These are the problems the New Zealand Young Physicist Tournament 2026. To be in contention for the national champions trophy, teams must be able to present their practical research into at least three problems at the Tournament on Match 21st 2026.

1. Invent Yourself: Self-starting Siphon

A self-starting siphon can be made using a piece of rigid tubing bent into a specific shape. When the siphon is partially immersed in water, it begins siphoning water without the need for initial suction. Investigate how the relevant parameters, such as the geometry, affect the siphoning process.

2. Electrical Damping

A magnet suspended by a spring will display simple harmonic motion when displaced. If the magnet oscillates within a coil connected to a resistor, its motion will be damped. Investigate the factors that affect the damping.

3. Ring Fountain

When a flat metal ring falls from a certain height into a water tank, it generates a fountain that can shoot water high into the air. How does the maximum height of the fountain depend on the ring’s parameters?

4. Elastic Wave Dynamics

Suspend a metal ball from a fixed support using a rubber band and twist it many times around its vertical axis. When the ball is released, standing waves are formed on the rubber band. Investigate this phenomenon and study how the wave depends on relevant parameters.

5. Flipo Flip

A Flipo Flip toy can roll for multiple turns even though its shape is not circular. Investigate how its motion depends on parameters such as geometry and the initial release conditions.

6. The Singing Ruler

When a ruler is clamped at one end and struck, it oscillates and emits a characteristic sound. Investigate how the sound depends on relevant parameters.

7. Magnetic Newton’s Cradle

Repulsing, non-touching magnets are used instead of colliding balls to make a new type of Newton’s cradle. The new cradle can act in a similar way to a regular cradle, but can also exhibit other interesting behaviour. Explain and study the movement of this magnetic cradle.