Frik, I hate physics...

[vin5cent0]

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Nothing good regarding physics will be discussed in this thread, that said I feel comfortable answering your question.

No. Nothing. Absolutely nothing interesting will be discussed. You will figure out how much "pushing" you have to do to get a rolling ball from A or B. You will turn that ball into a cylinder, then a hollow cylinder then put it on a ramp then put it going backwards on a ramp then put it swinging in the air vertically then swing it in the air horizontally. Thats physics I.

Physics II, you can take those same objects and put them close to magnets and charges and figure out how many electrons will jump from one to another, or figure out random fields in the middle of no where.

That should be the syllabus rewritten. Good luck!

Edit: As a follow up, those questions are actually discussed in depth in ethics of physics courses or something of the like. Occasionally a prof will touch on it if they are interested in it, but 9.99 times out of 10 you will never hear about it.

So true. I thought physics was going to be interesting. Turns out physics (for me) was all about solving problems that really happen (I.e disregarding friction). I'm not sure why an interesting topic like physics has to be reduced to "how much force does it take to push this box up a 30* incline, assuming no friction, blah blah blah".

 

[Stumpyman]

How much does it matter if you take calc based physics or regular?

 

[tn4596]

I took regular at my school...it was alright..didnt even need to come to class and just show up for tests.
I took calc so I reckon calc based physics will make more sense...but regular will be easier to get an A since the people in there are probbaly bad at math and the calc based one will be full of engineers...I made the feasible decision.
If you school isnt an engineering school, I would say take calc-phys cuz it would make more sense and prepare you better for MCAT, plus it prolly gonna impress adcom that you took a supposedly harder class... lol

 

[postbacpremed87]

W's do not hurt at all in any number IF AND ONLY IF you have a legitimate reason for them. I agree with you on physics though. Who in their right mind loves physics? I loathe it. I just wanted to get through it. I did well, but honestly I would rather be poked in the eye 🙂poke🙂 than sit through electromagnetism or mirrors again. Good God.

Your GPA will still be relatively high...I am not sure why your freaking out. I am taking Physics I right now, its a pain in the ass but the thought of getting it over with is deff better than dragging it out over a whole year. Also if you really dont want your precious GPA to take a hit, then drop the class, and loose your money but avoid a C. I am assuming you have never dropped a class before so up to 3 Ws cant hurt. Good luck.

 

[Juicec]

How much does it matter if you take calc based physics or regular?

Its algebra physics vs. calc-based physics. In a real world setting algebra physics teaches you very little as to how the "formulas" actually work. With that said if you want to try to actually "learn magnetism" or what ever other topic they cover, I would suggest for you to take the calc-based. It is of course harder as you are not just manipulating variables, but rather integrating and understanding what derivatives actually are (i.e. Change in charge over change in time). We actually had calc II as a requirement for physics II, not just a coreq as our prof was really intense. We had to do second level differential equations on some of our tests. At the end of the day despite how much I hated it I think I'd do it again. For the amount of money I'm paying for school I feel I deserve the best education I can get my hands on.

As far as med school is concerned, algebra physics prepares you for the MCAT (perhaps calc-based given the longer study times and difficulty of the course work further prepares you) and maybe there are a few adcoms out there who look for calc-physics grades over algebra; but there wouldn't be a decision made on your admission on that alone.

In summary, take the calc if you are man enough, if you are a wussy little girl then you should take the algebra. 👍

 

[postbacpremed87]

Do whatever one you will get an A in. Period. All that is required is algebra based, so if you are a math whiz, then why not own algebra based and get an A. We all know A's are better for your application than looking "honorable" and getting B's or C's in calc based.

Its algebra physics vs. calc-based physics. In a real world setting algebra physics teaches you very little as to how the "formulas" actually work. With that said if you want to try to actually "learn magnetism" or what ever other topic they cover, I would suggest for you to take the calc-based. It is of course harder as you are not just manipulating variables, but rather integrating and understanding what derivatives actually are (i.e. Change in charge over change in time). We actually had calc II as a requirement for physics II, not just a coreq as our prof was really intense. We had to do second level differential equations on some of our tests. At the end of the day despite how much I hated it I think I'd do it again. For the amount of money I'm paying for school I feel I deserve the best education I can get my hands on.

As far as med school is concerned, algebra physics prepares you for the MCAT (perhaps calc-based given the longer study times and difficulty of the course work further prepares you) and maybe there are a few adcoms out there who look for calc-physics grades over algebra; but there wouldn't be a decision made on your admission on that alone.

In summary, take the calc if you are man enough, if you are a wussy little girl then you should take the algebra. 👍

 

[Juicec]

Or you could just be a champ like some of us...... .... .... .... ....... and get an A in the calc-based 😱 👍

 

[postbacpremed87]

It's okay. I've already shown my math proficiency by getting a mathematics minor. Try combinatorial mathematics or calculus based statistics. Take your "calc based " physics and move on. I enjoyed owning physics with my solid A. It's all that's needed and it prepares you just as well for the MCAT. If they required calc based, then they would explicitly state it. The end. My post was way too logical for the debate to even continue.

Or you could just be a champ like some of us...... .... .... .... ....... and get an A in the calc-based 😱 👍

 

[Juicec]

It's okay. I've already shown my math proficiency by getting a mathematics minor. Try combinatorial mathematics or calculus based statistics. Take your "calc based " physics and move on. I enjoyed owning physics with my solid A. It's all that's needed and it prepares you just as well for the MCAT. If they required calc based, then they would explicitly state it. The end. My post was way too logical for the debate to even continue.

I bet you my dad could beat up your dad.

 

[postbacpremed87]

My dad is dead...idiot

I bet you my dad could beat up your dad.

 

[Juicec]

My dad is dead...idiot

I bet you my mom could beat up your mom.

 

[postbacpremed87]

inb4someoneelsecallsthisguyimmature

I bet you my mom could beat up your mom.

 

[Juicec]

I am not sure how suggesting how your family member is inferior to mine in a brawl is immature. I bet you 100 sarcastic pesos that my mom could beat up your mom and you called me immature. This **** just got real.

 

[pfaction]

I'm still here. Not getting an A, but most likely won't get a C either. B-ish, hoping B+.

 

[DKTacts]

My dad is dead...idiot

Your internet humor detector is broken.

 

[deleted393595]

Looking forward to some fantastic advice or perhaps a copy of the final exam, either or will work for me at this point.

Quick! Get Stephen Hawking on the phone! He'll tell you everything you need to know.

 

[herbiederbie]

Nothing good regarding physics will be discussed in this thread, that said I feel comfortable answering your question.

No. Nothing. Absolutely nothing interesting will be discussed. You will figure out how much "pushing" you have to do to get a rolling ball from A or B. You will turn that ball into a cylinder, then a hollow cylinder then put it on a ramp then put it going backwards on a ramp then put it swinging in the air vertically then swing it in the air horizontally. Thats physics I.

Physics II, you can take those same objects and put them close to magnets and charges and figure out how many electrons will jump from one to another, or figure out random fields in the middle of no where.

That should be the syllabus rewritten. Good luck!

Edit: As a follow up, those questions are actually discussed in depth in ethics of physics courses or something of the like. Occasionally a prof will touch on it if they are interested in it, but 9.99 times out of 10 you will never hear about it.

Oh man, this is awesome. 🙂 I'm sorry I know this is an old thread, but I really needed to blow off some steam from not enjoying the summer physics class that I am currently 1 week into. Maybe I'm just slap happy from studying too much, but this made me laugh until I cried. Thank you Juicec, wherever you are!

 

[herbiederbie]

OK OK, so you can also put those same shapes and throw them off a cliff.

One really good one was we had a bear on a tight rope going to get a basket of cookies and we had to figure out the tension on the rope towards the wall from the end of the tight rope. The whole time I was just thinking, man, this bear loves his cookies. Then I calculated that the rope would break and I was just like, man, the bear died for his cookies.

Physics I is a depressing time for us all.

Oh yes, and this one, too!

 

[NightGod]

OK OK, so you can also put those same shapes and throw them off a cliff.

One really good one was we had a bear on a tight rope going to get a basket of cookies and we had to figure out the tension on the rope towards the wall from the end of the tight rope. The whole time I was just thinking, man, this bear loves his cookies. Then I calculated that the rope would break and I was just like, man, the bear died for his cookies.

Physics I is a depressing time for us all.

I have to admit, I told this story to my lab partner the first week of class. For the rest of the semester, "dead bear" was our under-the-breath response to any insane problem we saw. That and "because he would die", the story of which is on our first or second homework assignment, we had a question about velocity and acceleration that involved someone trying to pass a truck when another truck was coming head-on in the other lane. The question ended up being "Should the driver try to pass the truck?" with the follow-up of "Why or why not?" I knew intuitively that it wouldn't work, so answered "no" for the first part. In the second part, my lab partner wrote a half-page massive description why the physics showed it would be a bad idea and got full credit (which translated to something like .001% on the final grade). I, on the other hand, wrote "Because he would die!" and actually got half-credit for it. I figured the 45 mins of my life to write out the response was well worth the .0005% I lost on my overall grade. My partner was pissed because she didn't do the math before she wasted all that time.

 

[mapandterritory]

Long live the death of physics!

That makes me sad. 🙁