prototyped

Hi everyone!,

I recently just started learning Physics and stuff through OCW lecture videos. I thought this is something really nice of MIT for doing.. Giving knowledge away without getting a cent out of it. Do you guys think this is a good way of experiencing what a class is like at MIT (:? Also, I start 8.01 Physics I ... But there were like 5 different of them with the same 8.01 #.. Are they all the same, just taught by different professors&times?

P.S. Would this help me prep for USAPHO also (:? Trying it for the first time , since I don't have much $ to do it at a local university this summer...Textbooks already cost like 800$ ]: for upcoming school year&prep books&materials

lidusha

Textbooks do not cost $800 if you buy them used through half.com and then resell them.

8.01 is the normal version of physics. It's kind of like the first half of AP Physics C. 8.012 is the version with more math and more proofs. If two classes have the same number they're the same class; they might have been taught in different years.

For USAPHO you probably want to try and find lots and lots of practice problems on the Internet, after you're done with 8.01 (and maybe 8.02 as well, if they also include that material). Good luck.

WiseGuy

MIT's OpenCourseWare is a phenomenal resource for the self-learner. I use it daily for a variety of subjects. It certainly allows you a glimpse of life at MIT, as you can see the actual classes MIT students sit through (minus some of the recitations, etc.).

Those different 8.01 courses you see are all offered at MIT; however, they differ somewhat. For example, 8.012 has a much stronger base of using theoretical calculus in the study of mechanics, and it is much more difficult. Additionally, most of the others on there do not have lecture videos available; rather, they only have some of the exams and supplemental class notes.

I would recommend Walter Lewin's Fall 1999 8.01 course. Lewin is a superb lecturer with an vibrant energy towards physics; he truly makes you see its innate beauty.

For USAPhO, you should have a good understanding of mechanics; the exam does not cover electricity and magnetism. 8.01 also uses quite a bit of calculus to supplement some of the concepts; while you do not need to fully understand calculus for the USAPhO exam, an idea of how it applies to physics may help your understanding.

8.01 should provide you with a solid grasp of mechanics, and I would also recommend taking the appropriate exams/quizzes also found on the 8.01 OCW website for a variety of difficult practice problems.

I hope that was helpful!

iceui2

Yes it does.

prototyped

Hm okay thanks everyone.

@liduaha, Just saying though, my family's culture is that we are not allowed to sell textbooks unless the book is terribly written or is something we will 100% never touch. I've kept all my books since elementary school except one math book because I didn't need it and we needed that 110$ to buy more important stuff. Plus half.com is by eBay... We use amazon which I think is more trustworthy in my opinion

Anyways does USAPHO have a study guide like USABO does (Cambell books)?