2.2
Quality2.9
Difficulty43%
Would Retake87
Reviews43%
Would Retake
87
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
7
4
11
3
18
2
21
1
30
What Students Say
“You learn almost nothing, hella easy pass though”
PHYS51 - 1.0 rating“Take if you want to easily pass, but not recommended if you want to learn anything”
PHYS51 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
100%
Textbook Required
95%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.32 avg changeRatings by Course
PHYC71
4.0
(1)GOODJOKES
3.0
(1)PHYS4A
3.0
(1)PHYS50LA
3.0
(1)PHYS2BLAB
3.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
PHYSIC50
5.0
PHYS2A
5.0
PHYS4A
5.0
PHYS50LB
4.5
PHYS2BLAB
4.0
Reviews (87)
very hard. test are no partial credit. very lazy
Very easy grader. Doesn't care about you learning anything.
not THAT bad.. i've had worse... loving his extra credit (10%)
He can't teach! but he's nice...with extra credit!
stat phys was a nightmare with this guy!
Hard to understand, You won't learn Jack Ish, But grades easy, tons of ex.credit
If you want to learn anything don't take him. If you want to pass go for it. He grades easy and gives out lots of extra credit.
put 1 in the clarity section only because there is no 0
he thinks he's the best ... he calls the book wrong... he calls Einstine wrong.... you might pass the class with a B or B+ or even A but you won't learn anything... not recomended but if taken dont forget to do the 10% extra credit book report
If he's teaching phys 70, take phys 50 with another teacher instead, its only 2 more units in the end. And you'll probably enjoy physics instead of hating it.
I think this professor knows what he's talking about, but he's a terrible lecturer.
I don't think he gives out D's and F's unless you really mess up. Other than that... he's the WORST TEACHER I'VE EVER HAD (h.s. and college). I left the class feeling like i didn't learn anything. Everyone in my class felt the same way.
HW collected, 2 Multiple-choice Midterms, 1 Multiple-choice Final. Not helpful whatsoever and lectures are too fast and unclear, however, if you do the extra credit book report and turn in your HW you'll be fine. Has a huge curving system.
cocky, will make fun of you for asking questions, sloppy handwriting, does not explain concepts well, SO lazy (no partial credit on midterms/finals... to add to that, they're multiple choice! what a load of crock), not reasonable AT ALL. BEWARE!
dam...he's awful..can't understand him..i feel like im getting dumber...yells at everyone...and has some social issues.
lam is very, very smart and teaches at a level way too advanced for most students. however, i think he knows how difficult this course can be in general, and therefore he is very fair in his grading. he gives out extra credit and curves nicely to benefit most students. take physics with him
WORST PROFESSOR ON CAMPUS!!!!
lam is extremely hard, but physics is just hard in general. he knows that the course is difficult, and therefore is very helpful by assigning lots of extra credit. if you take good enough notes and can follow his methods for solving problems, you will be very well off in future physics courses.
Lam is extremly smart, he teaches the class at a very high level, which is very hard to understand. He has nice curves though, and the 10% extra credit book report helps. If you do the homework and understand what he puts on the board, you will pass.
He is the best physics teacher I have had. He makse the concept of physics easy to understand and the calculations easy to comprehend. He is an even better lab teacher. And he has a very good sense of humor. He is a very smart teacher with very impressive education and carrer resume. Worth taking
he is not a great professor in my opinion. he makes fun at people if they ask any question. but his midterms are just easy. since this class is just my prerequisite and i don't care much about physics this professor is ok for me. but if you want to learn physics you would better take somebody else.
don't take this guy, avoid him at all cost! he makes lame jokes about how you should've went to a better kindergarden. he is not an approachable person for help and makes fun of you if you do something wrong. even when you listen through his harsh cantonese accent, I still don't understand
he is really easy. if you can do all the homework you will have no problems with his tests. the reason people hate him is that he gives really hard questions on his hw and tests. his test are 6 q multiple choice so expect really picky phrasing and problems. he also offers 10% of your grade in extra credit. i imagine if you piss him off he is an ass
worst professor on campus. i walked out feeling i learned nothing. everyone in my class feels the same way. i duno why people give him happy faces, but then again it's their opinion
Familiar with those old Chinese Kung-Fu movies where the kung-fu master says a few cryptic words, and then leaves the students to discover the meaning for themselves? Lam is the modern-day version. Tough and cryptic, he WILL teach you humility. Don't take his class if you won't READ and PRACTICE. Curves, but you will learn ONLY what you practice.
He is a crumpy old man who makes fun of his students. If you want to learn physics, dont take his class. If you dont have a choice, just do all the hw, get at least one question right on his tests, show up to his classes because he gives you extra credit points and do the extra credit book report and you'll pass the class.
The smiley face kids are wrong, physics isnt hard, this guy just makes it far more complicated than it needs to be. He makes up all of his own problems, so the book doesnt help much. He gives 6 question multi choice exams that have no partial credit.
he can be easy if u know how to handle him, da best way to not get insulted is not to talk to him at all, find someone to ask da question for u, he insult people alot, don write too ugly, he gonna insult u for it too, he is lazy, so don work too hard in his lab,just do enough to pass it
As someone said, he is one of those kung-fu fighting accent guys. This prof is the easiest for the lab than anyone else in the department. Just show up for the lab and he actually does the lab for you. Very careless and easy on labs. Take him if you want to pass the lab without doing anything
Brags about how he is the best PHYS professor at SJSU... NOT!!!
true on the statements, pretty complicated, makes fun of you, no help at all, rude and likes things done his own way although he was rpetty funny, EC bookreport (worth 10% of grade) and likes to leave early or come late which is fine with me. i pretty much had to *acquire* ways to pass, if you know what i mean which is really easy.
U can't find an easier prof for lab. His heavy chinese accent can make things really obscure and may seem like gibberish sometimes. U could still manage as he doesn't care how u do the lab. The only catch is, --> jus dont get insulted in his lab. That's all u need and u pass the lab. Highly recommended to get away easily.
Every easy teacher. Grades on a curve therefore you don't really know what you are going to get utnil the end. Draw back is that you won't learn anything from this guy. Exams are multiple choice. Take him if you want an easy A, don't take him if you want to learn.
this teacher is the most horrible professor I have ever taken here at SJSU...if you take any of his classes you will regret it..very rude, puts people down, makes you seem like you will not pass his class, but in the end everybody does pass, but nobody learns anything....stay away from him....
haha he's pretty funny. he gives a lot of life advice in his lecture. i think he's a hoot. if you pay attention you'll learn a lot from him.
let's just say all da labs done in his class is HIS way, which means it's useless 2 read da lab manual b/c he does it differently. He tells us wat 2 do in da beginning of class. it's really hard 2 understand him b/c of his accent. i only went late 5 min (i didn't missed much) & he kicked me out of lab (i'm still mad @ dat >_<)he's late all da time
As a person he is not very cool. He wants it his way or no way and he makes a big deal out of it. I couldnt understand what he was trying to teach so I got really lost. even trying to follow up on a question he makes it more confusing. To pass u need to do ALL the homework, show up, do OK on the tests and do the book report.
he wants to help but is very kurt! if you can get around his frankness, and never be late, he will try to help you. do the extra credit project. he is very tricky on the test. no partial credit. but curves a lot. still know the definitions and everytime he puts a thing that sould be on the test he will say card. do the homeworks & read before class
Spends alot of time doing HWK in class. He's all about his "system" which at first seems tedious but may be handy. Emphasizes punctuality but usually late himself. Overall, the exams were simple but some problems test your attention to detail (ie. units). Book report: do it,
Doesnt speak english very well. I took his lab and he always lets you out early. You cant leave unless you properly complete the lab. He does the lab for you and you just copy. JUST GET THERE ON TIME!!! he kicks you out if your two minutes late!
Many people mention his accent - but it's not the accent you should care about. Lam is impatient with students - whether the students are stupid or smart, bored or interested - he doesn't take any interest in teaching. He prepares transparencies to be COPIED and handed in by the student as his/her own work in lab. No wonder even the most interest
Avoid Prof. Lam, if possible. His lectures consist of reading the chapter summary pages from the text. His exams are 6 m/c questions, which don't really test your mastery of the material, rather than your ability to get signs and algebra correct. He does give XC, albeit unrelated to the course material, and is surprisingly denigrating to students.
First thing: You will learn nothing from this guy if you take his class. Now what's good is you can pass his class easily just show up to every single class sign on the attendence sheet, do the book report, every homework, and any other extra credit he assigns. just follow the above because i've taken him twice and i know this guys....
If you want an easy grade, take this guy. DO NOT take this guy to actually learn the material. Dude is a real genius, but doesn't put 1/5 of his brain into teaching the class. Tests are multiple choice, curved, and still yield low averages. Hw is easy, plus the extra credit he gives will assure that you pass.
I got an A for barely even trying. He does have favorites in his class. If you make him laugh during class lectures, you're up there. Multiple choice exams but low averages, meaning great curve. Generous extra credit, but it's somewhat hard to understand him unless you stop him from going off when he's doing examples.
This guy wont teach you anything. All his exams are multiply choice. Do the extra credit book report. Take his lab because he makes it simple and fast. He doesnt like staying long in the lab so if you have stuff to do take the lab.
i had him for LAB. never come late 2 class or you'll get kicked out. i had 2 do the lab at a diff section b/c i was late. u have to do the lab his way, not the lab manual's. that's not a problem cuz he basically shows you how 2 do it. labs are quick to finish, easy to pass this lab course w/Lam. kinda hard but he's okay, just get on his good side.
He is a graduate from Berkeley so he has very high standards. Don't come late to class or else you're not welcomed. Very arrogant styled teaching demeanor. GOOD LUCK with this ****er.
he's very smart but his lectures seem somewhat disorganized and his handwriting is often hard to follow. he has no patience for students that don't keep up on the material or take his class seriously.
Worst prof in the whole world!!! His English is horrible, sloppy writting. You're better off not taking the class if he's teaching it. Tests were tricky. Doesn't count lab into ur grade. Impatient w/students. His style of teaching is just plain HORRIBLE. Do not take him, I repeat DO NOT!!! Average on his tests is a 31%
worst professor ever! don't take him unless you know physics by heart and you want a bs class. he can't teach. he practically did the homework on the board towards the end of the semester. he doesn't offer the book report anymore! and if you want to be in his class be prepared to feel STUPID. good luck phys 70 guys
dont take this professor at all.if u al know ur physcis by heart u al can take if not u r screwed.u will not know what he is doing.he starts no where and ends no where.he is not helpful even at his office hours.he is very rude and arrogant when a student asks questions.he does almost all the homework.nobody would pass his if he doesnt curve.
I recommend avoiding this guy. He is fairly strict about how he wants his lab reports. If you're confused about the lab, it is pointless to ask him questions. He just gets angry when you ask. The funniest thing in the class was when people walked in late. Lam would stop talking, and stare at the people for about five minutes.
I had him for lab...and he was awesome. THIS IS NOT A SUPERMARKET!!!
WARNING!!! WARNING!!! DO NOT TAKE THIS PROFESSOR! he is very bad at teaching and plus he can't pronounce words in english very well. Worst teacher i've ever had by far!
i studied hard. i got a B. recommend showing up for class everyday. do all the hw and you should pass with no problems. dr.lam knows his physics.awesome guy. his help is how physics should be done. "VERY BRIEF"
His class is hard, he's not too helpful and he's impatient with students. His tests are a few questions, multiple choice and these questions are very hard. However this can work to your advantage if you guess right. With a little luck from guessing on the tests, he curves everything and you might get away with a good grade.
dude is a genius. but he doesn't like to teach. he grades on curve which is perfect for me because 80% of the sjsu students are dummies. you don't have to be good, just have to beat the rest of those bottom-feeders. =D
WAAY too much of a tyrant about the wrong thing. Even if you have the right answer on a lab, he'll fail you if you don't present it EXACTLY the way he wants (you better use a ruler when you write a fraction, or he'll hand it back). He'll yell at you if you're still there 2hrs into a 3hr period. He'll yell at you for no apparent reason. Not helpful.
Dr.Lam is one of the best professors at SJSU. his style is different but effective. people who gave bad ratings probably didnt study "the best students study on their own" is what dr lam told me to do, and thats exactly how i got a B. his examples are great, and hes a funny guy. always kept interest in this class.
I took Physics 50 Lab with him. He hates to teach! worst teacher ever!
(LAB) He's always in a hurry. Always disappearing from the room. Makes little jokes to himself. Calls people out in front of everyone every time. But very lenient with the reports! He doesn't want to fail anyone & allows things other instructors wouldn't accept/condone. Easy A, but feels like you haven't learned a thing.
You will have bad dreams before coming to physics lab if you take this guy.He actually once said in class dat humans are made of stardust nd he was serious wen he said it.btw U WONT UNDERSTAND HIS THICK ACCENT UNLESS U R CHINESE!!
Lab: You honestly will not regret taking his lab by the end of the semester. Sure you will develop a phobia of going up and asking questions as he will (loudly) mock you, then show you the answer. Very nice guy, truly nice, yet intimidating. NEVER BE LATE!!! CANNOT STRESS THAT ENOUGH!! HE WILL FAIL YOU!!
Assigns the toughest problems in the book for homework, I swear. He teaches the tough examples, which helps, though. But I prefer studying the easier ones to understand the concepts before handling the tougher ones, so it doesn't play very well with me. I don't think I learned much this semester and now I'm crying over failing his final soon.
Strong accent, but felt he made the class seem simple. For lec. gives only 3-5 HW probs a wk, does them in class sometimes, tests are just studying the notes you take in class and HW, also curved and low avg (F=C+) so easy to do well if u try. For lab he's quick and tells you exactly what to do. Not interested in wasting your time, good prof.
Had him for lab. Generally he always seemed to not want to be there which means that if you didn't leave early, he would make you leave early if he could. Easy grader on lab reports and we didn't have to do uncertainty for our labs. His quizzes were really difficult though, so make sure you study for that.
Hella easy. Just keep doing the homeworks and youll be good with a 30% on the class. Midterms are straight from homework and very easy to get a 100% on. Multiple choice and can be done well with educated guesses.You cant understand squat he says but that's what workshops are for. take him if you want no work and a good easy grade. He curves easy
This guy's curve is absolutely ridiculous. I failed all the midterms and possibly the final as well, but turned in all the hw and went to every class and ended up with a B+. This guy is pretty much useless but you will most likely pass.
Easy A class! He could be intimidating sometimes. About five homework problems once a week.
HORRIBLE professor. not only does he not explain things well, he also has no regard for his students. no partial credit on exams, they are usually 6 q's long and have nothing to do with what you learned in lecture. he is very pompous and will call you out in the middle of class if you ask a question he thinks is easy. avoid him at all costs.
Has an extremely heavy accent, making lecture pointless. Exhibits zero interest in teaching the course. The class is passable if you are a book learner, but don't expect to actually learn anything in his presence because of the accent, messy handwriting, and complete disdain for explaining things.
This is the best and easiest professor that I have. Very easy A in the class as long as you do the homework, the test is completely based on the homework! Funny guy.
He is not clear on what he wants to teach.Not helpful in class and in office hours. He will make fun of you in entire class if you dare to ask question. His lab requirements are not clear at all. He will everyone in lab for no good reason. The labs are stressful than the class with him. DO NOT TAKE HIM. YOU WON'T LEARN ANYTHING AND YOU WILL FAIL.
If you'd like to fail physics, I highly recommend this teacher
Got under-average score on first mid-term(46100), got average score on second mid-term(68100), and 50% problems in final exam were from first and second mid-terms. I did all homeworks and got participation points and waited for the grade curving then I passed with grade letter A-
This professor is average, and lack of inspiration.
Dr. Lam is definitely a respected professor and human being. Some students will misunderstand him. However, if you pay attention to what he says to you in class about life and learning, you will realize that he is a very honest, kind, and intelligent person.
Basically if you love learning everything by long math proofs you might like this guy. If you actually like solving problems forget it, he teaches everything by the most abstract case and mocks technical or experimental problems and methods. He really seems to think his way is the only way and frequently ridicules the book and students.
I'm surprised by negative comments. Electromagnetism is very hard (no argument) so many in other classes fail. Other professors will fail you without consideration. Lam will purposely talk down to you to make you try harder, then you end up having a much better grade because of a very generous curve. He knows that you need a degree to have a job.
tests are a few definitions of laws, a couple multiple choice (based on the examples and homework problems assigned), and one long written problem directly from lectures on those chapters. people hate him for some reason. if you continually get above average, attend class, and do your homework (once a week-i used chegg) then he'll like you
Take if you want to easily pass, but not recommended if you want to learn anything. 3 midterms + final are based on homework problems + lecture (Use notecard to write HW + lecture notes) and there's a huge curve based on the exam avgs. Due to similarity with exam + homework plbms, I didn't learn much since we practiced the same problems repeatively
I only had him for Phys 50 Lab so I cannot speak to his lectures, but he was very rude. He would frequently yell at me telling me I wasn't good enough to receive an engineering degree. I don't mind being told I have done something incorrectly or that I need to work on something but he went too far.
He has a super specific criteria for his labs. If you misplace one symbol, he will mark that as a fail. If you get it right, you will do well. The quizzes are are memorization of his lab sheets. He is very brash and not super helpful. Don't be late, follow his criteria, and do well on lab quizzes and you will pass.
You learn almost nothing, hella easy pass though. Take good notes for the exams. If you ever want to leave his class in the middle of lecture (after signing the attendance sheet), sneak out quietly from the back when he's facing the board or else he'll potentially chase you down.
He's a wise and intelligent professor. He can be brash but he's caring. He wants students to give it their best shot. His grading criteria is very specific and was tough to follow. He was very helpful during office hours so I was able to get through it.
Not a good professor. Bad english and hard to understand. Only memorization to pass class. Not actual learning.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
100%
Textbook Required
95%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.32 avg changeRatings by Course
PHYC71
4.0
(1)GOODJOKES
3.0
(1)PHYS4A
3.0
(1)PHYS50LA
3.0
(1)PHYS2BLAB
3.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
PHYSIC50
5.0
PHYS2A
5.0
PHYS4A
5.0
PHYS50LB
4.5
PHYS2BLAB
4.0