F=ma Physics • 2025

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 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM Pacific Time on numerous Wednesdays from November 13, 2024 to February 5, 2025 (tentative):

1. November 3, 2024 (information session + Q&A, original Sunday time)
2. November 13, 2024
3. November 20, 2024
4. December 4, 2024
5. December 11, 2024
6. December 18, 2024
7. January 8, 2025
8. January 15, 2025
9. January 22, 2025
10. January 29, 2025
11. February 5, 2025

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.

Before the information session, please fill out the F=ma 2025 Interest Form linked below. Thanks, and see you at 1:30 PM PT on Sunday!

Discussed in session –

• Information about the F=ma Exam.
• Q&A for students and parents.

Homework –

• None.

Old exams –

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

Discussed in class –

• Diagnostic exam: F=ma 2018B.
• See the F=ma Physics 2025 Diagnostic Exam file below.

Homework –

• None.

Old exams –

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

If you were unable to attend today's session, please take the diagnostic exam under the specified conditions by 11:59 PM on Sunday, November 17 so I can use your results to prepare for our session on November 20.

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.

No class next week. Happy Thanksgiving!

Discussed in class –

• Error propagation and rotations. See Topics 9, and {5 and 6} from F=ma Physics, respectively.
• Relevant questions from the diagnostic exam: 2018B #5, 14, 19, 23 & 25.

Homework –

• Read Topic 6.2 from F=ma Physics. We'll discuss the Coriolis effect next week.

Practice problems — see Resources at the bottom of the page.

Discussed in class –

• Coriolis effect and springs. See Topics 6.4, and 4 from F=ma Physics, respectively.
• Relevant questions from 2018B #12, 2015 #19, 20, 23 & 25.

Homework –

• None.

Discussed in class –

• Orbits. See Topic 7 from F=ma Physics.
• Relevant questions from 2017 #1, 18, 25 and 2016 #4, 8 & 9.

Homework –

• None.

Discussed in class –

• Interesting medium and hard problems from 2019B #3, 6, 10, 13, 15, 16, 17 & 23.

Homework –

• None.

Discussed in class –

• Sampler of questions from 2018A #2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 14, 19, 21 & 25.

Homework –

• None.

Discussed in class –

• Practice exam: F=ma 2019A.
• See the F=ma Physics 2025 Practice Exam file below.

Homework –

• None.

Discussed in class –

• Selected questions from F=ma 2020B: #13, 19 & 22

Homework –

• None.

Discussed in class –

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

Thank you for participating in the class this year!

Good luck on the F=ma Exam next week!

The registration deadline for the 2025 F=ma exams is January 27, 2025.

The 2025 F=ma exam will be administered on February 12, 2025.

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