2000-2001 Physics Invitational

Team and Individual Competition

March 15, 2001

Purpose

   The Physics Department at Auburn University acknowledges that many students bring considerable ability and an outstanding physics background to the university.  As a means of recognizing this, we will award students a waiver for the first semester of introductory physics if they demonstrate a high level of performance on a departmental mechanics exam. 

Exams will be administered and waivers awarded for the following three levels:

• PS 1500 - Introductory Physics

            The traditional course for non-engineering students who need a physics background - for example, students in the health sciences, animal       sciences, building sciences, and science education.  Requires physics knowledge at the level of Jones and Childers and a good knowledge of algebra and trigonometry.

• PS 1600 - General Physics

            Traditional pre-engineering course - requires physics knowledge at the level of Serway and basic calculus knowledge (ability to integrate and differentiate simple functions).

• PS 1615 - Honors Physics

            Requires physics knowledge at the level of Halliday and Resnick and calculus knowledge (ability to integrate and differentiate).

The Physics Department will invite 80 students to this event.  Invitations will be issued as applications are received.  The first round of invitations will include a maximum of six students per school.  If this process does not result in 80 students by March 7, a second round invitation will include up to twelve students per school.

Team Competition

A team consists of up to six students and the team competition consists of three different concurrent events:

1. DRILL:  Each school may select up to three students to compete in this event.  Problems will be displayed with an overhead projector and teams will attempt to solve the problem in a specified amount of time.  At the end of that time all teams with the correct answer will receive credit.

2. LAB:  Each school may select up to three students to compete in this event.  Mini-lab problems that have their content in mechanics will be given to the team and they will attempt to solve the problem in a specified time.  At the end of that time, all teams with the correct answer will receive credit.  (Example:  given a spring, determine the spring constant).

3. PROBLEM SOLVING:  Each school may select up to three students to compete in this event.  The problems will be somewhat involved and credit will be based on the work as well as the answer.

Awards

• Digital multimeter to teachers of top 3 overall teams in each division.

• Scholarships ($1500) to top 3 students.

• Plaques of recognition to top 3 students taking the PS 1500 exam.

• Plaques of recognition to top 3 students taking the PS 1600 exam.

• Plaques of recognition to top 3 students taking the PS 1615 exam.

• Plaques of recognition to top 3 teams for each division.

• Certificate of waiver to each student with outstanding performance on an exam.

• Certificate of participation to all students.

• Door prizes for participation in Open House.

Scholarship

The scholarship will be a $1500 freshman year award.  Recipients must agree to:

• enroll at Auburn University as a first year physics student for the 2001-2002 academic year

• enroll in Honors physics (PS 1615-1617) and the co-requisite math courses as a first year physics student

• maintain a 3.00 physics and mathematics GPA as a first year physics student

Recipients of these scholarships will be given consideration for second year scholarships and work opportunities upon satisfactorily completing their first year.

Divisions

Schools may compete in one of two divisions:

• Division I:    Schools graduating less than 100 students per year.

• Division II:   Schools graduating 100 or more students per year.

Schedule of Activities

8:15-8:45        Final registration with coffee, juice, and doughnuts

8:45-9:00        Welcome and orientation

9:00-10:30       Individual competition - written test

10:30-10:45    BREAK

10:45-11:45    Team competition - Problem solving, Drill, and Lab

11:45-1:00      LUNCH (our treat!)

1:00-3:00        Open House

3:00-3:30        Physics demos

3:30-4:00        Award ceremony

Housing

Convenient housing (across from AU campus) may be obtained at:

• Auburn Univ. Hotel and Conference Center            334-821-8200

• Heart of Auburn                                                     334-887-3462

Contact

For any additional information, please contact Dr. Marllin Simon at:

• office phone:   334-844-4337

• fax:                 334-844-4613

• email:   msimon@physics.auburn.edu

2000-2001 Award Winners!

Overall Division Winners

Division I            1st Place:  UMS Wright (Team A)

                            2nd Place: UMS Wright (Team B)

                            3rd Place: Geneva High School

Division II          1st Place:  Homewood High School

                            2nd Place:  Grissom High School

                            3rd Place:  Decatur High School

Individual Award Winners (written test)

                                                PS 1500                                            PS 1600                                                PS 1615

1st Place                        Brent Vegliacich (UMS Wright)        Ted Lester (Homewood)                    Chris Long (Grissom)

2nd Place                       Shaun Williams (Homewood)             Dan Carter (Homewood)                   Alex Moore (UMS Wright)

3rd Place                        Mark Catlin (Homewood)                  Miles Fosrlee (Decatur)                    Evan Roseman (Homewood)

Scholarship Awards

Ted Lester (Homewood)

Chris Long (Grissom)

Alex Moore (UMS Wright)

Certificate of Waiver for Introductory Physics (semester 1)

Ted Lester (Homewood)

Chris Long (Grissom)

Alex Moore (UMS Wright)

Brent Vegliacich (UMS Wright)