PHYSICS 5B
Physics for Life Sciences Majors: Thermodynamics, Fluids, Waves, Light, and Optics
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour; laboratory, two hours. Requisite: course 5A. Thermal properties of matter, free energy, fluids, ideal gas, diffusion, oscillations, waves, sounds, light, and optics, with applications to biological and biochemical systems. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
Summer 2020 - This is one of the worst professors I have had at UCLA. I really don't understand what the other reviewers are talking about; we must have sat through different classes. Her lectures were incredibly unclear and included several instances of her talking in circles and saying things wrong, only to say "actually like this" and move on without explaining properly. When I asked a question at a review session about something she didn't even explain in class, but was on the homework, she refused to explain even the basic math principles of the issue, which turned out to be very simple once I asked the TA. She was very condescending in the way she said "I'm not gonna teach you math," in a literal physics class that is all about applying equations. She also gives a ton of homework, usually over 30 problems per assignment, and gives quizzes worth 15% of the grade, but are only 5 questions, so it is really easy to miss 20% or 40% with just one or two questions wrong. Very unfair timing as well, as the quizzes are only 15 minutes, and the midterm also had very little time because we had to upload each part of each problem individually, all while trying to complete the test. If there is another professor teaching this class, I would definitely recommend taking the other professor instead.
Summer 2020 - This is one of the worst professors I have had at UCLA. I really don't understand what the other reviewers are talking about; we must have sat through different classes. Her lectures were incredibly unclear and included several instances of her talking in circles and saying things wrong, only to say "actually like this" and move on without explaining properly. When I asked a question at a review session about something she didn't even explain in class, but was on the homework, she refused to explain even the basic math principles of the issue, which turned out to be very simple once I asked the TA. She was very condescending in the way she said "I'm not gonna teach you math," in a literal physics class that is all about applying equations. She also gives a ton of homework, usually over 30 problems per assignment, and gives quizzes worth 15% of the grade, but are only 5 questions, so it is really easy to miss 20% or 40% with just one or two questions wrong. Very unfair timing as well, as the quizzes are only 15 minutes, and the midterm also had very little time because we had to upload each part of each problem individually, all while trying to complete the test. If there is another professor teaching this class, I would definitely recommend taking the other professor instead.
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2022 - I'm not sure where all of the great reviews are coming from, I'm convinced he wrote them himself at this point. I absolutely hated this class, and I would never take this class again with Professor Samani. He has an absolutely absurd hypothesis behind his teaching, namely memorizing with flash cards will give you long term retention. The biggest load of bullshit I have ever heard in any class I have taken thus far at this school. His quizzes were difficult, and unlike literally ANY other phyiscs class you are not allowed to have an equation sheet. His pre-lecture videos are on average 2 hours, which is far too long. He says his in-person lectures are not mandatory, but proceeds to derive equations you will need to do well on the exam. AKA you also have to show up or watch the recordings. This means that signing up for a 3 lecture hour class actually tuns into a 5-6 hour lecture. And this does not include the time you will have to spend outside of class studying and preparing for exams. He provides you practice packets, and then gives you quizzes that are NOTHING like the packet you completed. Oh, you also won't get credit for completing that packet either. If you take this class which I highly suggest you reconsider, for quizzes be prepared to connect concepts on your own on a time exam, derive equations, feel absolutley unprepared by any of the material that he has given you, and be unable to answer a majority of the quiz if you are unable to recall one equation. Professor Samani makes absolutely no effort to connect weekly concepts with past content, but then expects you to be able to make connections on your own on timed exams. So if you don't like teaching yourself, I'd choose someone else. He will tell you that he wants you to understand the concepts and the theory, and then asks you to memorize equations and asks you solely math based questions (which you don't get prepared for). Having qeekly quizzes is awful. It gets to be a lot during mid-term season, and they are mentally draining. The questions are not like what you practice with, and the practice questons you receive are nothing like what you are taught. Therefore, you get thrown into an ocean and are expected to swim. If being given insufficient learning tools is your jive, then this is the class for you! He has some make-believe world in his head where he thinks that life-science majors actually give a shit about physics, when in reality most of us are trying to get by and pass this class. If you want a manageable and understandable physics class, find another professor. Some of you might look at the grade distribution and think this class will be fine. I'd rethink that, it is NOT worth it in any shape or form. The stress, the workload, the 6 hour lecture, NOT worth it.
Winter 2022 - I'm not sure where all of the great reviews are coming from, I'm convinced he wrote them himself at this point. I absolutely hated this class, and I would never take this class again with Professor Samani. He has an absolutely absurd hypothesis behind his teaching, namely memorizing with flash cards will give you long term retention. The biggest load of bullshit I have ever heard in any class I have taken thus far at this school. His quizzes were difficult, and unlike literally ANY other phyiscs class you are not allowed to have an equation sheet. His pre-lecture videos are on average 2 hours, which is far too long. He says his in-person lectures are not mandatory, but proceeds to derive equations you will need to do well on the exam. AKA you also have to show up or watch the recordings. This means that signing up for a 3 lecture hour class actually tuns into a 5-6 hour lecture. And this does not include the time you will have to spend outside of class studying and preparing for exams. He provides you practice packets, and then gives you quizzes that are NOTHING like the packet you completed. Oh, you also won't get credit for completing that packet either. If you take this class which I highly suggest you reconsider, for quizzes be prepared to connect concepts on your own on a time exam, derive equations, feel absolutley unprepared by any of the material that he has given you, and be unable to answer a majority of the quiz if you are unable to recall one equation. Professor Samani makes absolutely no effort to connect weekly concepts with past content, but then expects you to be able to make connections on your own on timed exams. So if you don't like teaching yourself, I'd choose someone else. He will tell you that he wants you to understand the concepts and the theory, and then asks you to memorize equations and asks you solely math based questions (which you don't get prepared for). Having qeekly quizzes is awful. It gets to be a lot during mid-term season, and they are mentally draining. The questions are not like what you practice with, and the practice questons you receive are nothing like what you are taught. Therefore, you get thrown into an ocean and are expected to swim. If being given insufficient learning tools is your jive, then this is the class for you! He has some make-believe world in his head where he thinks that life-science majors actually give a shit about physics, when in reality most of us are trying to get by and pass this class. If you want a manageable and understandable physics class, find another professor. Some of you might look at the grade distribution and think this class will be fine. I'd rethink that, it is NOT worth it in any shape or form. The stress, the workload, the 6 hour lecture, NOT worth it.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2020 - Dr Schriver is amazing. He is such a sweet heart and you can tell he cares about his students. His voice can be boring sometimes but he really does teach the material in a way that non physicists can comprehend. What I recommend doing is taking notes on his commentary in class, rather than trying to copy down the slides. Then after class when he posts his power points back track and connect his talking points with each slide. Many of his slides don't have much detail so this is what I found to be the best method for gathering all of the information. He handled the COVID-19 craze and transition to online with grace despite the fact that he was very clearly immensely stressed about the last minute cancellation of our final. He really listened to our concerns and made a decision based on actually helping us. Try to hit up the test bank for his physics 6 series exams when you are prepping for the midterms. Discussions are a waste of time, don't bother going. He is very helpful in office hours and it's a great way to get one on one time, as many students don't go until the week of the midterm. I wish I could finish the physics series with him. Don't pass on the opportunity to take him!
Winter 2020 - Dr Schriver is amazing. He is such a sweet heart and you can tell he cares about his students. His voice can be boring sometimes but he really does teach the material in a way that non physicists can comprehend. What I recommend doing is taking notes on his commentary in class, rather than trying to copy down the slides. Then after class when he posts his power points back track and connect his talking points with each slide. Many of his slides don't have much detail so this is what I found to be the best method for gathering all of the information. He handled the COVID-19 craze and transition to online with grace despite the fact that he was very clearly immensely stressed about the last minute cancellation of our final. He really listened to our concerns and made a decision based on actually helping us. Try to hit up the test bank for his physics 6 series exams when you are prepping for the midterms. Discussions are a waste of time, don't bother going. He is very helpful in office hours and it's a great way to get one on one time, as many students don't go until the week of the midterm. I wish I could finish the physics series with him. Don't pass on the opportunity to take him!
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