DENTON (UNT), Texas — The University of North Texas recently hosted its annual Physics Olympics, bringing high school students from across the region to participate in dynamic scientific challenges designed to inspire and educate. The event took place on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the UNT campus and featured a range of interactive activities.
Hosted by the Department of Physics, this year’s Physics Olympics was organized by Professor Sandra Quintanilla alongside the Physics Olympics faculty committee, physics staff, and Society of Physics Students (SPS) officers. Five teams participated in the competition, representing schools from the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw, Grand Prairie, and Prosper Independent School Districts. The day was structured with activities starting at 9 a.m. and continuing past 5 p.m.
Among the engaging events were a catapult launch, an egg drop challenge, a bridge-building competition using popsicle sticks, and a physics-themed scavenger hunt. During the catapult contest, students were tasked with designing a machine using an 8-foot arm and bungee cords for torque. The goal was for the contraption to hit a target 40 meters away. Participants were given three attempts to achieve the best average score calculated with physics-based formulas.
The event was not only educational but also provided a platform for students to witness live physics demonstrations and explore UNT’s cutting-edge research labs. They visited facilities working with nanowires, laser spectroscopy, and ion beams, and watched the “Seeing!” show in the UNT Sky Theater—a visual journey following a photon from a star to a human eye.
South Grand Prairie High School teacher Erick Berdugo praised the event, stating, “It gives them a chance to show off what they’ve learned and see what else they can still learn.”
As the day progressed, teams participated in a scavenger hunt through the Physics building, racing against the clock to solve physics problems. The scoring for the hunt was based on both the number of correct answers and the time taken to complete the course.
After a full day of competitive and learning activities, the 11th-grade team from W. E. Boswell High School emerged victorious, earning gold medals. As a reward, each team member received a $1,000 scholarship to attend UNT if they pursue a physics degree.
The 2025 Physics Olympics at UNT not only challenged students’ understanding of physics principles but also fostered a deeper interest in the field. Participant Skylar Gurley captured the sentiment of the day, stating, “It was really exciting to use everything I’ve learned this year in a competition. I know I want to keep studying physics.”