Problem-solving template

In past courses, I've tried off and on to have students use a problem-solving template that my colleague Prof. Mankey developed. The basic idea is to give you a general structure for solving problems by compartmentalizing the problem-solving process. Break it down into fairly general steps that most problems have (though not always in the same order) so you have a guide for how to start and finish problems.

The template is not something you will be required to use when solving problems, but if you're having trouble with the homework, it might help. Details below the fold ...

HW3 is out

Homework 3 is now out. Since I'm late by about a day getting it out, I'll push the deadline back one day ... so this is due by 11:59pm on Friday, 16 July.

We'll go over most of these problems Thursday and Friday in class, at least enough to get you started.

(This means you have no HW or quiz tomorrow, but you have both on Friday ...)

HW3

I'm a bit late putting out the next HW ... it will come out tonight, but not be due until Friday instead of Thursday. Check back tonight ...

Wednesday's quiz

Wednesday's quiz is all about charges moving through electrical potential differences and electric fields. E.g., if a charge q moves through a potential difference of V, how much energy is gained or lost? If a charge q is placed in an electric field, what force does it experience? What is the difference between the motion of positive and negative charges? You'll have to recall what we talked about Tuesday, along with the basics of PH101 - relating force, mass, and acceleration.

There will be plenty of useful hints about the quiz in Wednesday's lecture.

HW1 solutions

HW1 solutions are out, you'll get them back (along with quiz 2) during Wednesday's class.

Wedensday's lab

Wednesday's lab will be all about capacitors, or at least how they combine in parallel and series.

You can find the procedure here.

Apologies for posting it a bit late, but please read the whole procedure before getting started with anything and start connecting wires, capacitors, and power supplies all willy-nilly.

Big safety hint: make sure your power supply is turned off, and maybe even unplugged to be sure, before wiring up your circuit. Before turning on the power supplies, make sure the voltage and current knobs are turned all the way to zero.

Capacitors can react angrily to a sudden spike in voltage, and the magic smoke inside may escape ...

Quiz solutions

Quizzes 1 and 2 and their solutions are up, find them here.