Tips to Solve PHYS 101 Problems

Passing the PHYS 101 course with a good grade requires from the student to read the textbook after each lecture and then solve some problems. It is recommended that you follow the following strategy:

·       After each lecture, read the sections covered from the textbook

·       Understand the sample problems and then try to solve them with the textbook closed

·       From each section, try to do at least two of the textbook easy (one dot) problems

·       From each section, try to do at least two of the textbook two-dot problems.

·       Do the Home work problems

·       Join a study group that meet once a week to discuss and solve old exam problems. This will make you familiar with the styles of the exam problems.

Here are few tips to solve the problems:

1. Read the problem carefully.

2. Make sure you know what the problem is exactly asking for.

3. Make a list of the quantities given in the problem.

4. Try to get more information from the text. For example, a phrase like “starting from rest”, means the initial velocity is zero.

5. You may need to make your own diagrams or charts which may help you understand the problem better. If possible, try to write the information on the diagram.  

6. Make sure that you have a good understanding of the Math of the problem.

7. Check the units. You may need to make change of units, usually to SI units.

7. Now from the formula sheet or the textbook, try to pick a formula that contains all the quantities given and asked for in the problem.

8. If one formula is not enough to solve the problem, then there might be an intermediate step. So you may need another formula to completely solve the problem.

9. Before the exam, pick one of the old exams, and test yourself before going to the actual exam.