F=ma Problem Series

This course will prepare you to take the F=ma exam, the first test in a series of contests that determines the members of the US team for the International Physics Olympiad. You'll learn the classical mechanics you need for the F=ma exam as we solve and analyze problems taken from past exams. We'll also cover strategies for taking the test, and you'll get to take a practice F=ma test of brand-new problems.

12 weeks

Diagnostics

ARE YOU READY?

12 weeks ARE YOU READY?

Schedule

Sunday Sep 8 - Nov 24	7:30 - 9:00 PM ET Sep 8 - Nov 24 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern 6:30 - 8:00 PM Central 5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain 4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific Click here to see more time zones	Jon Joseph	$390 (~$33/lesson)	$390 (~$33/lesson) CLOSED
Friday Oct 11 - Jan 17	7:30 - 9:00 PM ET Oct 11 - Jan 17 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern 6:30 - 8:00 PM Central 5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain 4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific Click here to see more time zones	Thomas Zhang	$390 (~$33/lesson)	$390 (~$33/lesson) ENROLL
Wednesday Feb 19 - May 7	7:30 - 9:00 PM ET Feb 19 - May 7 7:30 - 9:00 PM Eastern 6:30 - 8:00 PM Central 5:30 - 7:00 PM Mountain 4:30 - 6:00 PM Pacific Click here to see more time zones	Alyssa Zisk	$390 (~$33/lesson)	$390 (~$33/lesson) ENROLL

AoPS Holidays

There are no classes October 31, November 25 ‐ December 1, December 21 ‐ January 3, May 24 ‐ 26, July 4 ‐ 6, and August 29 ‐ September 1, 2025.

Who Should Take?

This course is designed for high school students who have already learned the basics of Newtonian mechanics—specifically, Newton's laws, Newtonian gravity, and forces like friction and tension. If you've already passed the F=ma exam and are looking toward USAPhO, you'll want to take our PhysicsWOOT course instead.

Lessons

1	1D Kinematics
2	2D Kinematics and Vectors
3	Newton's Laws
4	Momentum and Energy
5	Collisions
6	Data Analysis
7	Rotational Motion
8	Orbital Mechanics
9	Statics I - Balancing Forces and Torques
10	Statics II - Fluids and Material Properties
11	Oscillations
12	Dimensional Analysis