Physics or Physics w/ Calculus???

[MaybeCO2010]

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Hello,

I am new here! I was wondering if yall could help me out. I know that I have to take physics because some schools require it, actually most. But I don't know which course to take, either the physics alone or physics with calculus. I just finished taking calculus I this summer (got an A!!!!). But I don't plan on taking cal II or III. So which of these 2 courses would you recommend. And to those who have taken either or. Can you please list some of the concepts that were discussed in your class??

Thanks,

MaybeCO2010

 

[aubieRx]

technically i ought not to be posting here any more but i coudlnt resist answering this question

do what the vast majority of applicants do: take trig physics unless you need calc for your major. Why bust ur bubble for something u dont need and might bring your gpa down

that is unless u like to dress up in star trek uniforms every sunday. then u might love the extra physics work.



general physics 1... basically it was newtons laws, forces (friction, etc), projectile motion, thermodynamics, rotational motion. lots of block and pulley and monkey with sled on incline stuff.

trig physics I, the only trick is reading the first chapter and learning all the trig stuff you need to know and then its actually not too bad.

 

[crossjb]

I'm w/aubieRx on this. Here are my simple views on both:

Physics w/calculus =

Physics w/o calculus = 🙂

I see no advantage for a pre-pharmacy student to take calculus over trig-based. I doubt the added difficulty will impress an admission committee, however if you truly love math and want to be challenged, by all means take the calculus-based.

 

[starsweet]

There are some schools that require calculus-based physics. Make sure the schools you are applying to require trig-based if you decide to take that one. I think it would be safer to take the calc-based one though I might be biased since I took that anyway for engineering. 🙂

 

[koby_2004]

I was forced to take Calc-based physics b/c the school I was at didn't offer the basic physics in the spring, and I needed it by this fall. It was unreasonably hard, and I had to work my butt off for an A. If possible, take the basic physics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

 

[JustMeAgain]

The best advice is to check with the schools you want to attend. FYI if you want to go to ucsf as a out of state student calc based physics is required apparently.

Hello,

I am new here! I was wondering if yall could help me out. I know that I have to take physics because some schools require it, actually most. But I don't know which course to take, either the physics alone or physics with calculus. I just finished taking calculus I this summer (got an A!!!!). But I don't plan on taking cal II or III. So which of these 2 courses would you recommend. And to those who have taken either or. Can you please list some of the concepts that were discussed in your class??

Thanks,

MaybeCO2010

 

[laura_mideon]

I took algebra/trig based physics 1 and 2, I found them okay, got A's in both. But when I was looking over some of my friends' calc based physics exams and problems it seemed like a lot more plug'n'chug with calculus formulas or just taking the integral/derivative of stuff without having to apply too many boring physics concepts, they agreed, and I know a few people who went from algebra physics to calc physics and found the calc physics much easier....if you got an A in calculus (and congrats on that!! 😀 ) then obviously you're good at calculus so you're probably better off in that class. I kind of wish I had taken the calc based one, but either way, general physics 1 and 2 are not hard courses.

 

[Requiem]

laura: it totally depends on the school.

The difference between our calculus based physics and our non-calc based physics was HUGE.

We had an extremely difficult course of physics, differentiating triple integral formulas based on the electric potential of a hollow disk in the z-plane with an infinitely long rod running through the middle, etc. Some hard concepts to get your head around, meanwhile the trig based were calculating resistance in a circuit.

 

[MaybeCO2010]

Hello,

Thanks for the congrats! I actually thought pre-cal was harder than cal. There was just SO much formulas you had to memorize. I have heard that either class is easy at my school, but I just wanted to get more of a consensus. However, I think I am just going to take the general physics.

I am applying to all 4 Florida schools (FAMU, UF, NOVA, PBAU). I know only UF and FAMU require physics and I belive it is general physics they are asking for (last time I checked).

Thanks for all your imputs!

MaybeCO2010