selection Round of the competition year
(maximum 100 participants).

 Guest participants invited by the organizers (maximum 10 participants/country and

maximum total 100 participants).

§6 Organizer’s Responsibilities
Selection Round

 The Organizer will choose the problems and evaluate and interview the participants.

 The Organizer will select a maximum of 100 students from the Selection Round and
announce the result by August 31st of the competition year at the latest.

 The Organizer will cover the expenses of the Selection Round.

Discussion Round

 The Organizer will moderate the discussion round to ensure its heightened intensity and
continuity.
Final Round

 The Organizer will be responsible for the whole program of the Final Round, from the
arrival to the departure of the participants.

 The Organizer will cover the expenses of the Final Round.

§7 Competition Execution
Selection Round:

 There will be ten theoretical problems and no experimental problems.

 The competition problems can be downloaded from the WoPhO website starting from
February 1st of the competition year.

 Solutions to the problems must be sent to the organizer two months after they are posted.
The last solutions must be received by the organizers by July 31st of the competition year.
Any late submissions will not be graded.

 Problems will be presented in English, volunteers may translate the problems into their
native languages.

Discussion Round:

 Discussions will be conducted in English.

Final Round:

 The theoretical round consists of three problems and last for six hours.

 The experimental round consists of two problems and last for six hours.

 Graphing calculators are not allowed.

 Problems will be presented in English, Russian, Chinese and the native language of the
host country. There will be no translations of the problems.

§8 Evaluation and Awards

Selection Round:

 The total scores are 100.

 Participants achieving scores above 78% and passing the interview will enter the Final
Round (maximum 100 participants).
Discussion Round:

 Awards will be given to the most active participant and/or for the most creative solution.

Final Round:

 The total score for theoretical round will be 30 and for the experimental round, 20.

 Medals and awards are given according to the following rules:

o Participants will be ranked according to their final score from the highest.

o Participants who rank between 1 and 20 will be awarded gold medals.

o Participants who rank between 21 and 40 will be awarded silver medals.

o Participants who rank between 41 and 60 will be awarded bronze medals.

o There will be no Honorable Mention.

 The participant who achieves the highest score and scores above all APhO/IPhO gold
medalists will receive a scholarship of USD 20,000 and the title “The Real Winner of the
Physics Olympiads”. If the highest score is achieved by an APhO/IPhO gold medalist,
he/she will only receive a scholarship of USD 15,000 and a diploma and the title “The
Real Winner of the Physics Olympiads”.

 The participant who achieves the highest score in the theoretical round and scores above
all APhO/IPhO gold medalists will receive a scholarship of USD 10,000 and the title
“The Best of the Best Theoretical”. If the highest score in the theoretical round is
achieved by an APhO/IPhO gold medalist, he/she will only receive a scholarship of USD
7,500 and the title “The Best of the Best Theoretical”.

 The participant who achieves the highest score in the experimental round and scores
above all APhO/IPhO gold medalists will receive a scholarship of USD 10,000 and the
title “The Best of the Best Experimental”. If the highest score in the experimental round
is achieved by an APhO/IPhO gold medalist, he/she will only receive a scholarship of
USD 7,500 and the title “The Best of the Best Experimental”.

 The Organizing Committee may also present special awards.

§9 The International Jury

 The International Jury is selected based on recommendations and his/her activities within
IPhO/APhO and/or capability to answer problems comparable to IPhO/APhO level of
difficulty.

 The International Jury must master at least one of the following languages: English,
Chinese, Russian or the native language of the host country.
 The International Jury can be:

o Past IPhO/APhO gold medalists.

o Past or current IPhO/APhO team leaders

o Physics professors and/or lecturers.

 The International Jury will be invited to WoPhO’s Final Round at the Organizing
Committee’s expenses (covering round trip economy air fare, accommodations and
pocket money).

 The International Jury responsibilities include:

o assisting in deciding problems for the Selection Round.
o evaluating students’ answers during the Selection Round.
o interviewing (*) students who achieve scores above 78%.
o recommending the 100 best participants to the Final Round.
o assisting in Final Round jurying.

 The International Jury will receive a certificate.

§10 The International Board

 The International Board consists of Chairman of WoPhO and members of the

International Jury selected by the next host country at previous WoPhO International
Board meeting.

 The duties of the International Board:

o selecting winners of the WoPhO problem competition to be used in the final
round.
o providing inputs/suggestions to improve the quality of WoPhO from year to year.
For example, the International Board may recommend outstanding freshmen from
the Ivy League schools/universities as guest participants to enhance the
competitiveness of WoPhO.

 The International Board and his/her spouse will be invited to WoPhO’s Final Round at
the Organizing Committee expenses (covering round trip economy air fare,
accommodations, and pocket money).
 §11 The International Advisors
The International Advisors consist of:

 The President of The International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), ex-officio

 The President of the Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO), ex-officio

 Physicists with great achievement in Physics (e.g. Nobel Laureates, etc.)

 Special guests invited by the organizer of the competition for that year.
The duties of the International Advisors include providing inputs/suggestions to improve the
quality of WoPhO from year to year.
The International Advisors will be provided the following amenities:

 The International Advisor and his/her spouse will be invited to WoPhO’s Final Round at
the Organizing Committee expenses (covering round trip economy air fare,
accommodations, and pocket money).

§12 Guest Participants

 treated as normal participants, but will be charged a fee.

 must not yet at university level by June 30th of the competition year.

 must be under 20 years old by June 30th of the competition year.

 Registration: Guest participants may

a. register individually, with one letter of recommendation from his/her school or
educational institution and will be selected based on the recommendations (a
maximum of ten participants per country can be accepted) or,
b. be registered and recommended by the host country or,
c. be recommended by the International Advisors (guest participants could be freshmen
of the top universities during the competition year).

§13 Accommodations and Fees

 Selection Round: no fee will be charged.

 Discussion Round: no fee will be charged.

 Final Round:
 a. APhO/IPhO gold medalists of the competition year:

o will be provided with round trip economy airfare from their home to the
venue of WoPhO.

o will be provided with accommodations, F/B for all activities throughout

the event.

o will receive pocket money amounting to USD 1000.

b. Students qualifying from the Selection Round:

o will be provided with round trip economy airfare from their home to the
venue of WoPhO.

o will be provided with accommodations, F/B for all activities throughout

the event.

c. APhO/IPhO silver medalist of the competition year and students passing the
selection round:

o will be provided with accommodations, F/B for all activities throughout

the event.

d. Guest participant, visitor, or observer:

o will be charged the amount of USD 1500 to help cover his/her

accommodations, F/B for all activities throughout the event.
 Additional rules and regulations
1st WoPhO Problem Competition
Background:
The purpose of this competition is to provide good quality problems for the Final Round of the
World Physics Olympiad (WoPhO).
The quality and level of difficulty of the problems selected should be comparable or better than
APhO/IPhO problems. Problems should comply with APhO/IPhO’s syllabus and should also be
new problems that have never been published. Creativity (not only mastery in mathematics) is
needed to solve these problems.
This competition is open to everyone: Physics professors, lecturers, teachers, APhO/IPhO team
leaders, APhO/IPhO alumni, or any member of the public interested.
Requirements:

 Theoretical Problems:
a. must be solvable by participants within 2 hours.
b. must be in essay format.
c. must be submitted complete with their solutions and grading schemes.
d. must have short introductions to ensure the students do not waste much time during
the exam to read and understand the problems. If you need to provide a long
introduction to the problems, please separate them into a different file (an overview).
e. must be received by the organizer no later than June 30th, 2012.

 Experimental Problems:
a. must be solvable by participants within 3 hours.
b. must be submitted complete with their solutions and grading schemes.
c. must have short introductions to ensure the students do not waste much time during
the exam to read and understand the problems. If you need to provide a long
introduction to the problems, please separate them into a different file (an overview).
d. must be submitted with proof of prototypes (in the form of photos/videos) and their
cost estimates and components availabilities (rare and customized components are
discouraged).
e. must be received by the grand jury no later than 31 April 2012.
f. are advisable to be submitted with videos of the procedure of the experiments. Videos
should be sent to the problem competition grand jury separately and discretely.
 g. If your experimental problems are selected to be one of the candidate of winners then
you must send the prototypes to the grand jury in a month from the announcement
date of May 31st, 2012, i.e. your prototypes must arrive on June 30th, 2012.

 Each participant may submit more than one problem.

 Problems should be submitted in Word, pdf or latex format to

wopho.problem@stkipsurya.ac.id.

 From the problems submitted, the Committee will choose:

a. The three best theoretical problems.
b. The two best experimental problems.

 Participants whose problems are selected will:

a. be provided with one round trip ticket economy class from his/her home to the
WoPhO venue.
b. be appointed an honorary jury for the WoPhO.
c. receive free accommodations during WoPhO.
d. be awarded a medal + certificate + USD 20,000 for each theoretical problem
selected.
e. be awarded a medal + certificate + USD 25,000 for each experimental problem
selected.

 Participants whose problems are not selected but are among the ten problems considered
to be good, theoretical and/or experimental, will be awarded a medal + certificate + USD
1,000.

 Problems not selected will become the proprietary of the organizers.

2012 Program:
1. Selection Round

Date Activity
1Feb 2012  Participants may download the problems at www.wopho.org
 Number of problems: 10 theoretical problems (no experimental
problem)
 Problems will be presented in English.
1 – 28 Feb 2012 Volunteers may help translate the problems. The translation may be
uploaded and posted in the regular space by the volunteers. Translated
 problems must also be submitted to: wopho.selection@stkipsurya.ac.id.
1 Feb – 31 Jul 2012 Students must solve the problems on their own without assistance from
their teachers or mentors. The location and time to do so are not restricted.
31 Jul 2012  Solutions must be submitted.
 Solutions must be written in English, using as little word as
possible.
 Solutions must be submitted in pdf, latex or word format to:
wopho.solution@stkipsurya.ac.id
1 Feb – 31 Aug The International Jury will evaluate and list ten participants who achieved
2012 more or equal than 78% but never won a medal in the APhO/IPhO
31 Aug 2012 The International Jury will announce the 100 best participants for the Final
Round.

2. Discussion Round

Date Activity
1 Aug 2012  Participants register for the discussion.
1-31 Aug 2012  Moderator opens the discussion for problem 1-10.
 Each problem is discussed for about 1-3 days.
 The discussion will be conducted in English.
 New participants may register at any time during this period.
1 Sep – 30 Nov 2012  The moderator will lead the discussion on Olympiad problem or
problems with comparable level of difficulty.
1 – 5 Dec 2012  Participants/Organizing Committee will choose:
The Most Active Participant
The Most Creative Solution
6 Dec 2012  The Moderator will announce:
The Most Active Participant
The Most Creative Solution
7 Dec – 27 Dec 2012  Preparations for Final Round by the Organizing Committee

3. Final Round

Final Round will be held in Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesia from Dec 28, 2012 – Jan 3, 2013,
with the following program:

Date Time Activity

28 Dec All day Arrival of participants.
Lunch
Dinner
29 Dec 07.00 – 08.00 Breakfast
08.00 -12.30 Theoretical Exam 1&2
12.30 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 16.00 Theoretical Exam 3
16.00 – 19.00 Free Time
 19.00 – 20.00 Dinner
20.00 – 22.00 Free time
30 Dec 07.00 – 08.00 Breakfast
08.00 – 11.30 Experimental Exam 1
11.30 – 13.00 Lunch
13.00 – 16.00 Experimental Exam 2
16.00 – 19.00 Free Time
19.00 – 20.00 Dinner
20.00 – 22.00 Free time
31 Dec 07.00 – 08.00 Breakfast
08.00 – 13.00 Tour/Sight-seeing
13.00 – 14.30 Lunch
14.00 – 19.00 Tour/Sight-seeing
19.00 – 20.00 Dinner
20.00 – 22.00 Free time
22.00 – 01.00 New Year’s Eve celebration!!!
1 Jan 08.00 – 09.00 Breakfast
09.00 – 13.00 Tour/Sight-seeing
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 19.00 Tour/Sight-seeing
19.00 – 20.00 Dinner
20.00 – 22.00 Free time
2 Jan 07.00 – 08.00 Breakfast
08.00 – 15.00 Free time
16.00 – 18.00 Closing Ceremony
18.00 – 19.30 The founding of the Global Young Physicists Community
19.30 – 21.00 Dinner
21.00 – end Free time
3 Jan All day Departure of participants, breakfast and lunch will still be
provided.