Frequently Asked Questions

To ask a question, send an email to Dr. Möbius

General Logistics

A student asks:

I was curious about the homework that we were assigned- or maybe about homework in general.... can we choose to either do the homework on Web Assign or out on paper?...and...how should we complete the first homework that you have assigned for us??

Dr. Möbius answers:

You have the choice the first time (on paper or through WebAssign), but it is recommened to start with WebAssign right away. Beginning with the 2nd homework, you need to do this through WebAssign. However, each time, one of the problems or a few graphics assignments need to be worked out on paper in addition to the WebAssign submission. In this case it is Problem #7d and #43c. The graphics can't be done on WebAssign, so you put them into the Physics 407 Homework Box, and the grader will give you feeback.

Morse Hall Fourth Floor:

(Map not to scale)

A student asks: (September 15, 2001)

I went to Morse Hall to look for your office today and I couldn't find it. I went up to the fourth floor, and found rooms 401, 403, 430, 478, stuff like that. However, I did not find room 407. Can you give me a general idea where it is?

Dr. Möbius answers:

I guess, you stayed in the atrium and didn't make it into the outside hallway. My office is on the east side of the building. Next to the door to the hallway (exactly next to the stairway) you find a plate with all the names of the people and their offices.

A student asks: (September 10, 2002)

Where do I need to go for Add/Drop and Change of Lab or Recitation groups?

Dr. Möbius answers:

All this is done in the Physics Office (DeMeritt 105).
In particular, please bring the Add/Drop form to the Physics Office for signature. Only the Physics personnel have the roster files. They need to know which slot opens. They are authorized to sign.

Star Trek Communicator (or CPS Remote Pad)

A student asks: (September 11, 2002)

Also, for the Remote Pad registration, where would I find my Enrollment Code?

Dr. Möbius answers:

As far as the CPS Remote Pad Enrollment code is concerned, it should be on the documentation that you got together with your Pad. It contains a description and the Enrollment information.

A student asks: (September 11, 2002)

I cannot activate my cps remote, I have the enrollment code, serial number, and class key, but it tells me that I'm entering the wrong information.

Dr. Möbius answers:

Please check the following:
Serial #: It uses 0, 1, 2, 3,4,5,6,7,8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F; You may have mistaken a 0 for a D or vice versa.
Enrollment Code: It can be any letter or number. Common mistakes are to exchange a 0 for an O (they look alike), or even a 0 for a D.
Please look carefully and try out. Your trys are not limited!!
If you still have problems come to my Office Hour.

WebAssign/ Homework

A student asks: (September 24, 2002)

If I am stuck on a WebAssign Homework problem, how can I find oud out what the problem relates to in the text book?

Dr. Möbius answers:

The WebAssign problems are really all problems out of the H, R &W text book. The cryptic number next to the sequence number of the problem tells you where the problem is in the book. For example: HRW6 4.P.004.
This tells you: HRW 6: Halliday, Resnik & Walker 6th edition
4.: Chapter 4
P.004: Problem #4

A student asks: (September 12, 2002)

For a graph on the homework, am I allowed to draw the graph on a computer and print it out and hand that in? Or do I have to draw the graph by hand?

Dr. Möbius answers:

Using a computer to do that is fine. You still need to discuss and describe briefly what the graph shows and answer any questions that go along.

A student asks: (September 12, 2002)

I am the student that asked you about web assign and plugging in formulas for exponents, powers multiplication and more. Can you please let me know how to find the key of where to plug in these problems??? Thank you for your help.

Dr. Möbius answers:

To find out and to look up at any time, what the conventions are for entering numbers, symbols etc. into WebAssign, click on "Manual" in the WebAssign Menu Bar. A Table of contents shows up, from which you can select, what you want to look up (e.g. "Answering numerical questions"; answering symbolical questions"). It may be a good idea to print out at least part of the Manual for quick reference.
What you really need most of the time, is the scientific notation of numbers:
In WebAssign: 1.23e+04 for 12300 (like on most calculators)
Only rarely will there be something with "symbolical questions".

A student asks: (September 10, 2002)

I added Physics 407, but can’t login to WebAssign yet. When will this be ready?

Dr. Möbius answers:

You need to make sure you bring your form to the Registrar's Office. Then the Registrar's Office E-Mails Rosemary in the Physics Office with your info, and she puts you into the roster. From bringing the form to the Registrar's Office it takes up to 1 day to get into the Roster.

A student asks: (September 10, 2002)

I have just added the class, but couldn’t do my first assignment on WebAssign. Do I loose points?

Dr. Möbius answers:

I do recognize that people who add the class may have problems to do their first assignments on WebAssign. Since I have the visibility of Adds, I can adjust for that. You don't need to worry.

A student asks: (September 10, 2002)

I attempted to login today (for the assigned reading questions) and was unsuccessful. Could it be that I am not registered yet? Is my password the same as my cisunix account if that's the address I gave to the Physics department?

Dr. Möbius answers:

Your Password is the default Password, i.e. the same as your cisunix address (not your cisunix password!!). That is why you should change it a.s.a.p..

A student asks: (September 10, 2002)

I just realized that I did not do the last Reading Questions on time. I understand that I have missed the deadline. I was hoping that I could still somehow view the questions.

Dr. Möbius answers:

You can still see the questions (or any missed assignment for that matter). They move down on the list to "Past Assignments". You can still view and do them, but you don't get credit.

Content Questions

Oscillations:

A student asks: (December 13, 2002)

I think one of my biggest problem with the formulas for oscillations is what to do with the phase part of the formula, when to use it and when not to.

Dr. Möbius answers:

I agree this is a somewhat tricky issue.
Remember, the phase constant only tells you where during one oscillation you start to count position (or the phase) within one oscillation. It does not affect the frequency nor does it affect the amplitude (or maximum displacement), and thus it has no effect on the total mechanical energy of a simple harmonic oscillator. If you are dealing with a problem that involves only frequencies, springs constants, energy (both kinetic and potential), the mass of the object, and maximum displacement you don't need to worry about the phase.
The phase is only important, if a problem asks for the position, velocity and/or acceleration as a function of time. Then you need to know where the oscillator was at time t = 0.

A student asks: (September 12, 2002)

For a graph on the homework, am I allowed to draw the graph on a computer and print it out and hand that in? Or do I have to draw the graph by hand?

Dr. Möbius answers:

Using a computer to do that is fine. You still need to discuss and describe briefly what the graph shows and answer any questions that go along.