Math
Qualification Test for Introductory Physics – Physics 111 or Physics 220
In
addition to meeting course prerequisites, students wishing to enroll in Physics
111 or Physics 220 must demonstrate adequate competence in mathematics by
achieving a satisfactory score on the Physics Readiness Exam. This exam will be
given during the first week of classes, either at a lecture meeting or a lab
meeting. The passing score is set by the faculty teaching each course;
typically it is about 50% for Physics 111 and 65% for Physics 220. It is our
experience that students who cannot pass this test will not be able to
successfully complete introductory physics, and we therefore will drop from
Physics 111 or 220 any such students. Students who fail the readiness test
should sign up for Physics 140, Preparation for Physics, which is offered each
semester.
The
test covers the following topics:
·
Exponents,
roots, and scientific notation - ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide,
and take powers and roots of variables and numbers expressed in scientific
notation.
·
Algebra
– Ability to solve linear and quadratic algebraic equations, including use of
the quadratic formula. Ability to solve for one variable in terms of other
variables. Ability to solve a set of two simultaneous equations.
·
Geometry
– Basic knowledge of angles, triangles, perimeters and areas of figures.
·
Trigonometry
– Ability to use sin, cos, and tan functions and the Pythagorean theorem.
·
Graphing
– Knowledge and ability to work with graphs of linear and quadratic functions,
including understanding slopes and intercepts and ability to write the equation
for a straight line based on knowledge of the coordinates of two points on the
line.
Brief
lists of relevant formulas and relationships may be found in the back of the
introductory physics textbooks:
® For Physics 111, Appendix
A of Physics, by Walker
® For Physics 220, Appendix
I, Sections A and B of Physics, The
Nature of Things, by Lea and Burke.
There
are several math review books that might be helpful in preparing for this test,
such as:
·
Maths, by Jenny Olive
·
Just-in-Time Algebra and
Trigonometry,
by Mueller and Brent
·
Precalculus – A
Self-Teaching Guide, by Slavin, Crisonino, and
Slavin