British Physics Olympiad

University of Oxford
Department of Physics
Parks Road
Oxford
OX1 3PU
Tel: +44(0)1865 282447
Tel: +44(0)1865 272884
Email: bpho@physics.ox.ac.uk

16th March 2015

Dear Teacher
British Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition1
The BPhO has looked at the idea of sending a team of school students to participate in the
International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics2 (IOAA). This is run in a similar manner to the
International Physics Olympiad, which takes place each summer, and for which a team of UK sixth
form students is selected by means of a series of competition papers. The IOAA is a smaller event
and, it would appear, accessible to only a small number of students with a close knowledge of the
field of Astronomy and Astrophysics. However, this is definitely not the case. The best students to
compete are those who are good at problem solving and who have a determination to develop
those skills and, alongside that, knowledge of the topic material. The latter can be taught whereas
the former requires a longer term approach by the student, his or her teacher, and the school.
We would hope that there are students who are keen to be able to attend an international event of
this kind. It will, for almost all, be their first experience of an international science conference,
involving like-minded, very focused students. It is an experience that no one ever forgets. The sort of
student who would do well is a good physicist and mathematician, with a clear interest in
astronomy. Whilst their knowledge is likely to be limited, they will be familiar with astrophysics at a
school A level standard. The student must be a good problem solver, interested in engaging and
quickly developing their knowledge of the subject. We hope that teachers and schools will be
interested in encouraging their students to participate in this school competition.
A one hour Trial Paper and the solutions are being sent out with this letter. Please feel free to use it
as a resource, or give the question paper and solutions to your students over Easter. The specialised
knowledge required largely comprises the Doppler Effect and Keplers Laws of Planetary Motion.
Some smaller items are asked about, but they constitute a smaller proportion of the marks.
There will be a one hour Competition Paper towards the end of April (with a suggested date for
sitting of Friday 24th April), available for downloading from the Oxford Online store in mid-April. This
timeline is only for this year and is to test the water. Next year, it will take place earlier, certainly
before Easter. The competition will result in Awards of Gold, Silver and Bronze certificates, but it will
not be used to select a team for the IOAA this year. The competition is open to students of any year
1

The title BOAA is that of the subcommittee within the BPhO set up for the management of this activity. It
comes under the governance of the BPhO, a registered charitable trust.
2
Details of the IOAA and its formation can be found in the Wikipedia article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Olympiad_on_Astronomy_and_Astrophysics
Registered Charity Number 1146064

group; those at A2 will generally be familiar with the key physics ideas, whereas those at AS will
need to read them up. But the paper is not on esoteric aspects of the subject. A small number of
questions may involve a greater depth of astronomical knowledge or unfamiliar specialist terms, but
that is for the astronomers amongst the participants. These questions are not going to contribute
greatly to the overall marks awarded, and astronomy knowledge is not vital.
Papers will be available to order through the Oxford University online store (accessed through the
BPhO page) and will be sent at least a week before the competition date. The url links for paper,
solutions and certificates to order online will be sent out just after Easter this year.
The Trial Paper and solutions will be available for download from the BPhO website
www.BPhO.org.uk . Do please encourage your students to have a go at the questions.
If teachers would like to become involved in this new venture, suggest questions, participate in
discussing the ideas and the direction in which this initiative might go, aspects of practical
observational training, the furthering of astronomy in schools through this, or any other aspect of
how this might be used to develop students interests, then do please get in touch. The
subcommittee working on this is composed of research students in astrophysics, academics and
those who teach astronomy in school. A wider participation from schoolteachers would be
welcomed.
I hope that you will welcome this opportunity for students to engage in one aspect of their skill
development through a subject area of great interest to many.
Yours sincerely

Robin Hughes
Chairman
British Physics Olympiad

Registered Charity Number 1146064