What is BPhO Junior Physics Challenge ?

The British Physics Olympiad is a charitable trust overseen by a committee of trustees. It was initiated in 1979, and has been used as a qualifier for the selection of the UK Physics Team for the International Physics Olympiad since 1983.

The topic of the questions will be ranging from Dynamics, Electricity, Optics, Heat, Units, Waves, to astronomy. The Junior Physics Challenge is designed to engage and challenge students by offering them a range of problems to solve. They might be shown some pictures of famous physicians and asked to identify one (For example, Hawking, Galileo or Newton). Hence, some general knowledge and interest in physics would be an advantage. The main objective is to create fun, encourage involvement and inspire passion for physics among students. Junior Physics Challenge is composed of written and experiments. It aims to inspire middle school students to learn physics, observe, practical skills and critical thinking.

Question Type

60 multiple-choice questions

Register Now!

Topics covered in

The main topics assessed include Dynamics, Electricity, Optics, Thermodynamics, Wave Classification, and Astronomy, primarily based on the GCSE curriculum. Most questions are derived from the current IGCSE syllabus, with some requiring elimination methods and others involving general knowledge rather than classroom physics.

The Junior Physics Challenge aims to engage and challenge students by offering a variety of problems. For example, students might be shown photos of famous physicists and asked to identify one of them (such as Stephen Hawking, Galileo, or Newton). Therefore, having a general knowledge of and interest in physics would be an advantage. The primary goal is to create a fun experience for students, encourage participation, and spark their enthusiasm for physics.

Why choose JPC?

The Junior Physics Challenge (JPC) is an excellent opportunity for young students to explore and deepen their interest in physics. Here are a few compelling reasons to participate:

Early Exposure to Competitive Physics: JPC provides an early introduction to physics competitions, allowing students to experience the thrill of solving physics problems in a competitive environment. It’s an ideal starting point for those who are new to physics contests.
Foundation Building for Future Competitions: Participating in JPC helps students build a solid foundation in key physics concepts. This experience can be incredibly valuable as they progress to more advanced competitions like the British Physics Olympiad (BPhO).
Engaging and Accessible Problems: The problems in JPC are designed to be both engaging and accessible, blending fundamental physics principles with real-world applications. This makes it a fun and educational experience that encourages creative thinking.
Recognition and Achievement: Excelling in JPC is a significant achievement that can boost a student’s confidence and academic profile. It provides recognition for their efforts and can inspire them to pursue further studies and competitions in physics.
Developing Problem-Solving Skills: JPC challenges students to think critically and develop problem-solving skills that are essential not only in physics but also in many other academic disciplines and real-life situations.
Encouraging a Passion for Physics: The primary goal of JPC is to ignite a passion for physics in young students. By participating, students can discover the joy of understanding how the physical world works and may be inspired to continue studying physics at higher levels.

Awards

Global awards

Gold
Silver
Bronze

Preliminary National awards

Regional Honorable ：Top 10% in each region (Except for Global award winners)

(For Global awards: British participants will be ranked firstly by their overall scores, which help set the thresholds for each award. Subsequently, participants from other countries outside the UK will be awarded on the basis of the thresholds for each award.)