Welcome to Physics 4A!
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Introductions
 Fill
out the survey
 Meet neighbors
 Meet me
What is this class about?
 How will the class be organized?
 Pre-class Assessment & Group Activities

Yes, we’ll discuss how balls
(and other things) move!
But not just moving balls…
You’ll see the world differently!
Who Studies Physics? Why?
Brian Cox
Richard Feynman
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Who Studies Physics? Why?
Reina Maruyama
University of
WisconsinMadison.
Doa Hawamdeh: “I think physics is
the mother of all the sciences. If I
can learn physics I will learn
mathematics, chemistry,
everything.
Lene Hau first
slowed light down,
then stopped it
altogether ….
Who Studies Physics? Why?

Obvious Examples
 Engineers,
Chemists, Geologists, etc…
Not-so-obvious examples
 Even less obvious examples!
 And even LESS obvious?
 Why study physics?

Examples of Physics in our World
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Scotland:
France:
China:
Germany:
Britain:
South Africa:
Geneva:
Falkirk Wheel
Millau Viaduct
Three Gorges Dam
Prosthetics
Water-lens Glasses
SALT
Large Hadron Collider
Examples of Physics in our World
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Scotland:
France:
China:
Germany:
Britain:
South Africa:
Geneva:
Falkirk Wheel
Millau Viaduct
Three Gorges Dam
Prosthetics
Water-lens Glasses
SALT
Large Hadron Collider
What do these have in common?? What does that mean for you?
My goal for you

Help you be competitive when you transfer
to a 4-year university in your discipline
My goal for you

Help you be competitive when you transfer
to a 4-year university in your discipline
… which means….
Equivalent Rigor
 Equivalent Expectations for Hours of Study
 State of the Art teaching with online tools

My goal for you

outstanding
Help you be competitive when you transfer
to a 4-year university in your discipline
How much time will 4A take?

No one answer applies to everyone, but…
 7 hours in class per week
 2-3 hours of reading each
week, working examples,
doing problems
 1-2 hour intro HW assignment each week
 3-5 hour summary HW assignment each week
 2-3 hours lab report each week
 5-10 hours studying before exams

~10 hours outside for our 5-unit class
Challenges you face…

Less time available to study
 Outside
work, family,
commuting

Lack of support network
 No
Fraternities, TAs, Dorms,
Open Labs
 Library closed early
Fridays/weekends
…but what you DO have!
One professor for Lecture/Lab/Discussion
 Small classes
 No grade curves – you control how well
you want to do
 My promise - I’ll work as hard as you do
 I *love* this subject!
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Welcome to Physics 4A!

About this class – Syllabus , Calendar ,
Lectures, Questions are already online

Key Policies – Attendance, Active
Participation in Labs, Quizzes & Exams
Welcome to Physics 4A!
Our Textbook is required
 Great
graphics
 Wide variety of problems
 Strong problem solving
strategies
Mastering Physics
Online HW/Learning Systems

Mastering Physics
 Immediate
check you are right/wrong
 Answer feedback to help you
 24x7 availability anywhere
 Lots of Videoclips, Interactive Problems, Help
&
 I can see what you got wrong & why
How can you be successful?

Read book before coming to class
 Introductory
HW assignments ~ 1 hour
 Pre-lecture questions online

Start Chapter HW early!
 Ask
questions about words, concepts,
 Work with friends
How can you be successful?

Do HW problems on paper in a notebook
 Write
down the problem
 Make a sketch!
Check answers if you miss a problem.
…and…
 Check answers even if you did it right!
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How can you be successful?

Take notes in class.
 Print
out powerpoints
 Do lecture problems again at home
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Work actively in teams on labs
 Turn
them in on-time, fully completed.
 Keep your OWN copies, too
Additional resources!

Blackboard
 Homework
Discussion & Help
 Group Lab report storage/work areas
 Additional web resources for you
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TIPERS for discussions
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PhET and ActivePhysics tutorials
Where we go from here….

Complete Force Concept Inventory Pre-test
 Non-graded
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Lab this week
 Set
up Mastering
 Sig
Fig’s exercise
 A Measurement
and Estimation Challenge