The 2023 University Physics Competition began on Friday, November 3, 2023, at 6pm MDT (Mountain Daylight Time), when the contest problems were posted here.

Problem A:  Space Diving

Consider a skydiver, carried by a rocket vertically up to an altitude, perhaps above the Earth’s atmosphere, who then exits the rocket in a space suit with a parachute, to descend back down to the Earth’s surface.  Analyze the challenges and dangers in such a descent, assuming that the total mass of the skydiver, space suit, and parachute is 190 kg.  What would be the maximum altitude from which a person could successfully descend to the surface?

Problem B: Trampoline Jumping

Three kids are jumping on a circular trampoline that is 5 meters in diameter.  The kids have masses 25 kg, 40 kg, and 50 kg.  If alone on the trampoline the 25 kg kid can bounce to a maximum height of 0.5 meters above the trampoline surface’s equilibrium height, the 40 kg kid can bounce to a maximum height of 0.8 meters, and the 50 kg kid can bounce to a maximum height of 1.2 meters.  If all three kids are on the trampoline together, what is the maximum  height that each kid could reach?

Results of the 2023 University Physics Competition were posted on January 17, 2024.

To download a printable pdf award certificate for your team, set your browser to:  http://www.uphysicsc.com/certificates2023/*.pdf

Here * is your team number.  For example if your team number is 200, this is:  http://www.uphysicsc.com/certificates2023/200.pdf

Full results announcement and complete listing of all medals in the 2023 University Physics Competition

In this year’s competition 466 teams submitted papers for judging. 322 teams selected “Problem A – Space Diving” and 144 teams selected “Problem B – Trampoline Jumping.”

For Problem A, the Gold Medal Winning Teams were:

Team 131: Guo Runshuang, Wu Juntao, & Chen Ruiyang

Institution: Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute

Faculty Sponsor: Qu Zijie

Team 227: Chengrong Ye, Xinyan Gong, & Lingwei Zhang

Institution: Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute

Faculty Sponsor: Zijie Qu

Team 244: Jiatui Gu, Nan Jiang, & Ziyu Xu

Institution: Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute

Faculty Sponsor: Xiaofen Li

Team 244's 2023 Problem A Gold Medal Winning Paper

Team 355: Hong ZiYang, Su ZhaoHan, & Hu Yi

Institution: Tongji University

Faculty Sponsor: Ma Yan

Team 355's 2023 Problem A Gold Medal Winning Paper

Team 447: Yuan Weijie, Song Zuotao, & Shi Ziming

Institution: National University of Defense Technology

Faculty Sponsor: Xu Xinrong

Team 447's 2023 Problem A Gold Medal Winning Paper

Team 464: Peng Haoyang, Yang Haikun, & Zhong Rui

Institution: National University of Defense Technology

Faculty Sponsor: Zhang Sen

Team 464's 2023 Problem A Gold Medal Winning Paper

For problem B, the Gold Medal Winning Teams were:

Team 102: Wang Xuanyu, Dong Kunkai, & Huang Binyang

Institution: Beijing Normal University

Faculty Sponsor: Wang Aiji

Team 102's 2023 Problem B Gold Medal Winning Paper

Team 138: Yanze Yu, Xinzhe Juan, & Mingrui Li

Institution: Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute

Faculty Sponsor: Zijie Qu

Team 138's 2023 Problem B Gold Medal Winning Paper

Team 471: Jerzy Gamdzyk, Jan Kossacki, & Andrzej Tyc

Institution: University of Warsaw

Faculty Sponsor: Michał Zdziennicki

Team 471's 2023 Problem B Gold Medal Winning Paper

Of the 466 papers submitted in this year’s University Physics Competition, 9 teams (1.9%) were ranked as Gold Medal Winners, 86 teams (19%) were ranked as Silver Medal Winners, 125 teams (27%) were ranked as Bronze Medal Winners, and 246 teams (53%) were ranked as Accomplished Competitors.

We extend our sincerest congratulations to each of the competing teams for their excellent work and their enthusiasm for physics!

Kelly S. Cline

Carroll College; Helena, Montana, United States

Director of the University Physics Competition

www.uphysicsc.com