List

IPhO Problems and Solutions

The oldest and best known of the physics olympiads, first held in Warsaw in 1967. Each country sends up to five students for a theoretical and an experimental exam. Many older exams contain errors, catalogued in Stefan Ivanov's errata list.

2026 materialsTheory instructions

2026

Colombia

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemIdeal Gas, Vapor Pressure, and Heat ConductionProblemSolution

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems
Theory Backup1 problemStrongly correlated Fermi gasesProblem
More materialsAnswer sheetLaTeX transcriptionLaTeX source (.zip)LaTeX PDF

2024 materialsMinutes

2024

Iran

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

2020

IdPhO

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemCrystallographyProblemSolution

2019 materialsMinutes

2019

Israel

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

2018 materialsMinutes

2018

Portugal

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

2015 materialsResultsMinutes

2015

India

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

2014 materialsMinutes

2014

Kazakhstan

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemTo see invisible!ProblemSolution

2013

Denmark

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

2012

Estonia

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

2011 materialsMinutes

2011

Thailand

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

2009 materialsMinutes

2009

Mexico

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

2008 materialsMinutes

2008

Vietnam

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemDifferential Thermometric MethodProblemSolution

2007

Iran

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemBand Gap of Semiconductor Thin FilmsProblemSolution

2006 materialsMinutes

2006

Singapore

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemInterference, Reflection and DiffractionProblemSolution

2005 materialsMinutes

2005

Spain

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemPlanck's Constant in an Incandescent LampProblemSolution

2004 materialsMinutes

2004

Korea

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemMechanical "Black Box"ProblemSolution

2003 materialsMinutes

2003

Taiwan

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemOptical Properties of Laser DiodeProblemSolution

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

2001 materialsMinutes

2001

Turkey

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemRotating LiquidProblemSolution

2000 materialsMinutes

2000

United Kingdom

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

1999 materialsMinutes

1999

Italy

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemTorsion pendulumProblemSolution

1998 materialsMinutes

1998

Iceland

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemElectromagnetismProblem
LaTeX transcriptionLaTeX source (.zip)LaTeX PDF

1997

Canada

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemCharacterization of the BimorphProblemSolution
LaTeX transcriptionLaTeX source (.zip)LaTeX PDF

1996

Norway

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemGravity and MagnetismProblemSolution

1995 materialsComments

1995

Australia

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

1994

China

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

1993

USA

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

1992

Finland

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

1991

Cuba

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemThree Terminal Black BoxProblemSolution

1990

Netherlands

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

1989

Poland

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemPiezoelectric DiscsProblemSolution

1988

Austria

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

1987

East Germany

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemRefractive IndicesProblemSolution

1986

United Kingdom

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

1985

Yugoslavia

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

1984

Sweden

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

1983

Romania

Problems5 problems

1982

West Germany

Theory3 problems
Experimental2 problems

1981

Bulgaria

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemElastic Rubber CordProblemSolution

1979

Soviet Union

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemBlack BoxProblemSolution


1976

Hungary

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemThermal Properties of the X materialProblemSolution

1975

East Germany

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemSemiconductor ElementProblemSolution

1974

Poland

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemDiodes in a Black BoxProblemSolution

1972

Romania

Theory4 problems
Experimental1 problemTwo CylindersProblemSolution

1971

Bulgaria

Theory4 problems
Experimental1 problemRheostat DissipationProblemSolution

1970

Soviet Union

Theory4 problems
Experimental1 problemThree LensesProblemSolution

1969

Czechoslovakia

Problems4 problems

1968

Hungary

Theory3 problems
Experimental1 problemThree Black BoxesProblemSolution

1967

Poland

Theory4 problems
Experimental1 problemHeating PetroleumProblemSolution