F=ma 2022

CLOSED - REGISTER FOR F=MA BY WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5TH!

Summary

Take it for fame or take it for fun!

If you are interested in being on the US Physics Team, you must take the F=ma exam. This year at South, the F=ma contest will be held at only one specified time - Wednesday, February 9, 2022 during 3rd hour 9:55-10:50am period 2, and the exam will take place in person (location to be determined). To register, you must fill out the registration form on this page and give $11 to Mrs. Fortunato by Wednesday, January 5, 2022. Continue reading for more details if you are still interested.

What is the F=ma contest?

Each year, the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and the American Institute of Physics (AIP) sponsor a competition for high school students to represent the United States at the International Physics Olympiad Competition. The mission of the U.S. Physics Team Program is to promote and demonstrate academic excellence through preparation for and participation in the International Physics Olympiad.

F=ma is the first qualifying exam for the US Physics Team. The F=ma exam focuses on mechanics, including kinematics, statics, Newton’s laws, momentum and energy, oscillations, orbital mechanics, fluids, and elementary data analysis. All problems can be solved without the use of calculus. You will qualify for the USAPhO semifinal exam if your F=ma exceeds the cutoff score.

Students must be either U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents of the United States (green card holders) to participate in the F=ma or USAPhO exam.

Exam Administration Info

This year, the F=ma exam will be held at South on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 during 3rd hour 9:55-10:50am period 2, and the exam will take place in person (location to be determined). Although there are technically two different administration dates, because there is no benefit to taking both exams, only this February 9th date will be utilized.

Registration Details

In order to participate in this year's contest, you must fill out the registration form below and send a check to the school.

2022 F=ma Contest Registration Form

The fee for this year's exam is $11. This will cover the $10 student registration as well as the $50 school registration fee.

You may pay your registration fee to me (Mrs. Fortunato) in two different ways:

• You may give me $11 in cash EXACT CHANGE ONLY, or

• You may give me a check for $11 made out to WWPHSS and with the student's name and "F=ma" in the memo.

Payment must be made to to Mrs. Fortunato by Wednesday, January 5, 2022. I am usually in my classroom 111 during periods 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8. Please do not put anything in my mailbox - I do not check it, so you will not be registered. I'm sorry, there is no way to pay electronically (Venmo, PayPal, etc).

Exam Practice

Past exams can be found HERE.

Questions

If you still have questions, please email me at barbara.fortunato@wwprsd.org.