PHY104 Course Guide
Course Research
Exam and Assignment Dates
Before the semester begins, check the PHY104 course website or Canvas page for the
syllabus and calendar. Add all exam dates, pre-lab and lab deadlines, PSET due dates, and any
quizzes or midterms to your personal calendar. This helps you keep track of everything,
especially since labs and PSETs often overlap. For multi-part assignments like labs, plan ahead
by setting internal checkpoints to avoid last-minute stress.
Support Resources
Now that you know the important dates, identify the support resources available:
● Weekly office hours (instructor and TA)
● Precepts for problem-solving
● Physics tutoring (McGraw Center or peer tutoring)
● Lab TAs for experimental help
Add these to your weekly schedule and choose an office hour session to consistently attend.
Set a deadline to attempt the PSET at least 24 hours before office hours, so you can bring
specific questions.
Course Materials
Explore the course resources:
● Lecture slides and textbook (Knight, Physics for Scientists and Engineers or equivalent)
● Pre-lab readings and instructions
● Formula sheets or equation lists
● Past exams and sample problems
Course Policies
Familiarize yourself with:
● Grade breakdown: labs, exams, PSETs, participation
● Late submission policy for PSETs and labs
● Regrade request process
● Collaboration policy, especially for PSETs and lab reports
Lecture Strategy
Before Lecture
Review previous lecture notes and skim the textbook section for the upcoming topic. Focus on
understanding the main concepts and equations, especially those related to electricity,
magnetism, and waves.
During Lecture
Take notes with a question-oriented mindset: “How could this be tested?” Focus on core
principles, derivations, and example problems. Don’t copy everything—write what adds
understanding. If something doesn’t make sense, star it and ask in precept or office hours.
After Lecture
Rewrite or annotate your notes while the material is still fresh. Use the textbook or slides to
clarify. For PHY104, this is especially important because problem-solving and conceptual clarity
are emphasized over rote memorization.
Precept Strategy
Before Precept
Skim your lecture notes and note down confusing concepts or problems. Bring any questions
about problem-solving techniques or past PSET questions.
During Precept
Ask your prepared questions and actively work through precept problems. Make sure you
understand each step, not just the final answer.
After Precept
Incorporate new problem-solving methods into your notes. Add any useful tricks, identities, or
equations your preceptor highlights.
PSET Strategy
Before Starting
Find a study group to brainstorm and compare approaches. Identify office hour times you can
attend if needed.
Before Attempting
Review the concepts covered by the PSET. Re-read relevant lecture notes, slides, and textbook
sections. This helps you approach the problems with a clear strategy.
While Working
Try every question on your own first. Then compare with others or ask for help. If you explain
your solution to a peer, it helps reinforce your understanding.
After Submitting
Once graded, review your PSET to understand what you missed. If needed, ask for
clarification. Keep a mistake log of:
● Common misunderstandings (e.g., sign conventions in electric fields)
● Formula application errors
● Concepts you struggled with (e.g., Faraday’s Law)
Extended Review
A few days later, reattempt questions you got wrong to ensure long-term retention. Challenge
yourself with a harder variation of each.
Exam Preparation
Before the Exam
Review:
● Consolidated notes
● Mistake log from PSETs and precepts
● Key formulae and derivations
Focus especially on topics you consistently found difficult. Go to office hours with your list of
weak areas. Then, practice old exams under timed conditions. Track your mistakes and keep
reviewing until your confidence improves.
During the Exam
● Skim through all questions first
● For each question: write the formula, identify the variables, and show your work
● Don’t leave anything blank—partial credit is crucial
● Use educated guesses for multiple choice
After the Exam
Review the graded exam and ask questions if you don’t understand deductions. Add new
mistakes to your log and reflect on which topics to reinforce for the final.
