IYPT Australia

Selected problems for the 8th IYPT Australia Challenge

IYPT Australia is organised by AuScience.

Full 17 problems of IYPT2010 in Austria.

1. Electromagnetic cannon
A solenoid can be used to fire a small ball. A capacitor is used to energize the solenoid coil. Build a device with a capacitor charged to a maximum 50V. Investigate the relevant parameters and maximize the speed of the ball.

2. Steel balls
Colliding two large steel balls with a thin sheet of material (e.g. paper) in between may “burn” a hole in the sheet. Investigate this effect for various materials.

3. Liquid light guide
A transparent vessel is filled with a liquid (e.g. water). A jet flows out of the vessel. A light source is placed so that a horizontal beam enters the liquid jet (see picture). Under what conditions does the jet operate like a light guide?

4. Calm surface
When wind blows across a water surface, waves can be observed. If the water is covered by an oil layer, the waves on the water surface will diminish. Investigate the phenomenon.

5. Shrieking rod
A metal rod is held between two fingers and hit. Investigate how the sound produced depends on the position of holding and hitting the rod?

6. Magnetic spring
Two magnets are arranged on top of each other such that one of them is fixed and the other one can move vertically. Investigate oscillations of the magnet.

7. Kelvin’s dropper
Construct Kelvin’s dropper. Measure the highest voltage it can produce. Investigate its dependence on relevant parameters.

IYPT Australia 2010

The 8th IYPT Australia Challenge will be held at Brisbane Girls Grammar School on the 5th and 6th of March 2010.