On this page:

Deadlines

About Mastering Physics

Logging on

After logging on

Hints on submitting assignment answers

What to do if you have problems

1. Buy the "Mastering Physics Student Access Kit" at the bookstore before the first day of class, or as soon as possible thereafter. Otherwise you won't be able to submit homework solutions and will miss out on credit!
2. As soon as you have the Kit, register for the class (the course code is MPKUHN0005, and you will have to enter the student access code from your access kit. See instructions below).
3. Do the test assignment to learn how to use "Mastering Physics" - you have until September 7 to do this (when the first HW problem set is also due!).
   
4. Assignment solutions must be submitted before 11:59 pm on the due date (Wednesdays). After that you will be prevented from submitting your answers. In practice, you should submit your solutions way ahead of the deadline, so you won't be caught in any last minute rush or technical glitch.
   

About Mastering Physics

Note that I will not accept submission of homework past the due date - no exceptions.  Also note that "Mastering Physics" can alter the numbers in individual problems from those appearing in the text. You should, therefore, read all problems online carefully.

Solutions to homework problems will be posted on the course homepage after the assignment due date. At that time, the correct solutions for all Mastering Physics problems will also become available from the Mastering Physics website. Just select the assignment you want to know the solutions for and have a look (click "show answer" where necessary).

In order to benefit from your homework, you should still neatly write up problems and keep a notebook or binder with all your work. You may be asked to hand in your homework binder for review at anytime.

And remember, the academic integrity code is to be maintained at all times. Submitting answers on "Mastering Physics" for problems that you have not worked out is cheating, as is submitting solutions for somebody else.

^(*) Please note that the actual assignments might have some different problems than the ones listed in the posted schedule!

Logging on

1. When you go to this website the first time, click "Register" (under "First Time User?"). You will have to fill in some information and your Access Code (from the student access kit). You can then set your username and password.For all subsequent times you log in, you just enter your Username and Password (under "Established User?").
2. When you log in (with your username and password) for the first time, you get the opportunity to change your user information. You MUST enter your ODU student ID (UIN)  and the code for this course, MPKUHN0005 so you will go to the correct web page and get credit for your work.
3. At subsequent logins, all you need is your username and password.
4. Go ahead and work on the first assignment ("Introduction to Mastering Physics"). Also, read the help and manual pages.
   

After you have successfully logged on, you should look at the list of assignments (shown with due date and time). Choose the currently due assignment and get started.
You can submit your answers at any time before the due date, up to five times. This is true for each individual answer field - you can submit just one problem out of a given assignment. Only if you enter or change an answer in a given field will it count as a new submission for that field.

Your first assignment is "Introduction to Mastering Physics". This will not affect your class grade, but will let you practice with the system. In general, click on the assignment you want to work on and answer the questions.
 
You can save your work, log out and return at a later time to complete your assignment. You can also submit just one part within a question which then will be immediately scored so you know if you got it right. At the end of each problem, you must click "submit problem" to get credit. NOTE: You do NOT have to fill out the survey that pops up after each problem. In particular, don't send me a note after each problem that you finished! If you don't want to "submit survey", just click on "next problem" in the side bar to go on to the next problem (even if you didn't fill out any fields).

Hints on submitting assignment answers (PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY)

• "Mastering Physics" is able to randomize some of the assignment questions. That is, the data (numerical values) given online may be different from those given in the problem in the textbook. Therefore you should look at the online assignment before attempting the problems. Once you have made one submission to that assignment, the question will remain the same for subsequent submissions. Each student may therefore have a different set of data for which to solve the problem.
• Remember, in general "Mastering Physics" looks for 2 percent accuracy (3 significant figures). So work out the problem keeping at least 4-5 digits of intermediate results and then round off the answer to three digits.
  
• Each assignment has an open date, for which the assignment can first be viewed. This date usually corresponds to the due date of the previous assignment (one week ahead of the new due date).
• You are given five submissions for each assignment. Following the input of an answers, press the button "Submit" and you will be told whether you got it right or wrong. You can then correct the wrong answers and resubmit. You can log off and come back later to continue working on your assignment. Remember to always press "submit problem" (at the very bottom) at the end to get your credit for a given problem.
  
• Never use your browser's navigation buttons ("Back", "Forward", etc.) to navigate WebAssign. Always use the links provided on the webpages themselves. Also, remember, you have to enable cookies, you have to make sure you are logged in as you, and you have to log out and close the window once you're done. Otherwise, you might loose all credit for your work!
  
• Answers to the "Mastering Physics" problems will be posted after the assignment deadline and you will not be able to make further submissions. No exceptions/extensions!
• The full solutions to selected assignments will be posted on the PHYS231 web site following the Assignment deadline.

Contact Dr. Kuhn. Always provide the following information in your email:

• Your class and instructor
• Your full name as it appears on your official University records
• Your University ID number
• A detailed description of the problem you are having

I will respond to your email with instructions on how to proceed or direct you to the webpage for detailed instructions.

 

If you are able to logon on but go no further, the problem may be with the setting of your web browser (Netsacape Navigator, or Microsoft Internet Explorer). Make sure that the setting about "cookies" is set to "Accept all cookies" or "Always accept cookies".

Known Problems with the System

• None