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Project PHYSNET Physics Bldg. Michigan State University East Lansing, MI

MISN-0-155

STUDENT STRATEGIES FOR

SUCCESS IN CBI PHYSICS

STUDENT#23100

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Knowledgeand RuleApplication

ProblemSolvingPlan

ProblemSolvingAccuracyExcellence

OrganizationalProfessionalism

Skill Accumulating

Pace Control

EvaluatingScientific Communication

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STUDENT STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN CBI PHYSICS

by

Peter Signell and William C. Lane, Michigan State University

1. Start Out Properlya. New Goals, New Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1b. Use the Getting Started Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1c. Study Together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1d. Estimate Your Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2e. Decide Whether to Learn Reviewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2f. Learn How to Solve New Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

2. Know Why You are Doing Thisa. Know Why You Are Learning Physics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3b. Know Why You Must Learn Concepts ...................4c. Know Why Learning Math-Based Science is Hard . . . . . . . .5

3. Use Profl Learning Strategiesa. Four Main Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5b . L a s t R e s o r t : G e t H e l p . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

4. Use Profl Problem-Solving Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

5. Review the Lessona. Review the Output Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8b. Look over the Model Exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

6. Show Skills on Examsa. Communicate Effectively on Exams ......................9b. Show Your Reasoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9c. Get Credit for General Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

7. Monitor Your Progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Appendices: A, B, C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2

A. Scientific Communication Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

B-I. Exam Application (Front) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5

B-Ii. Exam Application (Back) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

C-I. Exam Scoring: General Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7

C-Ii. Exam Scoring: an Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8

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MISN-0-155 13

C = C1 + C : C

C2 C3

C2 + C3

6. Numbers are substituted, with their units, for the input symbolsand the units are then reduced to obtain the units of the answer:

d =1

2(32ft/s2)(2.1 s)2 = 70.56ft 71ft

7. Numerical answers are given to an appropriate number of digits,neither more nor less. A number like 130 must finally be written soas to show its number of significant digits (1.3 102 or 1.30 102

or . . . ). If only multiplications and divisions are used to computethe answer, then the final answer should have exactly the numberof digits of the least precise of the input parameters (see the exam-ples in #6 above and #10 below). If subtraction is involved, thesubtraction must be checked to see if some precision is thereby lostdue to cancellation of the leading digits.

8. The situation is sketched, showing themeaning of the symbols used:

r

P

q

x

y

9. Assumptions used at the beginning of a problem are clearly statedin both words and equations:

1. I combine Coulombs Law: F = keq q

r2r

and Newtons Second Law: F = mato get . . .

10. Equality signs that are part of a derivation sequence, but whichbegin different lines on the page, lie directly underneath each other:

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MISN-0-155 14

a = keq q

m(a + b)2r

=(2.0 105 C)(3.0 106 C)(9.0 109 N C2 m2

(8.0 kg)(0.20m + 0.05m)2r

= 1.08Nkg1 r = 1.0 8 m s2 r (1.1m/s2) r

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B-I. Exam Application (Front)

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B-Ii. Exam Application (Back)

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C-I. Exam Scoring: General Examples

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C-Ii. Exam Scoring: an Example

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