LETTER TO STUDENTS

Hello There!

You are about to begin your first college level physics course. You may have heard from friends and fellow students that physics is a difficult course, especially if you don't plan to go on to a career in the hard sciences. But that doesn't mean it has to be difficult for you. The key to success in this course is to have a good understanding of each chapter before moving on to the next. When learned a little bit at a time, physics is straightforward and simple. Here are some ideas that can make this text and this class work for you:

• Read through the Sample Problems and solutions carefully. These problems are similar to many of the end-of-chapter exercises, so reading them will help you solve homework problems. In addition, they offer a look at how an experienced physicist would approach solving the problem.

• Try to answer the Checkpoint questions as you read through the chapter. Most of these can be answered by thinking through the problem, but it helps if you have some scratch paper and a pencil nearby to work out some of the harder questions. Hold the answer page at the back of the book with your thumb (or a tab or bookmark) so you can refer to it easily. The end-of-chapter questions are very similar--you can use them to quiz yourself after you've read the whole chapter.

• Use the Review & Summary sections at the end of each chapter as the first place to look for formulas you might need to solve homework problems. These sections are also helpful in making study sheets for exams.

The biggest tip I can give you is pretty obvious. Do your homework! Understanding the homework problems is the best way to master the material and do well in the course. Doing a lot of homework problems is also the best way to review for exams. And by all means, consult your classmates whenever you are stuck. Working in groups will make your studying more effective.

The study of basic physics is required for degrees in Engineering. Physics. Biology, Chemistry, Medicine, and many other sciences because the fundamentals of physics are the framework on which every other science is built. Therefore, a solid grasp of basic physical principles will help you understand upper-level science courses and make your study of these courses easier.

I took introductory physics because it was a prerequisite for my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Even though engineering and pure physics are worlds apart, I find myself using this book as a reference almost every day. I urge you to keep it after you have finished your course. The knowledge you will gain from this book and your introductory physics course is the foundation for all other sciences. This is the primary reason to take this class seriously and be successful in it.

Best of luck!

Josh Kane