February 27, 2024
Given a certain total mass, if a rocket carries a skydiver vertically to a certain height, what is the maximum height at which he can successfully descend to the ground?
In the 14th Univerisity Physics Competition in 2023, the contestants had two Problems: A. Space Diving and B. Trampoline Jumping.
From Left to right: Fanpei Liu, Shengxiang Gao, Zizhou Jia
Recently, the results of the competition were announced. The team from XJTLU continued their impressive performance in previous competitions and won six bronze awards.
One of the student teams that won the bronze award this year consisted of three first-year students, Shengyang Gao, Fanpei Liu and Zizhou Jia.
After reviewing past competition questions and public award-winning papers, they chose question A, which is relatively familiar and about astrophysics. They spent half a day drilling the whole process the week before the competition.
"I was responsible for writing paper and planning the process, while Shengyang Gao and Zizhou Jia did an excellent job in the specific argumentation ideas and physical modelling," says Fanpei Liu.
"The competition started on the Saturday morning. Firstly, I analyzed the thesis by entering it into a pre-built model. Once the overall structure of the thesis was established, the whole process was split into different spatial levels for hierarchical analysis. In sections, we analyzed the differences between the theoretical laws of fluid dynamics and operation in practice. After completing the modelling and hierarchical analysis, the writing of the thesis proceeded smoothly. In addition, we were able to visualize each stage's scientific and practical aspects with the help of relevant graphic software." He adds.
The photo of Fanpei Liu and Professor Youmin Xi
At that time, they were facing midterm exams. The team completed a linear algebra quiz and an onsite exam in calculus during the competition. Through efficient division of labor and cooperation, the team completed the competition paper before the deadline.
Shengyang Gao(Left) and Zizhou Jia (right) in the University Physics Competition
The three students are members of the XJTLU Physics Club. The University, the physics club and the instructor provided various forms of online and offline support for the participants, including pre-competition organisation, venue booking, post-competition statistics, etc.
Professor M.B.N. (Thijs) Kouwenhoven, Head of the Department of Physics, says: "This year, the student teams has achieved a commendable result. The student teams have demonstrated their competitiveness in solving real-world problems, and their ability to constructively cooperate in teams."
The University Physics competition offers the students a realistic research experience. This experience gives a taste of what it is like to work in a professional academic or industrial environment. The competition provides a well-defined problem that has to be solved, but there are no instructions on how to solve it. There are no textbooks that provide instructions on how to solve the problems, and a perfect solution may not even exist at all. This research experience stimulates creativity and teamwork in academic problem solving; a highly desired skill on the job market.
" The University Physics competition offers the students a realistic research experience. This experience gives a taste of what it is like to work in a professional academic or industrial environment. Competitions provide only a clear problem that must be solved. There are no textbooks that provide instructions on how to solve the problems, and a perfect solution may not even exist at all. This research experience stimulates creativity and teamwork in academic problem solving; a highly desired skill on the job market." says he.
The competition has a total of 466 university students from around the world completed the competition and submitted papers in 2023 . Other winning universities in China include the National University of Defense Technology, Tongji University and Beijing Normal University.
By Qinru Liu
Edited by Luyun Shi
Translated by Xiaoke Li
Photos courtesy of Fanpei Liu
February 27, 2024