Resources

= = toc = = =EQUATION SHEET= Here is a list of equations we will use during the course. Feel free to print it out to use on homework, quizzes and labs. = = =Setting up and Using your wikispace= Here are instructions: Go to the TemplateWiki link to the left. There are more guidelines listed there.

Use the "Help" link above, as well.

Sample Wikis
Here are some sample wikis from former students that are worth checking out: Sample1, Sample2, Sample3. Look at the page, then explore the overall set-up. You may get some good ideas about how to organize your space for yourself.

A Deleted Wikispace
If your wiki seems to have been deleted, don't panic!
 * 1) Exit the site altogether. Then reopen it. It should open with a text box that says something like: "Your wiki was not saved properly the last time it was used" and will give you the option to edit from the recovered version or from saved version. Click on "recovered version".
 * 2) Click on the history tab. If you go to the very last one (which should be the current version you are on), and click previous, it will bring you to the last time it was saved. You may be missing some material, but hopefully not too much.
 * 3) Contact the wikispace administrators (go to the Help link above). They can often recover material if you give them your site address and the the date/time it happened. They have been very prompt about replying in the past.

Shortcut Keys for symbols on WikiSpace

 * //**For symbol,**// || //**On PC**// || //**On Mac**// ||
 * ∑ ||  || Option-w ||
 * º ||  || Option-0 ||
 * ß ||  || Option-s ||
 * ƒ ||  || Option-f ||
 * ∆ ||  || Option-j ||
 * µ ||  || Option-m ||
 * √ ||  || Option-v ||
 * Ω ||  || Option-z ||
 * ∞ ||  || Option-5 ||
 * π ||  || Option-p ||

=Summarizing Rules= Summarizing something that you have read or heard is a skill just like graphing, solving the quadratic equation, or sewing. You must practice, learn multiple methods, and must be willing to critically examine your work in order to improve. You will be a student for many, many more years of your life, if not forever! Even though I am the teacher, I am still constantly learning. And if I merely read or listen, without doing anything active to move the information from my short-term to long-term memory, I retain nothing. Amongst the many skills I hope to teach you, methods of summarizing are key.

Nearly every night, you will be assigned to read and summarize a section or two (or three) from The Physics Classroom. The next morning, we will spend some time discussing your summaries, and everyone is expected to be prepared to actively participate. Download this document for several different ways you can summarize. Try them each during the first week, and see which you like better. The question is not which will be the fastest or easiest, but which one will enable you to retain the most information for the longest time?

I will check your summaries (as well as the rest of the work posted on your wikispace). I will be evaluating them in terms of accuracy of content, of course. But in addition, the information should not be repetitive, too narrow or too broad; it should be in sequence and most importantly, in your own words. I can't stress this enough! If you are having trouble, use Method #1. Don't just do what you have been calling "summarizing" since 5th grade... it is too easy to fall into the trap of copying everything detail from the source into your notes.

=**Online Resources**= Here is a list of Applets, Information, and Video linksthat you can use, sorted by topic. Please use these online resources to enrich and supplement your studies. Part of your homework will often be to find other websites with valuable and relevant material, and share the information with us. I will ask you to p ost a relevant animation, joke, cartoon, or applet. You must include a direct link to the site and a screenshot of the page.

=**Lab Report Format**= In this course, we will not have time to write full lab reports. We will write an abbreviated format that will include objective/hypothesis, data/observations, calculations and a thorough discussion/analysis. Many labs will require graphs. Below you will find instructions and a sample for a full lab report. Use these resources to help you complete our adapted ones... the descriptions for the parts we will do are still valid and can be used.

Grading of labs will change depending on the lab, as different reports will have different requirements. However, the general structure will remain the same.
 * Hypothesis is relevant.
 * Data Table has table headings, uses formulas, and all measurements and calculations are displayed.
 * Sample calculations must be shown.
 * The graph has a curve with best-fit equation and R 2 value.
 * Analysis fully discusses the graph and its interpretation, the conclusion, experimental error, and the overall results (quantitatively, if relevant.).

For Instructor's Use: Equipment&Materials