This page contains Words of Wisdom about the Final Exam.

1. Where do I go to take the exam?
2. What will be on the exam?
3. Do we have to memorize the equations?
4. What should I review?

Where do I go to take the exam?

Final Exam – Wednesday May 9, 8-11 AM, DCC-308

If you get extra time to take exams, you should begin with the rest of the class in DCC.  After 3 hours, if you still need more time, you will go with the professors back to the J-R Science Center where you will continue in a quiet room for another 90 minutes.

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What will be on the exam?

The exam can cover any material in your assigned reading, lectures, homework problems, class activities, and quizzes.

However, it is a good bet that the problems on the exam will cover topics that we have covered in more than one of the above formats.

You can expect that the exam will emphasize understanding physics concepts and will not primarily be "plug and chug" problems.

Previous exams and answers are available to you on our Downloads page.

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Do we have to memorize the equations?

We will provide you with a formula sheet for the exam.  You can find that on the Downloads page.  However, you should be familiar with the variables in each formula and under what circumstances it is correct to use each formula.  Note that we have been careful in each formula to put arrows over all symbols that represent vectors.

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What should I review?

The first step in your review should be to go through all three Unit Exams for this semester.  Make sure you understand all questions and the correct answers.  The next step will be to look over past exams and finals, going back from the most recent ones.

Go through the following 16 major topics and make sure you understand the fundamental concepts involved, not just know how to plug-and-chug through some past problems.  Get help in office hours if you need it.  You can expect any or all of these topics to be on the final exam.

1. Basic Equations of Motion
2. 2D Projectile Motion
3. Newton’s Laws of Motion / Free-Body Diagrams
4. Complex Acceleration Problems / Uniform Circular Motion
5. Impulse / Momentum
6. Conservation of Momentum
7. Work / Kinetic Energy
8. Conservative Forces / Potential Energy / Conservation of Energy
9. Non-Conservative Forces / Collisions
10. Equations of Rotational Motion
11. Torque / Angular Momentum
12. Conservation of Angular Momentum
13. Electric Force / Electric Field
14. Electric Potential / Electric Potential Energy
15. Magnetic Field / Magnetic Force on a Moving Charged Particle
16. e/m Ratio / Mass Spectrometer

You should check the Words of Wisdom for each Exam: Wisdom1, Wisdom2, Wisdom3. 

Final words of wisdom:  Get a good night's sleep the night before the exam.  Don't try to cram past midnight -- it won't help you the next morning.

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Welcome to Physics I at RPI for Fall 2007!

We post important announcements here, at the bottom of each page.  All of the information you need to know about the course is posted on this site.  Add it to your list of “favorite sites” (I know, I know...) and check often.

If you are using Microsoft Windows Vista, you need to upgrade to LoggerPro 3.5. Follow this link for instructions.

If you are having trouble connecting your laptop to the LabPro device when you attach the USB cable, check this possible workaround.

You can download copies of the first exam and its solutions, the second exam and its solutions, and the third exam and its solutions.

There will be Supplemental Instruction for Physics 1 by Asantha Kempitiya Mondays and Thursdays 8-10pm in DCC 235.  (This is a change from the original location.)

The optional review for exam 3 will be held Tuesday, Nov. 27, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, in DCC 308.