CVCC Academic Programs

Welcome to introductory physics! I'm aware that you've all probably heard horror stories about physics in general, and perhaps about these particular courses. I've decided to combine these class web pages simply because it is my intent to teach the same general body of knowledge to both groups of students. The two groups will differ mostly in the mathematical sophistication of certain types of problems. Basically, the PHY 251 students will not be expected to freak out when I use terms like integral or derivative. However, I cannot emphasize enough that both classes will be learning the same physics! You will be surprised at how similar the classes will be. Of course, certain specific applications will be different, but the physics upon which those applications rely will be the same!

Your textbooks were selected because I feel they are among the best. No textbook is perfect though, and your's are not perfect either. It's not that the authors boldly give you wrong information, but the authors do not always present the clearest explanations. The biggest problem with introductory physics textbooks is that they almost never present the material in the order that many feel best facilitates learning physics correctly. Therefore, we will not be covering the material in either textbook in the exact order in which it is presented. We will cover the material in the order that best allows your understanding of the concepts to flow logically. I honestly believe that you will gain a better understanding of the material and a better appreciation for the beauty of physics (and science in general) by approaching it this way. One of your books is quite unusual in that it is not a conventional textbook at all. Feynman's Six Easy Pieces (like all of Feynman's books) is simply one of the best at getting down to the pure beauty of physics and I know you will enjoy reading it. We may not get to formally read the entire book, but I encourage you to do so on your own if you wish.

It's no secret that you've all heard that physics is difficult. Well, I claim that physics can be just as enjoyable as any other course provided it is taught well and you pay attention to what goes on in class (and I don't just mean listening to me lecture either). You are, however, going to have to put forth significant effort in this class. You will need to spend a considerable number of hours outside of class reading, contemplating notes taken in class, doing simple home experiments, and more reading. You should expect to spend at least two to three hours outside of class for every hour in class. Don't expect to be able to just "read the book" and take a multiple choice test on that material because that is not the way this course is run. Don't expect much in the way of remedial math; by enrolling in this course you have certified that you have met the math prerequisite and if you have not, you need to drop this course. Don't expect "review days" before exams either. We simply won't have time for them. As an alternative, we can always schedule time outside of class to get together if the class as a whole feels it is necessary. If you keep up as you go along, you won't even need "review days".

You will also be using the Internet extensively in this course. This way, we won't have to waste time handing out all this paper in class and you will learn how to use the Internet for something other than . . . well . . . you know.