Calc I or no?

[040111333]

---

Members do not see this ad.

,

 

[doctorgirldaisy]

Not at all. My Calc 1 and Calc 2 were virtually useless for College physics. In my school it is called Physics without calculus. However, if you are taking "University" physics then yeah, it is crucial to take those maths. My school calls university physics- Physics WITH calculus.

 

[deleted407021]

If you are going to take calc based physics, then you need calc I, if you are taking
algebra based, then trig is as high as you should go. Calculus isn't too bad if you nail the concepts early on. If you are generally comfortable with math, you can handle calc I. Good luck!

 

[Doudline]

Hey guys,

I was just wondering...is it better to take calculus I before starting the general physics requirements for medical school? I mean, does the knowledge from calculus help in anyway for understanding general physics?

If it doesn't matter, would you suggest at least taking calc before writing the actual MCAT?

If you plan to take calculus-based physics:

-For Mechanics (the first physics class), you can take Calculus 1 concurrently with your course. There is BARELY any calculus in that class anyway;

-For the second class (Electricity & Magnetism), it depends on your school I guess. Mine requires Calculus 2 (Integral calculus) to have been taken before enrolling into the class, but I don't think that's very common. You can probably be fine with just having taken Calculus 1 (Differential calculus).

And no, having learned calculus (or having been through calculus-based physics - as opposed to algebra-based) will not help you any on the MCAT.

 

[physguy]

I still don't understand how anyone can "understand" physics without calc. All of the equations must seem totally arbitrary. Arguably the most basic equation of mechanics, equating acceleration and position, is utterly incomprehensible without calculus.

 

[Strudel19]

A lot of people don't care about understanding physics though.

 

[physguy]

I mean, does the knowledge from calculus help in anyway for understanding general physics?

OP literally asked about understanding verbatim. Not whether people care about it.

 

[Strudel19]

OP literally asked about understanding verbatim. Not whether people care about it.

Thanks for the update Big Ben 👍

 

[487806]

Hey guys,

I was just wondering...is it better to take calculus I before starting the general physics requirements for medical school? I mean, does the knowledge from calculus help in anyway for understanding general physics?

If it doesn't matter, would you suggest at least taking calc before writing the actual MCAT?

no

 

[nateriver]

you dont need calc for med school, its not a prereq, physics is, but from what the premed advisor at my school has told me, taking non-calc based physics is absolutely fine for the mcat and med school, and most people who aren't math majors avoid calc based physics anyway b/c you're more likely to get a worse grade, unless you're math inclined, or have some desire to take the more difficult physics class, i would go with the trig based calc....

 

[040111333]

If you plan to take calculus-based physics:

-For Mechanics (the first physics class), you can take Calculus 1 concurrently with your course. There is BARELY any calculus in that class anyway;

-For the second class (Electricity & Magnetism), it depends on your school I guess. Mine requires Calculus 2 (Integral calculus) to have been taken before enrolling into the class, but I don't think that's very common. You can probably be fine with just having taken Calculus 1 (Differential calculus).

And no, having learned calculus (or having been through calculus-based physics - as opposed to algebra-based) will not help you any on the MCAT.

Okay so is it always mechanics first and then electricity and magnetism that is taught in general physics? Because I thought those were two different classes that are taken after general physics....

 

[040111333]

Okay so is it always mechanics first and then electricity and magnetism that is taught in general physics? Because I thought those were two different classes that are taken after general physics....

Also, does anyone know if schools make us memorize the equations for physics? Or do they give you the equations as a formula sheet to use on the exam? Worse, do they make you memorize DERIVATIONS??

 

[040111333]

And how important is taking the physics classes BEFORE taking the mcat? I mean, can we not take physics and just study it on our own (just the portions that will appear on the MCAT) and still be fine and ready for the exam?

Has anyone ever done this before?

 

[487806]

And how important is taking the physics classes BEFORE taking the mcat? I mean, can we not take physics and just study it on our own (just the portions that will appear on the MCAT) and still be fine and ready for the exam?

Has anyone ever done this before?

None of the prereqs are necessary for MCAT prep because they aren't designed to help you for the MCAT. Self-study, if done wisely and efficiently, will help you do well for MCAT.

 

[physguy]

Also, does anyone know if schools make us memorize the equations for physics? Or do they give you the equations as a formula sheet to use on the exam? Worse, do they make you memorize DERIVATIONS??

You're more likely to be memorizing equations in alg-based than calc-based. Calc will involve more deriving them for your own use (likely to use in a problem, not as a problem). However it is somewhat common in both for professors to allow equation sheets. Sometimes these are more hindrance than help, though. Best case scenario is to memorize a simple, general equation and be able to modify it and implement it in different problems. As for your other question, mechanics is usually first then e/m (often known as physics 1 and physics 2 respectively). Part of the reason for this is that you need more calc for e/m than mechanics, so students with no calc experience can come in as freshman and take mechanics+calc I first semester than e/m+calc II second semester.

 

[700003]

You're more likely to be memorizing equations in alg-based than calc-based. Calc will involve more deriving them for your own use (likely to use in a problem, not as a problem). However it is somewhat common in both for professors to allow equation sheets. Sometimes these are more hindrance than help, though. Best case scenario is to memorize a simple, general equation and be able to modify it and implement it in different problems. As for your other question, mechanics is usually first then e/m (often known as physics 1 and physics 2 respectively). Part of the reason for this is that you need more calc for e/m than mechanics, so students with no calc experience can come in as freshman and take mechanics+calc I first semester than e/m+calc II second semester.

Is it necessary or preferred for students to take Calc II though?

 

[ToldYouSo]

Okay so is it always mechanics first and then electricity and magnetism that is taught in general physics? Because I thought those were two different classes that are taken after general physics....

Yeah that's usually how the general physics sequence goes. The classes you're talking about are upper level courses that go into higher detail, taken after general physics. At my school they are statics and dynamics (mechanics) and electromagnetic theory (electromagnetism).

 

[physguy]

Is it necessary or preferred for students to take Calc II though?

No, unless you plan on taking calc physics, in which case you'll need it as a co/prereq for physics 2.