Online reading assignment: helpful/unhelpful Midterm 1 physics study tips

Physics 205A, fall semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students have a weekly online reading assignment (hosted by SurveyMonkey.com), where they answer questions based on reading their textbook, material covered in previous lectures, opinion questions, and/or asking (anonymous) questions or making (anonymous) comments. Full credit is given for completing the online reading assignment before next week's lecture, regardless if whether their answers are correct/incorrect. Selected results/questions/comments are addressed by the instructor at the start of the following lecture.

The following question was asked in the week subsequent to the first midterm.

Selected/edited responses are given below.

Describe something notable that either helped or did not help with studying for this midterm. Selected comments may be discussed in class.

"I just have been doing a lot of problems. It helps to spread them out over a period of days, and it also helps to do problems with another person., Then maybe do some on your own and then talk about the problems you had with your partner."

"Just repeat problems. Work through the tough problems, and try new ones."

"It helps that everything is related to each other. The further along that we go in the book, while the concepts become more challenging, all the previous material builds on itself to help understand those concepts."

"I like that you posted questions from previous midterms. I found the open problem-solving whiteboard sessions to be very helpful, along with the flashcards."

"Don't get stressed and panicky over the midterm. Just approach it casually like you would normally approach a quiz. The rest will follow."

Online reading assignment: helpful/unhelpful Midterm 1 astronomy study tips

Astronomy 210, fall semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students have a weekly online reading assignment (hosted by SurveyMonkey.com), where they answer questions based on reading their textbook, material covered in previous lectures, opinion questions, and/or asking (anonymous) questions or making (anonymous) comments. Full credit is given for completing the online reading assignment before next week's lecture, regardless if whether their answers are correct/incorrect. Selected results/questions/comments are addressed by the instructor at the start of the following lecture.

The following question was asked in the week subsequent to the first midterm.

Selected/edited responses are given below.

Describe something notable that either helped or did not help with studying for this midterm. Selected comments may be discussed in class.

"Diagrams for moon phases and times highest overhead. The snowboarder model. Basically any diagram that helps me visualize what is happening."

"I found that looking back over previous semesters' exam questions was very helpful. Also, the past in-class activities were quite useful in studying for this midterm."

"The flashcards are really helpful! It's like taking a pre-test on each subject."

"I got together with a study group. This helped a ton."

"Reviewing this semester's quizzes and understanding why you got an answer wrong or right, and being able to explain it simply to yourself."

Online reading assignment: confusing Midterm 1 astronomy topics

Astronomy 210 Reading Assignment 7 fall semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

121014-Astr210Midterm1confusingwordle
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waiferx/8087973673/
Originally uploaded by Waifer X

Wordle.net tag cloud for confusing topics covered in Midterm 1, generated by responses from Astronomy 210 students at Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA (www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/5860316/Untitled).

Students have a weekly online reading assignment (hosted by SurveyMonkey.com), where they answer questions based on reading their textbook, material covered in previous lectures, opinion questions, and/or asking (anonymous) questions or making (anonymous) comments. Full credit is given for completing the online reading assignment before next week's lecture, regardless if whether their answers are correct/incorrect. Selected results/questions/comments are addressed by the instructor at the start of the following lecture.

List at least three words describing confusing subjects covered in class (up through this midterm). (Graded for completion.)

[These raw responses were subsequently edited to consolidate related common subjects.]

Student responses
Sections 70158, 70160

"eclipses retrograde morning/evening stars"

"S-B Law, Wien's Laws, HR Diagram"

"interferometer, epicycles, Jupiter"

"Honestly unsure until I've taken the test"

"It's all not very confusing to me."

"Star wheels - I have no idea which way is up.."

"planet finding is frustrating"

"parralax angles kepplers law black body"

"Telescopes, Planets, direction."

"???"

"telescopes, photons, morning and evening stars"

"The astronomers, sun position with the time, telescopes."

"Star location moon phases(I understand a lot better now) Different types of telescopes and how one is better than the other"

"tilt, astronomers, star wheel"

"moon stages, who did what in history, retrograde"

"Frustrating, challenging, and mind blown."

"Telescopes, planets, E/M Radiation spectrum!"

"lunar cycle, time, position"

"Retrograde, visible planets, horizon"

"the different laws, the months of where the sun and moon set on different horizons, and I am a little confused on how to decribe the horizon thing."

"retrograde, moon phases, star locating"

"Telescopes, all the different laws, Spectrums"

"Confusing subjects included astronomers and their contributions to astronomy."

"money, aerospace engineer, retrograde motion"

"still reading , so far so good."

"waxing/waning, lunar rise/setting times, astronomers"

"Sun, and determining which planet is where on the cisual chart thing."

"Im still having some trouble with the sun."

"The different movements (revolution, rotation, precession, tilt), the ways to tell the resolution and magnification of telescopes, and the different sun paths and why they occur."

"Kepler's laws, adaptive optics, solar eclipses."

"Telescopes, I am have a hard time with telescopes."

"star wheels and finding sunset and sunrise 7 Astronomers and the laws memorizing moon phases"

"Eclipse shadows, telescope, absolute magnitude"

"Telescopes, moon-phase, umbra"

"moon phases, star movement, retrograde"

"terminator, opacity, magnitude"

"moon phases locating stars newtons law"

"Luminosity, Telescopes, Interferometer"

"the astronomers are hard to keep track of"

"telescope powers rotation of the stars rising/setting of moon and stars"

"planetary motion moon phases math"

Describe your most confusing subject, and briefly explain why this subject interested you. (Graded for completion.)

The following are all of the student responses to this question, verbatim and unedited.

"Eclipses, i think i still have difficulty undestanding exactly how they accure and understanding the differences of them."

"It just took me a little longer than usual to grasp the concepts of the different laws we studied, i.e., S-B and Wien's."

"The astronomers are confusing just because theres so many contributers to the basic understasndings we have today."

"same as before, i think that i have studied pretty thoroughly so I cant be sure what will be confusing until i take the test."

"star wheels!! i just can't get the hang of using them. I somehow always get it wrong."

"Planet finding. For some reason it just isnt clicking with me. This will be perhaps the most difficult thing i encounter."

"black body radiation because there was alot of different types i mix them up"

"I found the different types of electromagnetic radiation somewhat confusing. How to ascertain which ones travel fastest or slowest. Or which ones have the highest or lowest photon energy."

"My most confusing subject covered in the midterm is planet finding. I just have a hard time with the location of the planets and horizons."

"Planet positions in the morning and evening sky along the horizon."

"Probable the rotation of the constalations with respect to the Sun and Earth."

"Location of stars in the sky, the model sometimes confuses me."

"Probably some of the star wheel questions. Not sure why I struggled with it, but I definitely needed to practice that the most."

"remembering when the moon is visible in different stages at different times"

"The most confusing subject covered in this midterm is remember the difference between, resolving power, resolution, and magnifying power because each piece has a different effect on the telescope, but remembering which does what can be hard."

"Keeping all the telescope powers straight and how to find them is difficult because they're pretty similar."

"Determining general time with a picture of the moon, waxing/waning I get confused still."

"Where the sun is at in summer and winter. Trying to figure out when the sun is in the south or north depending on the season is confusing."

"I'm having a hard time tring to decribe how you can or can not see the little dipper in either the northern or southern hemishphere."

"Figuring out if you can see a certain planet at such and such spot in the horizon, and understanding why. I just didn't get it, but I'm understanding it better now."

"The different types of telescopes confused me because I missed that day in class and couldn't personally teach myself the information"

"The confusing subject, that this midterm covers, are the various astronomers and their contributions to astronomy."

"Understanding the sky and the moon seems very different from understanding specific concepts with specific names. I took astronomy because I thought it would be interesting, but in reality I still find school to be very far from education hence my state of confusion..."

"none"

"Figuring out whether or not the moon is waxing or waning is really difficult for me to figure out because i always get the two mixed up because the pictures are not in order and i cant tell them all apart."

"Determining how long the days are and during what months it is. It is hard for me because the chart is hard for me to understand."

"The sun seems like it has a lot going on just on the inside and on the surface. Its hard to keep the labels and names right."

"The most difficult for me is visualizing where the planets, moon, and sun will be (in relation to earth) at specific times. I have difficulty putting together how each will move in comparison to the others."

"Kepler's laws confuse me because they all seem similar; it's hard for me to differentiate between them."

"I am just not proficient yet with telescope nomenclature and I am hoping to have a firm grasp on it by the time of the mid-term."

"memorizing the 7 astronomers and what each one did or contributed, i get them mixed up alot! moon phases, hard to remember sometimes."

"The most confusing thing on this midterm is the shadows of the eclipses because I have a hard time visualizing them"

"The telescopes really frustrate me. mainly their parts and what they determine as far as the telescopes effects."

"the horizon line on earth from your perspective. i get very confused on the phases and the locations"

"I am confused so much with apparent visual magnitude because my brain just doesn't want it to make sense."

"eclipses were kind of confusing because there were many terms for differerent kinds of eclipses."

"I dont understand how two or mortelescopes can be connected and have the resolving power of a telescope as large as the maximum separation between the individual telescopes. This does not make sense to me."

"Its just really hard to remember all of the astronomers and what they did."

"the rotation of the stars because it all depends on where you are and some other confusing stuff"

"lunar phases, because the most difficult one has been erased from memory for self-esteem purposes"

Online reading assignment: interesting Midterm 1 astronomy topics

Astronomy 210 Reading Assignment 7 fall semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

121014-Astr210Midterm1interestingwordle
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waiferx/8087973049/
Originally uploaded by Waifer X

Wordle.net tag cloud for interesting topics covered in Midterm 1, generated by responses from Astronomy 210 students at Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA (www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/5860316/Untitled).

Students have a weekly online reading assignment (hosted by SurveyMonkey.com), where they answer questions based on reading their textbook, material covered in previous lectures, opinion questions, and/or asking (anonymous) questions or making (anonymous) comments. Full credit is given for completing the online reading assignment before next week's lecture, regardless if whether their answers are correct/incorrect. Selected results/questions/comments are addressed by the instructor at the start of the following lecture.

List at least three words describing interesting subjects covered in class (up through this midterm). (Graded for completion.)

[These raw responses were subsequently edited to consolidate related common subjects.]

Student responses
Sections 70158, 70160

"Astonomers Telescopes Seasons"

"Moon phases, stars, Doppler Effect"

"month, gravity, ellipse"

"Moon phases star brightness paralax"

"Telescopes, orbits, and stars"

"Electron energy levels - fleas!! Star Brightness the numbers were backwards. - meant brightest and + meant dimmest! Dopler Effect: nnnnnnneeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaoooowwwww"

"Aristotle, Ptolemy, Newton"

"doppler effect luminosity absolute magnitude"

"Stars, Cycles, Light"

"???"

"moon phases, luminosity, sunspots"

"Light, the Sun, constalations"

"moon phases Telescopes Stars/brightness classification"

"stars, sun, rotations."

"telescopes, star finding, evening stars, moon cycles"

"Startastic, informative, and fun to learn."

"Moon phases, eclipses, retrograde!"

"stars, eclipse, telescope"

"Moon phases, history, revolution"

"telescopes, moon phases, starwheel stuff !"

"sun, eclipses, moon phases"

"Moon Phases, zodiac constellation, Refractors and Reflectors"

"Interesting subjects covered in this class include, but not limited to, are the motion of plants, motion of the moon, and phases of the moon."

"astrology, money, hawaii, life, love, education, perspective, infinity"

"Retrograde, absolute magnitude, adaptive optics"

"Moon, phases, constellations."

"Chapter 2 all about the stars."

"Learning to use the starwheel, learning why retrograde motion happens (or appears to), learning why solar eclipses and lunar eclipses happen."

"Moon phase, light transparency, and optical telescopes."

"Telescopes Stars/constellations Star wheel"

"zenith, radiation, telescopes"

"Sun spots, constellations, star charts"

"Luminosity, sun-spots, eclipse"

"telescope resolution, sunspots, spectra"

"electromagnetic spectrum, moon phases, eclipse"

"moon phases eclipses telescopes"

"Eclipse, moon phases, Stars"

"electro magnetic radiation"

"moon phases star wheel the star rotations"

"electrons corona lunar eclipse"

Describe your most interesting subject, and briefly explain why this subject interested you. (Graded for completion.)

The following are all of the student responses to this question, verbatim and unedited.

"not sure if it was the second or third chapter i found to be interesting i know i dont know exactly all of it but it amazing how the concept of our universe started of as one idea and has changed throughout the time."

"I really enjoyed the section on the moon's phases, etc. I had always wondered exactly how that all worked."

"Moon phases are the most interesting because it gives me a new sense of why the moon looks the way it does on any given night."

"My favorite section had to be the study of the telescopes and how the sizes of the lens, mirror, and length of the telescope determined each characteristics that the telescope contains"

"I think learning about telescopes is pretty cool because I'm really interested in photography and learning about lenses, and its pretty much the same thing as telescopes."

"Electron energy levels were cool, mostly because they reminded me of fleas jumping up and down! Odd I know but it stuck!"

"The astronomers. I am a history nerd so i enjoyed learning the early history of astronomy. doppler effect because i saw the episode of big bang theory and now understand it"

"I found it extremely interesting learning about cycles - cycles of the moons, cycles of the planets, cycles of the sun. How everything is dependent on everything else."

"My most interesting subject covered in the midterm is moon phases. I find this interesting because out of all the subjects, this is the only one that doesn't confuse me."

"Moon phases because it's such an interesting way of noting the passage of time over the course of a year."

"I like moon phases because when ever im out with my friends i feel like a smarty because i know what phase the moon is in."

"Moon phases were the most interesting for me, i never really thought of how the different moon phases occur and when they rise and set."

"Definitely the telescopes and the sun!! I've always been curious about them so it was fascinating to learn more."

"Star finding because i always lay out at night and look at stars even when i was little never knew which one was which."

"The most interesting subject covered in this midterm is the star wheel because its interesting to see what constellations are visible along different horizons and different times."

"I really like moon phases, and anything to do with the moon because I think it's beautiful and very interesting because it doesn't give off it's own light."

"Learning how to determine relative distance of stars i found interesting."

"The moon phases. I always knew there was a reason behind it but it's nice to understand and predict moon phases and timing."

"I truly liked learning about the moon phases because everytime I look at the moon now I call out the different phases with my girlfriend!"

"Learning about telescope powers and how telescopes work to provide views of stars and outer space."

"It made more sense to me than other things we learned so I enjoyed learning about it."

"I personally enjoyed learning about the moon phases because when I see the moon every night I light to call out what type of moon it is!"

"I found telescopes to be an interesting subject. I never knew how reflecting telescopes worked, along with the different type of telescopes."

"I found every class very interesting. I cannot easily order my favorites, because I try to find something positive and unique in everything. While school is absolute misery for me, I think your class has been very interactive. Getting to know my classmates has been AWESOME. I love people, why wouldn't we all engage?"

"Sun . Im just amazed with how Sun function and all that mass that is so critical for Earth."

"I thought that adaptive optics telescopes were interesting because i never knew that there where telescopes that are attached to computers which continuously change the telescope's optics so that they can get a nice clear picture."

"The moon phases. I enjoy looking up at the sky and looking at the moon and the stars and knowing more about what I am looking at."

"The constellations. I always try to look at the constellations in the sky because I think it interesting how they decided to put the stars together in there unique shapes."

"The most interesting thing covered on this midterm was the different moon phases. Before this class I did not know what the different phases were called or why they occurred. So I was happy to learn."

"I think the moon phases are the most interesting subject because I liked learning about how the time of day corresponds to the moon phase when it is highest overhead."

"I found the phases of the moon the most interesting for me. I am ashamed to say I never knew the different phases of the moon & I now have a sense of pride learning about them."

"Telescopes are what i find most interesting because before this class i wouldnt have been able to tell you what telescope would be the better buy and now if i know certain information like the mirror diameter,etc i can tell what one is the better telescope"

"telescopes, the difference between each one and their qualities was interesting"

"I think the most interesting thing was the constellations and the different movements on the earth because I never understood their relationship before."

"I really like the topic of sun spots. i think the whole miso soup illustration was very clever. and its just cool to know how the sun works."

"how multiple telescopes can be used together to create a larger telescope. I think this is interesting because it's something i didn't think about prior to learning about them"

"I enjoyed learning so much about telescopes, how they work and what scientists can explore with their aid (for example, the first light in the universe)."

"i think the most interesting subject we covered was moon phases. I think this was most interesting because its cool to know. makes you seem smarter than your friends."

"When we went over different types and kinds of stars. Learning about the sizes and the temperatures of the stars was very interesting to me."

"I still thing that the moon phases are interesting . I've been watching out for them lately and what times each phases appear overhead in the sky."

"the moon phase because it has always been a mystery to me and my mom would always seem to know a lot of stuff about the moon - but now I know more than her :)"

"planetary motion was interesting though confusing"

Online reading assignment: confusing Midterm 1 physics topics

Physics 205A Reading Assignment 12, fall semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

121014-Phys205AMidterm1confusingwordle
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waiferx/8087972829/
Originally uploaded by Waifer X

Wordle.net tag cloud for confusing topics covered in Midterm 1, generated by responses from Physics 205A students at Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA (www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/5860302/Untitled).

Students have a weekly online reading assignment (hosted by SurveyMonkey.com), where they answer questions based on reading their textbook, material covered in previous lectures, opinion questions, and/or asking (anonymous) questions or making (anonymous) comments. Full credit is given for completing the online reading assignment before next week's lecture, regardless if whether their answers are correct/incorrect. Selected results/questions/comments are addressed by the instructor at the start of the following lecture.

List at least three words describing confusing subjects covered in class (up through this midterm). (Graded for completion.)

[These raw responses were subsequently edited to consolidate related common subjects.]

Student responses
Sections 70854, 70855

"Free Body Diagrams (just kidding! only sometimes they are confusing)"

"vectors, knowing which equation to use, angles"

"There are to many confusing subject just, N3 and some Free-Body Diagrams."

"The most confusing topics on this midterm will personally be projectile motion, interpreting kinematic graphs, and uniform circular motion."

"chain of pain, trig, velocity"

"Static friction, kinetic friction, net force"

"it'll be great"

"Newtons Third Law"

"acceleration, need some trig review, need review on the formula usage."

"Acceleration velocity, projectile Motion"

"Relative velocity and constant acceleration"

"Confusing, Challenging and difficult is how I would describe the subjects i have trouble with in this course. the things I have trouble with are uniform or non uniform circular motion and free body diagrams."

"circular motion, radial accel, free body diagrams"

"Projectile motion, free body diagrams"

"vectors projectile trajectory net force component"

"vectors, angular speed, horizontal displacement"

"LAWS COEFFICIENTS FRICTION"

"Free body diagrams, newtons laws, projectile motion"

"Interactions, normal force, uniform circular motion, Newton's laws"

"N3, projectile motion, circular motion"

"Circular Motion, Newton's Laws, Uniform Circular Motion."

"tangential,radius,acceleration"

Describe your most confusing subject, and briefly explain why this subject interested you. (Graded for completion.)

The following are all of the student responses to this question, verbatim and unedited.

"Not so much a particular subject as it would be finding the right strategy...that's the toughest part of the class for me."

"adding and subtracting vectors has never made any sense to me"

"Newtons 3rd law. Especially confusing because doesn't matter the mass or velocity of two object in a collision, the force exerted is the same. Hard to understand why."

"Projectile motion continues to be a perplexing subject for me. I believe this is because most of the questions posed about it involve many variables and given values to utilize to find the values needed, a process which involves many steps and calculations that can become unclear."

"I think I struggled most with the initial and final velocities and their components."

"Static and kinetic friction. i just dont understand them."

"The most confusing subject would be forces just because it is easy to mess up on. But a little more studying will hopefully clear things up."

"The conceptual part of this class makes sense to me, however I desire to know how to use these formulas proficiently."

"Projectile motion I always screw up . Think I understand it then when I do it I always miss something switch something or just plain screw Up"

"Newtons second and third laws and how to figure out which to use when"

"I have had the most trouble with uniform circular motion problems in this midterm. I have also had trouble with problems involving kinetic friction. I think that these problems end up being hard because I am not great at setting up the free body diagrams. mv^2/R. I dont know how to apply it."

"I still am concerned with projectile motion. It confuses me, when we bring trig into it. I understand trig, but when we add the cos 30 as part of a final or initial velocity, then putting that into the equations and getting out the correct answer; I become fuzzy."

"I think that although it is interesting, force is also very confusing. There are so many factors and components that could change the entire problem."

"im confused with some questions regarding cars driving on unbanked curves and if they skid or not"

"Coefficients of friction - The equation involving this is the one I forget the most. However, I like reading about friction because I am into cars, and want to learn how to drift."

"Newtons first and third law can be confused because of their definitions and that is why i find them a little confusing."

"Drawing free body diagrams is confusing to me because I keep flipping some of the forces around."

"Projectile can be extrmely confusing at some points, but it is getting easier with practice and applications"

"I found newtons 3rd law confusing"

"Circular motion. I understand the basic concepts, but I can't figure out how to do correct calculations for it."

"I don't feel confident on the uniform circular forces. since i can only relate to a little examples of it makes it more difficult for me."

Online reading assignment question: interesting Midterm 1 physics topics

Physics 205A Reading Assignment 12, fall semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

"121014-Phys205AMidterm1interestingwordle"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waiferx/8087972637/
Originally uploaded by Waifer X

Wordle.net tag cloud for interesting topics covered in Midterm 1, generated by responses from Physics 205A students at Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA (www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/5860298/Untitled).

Students have a weekly online reading assignment (hosted by SurveyMonkey.com), where they answer questions based on reading their textbook, material covered in previous lectures, opinion questions, and/or asking (anonymous) questions or making (anonymous) comments. Full credit is given for completing the online reading assignment before next week's lecture, regardless if whether their answers are correct/incorrect. Selected results/questions/comments are addressed by the instructor at the start of the following lecture.

List at least three words describing interesting subjects covered in class (up through this midterm). (Graded for completion.)

[These raw responses were subsequently edited to consolidate related common subjects.]

Student responses
Sections 70854, 70855

"Finding safe speeds of a curve through friction coeffs., Tension forces/pulleys, and then anything that equals zero! I really do find that interesting=the balance"

"tension problems, centripital / centrifugal forces, coefficent of friction"

"Newtons Laws, Magnitude, Free-fall"

"I believe the most intriguing topics introduced thus far are free-fall, vector representation, and Newton's Laws."

"forces, free fall, friction"

"Vertical motion, static and kinetic friction, Newton's laws"

"newtons three laws"

"Projectile motion, forces"

"vectors, magnitude, acceleration."

"Forces, newtons laws, friction"

"Newtons three laws Natural force Gravitational forces"

"surprising, interesting and useful is how i would describe some of the subjects on this midterm. I think it is interesting how much you can figure out from just a few small pieces of information."

"Circular motion, friction, newtons laws"

"Uniform Circular motion, projectile motion, free fall"

"uniform circular motion force velocity"

"kinetic friction, motion in planes, newton's laws"

"VECTORS LAWS PROJECTILES"

"Forces, velocity, centripetal force."

"free fall, vectors, Interactions, projectile motion"

"newtons laws, circular motion, forces"

"Forces, circular motion, and newton's laws"

"Newton's Laws, Chain of Pain, Trigonometry"

"Tension,Uniform Circle,Tangential"

Describe your most interesting subject, and briefly explain why this subject interested you. (Graded for completion.)

The following are all of the student responses to this question, verbatim and unedited.

"Guess I answered this in #5 : )"

"static and kinetic friction problems because they make alot of sense and relate to the real world"

"N1, and N2 second laws both show necessity and make perfect sense."

"Newton's Laws are the most interesting concept for me personally because their application for all forces, no matter their type or characteristics."

"I think friction is interesting, simply because we don't think about it very often."

"Vertical motion. I could actually kind of understand it."

"Projectile motion was a subject that i enjoyed studying because i play a lot of basketball and it relates extremely well."

"I find vectors interesting because they seem very applicable to everyday situations."

"How static and kinetic frictions are different and why that's so especially static friction"

"Newtons laws, it amazing that he was able to come up with them so long ago and how they are still the basis for physics"

"I think the most interesting thing on this midterm will be calculating different velocities from a projectile motion problem. I find it interesting because i like being able to solve small puzzles to find out the larger answer."

"Friction because it its two separate types."

"I found circular motion to be very interesting. At first I did not understand what to do at all, but after working with some of the other students and just working on problems in general I finally understand the concepts."

"I like forces, because they're all around us which allows me to relate the problems in class to my everyday life."

"newton's laws because i wasnt aware of how huge his influence has been"

"Projectile motion - I enjoy archery, shotgun, rifle, and pistol shooting."

"centripetal force is the most interesting because without it an object will continue on a straight line path."

"I like free fall because I actually understand how to apply the equations. objects moving at a constant speed, part of N1. Because, eventhough the object is moving, it's overall net force is zero, which is still something that stuns me and I find interesting."

"I thought uniform circular motion and the forces involved were interested."

"Vectors, because I had never learned how to apply them to a real situation."

"coefficient is static friction and the coefficient of kinetic friction.I like the way we can determine how much force we need in order to make the object move.The max force that is needed to move."

Astronomy midterm question: watching two moons rising?

Astronomy 210 Midterm 1, fall semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

[20 points.] Shown below is an excerpt from an online comic strip(*) posted on June 6, 2012. Assuming that Earth can have two moons, discuss why this view of these two moons is not possible for an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA, and how you know this. Support your answer using a diagram showing the positions of the sun, the moon, Earth, and an observer on Earth.


*Source: "Steampunk Summer," Incidental Comics, Grant Snider, http://www.incidentalcomics.com/2012/06/steampunk-summer.html.

Solution and grading rubric:

• p = 20/20:
  Correct. The full moon rises at 6 PM, while the smaller waning crescent moon would rise at 3 AM, so it would not be possible to watch both moons rising at the same time. May instead demonstrate it is impossible for an observer to see these moons with two different phases simultaneously in the same part of the sky, as two moons in the same part of the sky must have the same (or nearly identical) phases. Complete diagram and reasoning.
• r = 16/20:
  Nearly correct (explanation weak, unclear or only nearly complete); includes extraneous/tangential information; or has minor errors. Depicts how these moons with two different phases are in different locations in their orbits, but does not explicitly discuss how these moons cannot be seen rising at the same time, or seen together in the same part of the sky, as these moons could still be seen in (different parts of) the same sky between 12 AM to 3 AM.
• t = 12/20:
  Contains right ideas, but discussion is unclear/incomplete or contains major errors. Problems with either diagram or discussion.
• v = 8/20:
  Limited relevant discussion of supporting evidence of at least some merit, but in an inconsistent or unclear manner. Diagram and discussion problematic.
• x = 4/20:
  Implementation/application of ideas, but credit given for effort rather than merit. Misconceptions or non-relevant concepts: moon phases created by Earth's shadow, diagrams with the moon orbiting the sun, etc.
• y = 2/20:
  Irrelevant discussion/effectively blank.
• z = 0/20:
  Blank.

Grading distribution:
Section 70158
Exam code: midterm01sLa6
p: 7 students
r: 10 students
t: 9 students
v: 7 students
x: 6 students
y: 0 students
z: 0 students

A sample "p" response (from student 2210):
Another sample "p" response (from student 8669):

Astronomy midterm question: Mercury higher than Venus at sunrise?

Astronomy 210 Midterm 1, fall semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

An astronomy question on an online discussion board[*] was asked and answered:

anon: If Mercury and Venus are both morning stars, can Mercury be higher in sky than Venus at dawn?
"?": Yes, Mercury can have a higher altitude [in the sky] than Venus. It depends on exactly where Earth, Mercury and Venus are in their orbits in relationship to each other and your location on Earth.

Discuss why this answer is correct for an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA, and how you know this. Support your answer using a diagram showing the positions of the sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and an observer on Earth.

[*] answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120922122209AAFhP8t.

Solution and grading rubric:

• p:
  Correct. Diagram with observer at sunrise Earth (outer heliocentric orbit) and Mercury and Venus (inner heliocentric orbits); shows and discusses how Mercury at or near western elongation would be higher in the sky above the horizon at sunrise if Venus is just after inferior conjunction, or just before superior conjuction.
• r:
  Nearly correct (explanation weak, unclear or only nearly complete); includes extraneous/tangential information; or has minor errors. May show that Venus in a heliocentric orbit inside of Mercury's, and/or how Mercury would be higher than Venus for an observer at sunset instead of sunrise.
• t:
  Contains right ideas, but discussion is unclear/incomplete or contains major errors. Shows Mercury higher than the sun in the morning sky after sunrise, with Venus below the sun, such that Mercury would be higher than Venus in the morning sky after sunrise, even though both planets would no longer be visible in the sky with the sun above the horizon.
• v:
  Limited relevant discussion of supporting evidence of at least some merit, but in an inconsistent or unclear manner. Diagram and discussion problematic. Shows planets orbiting Earth, or in heliocentric orbits outside of Earth's, but still shows how Mercury could be higher in the sky (morning or evening) than Venus.
• x:
  Implementation/application of ideas, but credit given for effort rather than merit. Misconceptions or non-relevant concepts.
• y:
  Irrelevant discussion/effectively blank.
• z:
  Blank.

Grading distribution:
Section 70158
Exam code: midterm01sLa6
p: 7 students
r: 10 students
t: 9 students
v: 7 students
x: 6 students
y: 0 students
z: 0 students

A sample "p" response (from student 0640):

Astronomy midterm question: why no full moon in afternoon?

Astronomy 210 Midterm 1, fall semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

An astronomy question on an online discussion board(*) was asked and answered:

rraghunathan_in: In some afternoons we see both the sun and the moon in the sky... It is clear that the moon is directly exposed to the sun in the daytime sky, but only three-fourths or less...of the moon is illuminated. Why is it not a full moon at that time?
TicToc...: The moon is not full because it's not in opposition, which means the sun will be setting and the moon is rising at the same time.

Discuss why this answer is correct for an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA, and how you know this. Support your answer using a diagram showing the positions of the sun, the moon, Earth, and an observer on Earth.

*Source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120511191408AARz0Af.

Solution and grading rubric:

• p = 20/20:
  Correct. The moon cannot be full in the afternoon because the full moon rises at sunset, thus the opposition argument is correct. Complete diagram and reasoning.
• r = 16/20:
  Nearly correct (explanation weak, unclear or only nearly complete); includes extraneous/tangential information; or has minor errors. Depicts a non-full moon visible during the afternoon, but does not directly address why the moon cannot be full in the afternoon.
• t = 12/20:
  Contains right ideas, but discussion is unclear/incomplete or contains major errors. Problems with either diagram or discussion.
• v = 8/20:
  Limited relevant discussion of supporting evidence of at least some merit, but in an inconsistent or unclear manner. Diagram and discussion problematic.
• x = 4/20:
  Implementation/application of ideas, but credit given for effort rather than merit. Misconceptions or non-relevant concepts: moon phases created by Earth's shadow, diagrams with the moon orbiting the sun, etc.
• y = 2/20:
  Irrelevant discussion/effectively blank.
• z = 0/20:
  Blank.

Grading distribution:
Section 70160
Exam code: midterm01n4rN
p: 6 students
r: 10 students
t: 4 students
v: 3 students
x: 6 students
y: 0 students
z: 1 student

A sample "p" response (from student 2513):
A sample "p" response (from student 1105):
A sample "x" response (from student 1964):

Astronomy midterm question: Venus as morning and evening star in same day?

Astronomy 210 Midterm 1, fall semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

[20 points.] An astronomy question on an online discussion board(*) was asked and answered:

P-d...: ...If Venus is above the east horizon at sunrise (so it is a morning star), can it be above the west horizon at sunset (so it can be an evening star) later on that day?
aladdinwa: No, it cannot be both the morning and evening star on the same day... When Venus rises before the sun, you can see it before the sun rises and it is the morning star and it disappears below the horizon while the sun is still in the sky...

Discuss why this answer is correct for an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA, and how you know this. Support your answer using a diagram showing the positions of the sun, Venus, Earth, and an observer on Earth.

*Source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120511191408AARz0Af.

Solution and grading rubric:

• p = 20/20:
  Correct. Correct and complete diagram, with observers at sunrise/sunset on Earth (outer heliocentric orbit) and Venus (inner heliocentric orbit); shows and discusses how Venus above east horizon at sunrise (as a morning star) would not be visible anywhere in sky at sunset later that day (as an evening star).
• r = 16/20:
  Nearly correct (explanation weak, unclear or only nearly complete); includes extraneous/tangential information; or has minor errors. Diagram and/or explanation has minor errors. May show that Venus visible as an evening star would not then be visible as a morning star.
• t = 12/20:
  Contains right ideas, but discussion is unclear/incomplete or contains major errors. Problems with either diagram or discussion.
• v = 8/20:
  Limited relevant discussion of supporting evidence of at least some merit, but in an inconsistent or unclear manner. Diagram and discussion problematic. May have Venus orbiting Earth, or in a heliocentric orbit outside of Earth's, but still discusses how Venus could not be visible at both sunrise and sunset on the same day.
• x = 4/20:
  Implementation/application of ideas, but credit given for effort rather than merit. Misconceptions or non-relevant concepts.
• y = 2/20:
  Irrelevant discussion/effectively blank.
• z = 0/20:
  Blank.

Grading distribution:
Section 70160
Exam code: midterm01n4rN
p: 12 students
r: 5 students
t: 3 students
v: 7 students
x: 3 students
y: 0 students
z: 0 students

A sample "p" response (from student 0716):