Tutoring first math and now physics

to SWM, currently a 7th grader, who lives in Palo Alto, California

Math Reference: Big Ideas Math

Physics Textbook: Halliday and Resnick, Third Edition

  1. 14 Sep 2025: Ch 2 Figs 1-4 and Eqn 1 (Average Velocity). Here is a summary of Cammy’s questions and SWM’s answers:

    1. Fig 1 - (a) Q: What do the data indicate? A: The object is not moving. (b) Q: What do the data indicate? A: The object is moving at a constant speed.

    2. Fig 2 - Q: How does the slope-intercept form of linear equations apply to the data? A: The slopes of the straight lines vary, with the largest slope belonging to the cheetah.

    3. Fig 3 - Q: For the ball of clay falling in a straight line, is the speed constant or changing? A: Changing.

    4. Fig 4 and Eqn 1 - Q: Do you understand how the graph shows that the average velocity is equal to [the distance covered]/[the time elapsed]? A: Yes.

    5. Refer to Eqn 2 and Eqn 3 to further understand Eqn 1.

    6. Cammy’s suggestions for SWM, if he plans to browse the book during the week: (1) Look at Fig 4 to become more comfortable with it. (2) If you’d like, try Sample Problem 1 and Sample Problem 2 on your own or with your dad’s help. (3) If you’d like, read the five hints in the blue box. For the next lesson, we can answer any questions that you have about this lesson and then learn about instantaneous velocity.

  2. 21 Sep 2025: Ch 2 Fig 5 (Sample Problem 1).

    1. Sample Problem 1 - SWM read the problem aloud. What are delta x, delta t, and the average velocity? Note units.

    2. Fig 5 - Q: Is the driving velocity bigger or smaller than the average velocity? A: Bigger. Q: The walking velocity? A: Smaller.

    3. Preview of instantaneous velocity (Fig 7) - Q: Does the instantaneous velocity increase or decrease as we move up the curve? A: Decrease.

  3. 28 Sep 2025: Ch 2 Table 1 & Fig 7 (Instantaneous Velocity).

    1. Q: What is the difference between the average speed and top speed of a soccer player running down the field? A: Let’s draw a graph.

  4. 5 Oct 2025: Reviewing “Stump the Teacher”.

  5. 12 Oct 2025: Ch 2-5 Fig 6 & Ch 2-6 Table 2 (Acceleration).

    1. Q: How do position, velocity, and acceleration relate to each other graphically? Q: What are the five possible quantities involved in problems of constant acceleration?

  6. 19 Oct 2025: Video (to 2:15 min) & Ch 3 Figs 1, 2, 4, & 7 (Vectors)

    1. Q: Think of a situation in which we can draw vectors. A: A goalkeeper kicking a ball across the field. Q: How do we draw the subtraction of vectors?

  7. 26 Oct 2025: Force Balance & Ch 3-4 Figure 10 (Unit Vectors)

    1. Q: Can we draw the force balance of a book on a table? Q: Can we draw the addition of vectors? Q: Can we understand unit vectors on the 3D and 2D coordinate systems? Q: Can we draw a force balance of three people pulling on a stationary circular rope?

  8. 2 Nov 2025: Video (at 1:55 min), Video, and Ch 5 Fig 2 (Inertial Reference Frame)

    1. Q: Does Newton’s Second Law need an inertial reference frame?

  9. 9 Nov 2025: Cosine and Sine