PHYS101N - Elementary Physics I | Fall 2010, TR 9:30 - 10:45
Mechanics and Electromagnetism - Instructor: Dr. Sebastian E. Kuhn -
Important Links:
General Announcements
- What do you need? Our textbook ("Conceptual Physics" by Hewitt,
ed. 10 or 11), your WebAssign access
code, as well
as the Department of Physics Manual for the PHYS101 Labs. All of these should be available in the ODU
bookstore; the textbook should
come with a WebAssign access code ("scratch off" silver bar). If you
buy a version of the book
without the
WebAssign access package (e.g. a used version) you can also get the
WebAssign Code directly from WebAssign's web page. [NOTE: The exact edition of the book
is not important, since all the homework problems come directly from
WebAssign anyway. If the bookstore sells you edition 11, that's fine;
if you find a used book from edition 10 or even earlier, that's fine,
too].
You will also
need a PRS
Radio
Frequency
Clickers to respond to in-class quizzes and for tests/exams. IMPORTANT NOTICE: The University as
a whole is moving to a new clicker system (from "Turning
Technologies"); however, this system is much less powerful than the PRS
system and is not suitable for
our
class.
Therefore,
you
MUST
obtain a PRS RF clicker for this class,
even if you use other clickers for other classes. There are several
ways to obtain them:
- Maybe you already have one from a class you took in earlier
semesters. In that case, do nothing
- do NOT exchange them for new
clickers (if and when Turning Point technologies offers a buy-back
coupon).
- The ODU bookstore retains some PRS RF clickers in stock. If you
want to buy them from the bookstore, go to the Information Desk in the
Textbook section of the bookstore and ask for them - they will be
stored in boxes behind the information desk counter.
- You may buy used PRS RF clickers from any (ODU) student who has
them and no longer needs them.
- There may be other sources, like Amazon.com or Ebay - just make
sure you get the correct model (see image)
- Once you have your clicker, make sure it has a fresh battery
and store your UIN (triple-check it's the correct one). Instructions
can be found here. (Please IGNORE
"Step 2: To activate the clicker ID using Leo On Line" in these
instructions - you don't need to activate the clicker ID in LEO!)
- I also recommend some additional books (from the library or even
to buy if you're interested): "Guesstimation" by Profs. Lawrence
Weinstein and John Adam (both at ODU), Princeton Press (a nice primer
on how to use rough quantitative estimations in everyday life); "How
Things Work" by Louis Bloomfield (UVA), Wiley; and "The Cartoon Guide
to Physics" by Gonick and Huffman, Harper Perennial. Also books by
Lawrence Krauss, Brian Greene etc....
- We will use the WebAssign
homework assignment system for all homework submissions. You will need
to have an access code to use this system. Also,
you should make
yourself familiar with WebAssign
if you haven't used it so far. You will be able to start using the
system around August 26. I will post a first assignment "Introduction
to WebAssign"
which you can do at your leisure; it will not be graded. You can find a
lot of important information on the WebAssign
page for this class; please let
me know if you have any corrections.
- During approximately one session per week, I will administer a
short quiz to test your (conceptual) understanding of what we learned
in class. You will give your answers for the quiz questions (typically
multiple choice or simple numerical answers) using your
personal clicker (see above). We will also use clickers for (part of)
the in-class tests and the Final Exam.
Again, PLEASE do the following:
General Considerations
1) Is this course for me?
The purpose of this course is to gain a fundamental understanding how
Physics
can describe the world around us with a coherent body of
concepts and models.
We will develop some very abstract ideas (energy, momentum, force) that
have precise meanings (as opposed to the loose everyday meanings we
associate
with some of these words). We will also have to "unlearn" some of the
"obvious"
things we thought we knew about the physical world around us and how it
works that just ain't so.
Finally,
to demonstrate the relationship between the abstract concepts and
models
and everyday phenomena or technical applications, we will have to study
a variety of examples and observations and solve problems.
It helps if you have some knowledge of math (high school geometry and
algebra) and
had some science courses in high school as well. Even more importantly,
you should have some curiosity about science and how it can explain the
natural world. If you think this applies to you, then this course
should reward you
with a deeper understanding of the world around you (not to mention a
reasonable grade – but no guarantees!). In that case, this course is
definitely for you!
If you tend to faint at the sight of any mathematical equation, this
course may not come easy. If you have too heavy a course load already
and cannot commit substantial time and effort to this course (think at least 10 hours/week), you may
be disappointed by the outcome. Note that you only have until the end
of the first week of classes to
withdraw with full tuition refund, and only one more week to withdraw
with 1/2 tuition refund. It pays (literally) to figure out right away
whether or not you plan to continue the course.
Here
are 8 important nuggets of wisdom for all freshmen...
2) Suggestions for Homework
Homework will be submitted through WebAssign.
All
deadlines
are
hard
and
fast
-
no
extensions
under
any
circumstances
(that
includes
late-night
technical
glitches).
Some general suggestions:
- Typically, HW problems are keyed towards new "tools" covered in
the
chapter
they are attached to. If a problem in Chapter 7 asks you to calculate
the
speed of an object after falling in Earth's gravitational field,
chances
are you should use "Energy" to solve
this
problem (which is the chapter title).
- If you don't have enough time to thoroughly study the book, at
least
make
sure you go over several of the examples and "check yourself" questions
for each
chapter.
Try to "think for yourself", by covering up the solution and first
trying
your
own hand at it. If you are really pressed for time (HW deadline), try
to
find examples that look similar to the problem at hand and see which
tools
are applied how (and why).
- Do not wait until the last minute before the deadline to submit
your answers - there could be a last-minute technical problem and there
won't be any extensions! Do not even wait until the last day, in fact!
- For extra practice,
you should do additional problems/exercises (and the "Review
Questions") in the book or click on "practice" in WebAssign. Try to get
as far
as possible on your own,
and then ask me or a Learning Center staffer (or a fellow student) for
help where you need it.
- I can not do more than a sample problem every now and then in
class.
However, make sure you benefit at least from the ones I do by
interrupting
me (yell at my back if necessary) if I'm doing something you can't
follow.
I'd rather have you understand one
worked-out example than getting
confused by a torrent of several running by too quickly.
- Doing problems is not easy, but you will get better at it with
practice.
Unfortunately, there is no shortcut or a simple collection of
"recipies"
- you need to understand the underlying concepts to solve a problem.
- Often it helps to work with other people and/or in the Learning
Center.
Bouncing ideas and questions of each other may clear things up - and
there's
often someone experienced around to ask if you really get stuck. For
your convenience, you can submit your HW answers to WebAssign from the
computers in the Learning Center. I will be in the Learning Center
after class on Tuesdays.
Get involved: Tell
me
(via email, office hour, note, in the learning center, after class)
what you would
like
me (or the TA) to do or change to make the
learning easier for you. However, don't expect miracles: We can't
simply
reduce the material to be covered by a large fraction, so be prepared
to
give us trade-off options ("do more of this and less of that").
Remember,
if you never go to office hours, the Learning Center, etc.,
we can't help you. No student who
made an effort to meet with me when (s)he encountered problems has ever
failed this class!
3) Suggestions on
how to prepare for tests and exams
Many of the suggestions above for the homework also apply for the
preparation
for a midterm or final exam. In particular, the best
preparation
for exams is to do both your regular homework and maybe a couple extra
"practice exercises" every week. (Note: You should have gotten a
compendium volume "Practicing Physics" with your text book. This is
full with extra problems to work on and the solutions are given). But
to get anything out of that, you
really
have
to work hard at getting the answer on your own. Don't expect your
fellow classmates or the learning center to "just do
the
problems for you". Not only is this against my rules, but it also
deprives you of the learning process. Even if you don't get the final
answer
(right), if you have at least made a serious attempt, you will
understand
the correct solution better and be able to see where you may have
troubles
or weak areas.
And now some other "good advice":
- When you study the book, focus on the summaries at the end
of each
chapter and the "Review Questions". Make sure you understand
the terms listed (read the relevant part of the
chapter
in the book if in doubt) and find at least one
example
in the text that illustrates each concept. Do all the "check yourself"
problems in the text by covering up the solution first, then check!
Make use of additional study material that came with the book, and
go to the book website to
check out the animated figures and video clips. And try to come up with
your own examples from everyday life where you can apply what you
learned in class - this will make it more real for you. (Example:
braking distance of your car quadruples when speed doubles ->
kinetic energy and work; how long for a stone to fall into the water
when thrown off a bridge -> gravity, acceleration; riding an
amusement park ride -> acceleration, velocity and postion; angular
motion...) It's a good idea to keep a "reading log" while you read the
book - jot down anything that you think might be important to remember,
as well as anything that seems unclear (so you can ask someone later
on).
- Go over past homework problems. Often an exam problem is just a
variation
of a previous homework problem. Try to remember (or reconstruct) which
concepts where used and how you could tell those were the relevant
ones. Look at the WebAssign
solution (visible as soon as the deadline is past).
- Take a look at the formula
sheet you are supposed to bring for the tests/exams. It
contains equations and formulae that
you might need during the exam.
Try to recollect where and how each of these equations were introduced,
and what situations they apply to (again, look for examples in the
book).
- Look also at previous tests
to remind yourself
of some of those questions.
- Remember, midterm exams (and "extended clicker quizzes") will
cover the chapters in the book
treated in
class up to the day before the exam, beginning with the first chapter
treated
after the previous test (for the second and third). However, some
"background
knowledge" from all of 101 may be needed to answer a given question.
The
final exam covers all material equally.
Finally, don't wait until the last moment. Spend a couple hours each
week
reviewing material and maybe 1-2 hours each day before the exam to
prepare
yourself. This is more efficient than cramming for one night (not only
will you be tired, you will also forget everything more quickly again).
Recent research shows that you learn more if you make sure you sleep
enough during the night!
Solutions to
previous Homework Problem Sets and Tests
Note: WebAssign will allow you to see the Answer Key for all past HW assignments - check
yourself (and do additional practice problems if you had difficulties).
Lecture Notes 
The ODU
chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) organizes an
annual
"Pumpkin
drop" competition. Teams of up to 4 students (both ODU
students
and others) compete by building contraptions that are supposed to
catch a pumpkin dropped from the top of the BAL building without
destroying it. I encourage PHYS101 students to participate in this
event, which is scheduled on Thursday Oct 28th, from 12.30
to 1.30 during activity hour (close to
Halloween). There will be extra credit available! More information can
be found HERE.
Return to S. Kuhn Homepage.
Return to Physics
Department.