Review for Professor Sirohi - Easy-but-appeared-to-be-hard-at-first class

This review strictly for Professor Jayant Sirohi:

Most people will tell you that Structural Dynamics will be the hardest class you will ever have to take in the aerospace department - This is very far from the truth. This class is an extension of Differential Equation Calculus class, that's it. In order to start off well in ASE365, all you have to do is to go review how to solve 1st and 2nd order differential equations and also eigenvalues and eigenvectors. The first 2 tests will be about solving these equations so if you get how to do that, then you are all set for the class. The 3rd test required some matrix method, nothing to stress about.

Class lecture:
Professor Sirohi is very organized in his notes - he followed the book. Attendance is recommended but not mandatory - It will determine what your grade will be. If you skip classes too often, then your grades will be curved downward. He checks attendance through passing back homework. If you are not present at the time that he is handing back your old homework, then you are marked absent. Excessive absences will put you on his ugly side so you don't want that.

Tests (3 tests + 1 final):
Each tests will have 2-3 questions and you will have 1 equation sheet to use. 1 question will be True/False and it will have 5 parts to it. The 2nd question will be analytical; The problem may just be a combination of concepts from different problems on the homework but it is still very similar to your homework. The 3rd question may be another analytical question. Each test is worth a maximum of 10 points. T/F section is worth 50% of the test. If you want to do well on the T/F portion, just read the book and Bennighof's notes and you should be fine. As for the final, it will be comprehensive.

How to study for your tests:
In this class, like I have stated earlier, all you need to do is be familiar with differential equations and how to solve them. Once you are familiar with DFQ, this class will just depend on "canned" solutions. For the first 2 tests, all you have to do is copy down the different methods on how to solve different types of problem and that is all you need, to do well on the analytical portion of the tests. Go to class, take good notes, make sure to divide up your notes (Divide up different types of problems: Damper-free system, damped system, overdamped system, etc...).

Grades:
Sirohi has a very generous (big) curve.

Just enjoy the class, get to know Sirohi because he is a very nice professor. I made the mistake of not going to his office hour and I regretted it because the guy was really nice and has a very likable personality.