Physics team places in Physics Olympics

The Blair Physics Team competed in the University of Maryland Physics Olympics and the statewide DestiNation Imagination (DI) tournament on April 17. Team members took home three first-place and two second-place awards at the Physics of Olympics and one first-place award at the DI tournament.

At the Physics Olympics, the team received first-place awards in the "Bridge Building," "Laser Bullseye" and "Optics Orgy" events, according to AP Physics teacher and club sponsor James Schafer. They also took second place in the "Solar Furnace" and "Mystery Events" categories, said Schafer.

On the same day, the team also competed in the statewide DI competition at Towson University, where they received first place for their solution to a challenge called "DestiNations in Time."

The Physics Olympics hosted "about 20 schools, both public and private," from Maryland, according to Schafer. Blair's group of ten students finished sixth in the competition overall.

Schafer attributed the team's strong finish to their dedication and hard work during practices. "The team really came together well," said Schafer. "[They] built and tested in advance to be able to compensate for unknown factors [during the competition]."

Fifteen team members also participated in the statewide DI competition after "sweeping out" a majority of the awards in the Montgomery County tournament, which took place at Watkins Mill High School on March 13, according to team co-president Stanley Wang.

During the county tournament, Blair received first and second place for the challenge "DestiNations in Time," second place for "The Plot and the Pendulum" and first and third place for "UpBeat Improv."

Wang said that Blair's DI team has been invited to participate in the DI global competition, which will take place from May 26 to 29. The event will be held at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Blair's excellent performance in both the Physics Olympics and the statewide DI tournament has led the team to have high hopes for future years. "[The team] did really well [this year] compared to other years," said Wang. "Everyone did their part and cooperated."

For more information on the Blair Physics Team, click here.