Self directed laboratory course where students seek to discover simple mathematical descriptions of laws governing various physical phenomena. Each student is responsible for deciding what to measure, how to measure it, and what interpretation can be placed on the results.
1
UnitsOptional
Grading1, 2, 3
PasstimeNone
Level LimitLetters and science
CollegeThe TA's aren't very good at explaining the lab procedure and answering questions, and then take off points for things we already checked with them about.
Physics lab was frustrating, because whatever you submitted, the TAs would always find a way to mark at least 15% of your grade off. Sig figs are always wrong, and make you lose points too. The only good thing is that this lab is only once every two weeks. Has nothing to do with Physics lecture, and seemed useless in general.
Phys 6CL was not bad, and the experiments were pretty interesting. Some of the prelabs are kind of long, so get ready for that. My TA was a really lenient grader, which was nice.
I don't have anything against this professor. Her lectures were fine, but boring. The section for the class was not designed too well. Sometimes I would get lost during lectures. The expectations on how to do well are made obvious by the weekly homework assignments and practice test problems. Shouldn't be too hard if you just put in the effort.
Paula is not awful for the intro classes like 7A and 7B, but when the material gets much more conceptual and hard (such as 7C) her lectures just become rambly and impossible to understand. I emailed her at least 4 times within the last two weeks of class, and she didn't respond to a single one. Take Daddy Koutralakis instead he's much sexier.
Mediocre lecturer, talked a little too much about theory and derivation than actually doing the problems. Tests were very difficult and always had to be curved by 20-30%.