Intro to Mechanics & Thermo · Physics
motion physics, thermodynamics, work, energy, etc.
Basic introduction to topics in physics: kinematics, dynamics, work and energy, momentum, rotational mechanics, and thermodynamics.
Learned how to fail and then recover from that basically
I learned mechanics, basic intro physics
Nothing new if you have taken AP Physics C before, otherwise mechanics and a little thermo
Decent: One graded problem set a week consisting of 8-10 problems. Two midterms and a final all with an average mark of around a 50-60%.
Homework (10%): 11 problem sets. The first 10 were from the textbook and consisted of 8-10 problems. Pasupathy made the last one about thermodynamics himself. Your lowest 2 scores are dropped, and most people just copy from the solutions manual, so don’t expect this to boost your grade. Recitation Attendance (10%): Show up, sign in, do a problem or two. I don’t recommend Augusto’s section. Midterms (40%): There are 3 and your lowest one is dropped. The first 2 had 3 problems and the last one had 4. All are extremely difficult with averages falling from somewhere in the high 60% range on the first one to the low 50% range by the last one. Final (40%): There were 8 problems. All of them were based on some of the hardest questions from the textbook. While the final was cumulative, it did not cover thermodynamics at all and focused on rotational dynamics and fluids.
2 midterms, a final and weekly problems sets usually 7-12 problems only two of which will be randomly chosen to be graded (this can hurt or help you).
If I ran the physics department this kid would be fired on day one. This TA is just another reflection of the ineptitude and complacency that is commonplace in our second rate physics department.
Ah, grow up. If you can't understand Kim, then don't go into physics or engineering, because his accent is fine and many others are much worse. Also, if you find the lectures boring, then just don't go, because his questions are completely straight forward and you can learn all of the material from the text book. That being said, I found Kim to be an above average lecturer and a generally excited, friendly, and all-around nice guy. I showed up two hours late to the final exam and he gave me the full time, when he was entirely within his rights to say forget it. The curve is also ridiculously high (half the class gets an A- or better), so any small injustices get ironed out in the end moreso than most of us probably deserve.