Physics 2212 G Fall 2019

How to Earn an A

Solve the previous quizzes on your own before each quiz. Do the bonus homework. LISTEN to the teacher in class (and that implies coming to every class, if possible). Definitely brush up on your calculus.
-AN

I found that doing recitation problems and old exam problems was the best way to get a gauge for what would be on each test. Practicing those problems over and over helped me to understand the concepts and how to do similar problems. Surprisingly, paying attention to PRS questions seemed to help as well.
-MS

I recommend that you do the stop and think problems in the book. Learn the concepts first, then learn equations. After that, make sure to do at least two previous (recent) tests before each test.
-WS

I used the 1-on-1 tutoring service every week. I would try to do all the homeworks ahead of time on the week before the exam and would spend the week rereading the chapter and then doing every practice test I could. I would take anything I had questions for to the tutoring service and they would usually answer them for me. Lastly, believe in yourself! I love Physics! Yeah! Thats about the best I can give.
-KP
P.S. - One other piece of advice, start really strong. I did not do well on the first tests and had to play major catchup all semester.

Besides keeping up with the readings (granted: easier said than done, but necessary since you can't count on your intuition like in physics 1), what I found helpful was preparing for tests with a classmate. Go over all the old tests with a friend who also reads the text. And make sure you can explain the solutions to each other: you know you understood something well if you can explain it.
-JD

My advice to you is hard-work will pay off. There are too many resources at your disposal for you to do poorly if you try. Things that I did (based on prior students advice):

Walter Lewin's Lectures
Most of the extra Mastering Physics optional assignments
Studying all old tests
Going to the help lab
Talking to the professor if I was misunderstanding a concept.
Went to EVERY class.
Went to EVERY lab/recitation.

You see I did EVERYTHING I could because at the end of the day if I had failed I wanted to be able to say I did everything possible. In the end I didn't need to …
-DK

Read the assigned chapters a few days before the test and then do the workbook problems to solidify the concepts. Some of the workbook problems were similar to the multiple choice questions. Also, do the practice tests from previous years and also redo the recitation problems.
-AC

I think the first and most important thing for success in Physics 2212 is class attendance. If you don't come to class, you are only getting your information from the book, and I found the book to be quite confusing without the explanation from the professor's lectures. The PRS questions are extremely useful for learning material because they give you instant feedback about how you are doing in the class. If I find that I miss a question, I make sure to write out the explanation of what the correct answer was, why it was right, and where I might have gone wrong.

Homework and practice tests are other great ways of learning the material. Make sure you can do the practice tests from previous semesters backwards and forwards before you take the exams. Even though the questions won't be the exact same, the concepts will be very similar. Take note of the questions that come up almost every year and really study those.

Lastly, don't sweat the small stuff. If you happen to get a bad grade on one or a few of the exams, don't be discouraged. There are quite a few tests. and tons of topics covered in the course. You may have just had a rough time with one of the concepts If you do not understand the material that was covered on an exam, make sure to talk with your professor so you can learn the topic before the final exam.
-KH

Go to class.
Always go to class.
Read the textbook.
Pay attention in class.

-AV

I would have to say that besides doing the recommended tasks such as going to class, reading before each lecture, and completing the required homework, doing the MasteringPhysics Practice problems proved to be highly beneficial in achieving an "A". Multiple times throughout the semester, similar M.P. practice problems arose on quizzes and even the final exam. When it comes time to study for the quizzes and the final, doing previous practice tests is a great way to prepare but that can't be the only thing. I found re-reading the respective chapters and paying close attention to the "Critical Thinking" questions at the end of each section was a great way to understand the fundamental topics of each section. In the end, you will get as much out of this class as you put in. If you want to earn that "A", put in the work and it's yours.
-MJM

For physics 2212, a lot of the concepts are explained very well in lecture. Going over recitation problems are old exams are key for studying for tests. Make formula sheets because there is a lot to remember. If you have a TA that reviews before each test like mine, definitely attend it because my grades got a huge boost since I started attending the review sessions.
-Anon

I have a few points of advice. They are easy to just pass over because they kind of sound like the usual things that professors say, but I can honestly say that it was essential to my understanding of the material. First and most importantly was reading the sections of the textbook to be covered the next day the night before and taking brief notes on it. When the material was covered the next day I knew what was going on and had a better idea of each formula's significance. Going to class was also important. Probably not as much for the instruction itself, but because the more times you see the material the better you will understand it and the longer you will retain it. It also helps to have PRS questions that you can apply the material too. In addition, I did all of my mastering physics and the practice problems. Most students don't seem to take it seriously, but then they complain about not understanding a test or saying it wasn't straight forward. For those who don't immediately understand physics, the problems can help them to see where a question on the test might go. I can understand, however, the frustration that some students feel when they don't understand where questions are going. I believe that homework groups should be actively encouraged. Having someone explain what is going on on a homework problem can sometimes be extremely helpful and without that mastering physics can be an ENORMOUS source of frustration. While many times homework groups are discouraged because students do not do their own work, that's already the case with online resources. Hopefully homework groups can alleviate some of the frustration and prevent some students from resorting to finding the answers online to get the homework done. In the end I think it all comes down to attitude. You have to enjoy the material to do well. If you come into the class thinking you are going to fail you won't do as many things to help yourself as you would if you were more optimistic.
-LB

Getting an A in physics II is no walk in the park. My first advice is to go to lecture. In lecture many of the PRS questions are similar to the test multiple choice questions. Also, there are some key concepts that are highlighted that you probably might not realize if you just read the text. Second thing is to read the book and WORK the example problems in the book. I sometimes had to spend 20 minutes looking at an example problem to just understand what was going on. It will payoff as exam questions can look quite familiar to the examples. Make sure to go over recitation problems. Again, some questions from tests seem very familiar to the recitation ones. One of the most important things is to study ahead. You don't have to study a week ahead, but at least give yourself two days. One day cramming is no good for this class. There are lots of concepts and equations and there is a good chance you might forget just one thing, and that one might be on the test. Since there are not too many questions on tests, just missing one will cost you a letter grade. Last advice is do all the small things. DO all the homeworks, go to recitation, try to do the labs well. Getting high grades in the small things will definitely boost your grade. Likewise blowing them off will cost you a lot in the long run. Getting an A is definitely possibly. Just put some extra work into it and you will get it.
-SA

One of the ways I was able to do well in Physics II was by reading the book before the lecture. Maybe in high school classes you might remember outlining history textbooks or whatnot? Well, it's a pretty effective strategy. Reading or outlining before lecture, even if you might not understand it, begins putting the ideas and theories in your head to float around, then the lecture allows you to figure out what is important. In general, it promotes a much higher understanding of physics. Lastly, a bit of number crunching, PRS scores are 5% of your grade, if you choose not to attend class and really want an A or B, you have to work 5% harder. Come finals time, the difference between letter grades becomes really hard to overcome and that little 2 or 3 percent lost from not going to lecture will haunt you. The tests and final are hard. The 5% comes in handy.
-KM

The most important piece of advice that I have for succeeding in the course would be to simply read the book. The book for this course is by far one of the best resources that you have. Before every test I worked through the example problems and "Stop to Think" problems and this made a huge difference. Also, keep track of the answers to PRS questions from lecture—the PRS questions are in the lecture slides, so you can go back over them to practice for the multiple choice on tests. Finally, work the exams from past semesters, especially those from the semester before you--the questions tend to be very similar. And on the tests, when in doubt, just integrate.
-WB

The best advice I can give for obtaining an A in PHYS 2212 is to read the text ahead of lectures. The concepts of this course are often difficult to grasp, and it helps to give yourself a head start on the material. Also, try to attempt some of the practice assignments on Mastering Physics, even if the assignment is past the due date. Any extra practice helps, honestly. Finally, try to study for the test a few days in advance and not simply the day before. As said before, the material can be tricky at times, and your brain may need those extra few days to really let the material sink in.
-DM

The best way to earn an A in PHYS 2212 is to do the homework and study the practice tests before each test. Don't just look through the practice test, actually try to work it out. The reading is critical. If you read you will get so much more out of lecture, and your PRS grade will be higher, which will also help your grade.
-JF

The class website offers useful resources, such as course schedule and quiz preparation, which should be taken advantage of. Reading the assigned material (posted on the course schedule) ahead of time allowed me to understand the lecture much better than the times when I did not read. Also, I found that taking all the available practice quizzes was the best use of my time when studying for the next quiz. Working the practice quiz before recitation also allows you to ask your T.A. for help on any questions you may not understand.
-DC

Read the sections in the book that are going to be covered in class before coming to class. Attend lecture and be actively engaged with what the instructor says. Don't just sit there and expect to absorb the material without any effort. Be sure to fully understand the assigned homework and practice problems instead of just pulling formulas out of the book. Lastly, before each quiz, give yourself enough time to go through the practice tests and understand how to approach each type of problem.
-LF

My advice would probably be to go to class as you say, not so much because I really learn much more that's different from the book, but because I get a better idea of what type of questions, and sometimes the exact question, that show up on the tests. Also, doing the recitation problems before the test help a lot for the free response and incorporate various concepts. Otherwise, I do not think that there is any magic formula or whatever, mostly basic class preparation.
-JF

A few tips I feel would help a prospective physics student include:

go to every lecture
take notes in class
study the prior exams given on the web page before tests
do homework as soon as possible following the lecture
go to tutoring to seek help on subjects you don't understand or just to review with someone who also understands physics well

these are all things I did in Physics 2211 & 2212, however this seems to me like typical advice that most people might give.

a couple tips I would also give that are not so typical include:

do not try to tackle the course by yourself, find a friend to discuss topics with and sit with in class
when you learn the many formulas involved in the course, try to understand them in terms of units as well as theory. for example

voltage = J/C
current = C/s

so power which is VI, or J/C * C/s is in units of J/s. seeing how the units relate and cancel out really helps me not only remember the formulas but understand them as well
-RF

Simple advice: Do the homework, read the book. In the chapters there are not only fully worked examples of problems, but multiple choice conceptual questions with answers and explanations. The resources for success are all around us, USE THEM!!!
-KW

The best advice I can give on how to succeed in Physics 2212 is to attend class each day. And don't forget what you learned in Calc II, if you're good at setting up integrals it will help you substantially in this class.
-RAS

I do have a great advice, the one that you probably know. I found going to every lecture, and actually paying attention help a lot. When I didn't pay attention, I fell quite quickly into a deep pit of unknowing. I had to spend unnecessary amount of time trying to catch up. So, I say being at the lecture and listening to the lecture is quite important.
-EK

I read through the chapters before completing the Mastering Physics assigned for each section. As I read, I highlighted important concepts and equations that I would need to study in the future. Reading earlier helped me receive better grades on homework, allowed me to complete homework faster, do well on PRS in the classroom, complete problems in recitation with thorough understanding, and made studying before each exam easier. I really can't emphasize how beneficial it was to read the textbook early rather than the night before exams.

Before each exam, I flipped through the appropriate chapters in the textbook, only looking at the information I had previously highlighted, and made note of equations to memorize. The day before the exam, I read through at least 3 quiz solutions of previous quizzes in order to understand how to approach and work problems.

Good luck!
-OB

Take each quiz seriously because the best one might weigh as much as the final, and do every "stop and think" question in each section, I think it helps a lot. Besides, try to go to the lecture because you may find something familiar in the quiz.
-LW

First off, it is very important to attend class for the PRS if nothing else. It helps to write down everything that is on the powerpoint and that the professor writes down even if it is posted online. Mind you, I only really did this for the first test, but it really helped then to write things out even if I didn't understand it. Also, surround yourself with motivated people that are listening or have worked to understand already.

I do not suggest cramming because then you get down to the predicament of a few more minutes meaning the difference between an 98 and a 49 in my case. I do suggest one reads all of the chapters that the website suggests before the test. It is very helpful to read them before class too, but not altogether necessary. Also, look at as many of the practice tests as possible before the exam starting with the most recent and going back from there. Look over these the hours before the tests to get the mind in physics testing mode.

I found what worked for me for tests was reading the chapters, taking quick notes of what seemed important as I went, reviewing the old tests right before the actual test and writing down seemingly important things in the same manner. The most important thing is to realize the greater ideas behind what you are doing like the nature of the l ine integral and *how* things work, and then applying the formulas from there. I then would scour my notes as much as possible as I walked to the physics test just before it started. Yes, I cram to the very last second, and write things on the first sheet that I think I may forget if I don;t write them down whether I think I need them or not.

I think it is important also to make the knowledge your own, to learn something you *want* to relating to what you have to. So maybe going on Wikipedia sprees that start with "inductance" and may end on a site that explains how speakers work or something pertinent to both physics and our tangible reality. Few people really see that connection, and thus see the subject as useless to the future. It is much more rewarding to learn to appreciate while you have to do it anyways :). The less theory, the better. More empowerment, less criticalness may help some people over the brink to wrapping their mind around this stuff. GT students want to see how it's affecting us other than our GPA. Such things take initiative, but are quite rewarding in the end.
-DW

Read the book BEFORE lecture! The whole reading schedule will be posted online at the beginning of the semester, and if you keep up with reading throughout the semester you won't have to cram and read it all the night before the tests, and you will most likely learn it much better. The book has many important details that aren't necessarily mentioned in class and knowing these can make the homework assignments much easier and faster. Also, after reading the book, the lectures are much easier to follow and almost serve as a review of what you have already read. Since you have already seen the material, the PRS questions in class are easier as well. Next, make sure you go to class to be able to answer those PRS questions. While in class, take good notes. Writing down the PRS questions and answers was really helpful when studying for a test. Putting in effort throughout the semester by reading the book and going to class rather than just cramming the night before the test really will be beneficial! Good Luck!
-MH

There were a few things I did in physics 2212 to get an A in the class. First I went to class every day. That was mandatory. Second I did the HW right after class. The concepts and methods were fresh in my mind and doing the HW solidified them in to my memory. Finally I did each of the old tests for studying. If you do all of these things, you will get an A or B in the class without a problem.
-CD

As for succeeding in your class, it's the same as any other class. I went to every class and every recitation. Perhaps try telling your students exactly how class is helpful. Basically, class is helpful for the multiple choice questions on the tests. Whereas, recitation is more useful for the free response. Almost qualitative vs. quantitative physics.

I read every reading except one or two of them before we had the class on it. Also, I reread all of the material before the exams and tried to take each practice test on the website. To help memorize the formulas, as I reread I would write down each one that I thought was useful. This resulted in nice formula sheets to practice with. Then I would allow myself to use the formulas on the first 2 practice exams. After that, I had them all memorized.

Perhaps suggest this to your students. Rereading the chapter and doing each practice test only takes a total of about 3 hours. It seemed to be enough for me. I couldn't really study any more for most of your exams because I typically had other exams either on the same day or on neighboring days.
-AM

It is really quite simple to achieve an A, I wish I had believed this 25 years ago when I first went to Tech! Three easy pieces:

Read the material in advance of class (including labs)
Show up to class alert (schedule later in the day if necessary)
Work ALL the homework problems (even the no-credit problems)

The problem is, physics is very easy to understand. So one can go to class, listen, and go home thinking you don't need to study anymore. Unfortunately, without the reinforcement of reading the material in advance, and the discipline of actually solving a variety of numerous problems, the "intuitive" piece fails, and the test solutions fail to materialize. Of course, when one sees the correct solution posted at a later date, it is again very obvious, but the moment has already passed. Do the homework - all of it. Work extra problems. Practice solving all the older tests (don't just read through the solution sets, which will, of course, be obvious).
-CR