1.) Keep good notes. Use the text to fill in lecture material.

2.) Work problems; this is how you learn physics.

3.) When you learn something new, check that you know how to apply it.

4.) There are many equations. Don't try to remember all of them. Learn the fundamental equations. Keep a summary sheet of these. This will be useful at test time.

5.) Study every day. Don't get behind.

1.) Physics is a quantitative science, which means that things can be calculated numerically. Sometimes these calculated results can even be checked experimentally to very high precision. The way that we learn physics is by problem solving. Problem solving is an art which must be mastered in order to do well in the course. This skill (quantitative reasoning) will also be useful in many other fields.

2.) We teach problem solving in several ways:

A.) Class Examples: We will work many examples in class. Follow this style.

B.) Book and Study Guide Examples: Many examples are provided to aid the student. See "How to succeed in Physics by Really Trying" (pages xii-xv) to see strategies to help you become good problem solvers.

C.) Homework: This is your chance to practice what you have learned. Lot's of homework is given, and it is collected and graded every class and is weighted in your grade.

3.) Homework instructions:

A.) Use 8 1/2 x 11 notebook paper. Keep your old homework in a binder for study purposes. Use only one side of the paper.

B.) Staple your sheets together and fold them in half the long way. Put your name, social security number, and problem set number on the top right side of the first sheet (inside) and on the top right side of last sheet (outside).

C.) Neatness counts. The grader can't give partial credit if he/she can not read your paper.

D.) Use a reasonable number of significant figures for your numerical answers. You will be graded down for ridiculous accuracy.

4.) Follow the steps below when doing problems:

A.) Paraphrase the problem (briefly).

B.) Draw a diagram and label it. Diagrams are crucial; problems without diagrams will be graded down.

C.) Write down the main formulas. Use symbols at this stage, except for constants.

D.) Write down what is given and what is unknown.

D.) Manipulate your formula(s) to get the desired unknown on the left of the equal sign and the known quantities on the right.

E.) Rewrite the equation with numbers and units inserted.

F.) Write the solution with units and put a box around it.

G.) Be sure that you use vectors and scalars properly when writing your final results.

H.) Come in for help if you get stuck.