physics 218, lecture i1 physics 218 lecture 1 dr. david toback

Physics 218, Lecture I 1

Physics 218 Lecture 1

Dr. David Toback


Quick Sanity Check

Howdy!Are you in the right class?

•Introduction to Classical Mechanics

•Physics 218


Just getting started…• I like enjoying class, so I’ll work hard for this

to be fun for all of us (tough at 8AM!)• I want everyone to do well and get good grades• I’ll also to teach you how to get good grades

(unfortunately it’s a lot of work) • We’ll take a joke-break during class, and I’ll

show short video clips at the beginning– Please send me new material and I’ll do my

best to use it in class


Start with our thought for the day…

What it’s like to sit in an 8AM physics lecture….


Overview of Today’s Class

• Syllabus and Other Handouts on my WebPage

• Problem Solving• Other requirements• Your “homework” before next

lecture


Big Picture

• Textbook

–Young and Freedman, 11th Edition

• There is a both a recitation and a laboratory for this course

–“Visual Physics”

–First meeting is this week!


Handouts on my WebSite

faculty.physics.tamu.edu/toback/218By the next class you need to read:

• WebCT/Homework instructions– More on this later…

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

You can also find on the handouts page links:

• Exam schedule

• Lecture notes

• Lecture Assignment Instructions– Send me email if you find problems


Grades

• Exams: 275 points (exam 1: 75, exams 2&3: 100)• Final: 200 points• Lab & Rec, Reading Assignments: 200 points• HW, HW Quizzes & Math quizzes: 75 points

Total: 750 points I will curve all the exam scores AFTER the final, but will try

to give feedback along the wayMost of your grade will be based on your ability to solve

problems


Problem SolvingOr

How I learned to Love WebCT


Problem Solving

• The heart of this course is problem solving

• If you spend your time learning how to solve the hard problems you’ll

– Do well in the course

– Realize why physics is so interesting• Everything in this course is designed to help you

become an excellent problem solver and give you lots of feedback and help along the way

• We use WebCT a lot to help with this…


WebCT and Recitation Problems

• Math quizzes: Using WebCT. Are you prepared mathematically for the course? If not, WebCT will tell you so you can drop now or get help

• Homework and HWquizzes: Will be turned in using WebCT. Can you solve the hardest problems on the homework?

• Recitation quizzes: Work with others to solidify your understanding of the material


Exam Problems

3 Exams and a Final–Closed book (formula sheet provided) –No numbers! In general the problems

will be formula solutions with variables

–Problems will be very similar to those on homework and recitation


Math and Math Quizzes

• Studies show that you need to be good at the math to solve physics problems

• Are you ready for this course? Log into WebCT and take (finish?) your math quizzes before Thursday’s lecture– These are timed; will take at least an hour– Bring paper and a pencil

• High school math! If they aren’t easy for you then get help or DROP NOW


Math Quizzes cont…Bad news:

• To get full credit you need to get a perfect score on all ten quizzes. If you can’t get a few perfect scores after just a little practice, you should consider dropping the course or getting SERIOUS help. (Lots of free help out there!!!).

Good news:

• You can take as many quizzes as you want until you get perfect scores. We REALLY want you to learn and get good grades!


Homework: Not your High School Physics Class

Many of you have taken high school physics are used to being given formulas and numbers to plug into them…

• Bad news: We are not going to do this on the exams! We’ll use variables…

• Good news: We’ve set up the homework so that if you do it the way we ask you to, you’ll be well prepared for the exams!


A New Way to Turn in HomeworkBefore WebCT:1. Use a variable for each quantity (e.g., Mass = m)

and work out the algebra without numbers. Your answer should be a formula

2. Plug the numbers into the final formula and check your answer in the back of the book (even answers on the web)

After you got ALL of them correct and checked:1. Log onto WebCT

1. Same problems but with different numbers2. Use your formula/calculator to get the “new” answer3. Enter “new” answer into WebCT


Homework Warning…You only get a short amount of time with the new

numbers. Do all the problems (and check that they’re right) before going to WebCT

More bad news:• In order to pass the course you must turn in all the

problems correctly!! The good news:• You can have as many tries as you want! When you

get a 100, we only count your best score!There is a short, required, HW quiz for each HW set.

These are new problems, but you can take this as many times as you like until you get a 100 also!

Homework is due Monday after recitation


My advice–Turn in your WebCT homework SLOWLY and CAREFULLY. You have more than enough time if you’ve done the problems ahead of time

If you turn in a problem and WebCT tells you it’s the wrong answer on 2 consecutive tries, our studies show you most likely have the wrong formula!–Don’t get mad! Get Help! (TA’s, Supplemental Instruction, helpdesk etc.).

If you need an extension, send me an email

Other advice: We know some students think they are cleaver and try to cheat the system. If you try to cheat the system … just wait until the exams… XX

.


Extra Credit – We want you to do well

• When you get a 100 on all the math quizzes, HW1-3 and their associated quizzes, a mini-practice exam will become available to you to help study for the in-class exam

• Take as many as you like!• If you get a 100, before the in-class exam, I’ll give

you 5 bonus points on the exam• There is a different mini-practice exam for each in-

class exam• Students who get a 100 on the mini-practice exam

typically do 30 or more points better on the exams than do students who don’t take it.


Recitation Grades

• A large fraction of your recitation grade is based on the Recitation Quiz

• 10% of your recitation grade will be based on your preparation for recitation

• In order to get preparation points you need to have gotten at least 1 problem in WebCT correct for that week’s homework BEFORE recitation


Other Requirements


Lecture Assignments

• You must do the Reading before lecture

• Answer the Lecture Assignment questions

• Due at the beginning of lecture

• Instructions on my webpage


Requirements

In order to pass this course you must:

• Take all the exams and the final

• Must pass the Visual Physics part

• Must have a 100% on the WebCT stuff*– Math quizzes

– Homework

– Homework quizzes

*You get as many tries as you want


Example Procedure for Next Week1. Before lecture on Tuesday:

1. Read chapter 2 2. Do the Lecture Assignment (Questions Q2.8 and Q2.20) 3. Start working on the HW problems

2. Lecture:1. Turn in the Lecture Assignment

3. Before Recitation:1. Finish/Check all the HW problems before recitation2. Start turning in homework on WebCT3. Need at least 1 question on WebCT correct

4. Recitation:1. Ask questions about the HW problems

5. After Recitation:1. Full homework due Monday after recitation on WebCT


Procedure for Each Week• Week 1 (This week):

– Lecture: Chapter 1 (Reading, but nothing due)– Recitation: Calculus and Lab Techniques– Homework due: None

• Week 2 (Next week):– Homework due (Monday): Math quizzes– Lecture: Chapter 2 (Reading and Lecture Assignment due)– Recitation: Chapter 1 (and Lab 1)

• Week 3 (The week after that):– Homework due (Monday): Chapter 1– Lecture: Chapter 3 (Reading and Lecture Assignment due)– Recitation: Chapter 2 (no lab, but lab 1 is due)

• Etc..


Questions?

Any questions?

• I’ve compiled a list of frequently asked question and their answers and put it on my web site. You should read that before next class.


Checklist for next time:1. Download the Visual Physics handouts and go to

your Recitation this week2. Download the WebCT instructions3. Get a Neo account (if you don’t have one already),

read your email and log into WebCT4. Take the free warm-up and evaluation quizzes5. Start (finish???) your math quizzes6. Read Chapter 1 in the text book7. Start working on your Ch. 1 homework problems8. Download the Frequently Asked Questions

handout and read Can’t remember all this? A copy of all my lecture

notes are on my website.


Next time:

Next lecture:• We’ll cover chapter 1• We’ll review the feedback on the online math

evaluationFor Next Tuesday:• Read Chapter 2• Chapter 2 Questions: Q2.8 and Q2.20 (These are

the “Discussion Questions” which are after the “Answers to Test your Understanding Questions”)

Can’t remember all this? A copy of all my lecture notes are on my website


Handouts

• Today I’ll handout the Syllabus and go over it

• You need to pick up other handouts on the web –Do that tonight

• You will need a neo account and you’ll need to check it periodically–In fact, you should already have

received email for the course!


Visual Physics Handout• Recitation, Labs and Technical Writing

– Recitation/Lab • All meet this week

– Technical Writing Lecture• First lecture is next week. Two lectures:

You can go to either, they’re the same.• For each lab, a lab report is due using the

techniques discussed during the technical writing lecture


Physics Model Estimation Joke:

• A farmer wants to get an estimate of how much milk each one of his cows delivers in one day. He calls in his physicist daughter and asks her to estimate it (because physicists are good at that kind of thing). She begins: Assume a spherical cow…


Communication

• I would like a couple of volunteers to help inform me of any mistakes on handouts, problems with the exams, problems, lectures, web pages, recitations, labs, traditions, missing holidays or other conflicts etc.


Syllabus: Office Hours

• Philosophy: Coming to talk to me about administrative or learning is adult-like: I’ll treat you like an adult. I’m fairly short tempered with people who want to talk about grades or points on exams.


Homework for Wednesday

• You need to take a math evaluation exam online before Wednesdays class

• This is feedback for both of us. We want to know about your math skills, and you want to know how your math skills compare to the rest of the class

• You will NOT be graded on this

• Do it alone

• Make sure you have an hour of time before you sit down. It is timed! Have paper and pencil.

http://www.physics.tamu.edu/QUIZ/login.html


Thoughts on Grades

• I’m really nice to deal with when you come to me BEFORE there is a problem, I’m a real pain when you come to me after an exam with an excuse.

• (I’ve never met a student who did well on a make-up exam)

• My job is to help you learn the material, you have to do the work: I’d love to give all A’s


Thoughts on GradesTypically people who:

– come to class do far better than those who don’t– But: People who only come to lecture do VERY poorly – sit in the closer rows do better than those in the back rows – And: Front row folks usually get the A’s– People who use a study group do better than those who

don’t– But: People who do the homework by themselves, then

check answers with a study group often do REALLY well– And: People who use the group to “learn” how to do the

problems do really poorly


More Thoughts on Grades

• Physics isn’t a passive subject, you learn by working problems.

• The more extra problems you do in the book the better (the exams will look very much like them!)


My Advice to You

• Come to class

• Sit up front

• If you need: Bring a (Quiet!) snack/coffee for before and/or during class

• Be proactive!! Get into it and have fun


More Advice

• Do as many of the problems in the back of the book as you can by yourself

• Check your answers with the back of the book and with your fellow students

• Don’t fall into the “I understand the concepts but I can’t do the problems” trap. It means you haven’t done enough of the problems in the chapters.

• Every year we have lots of students who really think they understand but flail during the exams. Don’t let this happen to you!


Past Students

• Students often describe me as tough but fair, and I endeavor to stick to that.

• Students often complain during my class that it’s too hard (it doesn’t help!!!), but in the following semester they tell me they are better prepared then their competitors.

• I have high standards for TAMU undergraduates.

• I have enough experience to know you can meet them and I expect you to do so.

• I expect you to take pride in your work


Standards

• We’re teaching you how to THINK about how to solve technical problems. – If you think this class is “plug and chug”

you’re going to be VERY unhappy

– If you think you can memorize a few formulas and ace this course, you are very mistaken

• We’ll talk more about homework later


Aside:Exams and QuizzesWe expect on your exams that you show pride

in your work and that you know what you are doing

I expect following style– Significant figures– Units– Boxes around your final answer– That you show your work– You not start with any equation not given on the

formula sheet.


Where are we going• We are going to do the basics of what’s known as

“classical mechanics”• We are going to be in the business of learning the

foundations of physics, chemistry, biology and engineering

• We have a lot of experience in the world around us. Unfortunately, our experience is really lousy in guiding us to really understanding the world around us.

• It turns out that the world around us is incredibly complex and it’s going to be our journey together in this class to understand how to begin to understand and describe it.


Where are we going• Physics is a pretty impressive thing. It allows us to

understand our world.• It helps us do engineering.

– I.e., it allows us to predict the outcome of an experiment– For example: If you build a house using solid physics

principles it won’t collapse on you

• Our goal is to learn how to understand these principles so we can make the predictions

• At our point in history we can predict a great deal of the things we observe around us. Many for the last couple of hundred years.


Where are we going

• Making predictions requires skill.

• It requires an appreciation of the world.

• It requires that we learn the language of the physical world.

• The best language we know of is mathematics.

• This is a skill! It’s not a talent. Anyone can learn it, you just have to learn to deal with the fear and learn it anyways.


Why Learn it?• This is where the world is going. Look around you

at the technology that’s exploding in the world around us.

• This is the foundation of that understanding. This is where it all begins.

• It’s not about learning how rocks behave when they are thrown (I’ll agree that’s not that interesting).

• It’s about learning how be the kind of person who will lead the world in the future because they know how to solve the problems.


Why Learn it?• We’re teaching you how to THINK about

how to solve technical problems.

• To give you the tools to ask the questions better

• If you can do physics, you can do anything!

• The people who are excellent at this will lead the world in the future.


Back to Earth• Unfortunately, we have to learn to walk before

we run. • We will be learning how to describe how things

around us move– Cars– Rocks– Baseballs– Bullets– Rocket ships– Wheels– Planets


More on math…

Math 151 is a “Co-requisite” for this course BUT:Questions:

1. Can you differentiate and Integrate already? 2. Do you want to do well in this class?

• If you can’t, you are already WAY behind your classmates and likely to do poorly in this class unless you ACT NOW! Just so you know: In order to just pass you’ll have to work harder than everyone else

• Don’t be fooled by advice generated for the “average student.” It’s not about “how smart you are,” its about how “well-prepared” you are.


Can’t Differentiate or Integrate?

I won’t/can’t kick you out.But I do have advice:• YOU ARE NOT WELL PREPARED FOR THIS COURSE• I WANT YOU TO DO WELL AT TAMU; THIS COURSE

LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR MOST OF YOU• DROP IT NOW AND TAKE SOMETHING USEFUL OR

INTERESTING• DON’T EXPECT YOUR CALCULUS COURSE THIS

SEMESTER TO HELP YOU TILL THE END• TAKE 218 NEXT SEMESTER, AFTER CALCULUS • DON’T WASTE A Q-DROP• IF YOU CAN’T DO WELL ON THE MATH QUIZZES

QUICKLY COME BACK NEXT SEMESTER AND GET AN A!


Syllabus:Administrative Stuff• Reading:

– Due before Lecture! – Reading Homework due at beginning of the

lecture

• Quizzes: – Make sure you bring paper and a

calculator to lecture and recitation– Regular quizzes in recitation: 10 minutes,

based on problems from that week


More on Lectures

• It’s true you could skip the lectures because you can just read it and get by. But:– Studies show over and over again, the more you go

to class and the more active you are in class, the better your grades will be

• It’s true you could just come to lecture and not read. But:– All the homework problems and quizzes will come

from the book and handouts– All the exam problems will come from, or be

similar to, those in the book


Frequently Asked Questions

• Any questions?

• Pull out your Frequently Asked Questions handout…The good, the bad and the ugly


Study Groups

• Study groups– Have been shown to be helpful when you are stuck– Have been shown to deceive you into believing you

understand when you don’t if you have multiple people working on the problem for the first time as a group

• Take 5 minutes and meet the people around you– Yes, stand up and get noisy– These people will be a good source of a study

group cohort


Before we begin

This course will be co-taught by myself and Dr. Winfried Teizer

• If you are in sections: 509-512– your primary contact is Dr. Toback (me)

• If you are in sections: 513-516– your primary contact is Dr. Teizer

• Make sure you have the proper syllabus

physics 218, lecture i1 physics 218 lecture 1 dr. david toback

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