Physics

[HopelessGirl]

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Yeah that book is really useful. Don't worry, I didn't understand AP physics in high school as well and my grades on exams ranged from 54%-100%... it was a really difficult class but really prepared me for the two AP Physics C exams and gave me the foundation in college. Point is, high school physics performance shouldn't hinder you from doing well in college. Utilize all your resources available and be in good terms with your prof and TAs, and you'll be good.

Okay, thank you. I will take it.

Now I have another thing to worry about... Biochemistry. The other Biology is offered at the same time as Physics with Calculus. How hard is Biochemistry without much Organic Chemistry?

 

[487806]

Okay, thank you. I will take it.

Now I have another thing to worry about... Biochemistry. The other Biology is offered at the same time as Physics with Calculus. How hard is Biochemistry without much Organic Chemistry?

Remember. Be confident that you'll destroy that class and rock on. It'll give you the motivation to do well in class.

It really depends on what the focus of biochem is. The biochem I took was strictly a metabolism class (although the lab was more related to ochem/pchem). I wasn't required to memorize the mechanisms of pathways, but I was expected to study all the reaction pathways, enzymes, substrates/intermediates, regulation etc. All I could say is sustained repetition. Keep drawing pathways several times till you get it and you'll be good to go. However, if you're required to memorize the actual mechanism, you may be in a disadvantage without having ochem. Check what the course description is.

Now however, if your biochem class is a structurally related course (like proteins, biomolecules, membranes etc.), then that class is similar to any bio class. Memorize and repeat. Not really ochem-related.

 

[frosted_flake]

Quick poll. What is everyone's major? Physical sciences? Biochemistry, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering?

Biology but I am in algebra based physics. Simply because it is the only section that fit my course schedule with work 🙂

 

[HopelessGirl]

Thank you! I should be fine. 🙂
Did you do any problems that weren't in the book? I heard the solutions manual offers only a select few answers.

 

[487806]

Thank you! I should be fine. 🙂
Did you do any problems that weren't in the book? I heard the solutions manual offers only a select few answers.

If you're talking about physics, I only did problems from the book. The solution manual (not the answer key in the back of the book) provides all detailed solutions to the problems. AFAIK, there isn't a "student-only" or "instructor-only" version of the solutions manual, so you should be ok.

Biochemistry I just used the lecture slides.

 

[moisne]

Well premeds are really smart here too... And I don't think I'll understand the material if I take algebra-based.. but oh well. I realize I'm screwed either way.

1. How are you in math? Does it come easily?
2. Have you at least taken calculus 1-3?

If calculus confuses you, calc based physics will just confuse you more as you worry about the physics knowledge AND struggle to perform calc based calculations.

 

[hmockingbird]

I would maybe ask people from your school who have taken the calc-based class before committing? Because technically the physics class I took in college was calc-based (or the "physics for science/math majors" class) but we didn't really do a lot with calc. So it depends on the prof. Mine spent a lot of time making sure we understood the calc concepts - he expected us to have some familiarity with it, but reviewed a lot. And he didn't focus too much on getting into more complex equations, more just like explaining the calc background for the algebra type physics but we weren't typically responsible for knowing all the derivations and everything. We did do some calc-based graph applications. I'm probably a little biased because physics was one of my best subjects, but I definitely got the feeling our class wasn't as hard as it could have been, so it might be a good idea to find out the reputation of physics profs at your school before being scared away from the calc class (or the algebra one!).

 

[HopelessGirl]

If you're talking about physics, I only did problems from the book. The solution manual (not the answer key in the back of the book) provides all detailed solutions to the problems. AFAIK, there isn't a "student-only" or "instructor-only" version of the solutions manual, so you should be ok.

Biochemistry I just used the lecture slides.

Thanks!

 

[HopelessGirl]

1. How are you in math? Does it come easily?
2. Have you at least taken calculus 1-3?

If calculus confuses you, calc based physics will just confuse you more as you worry about the physics knowledge AND struggle to perform calc based calculations.

Strong in Calc, I took 1-2, and plan on taking 3 along with Physics, unless that's a bad idea. I can push Physics back a quarter.

 

[HopelessGirl]

I would maybe ask people from your school who have taken the calc-based class before committing? Because technically the physics class I took in college was calc-based (or the "physics for science/math majors" class) but we didn't really do a lot with calc. So it depends on the prof. Mine spent a lot of time making sure we understood the calc concepts - he expected us to have some familiarity with it, but reviewed a lot. And he didn't focus too much on getting into more complex equations, more just like explaining the calc background for the algebra type physics but we weren't typically responsible for knowing all the derivations and everything. We did do some calc-based graph applications. I'm probably a little biased because physics was one of my best subjects, but I definitely got the feeling our class wasn't as hard as it could have been, so it might be a good idea to find out the reputation of physics profs at your school before being scared away from the calc class (or the algebra one!).

Yeah, when I look at the prof's webpage, it doesn't seem like Calc will be the issue for me in the class. If anything, I should understand the concepts more.