F=ma Physics • 2024

This is a course at the San Diego Math Circle preparing students for the F=ma contest offered by the American Association of Physics Teachers, to select for the USA Physics Olympiad.

The course runs from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM Pacific Time on numerous Wednesdays from November 5, 2023 to February 7, 2024:

1. November 5, 2023 (original Sunday time)
2. November 19, 2023 (original Sunday time)
3. November 29, 2023
4. December 6, 2023
5. December 13, 2023
6. December 20, 2023
7. January 10, 2024
8. January 17, 2024
9. January 24, 2024
10. January 31, 2024
11. February 7, 2024

The official schedule is kept in the San Diego Math Circle Master Calendar.

Whiteboards, notes and other files are kept toward the bottom of the page.

Discussed in class –

• Diagnostic exam: F=ma 2018B.
• See the F=ma Physics 2024 Diagnostic Exam file below.

Homework –

• None.

Old exams –

• Linked below. Please save the 2018A and both 2019 exams for later.

Discussed in class –

• 2018A #2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 14 & 25.

Homework –

• Take the diagnostic exam if you haven't already. We'll go over the most missed problems from that exam in the next class.
• There have been several requests to re-schedule the class this year. Please fill out the re-scheduling poll!

No class next week. Happy Thanksgiving!

Starting this week, all classes will be held on Wednesdays at 4:30-6:00 PM PT.

Discussed in class –

• 2018A #6, 8, 16, 18, 21 & 22.

Homework –

• None.

Discussed in class –

• Dimensional analysis and oscillations. See Topics 8 and 3 from F=ma Physics, respectively.
• Relevant questions from the diagnostic exam: 2018B #6, 18 & 21.

Homework –

• None.

Discussed in class –

• Error propagation and rotations. See Topics 10 and 6 from F=ma Physics, respectively.
• Relevant questions from the diagnostic exam: 2018B #5, 14, 19, 23 & 25

Homework –

• None.

Discussed in class –

• Springs. See Topic 4 from F=ma Physics.
• Relevant questions from F=ma 2015 #19, 20, 23 & 25.

Homework –

• None.

Discussed in class –

• Orbits. See Topic 7 from F=ma Physics.
• Relevant questions from F=ma 2017 #1, 18 & 25, and F=ma 2016 #4, 8 & 9.
• Study the figure of non-circular orbits on Page 17 of F=ma Physics.

Homework –

• None.

Discussed in class –

• Interesting medium and hard problems from F=ma 2019B #3, 6, 10, 13, 15, 16 & 17.

Homework –

• Prepare for a practice exam next week!

Upcoming plan –

• January 24: Practice exam
• January 31: Review of challenging questions from practice exam
• February 7: (night before exam) Requested topics. Keep an eye on this page for the topic request form to be posted!

Discussed in class –

• Diagnostic exam: F=ma 2019A.
• See the F=ma Physics 2024 Practice Exam file below.

Homework –

• None.

Discussed in class –

• Most missed questions from the practice exam, F=ma 2019A #4, 6, 12, 13, 14, 21, 24 & 25.

Homework –

• Tell me what you want to do in our final session next week, the afternoon before the F=ma Exam. Submit the topic request form as many times as you like. Tell me what would help you the most!

Discussed in class –

• Requested topics and interesting questions: F=ma 2019A #16, F=ma 2019B #7, 9, 11, 18, 20 & 23-25.

Homework –

• Read up on the perpendicular axis theorem.

Thank you for participating in the class this year!

Good luck on the F=ma Exam tomorrow!

The registration deadline for the 2024 F=ma exams is January 22, 2024.

The 2024 F=ma exam will be administered on February 8, 2024.

I am not directly involved in the administration of the exams, so all questions should be directed to the SDMC administration.