Tonbridge teams put in top performances in international Physics competition

Tonbridge students excelled in the International Physics Brawl, an annual online event which tests subject knowledge and problem-solving skills.

A total of 13 teams took part in the contest on Wednesday 22 November, featuring 57 boys representing Upper and Lower Sixth, with one team made up of Third Years.

Each team, of either four or five students, is set the challenge of answering questions under time pressure, with several hundred schools across the world taking part.

One Upper Sixth team achieved the distinction of being the highest ranked ‘pure’ UK side, with only one other team – a mix of UK and American contestants – scoring higher in their section. Isaac King (CH5), Justin Leung (HS5), Eden Cheung (FH5), Johnnie Averdieck (WW5) and Nathan Tay (Sc5) finished a highly creditable 23rd in the Upper Sixth (or equivalent) world rankings.

A Lower Sixth team finished as the second highest UK team, and 21st in the world rankings for their age group. The members were Jayden Wong (Sc4) Ralph Edmondson (OH4), Sam Zang (FH4), Ryan Ho (Sc4) and Damon Yam (FH4).

Chris Powell, Head of Physics, said: “The boys can be proud of their excellent showings, and well done to all who took part. Activities such as the International Physics Brawl give students excellent opportunities to apply their knowledge and to ‘think outside the box’, all of which adds to their overall learning, confidence and enjoyment of the subject.”

The International Physics Brawl is organised by Charles University, a leading institution in the Czech Republic.

Boys are pictured competing in the School’s RIBA Award-winning Barton Science Centre.