Problems will vary in difficulty level, but are
generally arranged in order of increasing difficulty
(though this is, of course, somewhat subjective).
The examinable syllabus will follow that of the
International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). For a sense of possible question styles,
view past years’ SPhL problems here.
Teams in both categories will mostly attempt the
same problems - with the exception of a number of
“Junior Problems” that are only released to the SPhL
(Junior) teams.
Answers to all problems (except multiple-choice
problems) will be numerical, and should be given in
the units specified in the problem. The degree of
precision of your answers should follow, at minimum,
the number of significant figures stated in the
problem.
If the problem statement specifies the numerical
value of a constant, use that value in your
calculations. Otherwise, use their standard values,
e.g.
g = 9.81 m s
-2.
You may refer to this data sheet
for the standard values of common constants.
At any time during the competition, your team
can concurrently access up to 4 problems to work
on.
Whenever you have fewer than 4 problems to work
on, you can unlock (i.e. gain access to) a new
one. This happens whenever you solve or skip a
problem, or at the very start of the competition
(when you have yet to unlock any problems).
You will be given a limited choice on which new
problem(s) to unlock. You will be shown only the
titles and allocated points of the next 4
problems that you have not yet unlocked - all
other details, such as the problem statement,
will not be revealed. Based on this little
preview, you are to then decide which one of
those 4 problems to unlock.
Once you submit an answer to a problem, the
platform instantaneously processes it and
informs you whether it is correct or wrong.
done
If your answer is correct:
-
You will be able to unlock a new
problem.
-
You will also be awarded points (see
below).
close
If your answer is wrong:
-
You will not be able to unlock a new
problem.
-
Instead, you may re-attempt the problem,
as many times as you wish. However, the
points awarded for the correct answer
decreases with the number of attempts
taken (see example below).
-
To discourage random guessing, you can
only re-submit an answer to the same
problem after 30 seconds.
Each problem is allocated a number of points,
which will be fully awarded if the problem is
solved on the first attempt. For each incorrect
attempt before solving the problem, 1 less point
will be awarded, up to a minimum of 1 point for
each problem solved.
In interactive problems, you are given access to
a simulation of a particular physics scenario
(e.g. a falling ball), and you must solve the
problem through inputting simulation queries and
interpreting the simulation outputs.
The degree of precision of your queries should
follow the requirements stated in the problem
(i.e. the number of significant figures, decimal
places, integers etc.).
There is also a limit on the number of queries
you can make per problem attempt. Some problems
are more lenient and allow many queries, while
others may only permit one. As such, it is
important to think carefully, plan your
strategy, and use as few queries as possible to
reach the solution efficiently.
You may also skip a problem in order to unlock a
new one. This may be useful if you have been
stuck on a problem for a long time. You have a
total of 5 skips.
Once a problem is skipped, points are deducted
from your total score, and the skipped problem
can no longer be attempted. Each skip used
deducts 1 point from your total score.
The system will also automatically grant “free
skips” for problems that your team has not
solved for 1 hour. These “free skips” can be
used to permanently skip these problems, which
will be removed from your unlocked problems
without any point penalty.
