Physics Competitions for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 24 physics competitions for high school students. Of these, 6 are free to participate in and 6 offer virtual participation. Examples include American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) High School Physics Photo Contest, American Rocketry Challenge (formerly TARC), and Botball.
- 24
- listed
- 6
- free
- 6
- virtual
- 24
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are physics competitions for high school students?
- Physics Competitions for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in physics. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- Are any of these competitions free?
- Yes — 6 of the 24 competitions listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 6 of the 24 competitions listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are physics competitions good for a college application?
- Yes — physics competitions are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in physics on college applications.
24 activities found·Browse by category
American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) High School Physics Photo Contest
Annual contest where students submit photos illustrating physics principles with written explanations.
American Rocketry Challenge (formerly TARC)
The world's largest student rocketry contest, where teams design, build, and launch a rocket to hit precise altitude and duration targets carrying an egg payload, competing for over $100,000 in prizes.
Botball
An autonomous robotics competition where middle and high school teams design, build, and program fully autonomous robots — no remote controls allowed — using standardized kits and real programming languages.
BPhO (British Physics Olympiad) Round 1
UK-based but open globally; challenging problem set with calculus-level physics; can lead to IPhO selection for UK students.
Conrad Challenge
A global STEM innovation and entrepreneurship competition where student teams design original solutions in categories like Aerospace & Aviation or Energy & Environment, culminating in an Innovation Summit at Space Center Houston.
F=ma Exam (AAPT)
First round of Physics Olympiad qualification; focuses on mechanics and problem-solving, open to any HS student.
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
Flagship varsity high school robotics competition where teams build 120 lb robots to play a new game each year. Most prestigious robotics competition with pathways to substantial scholarships.
FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)
A robotics competition for middle and high schoolers who build smaller-scale robots to compete in a new game released each September, emphasizing engineering design and teamwork.
International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)
Invitation-only global competition for top national teams; experimental and theoretical exams.
NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC)
A nine-month NASA engineering challenge in which student teams design and build human-powered or remote-controlled rovers to navigate a simulated lunar/Martian obstacle course at a culminating event at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.
National Science Bowl (Physics Rounds)
National academic competition with physics-focused rounds; teams compete regionally then nationally.
Physics Bowl)
National team-based physics competition with multiple-choice questions spanning mechanics, E&M, modern physics, etc.
Physics Olympiad Summer Training Camp (MOP equivalent for Physics)
Invitation-only training camp for top USAPhO performers; preparation for International Physics Olympiad team.
PhysicsBowl Online
Online version of Physics Bowl for remote participation; same content and scoring.
Princeton University Physics Competition (PUPC)
Student-run online physics competition with both individual and team rounds; conceptual and problem-solving focus.
Regeneron ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair) - Physics Category
Global science fair with physics & astronomy category; winners receive scholarships and recognition.
Regeneron Science Talent Search (Physics Projects)
Prestigious national competition where students submit original research; many winners do physics/astrophysics projects.
Science Olympiad (Physics Events)
Team-based competition with multiple physics-related events (e.g., Mousetrap Vehicle, Circuit Lab, Detector Building).
Sir Isaac Newton Exam (SIN)
University of Waterloo Canadian physics contest; algebra-based, open to international students.
Solar Car Challenge
A 15-month educational program culminating in a national race where high school teams design, engineer, and build road-worthy, solar-powered cars from scratch, then compete on a closed track or in a cross-country event.
USA Biolympiad (Physics-Heavy Biophysics Track)
While primarily biology, some students with physics background excel in the biophysics/biochemistry sections.
USA Physics Olympiad (USAPhO)
National exam leading to International Physics Olympiad (IPhO); challenging conceptual and calculus-based problems.
USIYPT (US Invitational Young Physicists Tournament)
A national "physics fight" tournament where student teams spend months investigating open-ended physics research problems, then defend their findings against rival teams before a panel of judges.
VEX V5 Robotics Competition
The largest and fastest-growing middle/high school robotics program globally, where student teams build robots for a new annual engineering challenge and compete in tournaments up through a World Championship.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.