how to thrive in physics - nc state university · how to thrive in physics dr. z. webster teaching...
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How to Thrive in Physics
Dr. Z. Webster
Teaching Assistant Professor
PY 205/208 Coordinator
Riddick 306 (pronouns: she, her)
All images from Wikimedia unless noted.
Do you need to take physics?
• About 24,000 undergraduates at NCSU
• About 1400 will take PY 205 this year.
• About 800 will take PY 211 this year.
• About 500 will take other introductory classes in PY.
• Nearly 10% of the undergraduates take introductory
physics each year!
Engineers and Physical Scientists
• Part of all engineering programs in the world
• PY 205 and PY208 serve as the first major steps in
many engineering degrees at NCSU
– Team work
– How to solve novel problems
– Rules of the universe that can’t be violated
You picked a GREAT school!
• NCSU’s engineering program is tied for 34th Best
Undergraduate Engineering Program by US News and
World Report
• But, part of that comes from having rigorous introductory
coursework to prepare students for their advanced work
Biological and Other Sciences
• The same problem solving skills and team-work with
applications to living systems
– Biology, Biochemistry
– Animal sciences, Zoology
– Textiles, Environmental
• Solving new problems – never been answered before!
Image source: NASA Digital Astronaut Project https://appel.nasa.gov/2012/05/01/the-nasa-digital-astronaut-project/
Image source: Medgadget https://www.medgadget.com/2018/03/medical-smart-textile-market-2018-trend-by-analyzing-the-performance-of-various-competitors-2027.html
Is Physics Hard?
• Interactive portion….
• What do you think?
• Why do you think that?
• We go fast – 15-20 chapters in 15 weeks
• We go beyond AP – this is not your high school physics
class
Problem Solving
• We are trying to transition you from memorizing solutions
to existing problems to finding solutions to new scenarios
• Many students find this transition challenging
Image source: Ask IITians, http://blog.askiitians.com/old-institutes-vs-new-iits/
Image source: Master Maths blog: http://master-maths.co.uk/blog/blog/how-to-solve-hard-problems/
How can you thrive in Physics? Not just survive, but thrive and love the subject as
much as the faculty teaching Physics?
• Form study groups
• Get to know your teachers
• Use the tutorial centers
• Use GOOD quality online resources
• Learn the strategies
How can you thrive in Physics? Not just survive, but thrive and love the subject as
much as the faculty teaching Physics?
• Form study groups
– Get a variety of experience, ability
– But people who are willing to work hard and learn
– Get together regularly (hint: Tuesday or Wednesday
night from 7:30-9!)
– Try problems on your own BEFORE you work
together
How can you thrive in Physics? Not just survive, but thrive and love the subject as
much as the faculty teaching Physics?
• Get to know your teachers
– Office Hours
– Chat with them before or after
(caveats…)
– Make an appointment
– Ask questions in class and outside
of class
How can you thrive in Physics? Not just survive, but thrive and love the subject as
much as the faculty teaching Physics?
• Use the tutorial centers
– FREE!
– Physics runs one a few weekdays middays
– University has one too
– YOU can be a tutor once you ace the class!
How can you thrive in Physics? Not just survive, but thrive and love the subject as
much as the faculty teaching Physics?
• Use GOOD quality online resources
– HyperPhysics
How can you thrive in Physics? Not just survive, but thrive and love the subject as
much as the faculty teaching Physics?
• Use GOOD quality online resources
– HyperPhysics
– Khan Academy
How can you thrive in Physics? Not just survive, but thrive and love the subject as
much as the faculty teaching Physics?
• Use GOOD quality online resources
– HyperPhysics
– Khan Academy
– Physics Classroom
How can you thrive in Physics? Not just survive, but thrive and love the subject as
much as the faculty teaching Physics?
• Use GOOD quality online resources
– HyperPhysics
– Khan Academy
– Physics Classroom
• Avoid sites with homework solutions
– This is against the Student Code of Conduct AND will
not lead to long term retention of solution
How can you thrive in Physics? Not just survive, but thrive and love the subject as
much as the faculty teaching Physics?
• Learn the tricks
• Learn the strategies
– Pay attention to assumptions
– When can you use the equation/model
– Ask WHY professor is choosing a certain equation
– Look “dumb” – but get smart!
Thriving in Physics
• Learning how to learn from mistakes and “lean in” to
challenges
• Getting excited by difficult problems
• Uncovering nature’s mysteries bit by bit
• Accepting that everyone needs help eventually and that
diverse teams can make everyone achieve more
Studying Physics
• Watching your professor is unhelpful
• Actively read your book
• Keep a homework journal
• Take notes in class with spaces for questions, confusion
Book reading
• Some books have hints on the places students get stuck
• Figures – know them
• Vocabulary words, units – memorize them
• Main ideas – summarize them in your own words
• Which equations do YOU need to know from this chapter
• With only 2.5 hours/wk in lecture, book review is not a
high priority
Homework Journal
• Write out the problem
• List your knowns, Draw your diagrams
• Identify physics equations and assumptions needed to
use them
• Try solving algebraically
• Don’t erase when you make a mistake. Scratch out.
• Bring your journal to office hours and tutorial center
Homework journal (2)
• *** Most importantly *** write out words to describe what
you are doing and why
• Did you find something tricky? What? How did you fix it?
• Highlight that part of the problem so you can find it when
you study for tests
Notetaking
• Kill some trees
• Make it easy to find
the hard parts
• Review notes and
write a summary
every day
Back side of paper is left blank
Write questions here Easy to find later!
Image source: Reading to learn in science http://serpmedia.org/rtls/cornell.html
Class distractions
• Most of us think we
can pay attention to 2
things at once - We
can’t
• Let facebook/email go
(turn off notifications
when you need to
focus)
• If the person next to
you is doing
something distracting,
ask them to stop and
talk to the professor
after to let them know
you found the
behavior distracting
Study for exam
• You have the confusing parts of lecture/HW identified
• You have the narration of how you did your homework
• You memorized words, identified equations
• (and you were attentive in class, have eaten healthy
food, and gotten lots of rest….)
Exam studying
• Practice some new problems from book
• Focus on what you found hard – don’t spend as much
time on the easy parts