NCHS Students Perform Well in International Physics Bowl Competition

New Canaan High School AP Physics teacher Paul Reid recently shared results from this year’s International Physics Bowl. According to Mr. Reid, “With over 550 schools and over 6,400 students competing, this was the biggest competition ever. We fared well in both divisions, with Division 2 (Physics C students) taking a 2nd place in New England, and Division 1 students (AP Physics 1 students) taking 3rd. All AP Physics students in both Tony Barnett’s and my sections participate in the competition, and the top 5 scores in each division count as the school scores. The students whose scores earned us these results are: Division 2: Miles Turpin, Chris Reik, Charlie Pitteway, Bhaskar Abhiraman, Robbie Fusek. Division 1: Dana Lurie, Jackson Appelt, Andrew Shizari, Michael St. George, Tyler Hill.

The Physics Bowl is an annual event coordinated by the American Association of Physics Teachers. This year’s exam was administered between March 30 and April 15. According to the AAPT website, students take a 40-question, 45-minute timed, multiple-choice test under their school’s supervision. Exam questions are based on topics and concepts covered in a typical high school physics course.

Division 1 has been established for first-year physics students, Division 2 for second-year physics students. Each division is separated into 14 Regions across the United States and 5 regions in China. Schools within each region  compete against one another. New Canaan High School competes in Region 3, New England.