Physics Tournament Lab
Available: Princeton, NJ
For high school, middle school, and home school students
Mentor: Sergey Samsonau, PhD
Doing Real Physics
IYPT problems are among the best vehicles for doing real physics: open-ended, requiring theory, experiment, and simulation. Build your own apparatus, develop mathematical models, run computer simulations, defend your conclusions. Some students pursue these problems for competition; others use them for independent research. The methodology is the same either way.
World-Class Physics Problems
The International Young Physicists' Tournament (IYPT) publishes 17 open-ended physics problems each year. These problems have no textbook answers. They require building apparatus, developing theory, running simulations, and defending your conclusions. Professional physicists design them to be genuinely challenging.
Some students use these problems for competition entry. Others pursue them as independent research projects. The work is the same either way, with publishable outcomes. Students who want to compete can submit to the US selection process. Students focused on research can publish through SoTS or other journals.
What About College?
Students who do this work well tend to have compelling things to talk about in applications. Not because we optimize for admissions, but because genuine physics capability is hard to fake. The depth shows.
What You'll Do
Investigate real physics phenomena with no textbook answers. Unusual effects, weird behaviors, counterintuitive observations.
- Build apparatus from household items, hardware store materials, eBay finds
- Develop mathematical models and test them against real data
- Run computer simulations (Mathematica)
- Present findings, defend conclusions, challenge peers
This is how professional physicists work. Theory, experiment, and computation together.
Project Examples (from IYPT 2026)
| Field | Problem |
|---|---|
| Mechanics | Tennis Racket Theorem: When an object with different principal moments of inertia about each axis is thrown while it rotates, it can suddenly start rotating around a different axis. Investigate how rotational motion is affected by relevant parameters during free fall. |
| Optics | Sweet Monochromator: Pass linearly polarized white light through a column of sugar solution. When observed through a polarizer, the light may appear colored - and the color changes as you rotate the polarizer. Construct and optimize for the narrowest wavelength bandwidth. |
| Fluids | Ring Fountain: When a flat metal ring falls into a water tank, it generates a fountain that can shoot water high into the air. How does the maximum height depend on the ring's parameters? |
| Electromagnetism | Magnetic Newton's Cradle: Repulsing, non-touching magnets replace colliding balls in a new type of Newton's cradle. The cradle can act similarly to a regular one, but also exhibits other interesting behavior. Explain and study the movement. |
| Fluids | Autumn Coin: The motion of a coin falling to the bottom of a liquid-filled tank can be remarkably similar to the fluttering and tumbling of a falling autumn leaf. Investigate how the motion depends on relevant parameters. |
Source: IYPT 2026 Problems
Lab Structure
Project format: Each student works on their own selected problem. US selection chooses one student per problem. To submit, students provide a PDF of their slides and a 12-minute video presentation.
Dimensions of work:
- Theory - Mathematical modeling and analytical work
- Experimental - Build apparatus and collect data
- Computational - Simulations and modeling (Mathematica)
- Combined - All three together
About the Mentor
- Trained 100+ students in research methodology at NYU
- Built and directed research labs program at PRISMS (one of the top USA high schools)
- Coached teams for USA IYPT
- Endorsed by USIYPT leadership for IYPT preparation
- Developer of original research education methodologies
Tournament Details
IYPT 2026: Zurich, Switzerland, July 5-12
US Selection deadline: March 13, 2026
See tournament philosophy, rules, and advice from organizers: USIYPT.net (US selection), IYPT.org, and IYPT 2026 Zurich
Prerequisites
Open to high school, middle school, and home school students.
- Active SoTS Membership (recommended)
- One year of honors-level physics (or equivalent) - taken or in progress
- Commitment to weekly meetings and independent work
- Access to basic materials and willingness to build apparatus
- Curiosity about how everyday things work
Not for students who want pre-packaged experiments with known answers.
General Details on SoTS Research Labs
Enrollment and Cost
Princeton (In-Person)
- Weekly meetings (1-1.5 hours) in central Princeton. 5 members per group.
- Spring: February - May (16 weeks)
- Fall: September - January (16 weeks)
- Semester commitment required
- $3,500/semester
Questions? Book a call to learn more
Submit Enrollment RequestReal physics problems. Real methodology. Publishable outcomes. Whether you pursue competition or independent research, the work is the same.
References
- Computer simulations combined with experiments for calculus-based physics laboratory course (Physics Education, 2018)
- Integrating science through authentic research in secondary schools (IEEE, 2018)
- Authentic Research Education Framework (arXiv)
Communities We Serve with In-Person Labs
Belle Mead, Bridgewater, Cranbury, East Windsor, Edison, Ewing, Flemington, Franklin Township, Freehold, Hamilton, Hillsborough, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, Lambertville, Lawrence Township, Manalapan, Marlboro, Metuchen, Montgomery, New Hope (PA), Newtown (PA), North Brunswick, Pennington, Plainsboro, Princeton, Princeton Junction, Robbinsville, Rocky Hill, Skillman, South Brunswick, West Windsor, Yardley (PA), and beyond.
Mercer County, Somerset County, Middlesex County, Hunterdon County, Bucks County (PA), Monmouth County.