Physics Courses - Please Help

[dok101]

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Hi guys,

I'm planning on taking Physics 1 and 2 over the summer time. The state school I will be attending offers two Physics courses. Their descriptions are as follows:

College Physics - An integrated theory/laboratory general college physics course without calculus. Topics will include fundamental concepts of units, vectors, equilibrium, velocity and acceleration in linear and rotational motion, force, energy, momentum, fluids at rest and in motion, and oscillatory motion. Laboratory problems, experiments and report writing associated with the topics studied in the theory are performed.

General Physics - A fundamental, calculus based, physics course with laboratory offered primarily for students in Science curricula. Topics discussed include Mechanics, Wave Motion, Kinetic Theory, and Thermodynamics.


Will the College Physics class suffice for MCAT and admission purposes or would I be safer taking the General Physics (Calc based) class? Thanks for your help, guys.

 

[medanthgirl]

Hi there,

I took calc based physics in undergrad and didn't do so hot. I got a D first semester, and a C in the second semester. Now, 4 years later I have retaken 1st semester physics - algebra based - and got an A wohoo! I am planning to take second semester algebra based physics this summer at the same state school.

I opted for algebra based b/c 1) that's what will be on the MCAT and 2) i knew physics would be hard enough without struggling with calculus as well.

but for a shorter answer to your question - algebra based physics is totally 100% legit for med school and the mcat- indeed calc based people might have to 'relearn' the physics laws without the integrals and stuff.

but two physics courses like that back to back, that will be tough! i hope you're not planning on taking anything else or working more than 20hrs/week.

good luck!

 

[CheeseMonkey130]

I have to disagree with the above poster, you wouldn't have to '"relearn" the laws without the calculus, that doesn't make sense. The majority of physical laws that I know were written with calculus,of course these can be simplified into algabraic form. However, I would argue that knowing the relationships with calculus makes understanding what is going on much easier. Then of course, if you're not good at math and don't care much for physics, see it more as something you have to get through instead of something interesting, I don't see anything wrong with taking the algebra based version.

 

[Crake]

There is absolutely no reason and no benefit to taking calc-based physics if you want to go to medschool. You really will never use this stuff after the MCAT. Leave calc-based physics for engineers.

 

[CheeseMonkey130]

There is absolutely no reason and no benefit to taking calc-based physics if you want to go to medschool. You really will never use this stuff after the MCAT. Leave calc-based physics for engineers.

There are many specialties of medicine where a solid foundation in the physical sciences will not only come in handy, but will be necessary. I can't say that I have first-hand experience but I would bet radiology has something to do with physics...

 

[jonathani1]

There are many specialties of medicine where a solid foundation in the physical sciences will not only come in handy, but will be necessary. I can't say that I have first-hand experience but I would bet radiology has something to do with physics...

I repectfully disagree with CheeseMonkey. According to all advisors with which I have spoken, there is no necessity to take Calc-based physics. In fact, since the Calc Physics is an order of magnitude more mathematical, you'd better be darn sure you are able to score good grades before attempting it.

I will be entering the premed program at Harvard this fall and studying Physics 1 and 2. Even in the Harvard program these are Algebra-based.

 

[CheeseMonkey130]

I repectfully disagree with CheeseMonkey. According to all advisors with which I have spoken, there is no necessity to take Calc-based physics. In fact, since the Calc Physics is an order of magnitude more mathematical, you'd better be darn sure you are able to score good grades before attempting it.

I will be entering the premed program at Harvard this fall and studying Physics 1 and 2. Even in the Harvard program these are Algebra-based.

I haven't said that it's necessary to take calculus-based physics, in fact I don't see anything wrong with taking the algebra-based track. I've only disagreed with a couple of things mentioned. One, that calc-based physics students would have to "relearn" the algabraic form of physical relationships and two, that you'll never use physics after the MCAT. Cool quote by the way.

 

[Law2Doc]

I can't say that I have first-hand experience but I would bet radiology has something to do with physics...

I know a radiologist who teaches a course in "the physics of MRI" to med students. He frequently has indicated that in his experience med students remember absolutely nothing of even the most basic college physics by the time they get to his class, and that he's thus not sure why the schools even bother to require physics as a prereq...

Truth of the matter is that unless you are interested in physics, non-calc physics is perfectly adequate for premed.