PHYS 121: Introductory Physics for the Physical Sciences II

Jake Bobowski
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PHYS 121

MWF 11:00-12:00 (lecture)
My Schedule

SCI 266
jake.bobowski@ubc.ca

Introductory Physics for
the Physical Sciences II
Room: ART 366
Term 2

UBC Canvas Login

UBC PrairieLearn Login

UBC Piazza Login

OpenStax University Physics vol. 2

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Hands-on project:

In PHYS 121, there is an opportunity to earn up to 3 bonus marks towards your final grade by completing an indepednet hands-on project related to the course material. Although we will not supply you with lab space or equipment, you may consider taking advantage of the UBCO Makerspace.

To be eligible for the bonus marks, you must:
- email me a short description of your idea no later than 23:59 on Feb. 9.
- provide me with a YouTube link to a video in which you demonstrate your apparatus and explain the relevant physics. This YouTube link will be shared with the class through the PHYS 121 Canvas shell. The YouTube link needs to be sent to me no later than 23:59 on Monday, April 6.

The number of bonus marks received will depend on the quality of both the hands-on project demonstrated and the explanation of the physics. You may complete the optional hands-on project individually or as a team of two. If working with a partner, each member of the team must make substantial contributions to the project.

HW1:

The first PrairieLearn homework assignment is now available!

The due date is Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 23:59.

Survey:

All PHYS 121 students are required to complete an online survey. The survey takes only about 10 minutes to complete.

After the start of term-2, log in to the PHYS 121 Canvas page to find a link to the survey.

Please complete the survey by Monday, Jan. 12 at 23:59.

You will received a credit of 0.5 marks towards your final grade after completing the survey.

Calculus:

Here are some calculus review exercises (with answers). You should be able to do the differentiation exercises. You'll acquire to skills to do the integration exercises as you progress through MATH 101.

Studying Strategy:

Review your notes to get a basic grasp of the concepts covered. Read and understand all steps of the worked Example problems in the textbook. Then close your book and solve the problems on your own. If you get stuck, go back to the book to get unstuck. Repeat this process until you can confidently solve the problems without referring to the solutions in the book.

This process is time consuming, but it'll definitely expose which concepts you are conformatable with and those that you need to review.

Review the PrairieLearn homework problems. Especially the ones that you initially got wrong. The goal is not only to get the right answer, but also to understand each step that leads you to the correct answer.

Try the practice problems in the OpenStax University Physics volume 2 book. Do as many as you possibly can. You learn physics by doing physics, not by watching someone else do it! The answers to the odd-numbered problems are given at the back of the book.

Finally, try the past midterms and final exams posted at the bottom of this page.

Midterm:

The will be one midterm in PHYS 121. It will be written during regular class time and in the usual class room. The midterm is scheduled for:

Midterm - Wed. Feb. 25

There will not be a make-up midterm.

Quizzes:

The will be two quizzes in PHYS 121. They will be during regular class time. The quizzes are scheduled for:

Quiz #1 - Wed. Jan. 28
Quiz #2 - Wed. Mar. 18

There will not be make-up quizzes.

Reading, Labs, Tutorials, & HW:

Read chapter 5 of OSUPv2

Labs will start the week of Jan. 19.
--Links to the free PHYS 121 lab manual will be provided in the PHYS 121 Laboratory Canvas page.
--Once labs start, you must complete Pre-lab assignments before the lab begins.
--If you have previously completed the PHYS 121 lab and received at least 60%, you may register for the XM1 lab section and retain your earlier laboratory grade. To do so, complete the PHYSICS XMT LAB EXEMPTION form at https://cmps.ok.ubc.ca/forms/ before Jan. 9 at noon.
Tutorials will start the week of Jan. 19.
--All students must registered in a tutrorial section.
--If you have completed grade 12 Physics, you can get exempted from the PHYS 121 tutorials by self-registering in the XM2 tutorial section.

To do:

0. Read PHYS 121 syllabus
1. Get free online OpenStax textbook (OSUPv2)
2. Login to the free PHYS 121 PrairieLearn page
--Get a direct link in the PHYS 121 Canvas page
3. Join the free PHYS 121 Piazza page.
--Get the sign-up link from the PHYS 121 Canvas page
4. Complete HW1 (introduction to PrairieLearn)

Course Syllabus (.pdf):

PHYS 121 Syllabus

Lecture Notes

Lecture recordings:

The PHYS 121 lectures will not be streamed over Zoom or recorded. However, recordings of the PHYS 121 lectures from W2023 are available on YouTube.

Here's a link to a YouTube Playlist .

I cannot guarantee that the video content will be identical or presented in the same sequence as the W2024 lectures. However, I do expect to the content to be similar.

Tutorials

Practice Problems & Solutions

Past Assignment Problems/Quiz #1	Past Midterm Problems	Past Quiz #2	Past Final Exams
Past assignment problems 1 Past assignment problems 2 Past assignment problems 3 W2019 Quiz #1 W2019 Quiz #1 Solns	Practice midterm 1 Practice midterm 2 Practice midterm 3 Practice midterm 4 2013 Midterm 2013 Midterm Solns W2019 Midterm W2019 Midterm Solns	W2019 Quiz #2 W2019 Quiz #2 Solns	2013 Practice Final 2013 Practice Final Solns 2013 Final 2013 Final Solns

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created by Jake Bobowski,
jake.bobowski@ubc.ca

last modified: August 15, 2025

URL:https://cmps-people.ok.ubc.ca/jbobowsk/phys121.html