UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Applied Physics - School of Electrical & Information Engineering

APPLIED PHYSICS
Problem Solving Workshop Guide

Workshop #1 Format

• Form the students into groups with a maximum of 4 per group.

• Distribute the worksheets. Get them to put their names on the sheet and it
will act as your role-call when you collect them at the end of the session.

For this first problem solving workshop the process is different, they will partake in
two activities.

Activity 1 – Different approaches to problem solving [ 35-40 mins]

You will be given an overhead with 4 sample questions on it. Uncover the sample
questions (1 at a time) giving the students approx. 5 minutes on each to scribe an
answer on the worksheet.
Then ask how they approached the question, or see if a consensus exists on the
answer or how they tackled the question.
Then uncover the solution & comment , discuss with class.

Repeat for questions #2, #3, and #4 (if time permits)

Activity 2 – Problem Solving Style [15-20 mins]

The tutor is to engage the students in a discussion about “What is a good problem
solving technique?”, “How should you approach a problem in an exam?”, “What will
get you the marks?”. Attempt to involve most students in this exercise which should
take 10 minutes or so. You might run it like a workshop and list their ideas on the
whiteboard.

Finish with DEMS-US (Overhead supplied)

Diagram Equation/s Manipulation Solve - Units Significant figures
Tell them “This style will be expected at all times, inc. the exam”

NOTE: In later workshops the idea is for small study groups to address a number of
the PROBLEMS at the end of each chapter as indicated in the Exercise Set which
has been distributed to the students.

The tutor is expected to select 3 or 4 of the problems from the set, let the
students work on the problems for 35-40 minutes while ‘floating’ between the
groups helping them make progress towards a well structured solution. Do not solve
the problems for them, guide them. Details next week.

Dr A Bruce WEDDING 8723205.doc

 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Applied Physics - School of Electrical & Information Engineering

APPLIED PHYSICS
Problem Solving Workshop #1

[1] You are told the magnetic flux density, B produced by a current
µoI
carrying wire is given by B= . Rearrange this equation to solve
2πr
for the current, I.

Comment: Many can not cross multiply, even on work paper without making
mistakes. Be careful!

dI
[2] Show I = Io e −t / τ is a solution of IR + L = 0.
dt
Comment: Variation in the wording of questions can throw students. Many
start with the DE and try to re-arrange it, going nowhere, rather than
calculating dI/dt and substituting into the equation to show the
equation holds when τ = L/R.

1
[3] The kinetic energy of an object is given by K= mv 2 . Calculate K
2
for an electron (me = 9.11x10-31 kg) traveling at 4.60x105 m/s.

ANS: K = 9.63838x10-20 J = 9.64x10-20 J (3 sig. fig.)

Comment: You would be amazed at how often students forget to square the
velocity when doing the calculation. Again, take care.

[4] The magnetic flux density, B produced by a solenoid is given by

B = µ o nI . What current, I is required to produce a flux density of
15.0 T (tesla) in a coil with n = 2000 turns/m, [µ0 = 4πx10-7 NA-2].

ANS: I = B/ µ0 n = 5.96831x103 A = 5.97x103 A (3 sig. fig.)

Comment: NOT 5,968 A. Use scientific notation as much as possible.

Dr A Bruce WEDDING 8723205.doc