Students from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw won the gold medal in the University Physics Competition 2022. 417 teams from research centers around the world took part in the competition, including 11 from FUW. In addition to gold, the students also won 5 silver and 2 bronze medals.
The competition was held from November 4 to 6, 2022, and the results were announced on January 17, 2023.
Of the 417 papers submitted in this year’s University Physics Competition, 7 teams (1.7%) were ranked as Gold Medal Winners, 79 teams (19%) were ranked as Silver Medal Winners, 108 teams (26%) were ranked as Bronze Medal Winners, and 223 teams (53%) were ranked as Accomplished Competitors.
2 tasks of the University Physics Competition 2022
The first of this year’s problems faced by the participants of the competition – “Deflecting an Asteroid” – concerned an asteroid approaching the Earth. Teams had to calculate at what point a spacecraft placed in low Earth orbit would have to collide with an asteroid to stop its catastrophic collision with our planet. This problem was solved by a team consisting of Jan Dobrakowski, Wojciech Śmiałek, Ignacy Stachura from the Warsaw Faculty of Physics and consequently, they won a gold medal.
The second problem in this year’s competition – “FIFA Penalty Kicks” – concerned penalty kicks taken in football competitions. Participants had to calculate, among other things, with what initial speed and at what angle the shooter should direct the ball into the upper corner of the goal to have the best chance of a successful shot.
Students of the University of Warsaw have been taking part in the UPC competition for the 7th year in a row.