- #31
Jack21222
- 209
- 1
Easier than the one I took on Thursday.
What do you guys think of my Mechanics final?
Click For Summary
Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the perceived difficulty and structure of a mechanics final exam, with participants sharing their opinions on the exam's length, question types, and overall challenge level. The conversation includes comparisons to other exams and courses, as well as reflections on the content covered in the exam.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Technical explanation
- Conceptual clarification
- Homework-related
Main Points Raised
- Some participants feel the exam was easy, citing straightforward questions that required basic application of concepts.
- Others argue that the number of questions does not correlate with difficulty, suggesting that fewer, more complex questions could be more challenging.
- A participant noted that the exam's content included Lagrangian mechanics, which they found surprising for a junior-level course.
- Some expressed confusion about the classification of the course level, with discussions about what constitutes a junior-level mechanics course.
- One participant mentioned that the exam's questions were similar to those found on the physics GRE, indicating a standard of difficulty.
- Concerns were raised about the time allowed for the exam, with some suggesting that 2.5 hours might be insufficient for the material covered.
- Several participants commented on the exam's structure, noting that sub-questions provided hints rather than adding extra difficulty.
- There were mixed feelings about the exam being trivial or requiring minimal thinking, with some stating they could solve the problems quickly.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally do not reach a consensus on the exam's difficulty, with multiple competing views expressed regarding its ease or challenge. Some find it easy, while others believe it is more respectable or medium/hard.
Contextual Notes
Participants noted variations in exam formats and expectations across different educational institutions, highlighting differences in course structure and grading practices.
Who May Find This Useful
Students preparing for mechanics exams, educators interested in exam design, and those curious about comparative difficulty in physics assessments may find this discussion relevant.
- #32
jetforcegemin
- 15
- 0
mxbob468 said:
PDEs is covered in one of the prereqs for the course, Math 54 ( Linear algebra/Differential Equations).
- #33
Anonymous217
- 355
- 2
Math 54 isn't a pre-req for H7A.
- #34
jetforcegemin
- 15
- 0
Physics for Scientists and Engineers -- Physics (PHYSICS) H7A [4 units]
Course Format: Three hours of lecture, one hour of discussion, and three hours of laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: High school physics; Math 1A or 1AS; Math 1B or 1BS (may be taken concurrently); Math 53; Math 54.
Credit option: Students will received no credit for H7A after taking 7A.
Description: Honors sequence corresponding to 7A-7B-7C, but with a greater emphasis on theory as opposed to problem solving. Recommended for those students who have had advanced Physics on the high school level and who are intending to declare a major in physics. Entrance into H7A is decided on the basis of performance on an examination given during the first week of class or the consent of the instructor, and into H7B-H7C on performance in previous courses in a standard sequence.
(F,SP) Staff
Doesn't it say 54 in the prereqs list?
Course Format: Three hours of lecture, one hour of discussion, and three hours of laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: High school physics; Math 1A or 1AS; Math 1B or 1BS (may be taken concurrently); Math 53; Math 54.
Credit option: Students will received no credit for H7A after taking 7A.
Description: Honors sequence corresponding to 7A-7B-7C, but with a greater emphasis on theory as opposed to problem solving. Recommended for those students who have had advanced Physics on the high school level and who are intending to declare a major in physics. Entrance into H7A is decided on the basis of performance on an examination given during the first week of class or the consent of the instructor, and into H7B-H7C on performance in previous courses in a standard sequence.
(F,SP) Staff
Doesn't it say 54 in the prereqs list?
- #35
jetforcegemin
- 15
- 0
edit
ops double post
ops double post
Last edited:
- #36
Anonymous217
- 355
- 2
That's strange, but the first day of lecture the professor said that the pre-reqs for the class were just to take Math 53 concurrently. Most of the freshman in the class (that I know of) are in 53 or 54 this semester. For the final this year, I wouldn't expect a question similar to #6. #5 is okay without 54 though.
Most of the LA stuff we need are learned in class and you aren't expected to know it beforehand (although it's very simple), such as taking eigenvalues to find angular frequency.
Most of the LA stuff we need are learned in class and you aren't expected to know it beforehand (although it's very simple), such as taking eigenvalues to find angular frequency.
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