Copernicus Physics Olympiad
Physics Olympiad
Physics is not merely an academic discipline; it is one of the foundations of how we understand the world around us. From the motion of everyday objects and the electricity that powers our homes to the behaviour of atoms and the technologies behind modern machines, Physics helps us understand why things work the way they do. More importantly, it teaches us to observe carefully, question what we see, and use logic to find answers.
The Copernicus Olympiad in Physics has been designed to encourage students to go beyond memorising formulas and develop a genuine understanding of physical concepts. Through interesting and challenging problems, students are encouraged to apply what they know, make connections between different ideas, and strengthen their analytical and problem-solving abilities. The aim is not simply to test how much Physics a student knows, but how well they can think with it.
Physics has also been at the heart of some of the greatest transformations in human history—from electricity and telecommunications to computing, medical technologies, transportation, renewable energy, and countless innovations that shape our lives today. The students who are curious about how the world works today may be the ones who discover better ways for it to work tomorrow.
Through the Copernicus Physics Olympiad, we want to recognise and reward that curiosity. We want students to experiment, question, solve, and sometimes even struggle with a problem until something finally clicks. Because Physics is not only about finding the right answer—it is about learning how to look at a problem differently.
For the students who keep asking “how?” and “why?”—this Olympiad is for you.
For Grade 7 to Grade 12 Students
Assessment Criteria
Students must take the exam based on their respective grade category:
✔ Category 1 – Grades 7 & 8
✔ Category 2 – Grades 9 & 10
✔ Category 3 – Grades 11 & 12
- Exam duration: 75 minutes.
Both the Preliminary and Global Rounds include a total of 20 questions. The Preliminary Round would include all multiple choice questions while the Global Round will include 15 multiple choice questions and 5 open-ended questions (i.e. without answer choice) designed to assess deeper understanding and critical thinking.
Preliminary Round Marking Scheme
- 5 easy questions – 4 marks each; 1 mark shall be deducted for each incorrect answer
- 10 average questions – 5 marks each; 2 marks shall be deducted for each incorrect answer
5 hard questions – 6 marks each; 3 marks shall be deducted for each incorrect answer
Total: 100 marks
Global Round Marking Scheme
- 5 easy questions – 3 marks each; 1 mark shall be deducted for each incorrect answer
- 5 medium difficulty questions – 4 marks each; 2 marks shall be deducted for each incorrect answer
- 5 high difficulty questions – 6 marks each; 3 marks shall be deducted for each incorrect answer
5 open-ended questions – 7 marks each; no negative marking for incorrect answer
Total: 100 marks
Preliminary Round
✔ All Preliminary Round participants, regardless of score, will receive a Certificate of Participation.
✔ Students who qualify for the Global Round will receive a Certificate of Achievement and a medal (gold, silver or bronze) based on their Preliminary Round performance.
✔ In the Preliminary Round, medals will be awarded based on the following percentages :- 91% to 100% – Gold Medal + 10% discount in the Global Round registration fees
- 75% to 90% – Silver Medal + 5% discount in the Global Round registration fees
- 50% to 74% – Bronze Medal
- 40% to 49% – Honorable Mention Certificate
✔ Absolute winners (youngest top scorers) of each category will receive free participation in the Global Round.
Global Round
✔ All Global Round participants, regardless of score, will receive a Certificate of Participation.
✔ In the Global Round, medals will be awarded based on the following percentages:
- The top 10% will receive a Gold Medal.
- The next 11-30% will receive a Silver Medal.
- The next 31-60% will receive a Bronze Medal.
- The next 61-75% will receive an Honorable Mention Certificate.
https://copernicusolympiad.com/resources/
Preliminary Round 1: 26th November 2026
Registration Fees: Rs.1200
Rs. 1200/-
Syllabus
Physics
● Conservation laws (momentum, angular momentum)
● Impulse and collisions
● Rotational motion and torque
● Gravitation beyond basic concepts
● Kinetic theory of gases
● Thermodynamic processes (isothermal, adiabatic, etc.)
● Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics
● Electromagnetic induction
● Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction.
● Lenz’s law
● Alternating current (AC) circuits
● Interference and diffraction of light
● Polarization of light
● Modern optics, including wave-particle duality.
● Quantum mechanics in the context of light and photons
● Special theory of relativity.
● Quantum mechanics, wave functions, and probability.
● Atomic and molecular physics.
● Nuclear physics and particle physics
Astronomy
● Stellar formation and evolution, including the life cycles of various types of stars
● Stellar nucleosynthesis and the creation of elements
● Supernovae and neutron stars
● The structure and dynamics of galaxies
● Active galactic nuclei, including quasars and blazars
● Galaxy clusters and the large-scale structure of the universe
● The expanding universe and the Hubble law
● Cosmic microwave background radiation
● Dark matter, dark energy, and the fate of the universe
● Inflationary theory and the Big Bang
Physics
● Newton’s laws of motion
● Types of forces
● Speed, velocity, and acceleration
● Simple machines
● Forms of energy
● Energy transformation
● Conservation of energy
● Properties of sound waves
● Sound dispersion and the Doppler effect
● Properties of light
● Behavior of light
● Lenses and their application
● Electromagnetic spectrum
● Electric circuits and components
● Heat transfer
● Properties of fluids
● Fluids dynamics
● Buoyancy and Archimedes Principle
Astronomy
● Solar system
● The Sun
● Moon, asteroids, and planets
● Asteroid belt and Kuiper belt
● Celestial motions
● Day and night, seasons, and moon phases
● Eclipses
● Stars and their characteristics
● Constellations and their cultural significance
● Life cycle of stars
● Types of galaxies
● The Big Bang Theory
● Meteor showers
● Auroras
Life science
● Human body systems – homeostasis and feedback mechanisms
● Cell mutation
● Central dogma of molecular biology (DNA – structure and replication)
● Genetic engineering and ethical issues in biotechnology
● Biomolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids)
● Polymers
● Invertebrate diversity, evolution, and classification
● Vertebrates’ diversity, evolution, and classification
● Phylogeny and cladistics
● Theory of evolution and natural selection
● Forces of evolution
● Population genetics
Physical science
● Scientific notation and significant figures
● Accuracy and precision
● Dimensional analysis
● Valence electrons
● Electron configurations
● Chemical bonding
● Endothermic and exothermic reactions
● Redox reaction
● Chemical nomenclature
● The Special Theory of Relativity
● Kepler’s law
● Laws of stratigraphy
● Relative and absolute dating (computing half-life)
● Expansion of universe
● Dark matter
