Exam I details

Exam I is, as you know, scheduled for this Thursday, 21 February. This means that there is no homework due this week, and no Friday quiz. Perhaps the most notable thing about the exam is that relativity is not included.

The exam will cover the following sections in the Serway & Faughn book:

Chapter 15, including Sections 1-6, 9
Chapter 16, including Sections 1-4, 6-10
Chapter 17, including Sections 1-5, 8
Chapter 18, including Sections 1-5

If you are paying more attention to the course notes, it covers the following (referring to the online version):

Chapter 3, excluding Sections 3.6, 3.7
Chapter 4, excluding Sections 4.7, 4.2.2.1
Chapter 5, excluding Sections 5.4.1.1, 5.4.6
Chapter 6 ALL

Whether you pay more attention to the book or the course notes, the list above covers the same topics.

The exam will be multiple choice, and roughly 25 questions long. I suggest studying the end of chapter questions in the notes, as well as your homework and quiz solutions to date.

Roughly half the questions will be conceptual or qualitative (no calculations), and roughly half the questions will involve real, live quantitative answers. With units and everything.

The exam will be in the usual classroom, at the usual time. I will devote the first 15-30 mins of class to answering last-minute questions, after which you will have about 90 minutes for the exam. I expect the exam to take you closer to 60 minutes, but don't want anyone to feel too rushed.

You will want a calculator for the exam.

You can bring in ONE standard 8.5x11 inch sheet of paper front and back (or two sheets front-only), containing any information you like. This could include pictures, formulas, example problems, or even the first few chapters of "The Count of Monte Cristo" in a very small font. Whatever you think might help. You can use both the front and back, typed or written, crayon or pencil, your preference.

One interesting variant is to write from left to right with a red pen, and then turn the page 90 degrees and write over the top of that with a blue pen. If you can then lay your hands on a set of 3-D glasses ... presto, you've doubled your storage density.