The course in general/advice

Physics is the basis of most of the Engineering disciplines. This should be an important course to you and will take a substantial amount of your time. We have listed on the schedule reading assignments from your textbook that relate to each lecture. We strongly advise that you read each day's assignment before class if you can. We will not always cover in lecture all material in the text. You are responsible for all assigned reading material and the example problems in these sections. You are of course also responsible for any material presented in class.

Don't get behind. Even if the material seems simple at first, don't think that you don't have to study it carefully. Don't be shy, if you don't understand something, ask somebody. Drop-in help is available at times an locations TBA.

Lastly, this course is not an exercise in formula memorization. We will develop a few simple yet powerful ideas that apply to a wide range of problems. As you read your textbook and do your homework try to see the main ideas that are common to the problems which you have been assigned rather than viewing each as something unique and different requiring special treatment. You will find that a little understanding goes a long way; keep looking for the big picture.

Required math skills

This is a calculus-based physics course. We will assume that you have developed the skills listed below to some degree. If you are unsure of your proficiency, we encourage you to pull out your math book and review. Every test or exam will include questions that require some or all of these skills.

• Algebra, including solutions to simultaneous equations.
• Integration and differentiation of polynomials and trig functions.
• It will be of critical importance that you be able to add and subtract vectors quickly and accurately.