8.01

8.01: Physics 1 is a general institute requirement (GIR) and as such it is required by all MIT undergraduate students to pass the course. It is taught in TEAL format, which basically translates to ~100 students per class, sitting in groups of eight while the professor lectures.

At MIT a "C" grade is passing for freshman while a "D" grade is passing for older students. However, 8.01 (physics: mechanics) is a prerequisite for 8.02: Physics II (physics: electricity+magnetism), and by policy one must get a "C" grade to use 8.01 as a prereq.

For those of you unsure what the differences are between the 8.01 classes are, this is the rundown:

8.01: standard class most students take freshman fall. More details below.
8.012: an accelerated version of the class for those that really like math. Said to be on of the hardest classes MIT offers (but you learn a lot!)
8.01L: a slower paced version of the class through fall+IAP. For those with minimal experience in physics mechanics. Don't be afraid to take this version, there's nothing wrong with needing a bit of help!

Also consult freshman advising groups for what they offer. I know concourse offers a version of this class (CC.801/CC.8012 Physics I (Mechanics)).

For MIT's Physics 1 material: 
To understand the concepts: my notes* (click link for pdf), watch OpenCourseware (I liked the gyroscope videos) or these amazing Youtube Physics videos,

The way I passed Physics in highschool was with these videos^. Honestly, this guy is an amazing teacher for both Physics Mechanics and E&M. It's kinda Khan Academy style with him writing, explaining, and then reviewing through problems.

I had Dr. Peter Dourmashkin for 8.01 in the fall of 2017**. He's a senior lecturer and wrote the textbook (Classical Mechanics 8.01 MIT/edX Edition) for the class. Very good lecturer, try to squeeze into his class even if it is MW 9-11. It's worth it. Also don't buy the textbook, it's available online through mitx (for students).

8.01 Structure:
Meet twice a week (2 hrs) for lecture + Fridays (~45 min) for problem solving.

Prepsets once a week were assigned through mitx, like guided videos/problems to introduce each concept. Concept Questions (CQs) that were given during class (very simlair to the ones on the exam so write them down) and Friday Problem Solving were purely participation grades. Psets once a week that had unlimited answer checkers online through mitx (AMAZING! Really double-checked if you knew what you were doing). Three Exams + a Final.

8.01 is one of the hardest classes to fail. The answer checker online for homework really makes a difference and the exams were not difficult to pass. I think 8.01+2 are important because it teaches (especially new) students that MIT classes are not like typical high-school classes. There is minimal "plug and chug" into formulas. It is more about understanding how to define situations, set up a system, and solve a problem regardless of how many variables are given.

Key to Maya's Notes: 
Pink post it notes are CQs or examples,
w/o means without,
~ means about/approximately

*Please keep in mind the notes on this website are more for storage/my brother's use so if the handwriting is a bit difficult in some areas review books, videos, or even textbooks are also great studying tools.
** I did take this class on PNR so my notes are somewhat less detailed than normal (haha).