Registering and using MasteringPhysics

What is it?

MasteringPhysics is an online problem-solving "tutoring" system. It was developed at MIT to help their students succeed in their physics courses, and it works: studies show that MasteringPhysics helps students get better exam scores when compared with traditional written and hand-graded homework.

The MasteringPhysics system guides you through the solution of multi-step problems. It helps you remove conceptual roadblocks by means of wrong-answer-based feedback and on-demand hints.


To get started, follow these steps.

1. Gather the information you'll need.

To register for MasteringPhysics you will need:

    * A valid e-mail address. You can use your UCSB e-mail address or other e-mail addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail. Whichever e-mail address you use, make sure it is one that is active and that you check regularly.
    * The zip code for UCSB. This is 93106.

    * The course ID for Physics 2, Winter 2009. This is PHYS2S09. It enrolls you in this specific MasteringPhysics class. You cannot edit this field after you record it, so please pay very careful attention to the code.
    * Your student ID. This is your 7-digit UCSB perm number.
    * A Student Access Code. This is a six-"word" printed code supplied beneath the pull-tab inside your MasteringPhysics Student Access Kit, which comes shrink-wrapped with each new copy of Young and Freedman, University Physics, 12th edition. It is valid for registering one student. Once you are registered, your code is valid for two years, so you can use the same code in Physics 2, 3, 4, and 5.

      NOTE: If the tab in this kit has been pulled back, the code may no longer be valid. If you buy a used textbook, any code supplied with it is probably not valid. In either case, you can purchase a Student Access Code online using a credit card once you start the registration process.

2. Register for MasteringPhysics.

    * Download and read the student guide for getting started with MasteringPhysics: http://www.masteringphysics.com/assets/site/res/pdf/student_bklt_FINAL.pdf . Again, note that your student ID is your 7-digit UCSB perm number and your course ID is PHYS2S09.

    * Go to http://www.masteringphysics.com/ and click on "New Students." Then follow the on-line instructions. If at any point you are asked which book you are using, the answer is "Young and Freedman University Physics with Modern Physics, 12e". (Make sure you select the 12th edition or "12e", not the old 11th edition.)

3. System Requirements and Technical Support

    * Check the "Minimum System Requirements" at http://www.masteringhelp.com/system_requirements.htm to make sure you have everything you need to run Mastering Physics.
    * If you have questions or encounter difficulties, go to the MasteringSupport web site. If you can't find the answers that you need, you can contact MasteringPhysics customer support by e-mail at http://www.masteringsupport.com/contact_us.htm or by telephone at 888-547-4415, Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Pacific time).

Additional useful features of MasteringPhysics

# University Physics eBook: Once you are logged in to MasteringPhysics, you have access to the eBook version of your textbook. Once you are logged in, click on "eBook" on the left-hand side of the screen. This is a digital version of the complete textbook. Your eBook access will last until your subscription to MasteringPhysics expires.
# ActivPhysics: You can find a number of useful physics simulations on the MasteringPhysics web site. Once you are logged in, click on "Study Area" on the left-hand side of the screen.
# Pearson Tutor Services: Your subscription to MasteringPhysics gives you complimentary access to Pearson Tutor Services, powered by Smarthinking Inc. Get live, online tutoring assistance from highly qualified instructors during peak study hours. Duration restrictions apply and offer subject to change without notice. MasteringPhysics login name/password or access code required. For access to Pearson Tutor Services, click here.

Will I like MasteringPhysics?

Statistically only about 20% of students like MasteringPhysics in the first weeks of the course. This is not surprising; students dislike physics homework in general, and they have to do more work because MasteringPhysics is tutoring them. The combination of unfamiliar, difficult material and a new way of working can initially make them unsure of themselves.

However, studies show that the student approval rating rises to over 90% by the end of the quarter. So stick with it!

At least initially, most students spend more time on MasteringPhysics assignments than on older paper-based homework, because you are getting more feedback, have more chances to get the right answer, and are learning more.

What kinds of problems are in MasteringPhysics?

MasteringPhysics includes three different types of problems.

* End-of-chapter Problems are denoted by a number like "Exercise 1.33" or "Problem 1.70." These are taken from the textbook (with some modifications) and do not have hints or tutoring elements.
* Skill Builders focus on improving conceptual understanding or developing key skills. They offer detailed worked examples with multiple hint-giving options.
* Self-Tutoring Problems are "standard" homework problems that provide similar individualized help as a result of an incorrect answer or when requested. They include hints designed to bridge the gap between worked examples and textbook end-of-chapter questions.

You'll find some of each type of problem in every MasteringPhysics assignment.

What do I do first?

If you are new to Mastering Physics or you need to be refreshed. Make sure that you first do the assignment "Introduction to MasteringPhysics". This will help you understand how to use the features of MasteringPhysics on all subsequent assignments. It doesn't count for credit, but it will be time well spent.

For each subsequent assignment, make sure that you first read the appropriate sections of your textbook before starting the assignment. Then be sure to start the assignment as soon as it becomes available.

How are MasteringPhysics problems graded?

1. Each problem on an assignment is either worth 10 points as a whole or is listed as "for practice."

2. You get 6 attempts per question.

3. For problems that include hints, you get a 2% bonus for each hint that you do not open.

4. You lose credit for:
a. exhausting all attempts or requesting the answer to a question in a Part of a problem;
b. exhausting all attempts or requesting the answer to a question in a Hint; and
c. incorrectly answering a multiple-choice question, true/false question, or other type of question.

Do I have to do the whole assignment in one sitting?

No. You can do one problem at a time, or one part of a problem at a time.

Make sure that you complete all problems on an assignment by 3:00 am. on the day it is due.

Can I try a problem over after the due date has passed?

You can rework completed items after the assignment due date. Student work after the due date isn't saved and doesn't affect the score you got the first time you completed each item. Note that you can't rework items that you didn't complete in the first place, so make sure that you work on all problems in an assignment before the assignment is due!

When can I start?

Now! The "Introduction to MasteringPhysics" assignment is now available.