Michigan PHYSICS 140: General Physics I
PHYSICS 140 is Michigan's calculus-based mechanics course for engineers and physical science majors, covering kinematics, Newton's laws, energy, momentum, rotation, and oscillations. It's typically taken in the first year alongside calculus, with a separate lab (PHYSICS 141).
Fennie is independent and not affiliated with University of Michigan. This is an unofficial study guide.
Build my PHYSICS 140 study planWhat makes it hard
Exams are multiple-choice with no partial credit, so a small algebra slip costs the whole problem — that format is what students complain about most. The conceptual leap from plug-and-chug to setting up problems from scratch (free-body diagrams, choosing the right conservation law) is where grades diverge.
What you'll cover
- • Kinematics in one and two dimensions
- • Newton's laws and free-body diagrams
- • Work, energy, and conservation
- • Momentum and collisions
- • Rotational motion and torque
- • Oscillations and simple harmonic motion
The PHYSICS 140 study guide
How to study for Michigan PHYSICS 140, step by step.
- 1
Master problem setup before speed
Most PHYSICS 140 points are lost at the setup stage — wrong free-body diagram, wrong conservation law. For every practice problem, write down the system, the principle, and the diagram before touching algebra.
- 2
Do mechanics problems daily alongside your calculus
Physics is learned by doing, and derivatives show up in kinematics from week one. A daily problem habit keeps both the physics and the math fluent.
- 3
Simulate the no-partial-credit format
Exams are multiple-choice where a small algebra slip costs the entire problem. Work past exams timed, checking answers only at the end, so you build the careful-execution habit the format demands.
- 4
Audit every miss: setup or execution?
After each practice exam, sort errors into setup mistakes (review the concept) versus algebra slips (drill execution). The fix is different for each, and knowing your ratio tells you where to spend hours.
- 5
Let Fennie run the training schedule
Upload the PHYSICS 140 syllabus and Fennie's Daily Plans schedule daily problem practice around the exam dates, with timed quizzes generated from your actual course materials to train for the no-partial-credit format. Free to start.
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How Fennie helps with PHYSICS 140
Daily Plans schedule PHYSICS 140 around its exam dates with problem practice every day, because mechanics is learned by doing, not reviewing. Use Fennie's chat to walk through problem setup — what's the system, what's conserved, what does the free-body diagram look like — and take timed generated quizzes to train for the no-partial-credit format.
FAQ
Is PHYSICS 140 hard at Michigan?
It's considered one of the tougher first-year courses, mostly because of the multiple-choice, no-partial-credit exams. The physics itself is standard calc-based mechanics; the format punishes sloppy execution, so timed practice matters as much as understanding.
How should I study for PHYSICS 140 exams?
Work past exams under timed conditions and check answers only at the end, simulating the no-partial-credit stakes. Focus practice on problem setup — most lost points come from wrong free-body diagrams or misapplied conservation laws, not arithmetic.
Do I need calculus for PHYSICS 140?
Yes — it's calculus-based, and you should be at least concurrently enrolled in MATH 115 or beyond. Derivatives show up in kinematics from week one, and integrals appear in work-energy material.
Pass PHYSICS 140 with a plan, not a cram
Upload your PHYSICS 140 materials and Fennie generates a Daily Plan paced to your deadline — plus chat, flashcards, and quizzes built from the actual course content.
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