Welcome to Physics 201

- My name is Jim Ketter. Feel free to call me Jim.

- Dave Bannon will be teaching PH202 and PH203.

- My office hours are posted on the syllabus (handout and

online under “Course Information”.) You are welcome

to stop by any other time as well.

- If you need to see me at some time that is not an office

hour time, you are encouraged to make an appointment.

- I do check and answer email. Email can work fine for

short, specific questions or to make an appointment.

- www.physics.oregonstate.edu/ph201

Physics PH201 Class Goals

- Improve Your Time Management: Labs, homework, and (especially) tests all have time limits. The course goes very quickly; you must use your time wisely.

- Learn Teamwork: Lab experiments will be done as group work. Studying in groups can work very well. (Note that all graded work is done on an individual basis.)

- Improve Your Organization Skills: There is a lot of information presented in this course. Organized test solutions tend to get more points.

- Improve Your Written Communication: Knowing an answer and how to get it isn’t enough. You must be able to get this information down on paper in a form that is easy for the reader (the grader) to understand.

- Learn Some Basic Physics: The goal is to learn some basic physics concepts and learn how to solve some basic physics problems.

The Syllabus – Some Highlights

- Reading: It is expected that you will do the reading before the lecture on the date indicated.

- Problems: The problems listed are the bare minimum. You are encouraged to do as many practice problems as possible. Working problems is the best way to learn to work problems. Watching others (instructor) solve problems does not mean that you can solve problems.

- Website: Some useful stuff there. Take a look:

http://www.physics.orst.edu/ph201

- Calculators: Graphing calculators and computers are not allowed during exams. You should have a scientific calculator (ASAP), know how to use it, and use it for lab, recitation, and homework.

- Lab: Read the lab instructions before coming to lab. There is a prelab section that is required for each lab. You must pass all of the labs in order to pass the course.
The Syllabus continued…

- Exams: Exams are closed book though a formula sheet is provided. The formula sheets will be posted on the class website.

- Final Grades:

- The grading scheme is outlined in the syllabus.

- This course is NOT graded on a curve. You are not

competing against each other. Please form study

groups and help each other learn.

- Class Participation: Research shows that students that actively participate in class learn a great deal more than students that do not. We will have a few in-class activities for which you will turn in something. Nothing turned in earns a zero; no visible effort earns a one; clear evidence of effort earns a two.

There is an alternative for those who choose to not participate. See the syllabus.

Prior Lab Credit

If you passed PH201 or PH211 previously, then you do not have to do the labs this term. If this pertains to you, please email me with the following:

1) your name,

2) your ID number,

3) course number (201 or 211),

4) the term you took this course, and

5) the year you took the course.

Why is physics so difficult?!

- Mathematics

While there are many concepts in physics that are not

mathematical, we will be working primarily in the

language of mathematics (i.e., equations.)

- Vocabulary

There will be new words for you, and, perhaps worse,

old words that you already know but with different

meanings. And the differences will truly matter.

- Problem Solving

- Remember “story problems” from math class?

- You will be asked to solve problems that are likely

very different than ones that you’ve solved before.

- You will be expected to solve a very large range of

different problems starting from only a few basic

equations/concepts.

- You will be expected to solve, on a test, a problem

you may have never seen before.

- Needed Perseverance

Very few people do well in physics without doing lots

of practice problems.

You will be expected to solve, on a test, problems you

most likely have never seen before.

You will be expected to solve, on a test, problems you

most likely have never seen before.

You will be expected to solve on a test, problems you have never seen before.

Rote memorization does not help much in this class. Problem solving skills are essential.

There are an infinite number of possible problems and/or variations on a problem and you will not complain that you have not seen every one demonstrated in class.

Physics 201 continued…

- The Bad News (continued…)

Physics sometimes “violates” our common sense.

Preconceptions are enduring, and, sometimes, very

wrong.

A few people just will not “get it” the first time

through within the time constraint of the term.

- The Good News

Physics makes a great deal of “common” sense.

Many more people can/will do well than can’t/won’t.

In some strange sort of way, it really can be fun. Really.

Grading

Often, the answer is not very important. What is important is how to get to that answer.

- The answer is worth 10 to 20% of total points.

- How you got the answer is worth 80 to 90% of

the points awarded.