Working with Mastering Phyics


Mastering Physics is an on-line physics problem grading system provided by the publishers of your textbook. To use it, you must register for the course using the course ID number, MAXWELLS17. Once registered, you can access the problems in any open problem set using your personal ID number. Once a problem set is closed, you can still look at the problem solutions, but you will no longer be able to submit problem solutions.


How to Use the System

(1) Go to the mastering physics web site www.masteringphysics.com.

(2) Log onto the system by entering your user name and password.

(3) Choose the class MAXWELLS17 (click the class list button on the left, if the system is not already set to to this class) and then choose the problem set you want to work on (click one of the assignment buttons on the left).

(4) Once you have chosen an assignment, you will see the due date at the top of the page and a list of problem numbers. Just click on a problem number to work on that problem.

(5) The system is set so that you have five attempts at each problem. You can also ask for the solution at any stage, but if you do so, you will no longer be able to get credit for that part of the problem.


Trouble Shooting and Notation

(1) For numerical results, make sure that you have enough decimal places of accuracy in your result. A good general rule is that your answer should have the same number of decimal places as in the input data, except if the first digit in your answer is 1. In that case, you should use one more decimal place in your answer.

(2) In intermediate steps, it is generally a good idea to keep more decimal places of accuracy than in your final result in order to avoid round-off error.

(3) Note that in many calculations, the SIGN of the result is important. If you think that your numerical answer is correct, but the system won't accept it, it may be that your sign is wrong.

(4) For answers that require a mathematical expression, indicate multiplication with the asterix symbol, e.g., x multiplied by y should be written x*y.

(5) To indicate subscripts and superscripts use the underline and hat symbols in front of the subscript or superscript. For example, you might write the electron mass symbolically as m_e, and x squared should be written x^2.

(6) To indicate a vector quantity, use _vec following the quantity, e.g., the position vector should be written r_vec. To indicate a unit vector, use unit instead of vec, e.g., the unit vector in the direction of the position vector should be written r_unit.

(7) For a square root, use sqrt, e.g., square root of x should be written sqrt(x).

(8) Greek letters are indicated by just writing out the name in latin letters, e.g., pi, mu, epsilon, sigma, theta, etc.