Welcome to Physics | USAPHO

Our USAPhO branch is devoted to preparing students for the rigorous USA Physics Olympiad. Every February, a preliminary F=ma exam is given out to students across the nation. The top scorers move on to the USAPhO exam in April, and from there the top 20 are selected for the USA Physics Camp.

- Nathan Jay

Stuff We Do

In our meetings, we will hold...
-Lectures
-Practice problems
-USAPHO info-updates
-Personalized help

Sample Question

Q: A scale is calibrated so that it gives a correct reading when sitting on the ground. A person holds the scale and presses it on both sides with their hands, pushing up on the bottom with the left hand and pushing down on the top with the right. The scale has a mass of 5 kg, and their left hand exerts a force of 200 N. The reading on the scale is:

A: If the scale is correctly calibrated, the reading indicates the normal force acting on the top of the scale. By force balance, this is 200 − 50 = 150 N, which is displayed as 15 kg.