I received a lot of emails expressing exasperation with the Mastering Physics HW 6 problem 6.44 concerning a skateboarder and a ramp. It is reasonably likely that a similar problem will be on the exam, so it is worth spending your time to understand this one and similar. The ProblemSeveral students reported that they (and sometimes their friends/classmates) found the problem statement ambiguous. The reason for the apparent ambiguity is a matter of implicit assumptions, such as what "end" means in "distance from the end of the ramp" --which "end"? The ComplaintsThe problem is not ambiguously stated in the context of the chapter. In particular, there are several end-of-chapter (EOC) problems similar to this one as well as worked example projectile problems. In fact, this is a classic projectile problem.The ResolutionAn optimum strategy for doing well in the course is to read the relevant chapter material and doing a number of EOC problems before attempting the homework. You should use the text examples, EOC problems (answers to odd numbered ones in the back of the book) and tutorial problems as your means to learn the material. You should then use the homework as a test of your understanding. It is not a great strategy to use the homework problems to learn the material because a) they do not cover a sufficiently broad spectrum of topics and problems; similarly b) you will not be certain that you can generalize to other problems, and c) Mastering Physics has idiosyncrasies that impede the learning process, including the way one has to enter solutions and figure out what the computer expects. Mastering physics provides an excellent mechanism for doing, transmitting, and grading home works, but it is not intended nor ideal as a means of learning the material. (Active Physics Online and the PheT websites, though, are intended to be effective, computer based learning tools and I recommend you take advantage of them.)If you follow my advice above you will generally not find homework problem wording to be ambiguous. By the time you get to the homework, you will be accustomed to the language used by the text and its implicit assumptions. Then as you do the Mastering Physics homeworks, if you find yourself struggling return to the text, do more EOC problems, take advantage of the help room. Again, use the homeworks as a test of your knowledge rather than as a means to gain that knowledge. Also if you earnestly follow my advice, you are bound to do well on the exam, at least better than your performance if you use purely homeworks and classroom time as your sole problem-solving experience. My Advice towards doing wellProblem solution:MP Ramp Problem 6.44Thursday, October 12, 20068:37 AM Notes Page 1Notes Page 2Notes Page 3Notes Page 4Notes Page
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