Tutorials in Introductory Physics
The Physics 121, 122, and 123 courses consist of three
main components: Lecture, Laboratory, and Tutorial.
See the 1XX course homepage
for information on the lab and lecture components of the course.
General Information on Tutorials
The emphasis in the tutorials is not on solving the standard quantitative problems, but on the development of important physical concepts and scientific reasoning skills. The tutorials comprise an integrated system of pretests, worksheets, homework assignments, and exam problems.
Required Tutorial Workbook: Tutorials in Introductory Physics, Lillian C. McDermott, Peter S. Shaffer, and the Physics Education Group, Preliminary Second Edition (2009) [ISBN 978-0-558-34602-7]. This edition is available only at the UW bookstore.
A new version of the tutorial book is being phased in this year. All PHYS 121 students will use this new version, which has a purple (eggplant) cover, as above left.
This version will also be used in PHYS 122 starting in Winter 2010 and PHYS 123 starting Spring 2010.
In Autumn 2009, students in PHYS 122 and 123 who have a tutorial book from last year (teal cover) can use the earlier (first) edition. Students who are starting the sequence in PHYS 122 or 123 and do not have the earlier edition should purchase the new edition. Handouts will be provided when necessary.
Tutorial Faculty
- Prof. L.C. McDermott
- Prof. P.S. Shaffer
Faculty offices are located in C208 Physics Astronomy Building.
Telephone: (206) 685-2046
Tutorial TAs
You can find the name of your Tutorial TAs in the 121 tutorial schedule, the 122 tutorial schedule, or the 123 tutorial schedule. The grader is listed first.Most TAs are listed in the Quarterly TA Assignments. Click on the name of the TA of interest to send him/her an email.
Pretests (121 - 122 - 123)
There will be short weekly pretests that will be administered on the web. Pretests will not be graded; however, completion of these pretests will be a factor in determining your final grade. Pretests usually cover material that has been presented in lecture, but are intended to start you thinking about the concepts that will be addressed in tutorial later in the week. Pretests also inform the instructors and TAs about the difficulties that many students may be having with the course material. A poster of the pretest will be posted in tutorial room so that students can discuss the questions after they finish the tutorial. The current online pretest can be accessed by following the appropriate link above (or below).
Tutorial Sessions
During a tutorial students work in small groups on worksheets that emphasize the main concepts in the course. Tutorial instructors do not lecture but ask questions designed to help you find your own answers. Students are expected to construct answers for themselves through discussions with classmates and the tutorial instructors. Since discussions require active participation, a small portion of the final grade for the course is based on students' participation in the tutorial sessions.
Locations and times of individual sections are listed in the Time Schedule. If you are not yet enrolled, go to any tutorial section that is associated with your class.
Tutorial Homework (121 - 122 - 123)
Tutorial homework will be assigned and collected in the tutorial sessions. The homework associated with the tutorial reinforces and extends the material covered in the worksheets. Not all homework in the tutorial homework book may be assigned each week. Follow the appropriate link above (or below) for a list of the assigned problems. One problem from each assignment will be graded in detail.
Tutorial Exam Problems
One problem on each midterm and at least one problem on the final exam will be based on the material emphasized in tutorial.