PHYS 101 :: Physics Illinois :: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Week 5 (2/17-21): Test 2 takes place Wednesday-Friday this week at the CBTF. If you are feeling anxious as you prepare please consider checking out these resources for test anxiety [Resource 1][Resource 2]

If you are encountering difficulties with the math in this course, we encourage you to utilize online resources and office hours for assistance. This OpenStax chapter on right triangles is useful for reviewing when to use sine, cosine, and tangent; and this chapter reviews methods for solving two equations with two unknowns.

Here is a summary of our schedule and deadlines for Week 5:

• Class Meetings
  • Lectures 8 and 9
  • Discussion 5
  • Lab 3
• Online assignments
  • [smartPhysics] Prelectures and Checkpoints 8 and 9.
  • [smartPhysics] Prelab 1 is due at 8am on the day your lab section meets
  • [smartPhysics] Homework 4 is due at 8am on Thursday, February 20
• Action items
  • Sign up for a Test 2 time slot in PrairieTest ASAP
  • Test 2 will cover content from Lectures 4-7, Homeworks 3-4, Lab 1, and Discussions 3-5
    • Review lectures to prepare for conceptual questions
    • Try the Practice Test in PrairieLearn
    • Practice calculation problems from old Physics 101 exams

Students who wish to earn James Scholar Honors Credit in this course: Please see the Project Page for details. Note that the project proposal is due in Gradescope on Friday March 14 at 5:00pm.

Week 4 (2/10-2/14): Congratulations on completing Test 1. We will open the test questions for you to review in PrairieLearn early this week. Test 2 will cover topics from Lectures 4-7.

If you are encountering difficulties with the math in this course, we encourage you to utilize online resources and office hours for assistance. This OpenStax chapter on right triangles is useful for reviewing when to use sine, cosine, and tangent; and this chapter reviews methods for solving two equations with two unknowns.

Here is a summary of our schedule and deadlines for Week 4:

• Class Meetings:
  • Lectures 6 and 7
  • Discussion 4
  • Lab 2
• Online assignments
  • [smartPhysics] Prelectures and Checkpoints 6 and 7
  • [smartPhysics] Prelab 2 is due 8am the day your lab section meets
  • [smartPhysics] Homework 3 is due at 8am on Thursday, February 13
• Action items
  • Sign up for your Test 2 time slot in PrairieTest
  • Try Practice Test 2 in PrairieLearn (available Monday morning)
  • Get your smartphysics access code ASAP before the demo period runs out. We will not be extending smartphysics deadlines unless there is a problem with stock at the bookstore.

Week 3 (2/3-2/7) If you just joined the course, please take some time to review the course website and the Getting Started page. This page will help you make sure you are ready for each component of the class.

Test 1 takes place Wednesday-Friday this week at the CBTF.

View a copy of the massmail sent to the class on Friday 1/31 with Test 1 information.

If you are feeling anxious as you prepare for the exam please consider checking out this document from the Counseling Center with advice on test anxiety.

If you are encountering difficulties with the math in this course, we encourage you to utilize online resources and office hours for assistance. This OpenStax chapter on right triangles is useful for reviewing when to use sine, cosine, and tangent; and this chapter reviews methods for solving two equations with two unknowns.

Here is a summary of our schedule and deadlines for Week 3:

Remember to purchase your smartPhysics access code before the DEMO period expires. Use the code you receive in smart.physics.illinois.edu, not at flipitphysics.com.

• Class Meetings:
  • Lecture 4 on Monday and Lecture 5 on Wednesday
  • Discussion 3
  • Lab 1
• Online assignments
  • [smartPhysics] Prelectures and Checkpoints 4 and 5 are due 8am on Monday and Wednesday, respectively
  • Prelab 1 is due at 8am on the day your lab section meets
  • Homework 2 is due at 8am on Thursday, February 6
• Action items
  • Sign up for a Test 1 time slot in PrairieTest ASAP
  • Office hours continue in 271 Loomis (schedule). Remember to add your question to the Office Hours Queue to get a bonus point.
  • Test 1 will cover content from Lectures 1-3, Homeworks 1-2, and Discussions 1-3* (except for 2D motion with constant acceleration)
    • Review lectures to prepare for conceptual questions
    • Practice calculation problems from old Physics 101 exams
    • Try the Practice Test in PrairieLearn

Week 2 (1/27-31) If you just joined the course, please take some time to review the course website and the Getting Started page. They will help you make sure you are ready for each component of the class.

Here is a summary of our schedule and deadlines for Week 2 (beginning January 27, 2025):

• Class meetings:
  • Lecture 2 on Monday and Lecture 3 on Wednesday
  • Discussion 2
  • There is no lab meeting this week. Lab will start next week.
• Online (smartPhysics) assignments
  • Prelecture 2 and Checkpoint 2 are due at 8am on Monday January 27
  • Prelecture 3 and Checkpoint 3 are due at 8am on Wednesday January 29
  • Prelab 0 is due at 8am on Thursday January 30
  • Homework 1 is due at 8am on Thursday January 30
• Action items
  • Bring your iclicker or a device with the iclicker student app to class so you can participate in class polling starting in Lecture 2. iClicker remotes must be registered in your iclicker.com student account for you to get credit in lecture.
    • You can earn a bonus point for the week by answering 50% of questions correctly in either lecture.
    • You must answer at 50% of poll questions in each lecture to earn participation credit for that lecture.
    • You may get credit for attending the 9am or 10am lecture.
  • If you have not arranged to get an IOLab yet you should do so right away - you will need it for Prelab 1 and Lab 1 next week.
  • Purchase your smartPhysics access code from the bookstore before the DEMO period expires. Enter the code you receive in smart.physics.illinois.edu, not at flipitphysics.com.
  • Make your Test 1 reservation in PrairieTest.
  • [DRES students] Follow these instructions to arrange your accommodations.
• Other announcements
  • Office hours begin Monday 1/27 in 271 Loomis (schedule). Remember to add your question to the Office Hours Queue to get a bonus point.
  • A practice for Test 1 opens in PrairieLearn on the morning of Monday 1/27.

Welcome to Physics 101. As the semester begins, please take some time to review the course website, especially the Getting Started page. This page will help you make sure you are ready for each component of the class. We look forward to getting to know you this semester.

Welcome to Physics 101. As we prepare for the semester to begin, please take some time to review the Getting Started page. This page will help you make sure you are ready for each component of the class. We look forward to getting to know you this semester.

Here is a summary of our schedule and deadlines for Week 1 (beginning January 20, 2024):

• Class meetings:
  • Lecture 1 will be held on Wednesday, January 22.
  • Discussion sections meet in Week 1. Check your course schedule to make sure you know where to be and when. Students with sections on Tuesdays will have discussion before the first lecture.
  • There is no lab in Week 1 or Week 2.
• Online (smartPhysics) assignments
  • The first prelecture and checkpoint assignments are due at 8am on January 22, i.e., they are due the morning of the first lecture.
  • Prelab 0 is due on Thursday January 25 at 8am.
  • There is no Homework assignment this week. Homework 1 will be due Thursday 1/25 at 8am.
• Action items
  • You may choose whether you will use a physical iClicker or the iClicker Cloud app. Sign up for an account and add yourself to the Physics 101 class at iclicker.com before Lecture 2.
  • If you have not arranged to get an IOLab yet you should do so right away - you will need it for Prelab 1 and Lab 1 in Week 3.
  • If you need DRES accommodations please follow the instructions here. We will not be able to make accommodations unless we have your LOA.
  • If the Spring semester includes a holiday that you observe that will prevent you from attending class, please contact our course team in advance so we can be proactive about accommodating your needs.
• Other announcements
  • Office hours begin in Week 2.

Welcome to Physics 101! This space will be used for weekly announcements, including a snapshot of the course schedule and assignments. Announcements will generally be updated on Fridays.

As we prepare for the semester to begin, please take some time to review the Getting Started page. This page will help you make sure you are ready for each component of the class. We look forward to getting to know you this semester.

The top 3 things you should do to prepare for class are:

1. Log in to https://smart.physics.illinois.edu/ to complete your first Prelecture and Checkpoint assignment.
2. Choose whether you will use a physical iClicker or the iClicker Cloud app to participate in lecture. Depending on your choice, you will either need to get an iClicker remote or a subscription in the app. Then you will need to add yourself to the course on the iclicker website.
3. Get an iOLab.