Questions incoming students might have in fall:

Physical Systems 1998-99
with E.J. Zita
• Q: What should I do to get ready for Physical Systems?
• A: Review your calculus and physics. Remember the integration and differentiation techniques that you have already learned. Reread your calculus textbook. Mathematics is the language of physics - regain your fluency. If your calculus skills have become a bit rusty from disuse, do drill problems until integration and differentiation are second nature to you.
 
• Q: What are the prerequisites again?
• A: You should have had a full year of calculus-based physics, such as Matter and Motion. You should be able to integrate and differentiate polynomials, exponentials, and trig functions, and, of course, you should be perfectly comfortable with algebra.

If you do not have these prerequisites, this program will be too hard for you, and you might take Matter and Motion instead. Otherwise it would be like taking German literature before you can read German, which would not be fair to your fluent classmates.

• Q: Where and when do we meet on the first day?
• A: Monday 28.Sept. at 1:00 in the GCC at the computer center, Lib 2406.  Please check the handy online syllabus, for the latest details.

• Q: Where is the professor?
• A: In Spain, presenting her new stellar dynamo model - she'll be back on Mon.5.Oct.98. Lots of other people will be helping with class for the first week.
• Q: So what should we do for week 1?
• A: Come to class,where you will receive handouts, study guides, and homework assignments to be done with your classmates. Also check the handy online syllabus and participate in the mandatory workshops that have been set up for you this week. Yes, there will be a quiz on them ;-)

 
• Q: What books do we need?
• A: Please check the handy online booklist. Start reading Mechanics, Science Writing, and Demon-Haunted World.
 
• Q: Can I take this program for less than 16 credits?
• A: No - it's a full-time program.
• Q: Can I get out of seminar?
• A: No - seminar will be integrated into lecture/discussion times.
• Q: Will you cover the special topic I'm interested in?
• A: Yes - we can learn about it together, with your guidance, in a journal club and through your research project.
• Q: Do I need a calculator?
• A: Not really, but you do need an email account, so be sure to fill out the forms at the Computer Center in the Library building if you don't already have one. Ask a classmate to show you where. (Flash - there are rumors that every student registered now automatically has an email account without filling out extra forms - is it true?)
• Q: What special materials should I get?
• A: Consider purchasing Mathematica 3 (the student version is under $150) if you have your own computer.
• Consider buying a good pair of 10x50 binoculars if you're interested in astronomy (you should be able to get a good pair for $200-300). With a tripod, you can see the moons of Jupiter and some details of nearby clusters and galaxies.
• Neither of these is required! We have Mathematica on campus computers, and binocs and telescopes can be borrowed from Lab Stores.

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