Physics Prereq Problem

Started by Ragtime
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Ragtime

Ragtime

An underdog
10+ Year Member
At my UC, only calculus based physics is offered but I keep hearing advice on how I should spare myself the effort and take a trig/algebra based physics to fulfill the physics prereq. Additionally, I have a weakness in Calculus. I'm finishing up Calc I and Calc II is required to take physics at my current university. This would take a huge toll on my GPA as I'm barely passing Calc I as is. And calculus is not even a prereq for most schools nor my major so I don't think that's really worth it. Would it be bad to take an algebra/trig based physics at a local community college?
 
I don't know the ucla system, but I've taken calc based physics I & II. Neither required anything other than basic calc stuff (basic derivation and integration skills). However, I had a stereotypically crazy white-messy-hair type of professor who would go into ridiculous hyperbolic substitution, integration, and some other vector calc & matrix algebra methods to teach some Electricity/Magnetism topics.

I actually wish I would've taken baseline-human level Physics instead.
 
Ragtime said:
At my UC, only calculus based physics is offered but I keep hearing advice on how I should spare myself the effort and take a trig/algebra based physics to fulfill the physics prereq. Additionally, I have a weakness in Calculus. I'm finishing up Calc I and Calc II is required to take physics at my current university. This would take a huge toll on my GPA as I'm barely passing Calc I as is. And calculus is not even a prereq for most schools nor my major so I don't think that's really worth it. Would it be bad to take an algebra/trig based physics at a local community college?
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It would be better than taking the calc based physics and doing bad on a subject you will never use again in your life.
 
It's not your fault if your college doesn't offer the class. Try taking it during the summer at your CC.
 
swollcat said:
Wow I'm almost in the exact same predicament except mines a bit more tricky. At my UC they only offered two types of physics - both calculus based except one was for life science majors and the other for engineers.

I took physics 2 EM calc based for life sci majors and got a C many years ago. Now I don't know if I should retake considering i don't remember an ounce of calc. I just retook physics mechanics trig based and got an A. Should i take physics 2 calc based for the grade replace not knowing any calc or finish off phys 2 trig?
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Nobody can tell you for sure, but if you aren't confident of your Calculus skills, you might want to try working on those skills before you attempt a course retake.
 
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