When preparing for a final exam for an Gen. Intro. Physics course, what concepts would you stress for study?

Answer 1

Try to understand the physics rather than memorize equations. Also understand the units for force, energy, momentum, impulse, torque, momentu of inertia, angular and linera velocity/acceleration, time, mass, length. Unless your prof/course requires otherwise, use the kg-m-sec SI units for all these physical characteristics.

The more physics you understand, the fewer equations you'll need to memorize because, by knowing the physics, you can always derive the necessary equations. And even if you have memorized the equations, knowing the physics will help you check your answers to see if, from a physics POV, the answers make sense.

The sense of your answers can be checked by units analysis. For example, if your answer finds a force with the units kg-sec^2/meter, you'll know you did something wrong because force units are kg-m/sec^2. Units analysis is a quick way to double check your answers without having to go through all the arithmetic over again. But you have to know what the correct units are for force, energy, etc.

Without knowing what your GIP course covers, I can make no concrete suggestions other than the above. But if you are studying any of the following, learn the physics:

Conservation of energy....total energy of a system remains fixed because energy is converted from one form to another rather than destroyed. Three general types of energy are potential (PE), kinetic (KE), and work (WE).

Balance of forces...these are Newton's laws...momentum, equal and opposite, f = ma. Learn how they relate to each other (e.g., change in momentum over time equal force).

Kinematics...the SUVAT equations...you can derive these from the conservation of energy law by the way. For example, PE = mgh = 1/2 mv^2 = KE; so that v = sqrt(2gh) which is SUVAT with u = 0 the initial velocity and v = final velocity after accelerating g over a distance h.

So the bottom line is:

1. Learn the physics rather than memorize a lot of equations without understanding what they mean in the physical world.

2. Learn the units for the physics you'll be answering so you can quickly check your answers.

Answer 2

The most important to me is being able to solve problems using Newton's 2nd law. You need to be able to draw free body diagrams, resolve force vectors into components, write F=ma equations of motion along the coordinate axes, and solve the simultaneous equations for the requested unknowns.

Also, conservation of energy and momentum problems are important. For some reason many of my students struggle greatly with energy conservation problems. I've never been able to catch on to exactly what their difficulty really is. It still puzzles me.

I'm thinking of a 1st semester exam here...

Answer 3

My math instructor consistently makes us visualize the morning of our very final and taking the suited. this may appear outstanding yet each and every time she does this, I consistently get ninety 9% +. So consult with your self approximately how easily your morning will go, the temper you're in formerly taking the try, the way you physique of techniques the try, and checking over your try. confident visualization facilitates your score as properly as your tension.

Answer 4

formulas, important definitions, how to use the formulas, and all the important concepts and discussion you had in class