Things You Should Know About General Physics PHY 2048/2060/PHY2049/2061 is CALCULUS‐BASED. PHY 2053/PHY2054 is algebra/trig‐based. Which should you take? This will depend on your chosen major. Engineering and science majors who are required to take a calculus based general physics sequence should take PHY 2048 for the first semester course and PHY 2049 to finish the sequence. You must have passed calculus before starting PHY2048. Check with your advisor in your department if you are unsure. For students who especially like physics, Enriched Physics PHY 2060/2061 provides another option. PHY 2060 counts in all programs the same as PHY 2048, and PHY 2061 counts the same as PHY 2049. A ‘C’ or higher in Calculus 1 (MAC 2311 or 2281) is REQUIRED BEFORE YOU BEGIN PHY 2048. College Algebra & Trigonometry are required BEFORE you begin PHY 2053. Additionally, Calculus 2 (MAC 2313 or 2282, with a C or higher) is required before starting PHY 2049. If you fail to meet these prerequisites, you may be dropped from the course without warning. It is your responsibility to meet these prerequisites. You must register for the LECTURE AND LAB AT THE SAME TIME if this is your first time taking them. If you only need to repeat one, you need a permit. For example, you can not take PHY 2053 without also registering for PHY 2053L at the same time. If you drop one part, you will be automatically dropped from the other part as well. However, if you want to repeat one part (lecture or lab) and have earned a C or better in the other part, please contact Aaron Petuch, the physics academic advisor, for a permit (PhysicsAdvise@usf.edu) or visit http://physics.usf.edu/forms/permit.aspx). Please don’t sign up for a course that you do not intend to take and take up a seat that another student may need. There are PROBLEM SOLVING COURSES that you can help you succeed in the course! These are one‐hour courses listed under PHZ 2102 (for PHY 2053 or PHY 2048) and PHZ 2103 (for PHY 2054 or PHY 2048). Note that they are “PHZ” and not “PHY” courses. They are optional 1‐hour courses (unlike the labs), but strongly recommended. IF A COURSE IS CLOSED, you will only be able to get into it by waiting for it to become open on OASIS. Do not show up to the lecture in order to be added; this is not how our department does drop/add. You just have to keep checking the schedule, and grab an open section when you can. There are no exceptions to this rule. As soon as some students are dropped for non‐attendance on the first day, the sections may re‐open. The most likely time for seats to open up is in the late afternoon the same day that the class has met for the first time. FAQs on next page 
Other Frequently Asked Questions Q: Why would most students who are not required to take a calculus based general physics sequence prefer PHY 2053/PHY 2054? What is the difference between the two sequences other than the use of calculus in PHY 2048/PHY 2049? A: The material covered in the two sequences is not the same. The sequence of PHY 2048/PHY 2049 does not include the modern/nuclear physics material and ends with light and optics. For this reason, students who take the PHY 2053/PHY 2054 sequence get a more general overview of physics with somewhat less detail than those who take the calculus based PHY 2048/PHY 2049 sequence although the problems solved are of similar difficulty. Q: If I start with PHY 2048, can I take PHY2054? Or can I go from PHY 2053 into PHY 2049? In other words, can I mix the physics courses however I choose? A: No! Since the material covered in these courses is not the same you should stay with the sequence that you choose to begin with. If you are not sure which sequence is required for your major you should look in the undergraduate catalog and see the undergraduate advisor in your department before you sign up. If you are not planning to take calculus 2 for your degree you should not start the PHY 2048/2049 sequence since PHY 2049 does require this level of calculus. Q: When does the Physics department offer the general physics courses? Can I take both halves of the sequence in the summer? A: We do offer all of the general physics courses Fall, Spring and Summer however the courses are offered simultaneously in the C session (ten week) in the summer term. Thus a student should not plan to take both semesters of physics over the summer. Students who start the sequence in the summer can finish up the sequence in the Fall (or Spring) semesters. Q: If I find I am not earning as high a grade as I had hoped for can I drop the lecture and keep the lab or vise versa? Can I change to audit to avoid a poor grade? A: Since the physics lecture and lab courses are co‐requisite courses you may not drop the lecture and keep the lab or vice versa. A petition process is described in the laboratory by which qualifying students may drop the lecture and keep the lab at the drop deadline. Students who do not qualify must drop the courses simultaneously as stated in the course description found in the undergraduate catalog. You may change to audit status during the first week of classes only. One can not change to audit to avoid a bad grade. Q: Can I wait a year after physics 1 to take physics 2 or should I finish the sequence in consecutive terms? A: You should always finish the sequence in consecutive terms if at all possible. Physics is a cumulative subject and it is advisable to finish the sequence as soon as possible. If you wait several semesters you may need to buy a new textbook also! Q: I have never taken physics in high school. What can I do to prepare myself? A: Buy the textbook a few weeks before the semester begins and begin to read the chapters and study the material on your own. Make sure you read ahead of where your professor is teaching and do not get behind. Physics is a subject that is cumulative. The first few chapters are very important and during this time you will establish study habits and problem solving skills that you will need throughout the sequence. We also have problem solving courses (PHZ 2102/PHZ 2103) that will help you listed near the end of the physics courses in the schedule. Make sure you pay attention to the notes in the schedule and sign up for the correct course. Q: I had general physics at another college/university. How can I get credit for these courses? A: If the college/university is in the State University System of Florida (S.U.S) then submitting a transcript to the Office of Records and Registration will suffice. If the college/university is outside of the S.U.S. you should E‐mail PhysicsAdvise@usf.edu with a link to the course description and a clear statement of your request. Q: When should I begin the physics course sequence? A: This should be discussed with your advisor in your department. Take into consideration the fact that some courses may require physics as a prerequisite. Remember, though, that you can not register for the physics until you have completed the math prerequisites. Q: I have other questions. Where can I get answers? Please contact Aaron Petuch, the physics academic advisor (PhysicsAdvise@usf.edu).