Students to take F=ma physics examination virtually

The+annual+F%3Dma+physics+examination%2C+hosted+by+the+American+Association+of+Physics+Teachers+%28AAPT%29%2C+will+take+place+online+tomorrow.+Due+to+the+COVID-19+pandemic%2C+the+contest+will+be+conducted+online+through+the+Art+of+Problem+Solving+%28AoPS%29+contest+platform.%C2%A0

Nicole Tian

The annual F=ma physics examination, hosted by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), will take place online tomorrow. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the contest will be conducted online through the Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) contest platform. 

by Sally Zhu, Humans of Harker Staff Profiler

The annual F=ma physics examination, hosted by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), will take place online tomorrow. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the contest will be conducted online through the Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) contest platform. 

This year, more than 50 upper school students have signed up for the F=ma contest, which is offered by physics teacher and computer science department chair Dr. Eric Nelson every year. All upper school students are able to participate, and contestants have 75 minutes to solve 25 multiple choice questions. Approximately 400 of the highest scoring students nationally are invited to participate in the United States of America Physics Olympiad (USAPhO), which is held later in the year. 

David Dai (11), who will be taking the F=ma exam for the fourth time this year, decided to participate in the contest because of he thoroughly enjoys being able to test his physics knowledge.

“I’m really passionate about physics in general; in physics, not the competition in particular, but the F=ma [exam] and the USAPhO are great ways to solve some interesting problems and demonstrate my knowledge and skills,” David said.