Performance on regular examinations, homework sets, laboratory activities, and a comprehensive final exam will be considered in determining the PHY 121 course grade. If the student is not able to interpret the problem, the student is unable to solve the problem and receives no credit. Often, this requires making a choice between more than one possible correct method. In other cases there is only a single valid approach, or one that is clearly more efficient or optimum in its ability to address the problem. Much emphasis is placed on this disciplined and reasoned approach to problem solving, as these are the critical thinking skills which are a goal of the course.
Many questions are conceptual rather than numerical in nature.
For these questions, evaluation is based on the accuracy of the conclusion drawn by the student upon application of the appropriate physical principle. Written responses should be answered in complete sentences with proper grammar and punctuation. Data should be presented in tabular or graphical form, identified and labeled with correct units of measure. Typically 11-13 labs are performed during the semester. A lab report is required at the end of each lab period.