Americans have won or shared the physics prize 34 of the 83 times it has been awarded.
Consider, as a case study, this year's physics prize.
This was the last time a single person was awarded the physics prize.
Fundamental Physics Prize, 2012, for his work on string theory.
Two Americans won the physics prize for their investigation of gravitational forces exerted by dense stars.
The neutron-scattering techniques that led to the physics prize have been routine in laboratories throughout the world for many years.
Both the chemistry and physics prizes carry an award of about $470,000, or three million Swedish crowns.
(He did, however, receive the 1921 physics prize for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.)
Curie's physics prize was shared with her husband, Pierre Curie.
Since there is no Nobel prize for astronomy, astronomical discoveries are sometimes awarded the physics prize.