First-Day Overheads

1
First-Day Overheads

• Introduction to the course

2
Welcome to PHYS 2011!

• This is the Problems Lab course that accompanies
  the Physics Discussion Class PHYS 2010.
• You MUST be signed up for PHYS 2010 if you are in
  this problems Lab!
• All lectures and course information can be found
  at the course lecture web site
• www.mtsu.edu/phys2010

3
Description of the Problems Lab

• Reading Quiz and Solutions
• Quiz will cover the assigned Lecture and Activity
  (see the syllabus).
• Quiz will be given at the BEGINNING of class and
  will take only a few minutes, so if youre late
  you get a ZERO for the quiz!
• Solutions will be discussed immediately following
  the quiz.

4
Description of the Problems Lab

• Reading Quiz and Solutions
• Questions will be qualitative or very simple
  (plug-in) quantitative on basic concepts and
  definitions from the assigned lecture and
  activity (if there is one).
• Each quiz will consist of 5 multiple-choice
  questions worth 2 points each (no partial credit).

5
Description of the Problems Lab

• The Spreadsheets
• You will work in groups of about 4 students each.
• The spreadsheets will cover HW and test-type
  questions and problems.
• At the end you will be assigned a grade out of
  100 for your spreadsheet work. Leave this screen
  up so your instructor can record the grade for
  your group for that day.

6
Description of the Problems Lab

• The Spreadsheets
• It will be important for you to write down given
  information and show your work when solving the
  spreadsheet problems. This will give you
  important practice for the homework and tests,
  and will be the first thing your instructor will
  ask to see when you call him/her over for
  questions!
• You can also work on the spreadsheets in room WPS
  211 on MWF (most of the day).

7
Description of the Problems Lab

• Philosophy of the Spreadsheets
• The purpose of the spreadsheets is to give you
  practice solving problems, and to give you lots
  of opportunity to DISCUSS (if not ARGUE ABOUT!)
  the physics concepts being covered in the
  questions. Some of these questions and problems
  are very difficultyou will need to discuss them
  to figure them out! This is the whole point of
  the set-up of this class!

8
Description of the Problems Lab

• Philosophy of the Spreadsheets
• If you have a question about the answer to a
  question, then ask your group partnersthats
  what theyre there for!
• If you understand the answer, then be patient and
  try to explain it to someone having trouble. The
  best way to learn something is to teach it!
• The group should not move on until everyone
  understands the answers to the questions!

9
Description of the Problems Lab

• The Activities
• These will provide hands-on real-world
  applications of the material covered in the
  lecture and the spreadsheets.
• You should try to complete the activity and the
  write-up before you leave the Problems Lab.
• If you take the activity home to work on you MUST
  turn it in at the BEGINNING of the next class.
  It may be graded more rigorously in this case
  since youve had more time to work on it!

10
Description of the Problems Lab

• The Projects (during the regular academic year)
• There will be one midterm and one final project.
• Each project will consist of a submitted
  abstract, work performed outside of class, a
  group oral presentation, and an individually
  prepared formal written report.
• See the course web site for more details about
  the projects. They will be discussed further
  later in the semester. See the syllabus for due
  dates.

11
Description of the Problems Lab

• The Syllabus
• Examine the syllabus and make sure that you
  understand how to read it.
• Note the lecture and activity due for the next
  class.
• Note the dates of the reading quizzes, the
  lecture quizzes, the tests, and the projects.
• Note the breakdown of the course grade by
  percentages and the number of drop grades for
  each category.
• A straight-scale will basically be used to
  determine your final grade. Plus and minus
  grades will be used.

12
Be Prepared for the Next Lab Class!

• Buy the lab manual and a lab notebook
• Laboratory Activities for First-Semester Physics,
  available in the bookstore
• The notebook must be stitched and contain graph
  paper.
• It is a good idea to always bring a ruler.
• Read Lecture 3 and Activity 2, along with
  Appendices A, B, and C. This will get you ready
  for the reading quiz next time! Also make sure
  that you understand the material in Lectures 1
  and 2 (units).

13
For the tests you will also need

• a non-graphing calculator.
• Any scientific calculator that does not have a
  graphing screen will be fine, but you will not be
  allowed to use your calculator during the lecture
  quizzes or tests if you have a large-screen
  graphing calculator! Cheap (10 - 15)
  scientific calculators are available at Krogers,
  Walmart, Office Max, Office Depot, etc. Get
  yours now and get used to using it!

14
Rules of the House

• Clean up your tables and neatly push in your
  chairs for both your activity tables and your
  computer tables before you leave the lab.
• Keep a positive attitude. Be patient. Be
  helpful. Ask if you dont understand something.
  This is the design and power of this class. Work
  with it, not against it!

15
In general

• Dont let yourself get behind!
• Read whats assigned before class.
• Work on the homework after youve completed the
  corresponding work in the Problems Lab.
• Work on the Sample Tests (online) to help you
  study for the tests.

16
Questions?
17
For the Rest of Todays Class

• Fill out the Information Sheets and the Group
  Sheets.
• Work through the introductory spreadsheets (L01
  Introduction).
• Do Activity 1 The Determination of Pi. (Your
  instructor will give you a handout for A1 and a
  sheet of graph paper. You do not need to turn
  this in, but you should show it to your
  instructor before you leave.)

18
www.mtsu.edu/phys2010

• Note that all of the PowerPoint presentations
  given by your lab instructor this semester are
  available for viewing outside of class on the
  course website.