Very nice professor, very difficult topics (imo). This class seems better suited for people with good prior experience with physics, like AP physics. I struggled a lot, and of course didn't get a passing grade. In order to pass without experience, be ready to spend many hours weekly studying. Generous grading scale, but still wasn't enough for me.

Unless you’ve taken AP Physics and know how to go about every type of physics question, you’re going to have a tough time like myself. Not friendly to the newer people of physics and the exams are more friendly to the people who really understand this subject. Nice guy but 70% of your grade for the exams on free response is kind of messed up…

I do not suggest you take this course freshman year. I tried my best to do everything I could after failing my first midterm and was just able to obtain a C. The homework and other problems are way easier than exams themselves. I think this class is mainly for those who really understand physics and took AP physics with a score of 0-2 on the exam.

Seriously the best professor Ive had yet! She is very kind and genuinely wants you to learn. Her lectures are very loosely structured, but reading the textbook beforehand helps. Weekly homework is substantial, but doable. Easy weekly quizzes, no midterms. Discussion sections were very helpful! Overall, a well-balanced class.

Had a great quarter with Paula! Her lectures are very clear and she gave fair quizzes and final. The section attendance was not enforced and each time less people went to the section than the last time. Extra credit was available for the final - make your study guide!

Good lecturer but the final was the only test so beware!

One of those professors who is super nice but not a great teacher. Lectures were a weird mix of easy conceptual stuff and complicated, poorly explained derivations. I went into her class with a passion for physics and left with that passion diminished. Her class is great if you just want to pass, bad if you want to enjoy the learning process.

Took her over the summer and really enjoyed her class! No wishy-washiness, very direct about what the material on the exam is. Assigns a very reasonable amount of work. Would 100% take her again.

Course was organized extremely clearly. No midterm. HW (MP) was big part of grade, yet quizzes and final were hardly like it. Lectures were usually short (sometimes too short). Final was extremely fair and shorter than other phys finals. Weekly quizzes were conceptual and not too hard. Def going to take her again if I have the chance.

Professor Popescu put a lot of effort into editing recorded lectures, her videos were straightforward and the examples were helpful which I really appreciated. Sometimes it seemed like a few videos got cut short for some reason though. There are weekly quizzes, homework assignments and a final. The workload is very manageable.

Professor Popescu wasn't did not communicate well: didn't respond to emails, nectir that often, etc. Her lectures felt rushed (sometimes they weren't even finished) and were basically very short summaries of the textbook. Homework was easy... far too easy for a physics class. No midterm, weekly quizzes and a final. Easy class, but not great.

Georgios is probably the best professor I have had so far. I still had to check out some ochem tutor videos on youtube because the concepts were just pretty difficult but his lecture slides were incredible and give you everything you need to know. EXTREMELY GENEROUS GRADE SCALE (A is an 85% and i think and F was llike 35% or smth like that) 10/10

Such a nice professor that takes the time to answer everyone's questions in lecture. His exams are super fair, and he does a great job at telling you what will be on the exams beforehand. Homework isn't super heavy either! He also gives a ton of partial credit on exams.

One of the best professors I've had so far. Lectures are very organized and efficient. Explains concepts very well and always answers questions in a very detailed manner. Homework is split between MP and Textbook Problems. Tests are very fair! You can tell he is very passionate about Physics and very much cares about his students!

Lectures were clear and very helpful in understanding material. Exams were straightforward, there were no nasty surprises. But the weekly HW was 35% of the grade and there was way too much of it. I didnt do most of it and still got a b+ on the final so I doubt the usefulness of assigning that much work

He's a great professor who gives nice lectures and cares his students. Might not be the best professor in the physics department, but you won't regret taking his course.

Koutroulakis' lecture slides are fantastic! You won't need to go to lectures to understand the concepts. However, this class is hard for transfer students! Make sure you read the textbook and practice as much as you can.

Based on past reviews, she seems to have found her stride as a lecturer because she was very clear about the material and what was to be expected on the exams. The practice tests are very similar to the actual ones. She's also very understanding and made the final optional during the middle of all the coronavirus chaos.

Georgios is really nice, and has great lectures. Exams are pretty difficult. He has a "curve" that sort of helps. Lectures at the end of the quarter were rushed, and all that material will catch up to you on the final.

She always got through all the material she needed to, her slides were organized, the tests were pretty challenging but fair. Reading isn't required but highly recommended. She really wants her students to learn so ask questions. Her class was fair but challenging so make sure to use all your resources if you want to Ace her class.

Not too hard, not too easy. I enjoyed his class.

Best physics professor I've had at UCSB (which doesn't say much but still). Lectures are relatively in tune with homework and tests. MasteringPhysics is time consuming as always, but with that, CLAS, and her practice tests (which are very accurate) you should do well on her tests. Listens to students when it comes to due dates and pacing.

No logic in lectures, will no curve

Paula taught this class for summer '18. I did pretty poorly in physics 6A when I took it over the previous school year, but did vastly better in Paula's class. Her practice midterm and final (non-cumulative) modeled her actual exams very well. She's super accessible outside class too and explains things well during office hours!