World Year of Physics Talent 2005

Contact person: Beverly Hartline                                                                        

The menu of categories, activities, and points.

1. Writing about physics (not more than 3 points from this category are allowed among the minimum number of points to qualify for International Recognition).

• (1 Point each) Write an essay on a physics topic, such as "Why I am Interested In Physics," "How Physics is Important in My Community," "Predicting The Physics Frontier in 2105," "The Physics Question I am Most Interested In," "The Most Exciting Physics Discovery of the 20th Century," "A Great Moment in the History of Physics," or "How Physics is Important in My Life." National Committees may choose physics-related topics that might be particularly relevant in the country. National Committees should designate the list of topics students can choose from.
• (1 Point each) Write a poem, haiku, short story, or limerick related to physics.
• (1 Point each) Write about an experience or activity the student participated in, and how it involved or demonstrated physics.
• (2 Points each) Write and perform a play about physics or physicists.
• (Up to 2 Points) Interview a physicist (in person, telephone, web, or by mail) and write an article about the physicist (1 Point) and share the information at school. The physicist interviewed may not be a close relative (parent, sibling, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, or grandparent) of the student. Publish this article in a newspaper or magazine or share it with many people in some other way used in the country (1 additional point).

2. Physics Experiments (At least 2 points must be earned in this category for International Recognition. Not more than 7 points from this category are allowed among the minimum number of points for International Recognition. Up to two distinctly different experiments can be counted in the first 15 points).

• (3 or 4 points each) Design a novel experiment that uses physics or advances physics and write a description of the experiment, including a hypothesis about the result (3 points). Include a description of the relevant theories (1 additional point).
• (2 or 3 points each). Perform and prepare a write-up of a physics experiment designed by the National Committee (2 points). Include a description of the relevant theories in the write-up (1 additional point). [The National Committee should identify different experiments for each age group included in the country's talent search.]
• (4 or 5 points each) Design, perform and prepare a write-up of a novel physics experiment invented by the student (4 points). Include a description of the relevant theories in the write-up (1 additional point).

3. Physics and Art (Not more than 3 points from this category are allowed among the minimum number of points for International Recognition)

• (1 point each) Design and create a poster to excite the public or other students about physics.
• (1 point each) Design and create a poster to inform the public or other students about an important physics law, principle, or discovery.
• (1 point each) Design a physics-based postage stamp.
• (1 point each) Create a sculpture, drawing, or painting that exemplifies or demonstrates a physics principle.
• (1 point) Use music to demonstrate a physics concept
• (2 points) Compose and perform an original piece of music around a physics-related theme.

4. Physics and photography (not more than 4 points from this category are allowed among the minimum number of points for International Recognition).

• (2 points each) Take a photo that has significant physics interest and write a brief description that explains its physics
• (2 points each) Make a short video that has significant physics interest or value and narrate it with explanations.

5. WYP 2005 Activities (not more than 3 points from this category are allowed among the minimum number of points for International Recognition).

• (1 point for each activity participated in) Participate in one or more WYP2005 activities, such as "light around the world" or the Physics Story Project,
• (1 point for each) Attend a WYP2005 public lecture, physics event, or museum exhibit.
• Sorry, no points are awarded for entering the WYP Physics Talent Search (this activity).
• (2 points) Help organize a WYP 2005 activity in your country and participate in it.

6. Teaching physics (not more than 4 points from this category are allowed among the minimum number of points for International Recognition).

• (2 points each) Design and write up an activity for younger children that would teach them some physics and could be done in the country's schools. Indicate what age or grade the activity is for. Include instructions for teachers in the write-up. Do the activity with a class of students of the appropriate age (2 additional points), and modify it, if needed, based on your instructional experience.
• (1 point each) Write a physics article or story that explains to younger children a physics law, principle, or discovery. Indicate what age or grade the the article is for.

7. Physics Competitions (Not more than 2 points from this category are allowed among the minimum number of points for International Recognition). Note that in this category, points are earned for entering and participating, not for winning or being selected for a national team.

• (1 point) Enter the country's competition to select its Physics Olympiad Team.
• (1 point) Enter a physics project in a science fair competition.
• (1 point) Enter another national, regional, local, or international competition related to physics OR make a physics-related entry in a science-focused or general academic competion.

8. Physics literature search and research paper (Not more than 2 points from this category are allowed among the minimum number of points for International Recognition).

• (2 points for each topic). Research a physics topic using original physics research papers. Write a paper that summarizes the research, tells why it is important, and identifies at least two questions that remain to be answered in this research area. The research area could be experimental, theoretical, computational or any combination thereof. List the original research papers in a bibliography.

9. Other activities or tasks designed by the National Committee (Not more than 2 points from this category are allowed among the minimum number of points for International Recognition).

• The National Committee must specify the eligible tasks/activities and the point value for each.

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