Physics 104 and 105 summer course expectations
Taking
a course during the summer has both pros and cons. The compressed
schedule provides focus and concentration on one subject without much
time to forget information. Yet an introductory physics course
during the summer is so fast-paced that
it really can feel like rocket science! While the total number of
class hours is about the same as during a regular semester, the
schedule is so compressed that it is difficult for many students to
have sufficient time to fully comprehend all the new
information. It is important to have a realistic expectation
of the time required for this course, so here is a summary that may be
helpful.
Expected workload for Phys104 or 105 during the summer:
| Activity |
Hrs/wk |
| class time 5(1.5 hr/day) |
7.5 h |
| Homework/study: 3(class time) |
22.5 h |
| Lab time: 2(2 hr/lab) |
4 h |
| Lab prep/report: 2(3 hrs/lab) |
6 h |
| TOTAL |
40 h |
My recommendation to
students who are taking an intro physics course during the
summer is to avoid any other significant time commitments (other
courses, job, etc.) to allow sufficient time to focus on this demanding
course. The exception to this rule is if you are taking the
course for a second time or if you do not care what grade you earn in
the course!