how to thrive in physics - nc state university · how to thrive in physics dr. z. webster teaching...

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



• 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



• 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



• 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!




– HyperPhysics




– HyperPhysics

– Khan Academy




– HyperPhysics

– Khan Academy

– Physics Classroom




– 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



• 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

Finally

• Your professor wants you to learn physics

• We know you are smart and talented, otherwise you

would not have been admitted.

• You just need to let us know where you got stuck before

deadlines!

• We will help you!

Presentation available at go.ncsu.edu/howtothriveinphysics

how to thrive in physics - nc state university · how to thrive in physics dr. z. webster teaching...

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