MIT Subject Evaluations

8.033 Special Relativity and Classical Mechanics
Fall 1998 Summary

Lecturer: Professor Peter Fisher
Recitation Instructor: Professor Edmund Bertschinger

Enrollment: 72
Number of comments received: 25

8.033 combines the special relativity content of the IAP course 8.20 with mechanics beyond 8.01. This course is typically taken by physics majors in the fall of their sophomore year.

Student comments about the content of the class were in large part divided into two sections: those who liked the content, and those that felt special relativity and classical mechanics did not belong in the same class. These were not necessarily exclusive; most students liked both halves of the course. Class members suggested various techniques of fixing this; many of them wanted to see relativity done over IAP in a return to the old system or as the second half of the course. Some also wanted to get rid of French's special relativity text.

Overall, students seemed to enjoy this course. While they liked the individual sections, they found the class itself extremely disjoint.

Professor Peter Fisher, the lecturer for this course, received mostly positive comments from his students. He was seen as a generally good lecturer; class members appreciated his enthusiasm and the applications of the material which he gave. Some liked his attitude towards in-class questions; others, however, did not. In addition, class members felt that he sometimes became disoriented.

Recitation instructor Professor Edmund Bertschinger received slightly more mixed reviews from his students. While some liked his teaching, and commented that he knew the material very well, other students did not feel that he was empathetic to their concerns. Rather, they wanted him to tolerate other solutions.

Overall, students seemed to be relatively happy with the course even if they did view it as disjoint halves. They appreciated the teaching for the most part and found the content fascinating.

A few quotes from class members:

"Should make class classical mechanics I and II, then over IAP do special relativity."

"Good job. Keeps it interesting."...

"Less of an overall attitude in teaching. Sometimes I feel like you guys have a superiority complex."

"Good. Kind of jumped around a bit though."