physics?

[investing101]

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For those that have taken Calc based physics, how hard was it compared to non Calc? How will a calc based physics class differ?

 

[911 Turbo]

For those that have taken Calc based physics, how hard was it compared to non Calc? How will a calc based physics class differ?

All the people who take algebra based will tell you that cal based is easier because "you don't have to memorize" the formulas.

Trust me - this is not true. Cal based is a lot harder due to integration (no pun intended) of calculus into physics concepts.

 

[Josh7]

Honestly Calc based physics doesn't involve a ton of complex math. It's mostly simple integration and derivatives. I think the hardest part is probably using taylor series in E&M. Possibly fourier series?

I'm not sure if this is obvious but people in calc based physics are smarter and thus there is seldom a curve (at least at my school).

 

[investing101]

simple Calc I? or also Calc II ?

 

[Josh7]

simple Calc I? or also Calc II ?

Simple Calc I.

Only the engineering physics stuff involved anything besides calc I

 

[Geebeejay]

Calculus based physics is substantially harder definitely. However, I took life-science noncalc physics because my adviser said that would be smarter to take for a medical school applicant. Not sure how true that is, but just food for thought. And for the record, I was a math major.

 

[BigBlueBear]

If you're taking Physics for Engineers, it's probably gonna be tough. I took alg-based in high school then calc based for engineers in college, obviously the one in college was harder.

Point I'm trying to make here is that I don't know the answer to your question 😉

 

[JESSFALLING]

You can compare ~

Algebra-Based Physics: http://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics?k
vs.
Calc-Based Physics: http://oyc.yale.edu/physics

 

[ShenanigansMD]

this really depends on the school you go to...

but it's probably the same, minus the calc

 

[Ismet]

It very much depends on the school you go to. Ask some upperclassmen what they took. I took calc-based physics for engineers along with calc 1 and 2 my freshman year, and I really enjoyed it, whereas my friends who took algebra-based physics seemed to suffer through the sequence without really understanding it. I think calc-based can be considered "easier" because you're actually learning physics the way it's meant to be learned. Calculus was created to describe physical phenomena mathematically. With algebra, you're just memorizing a set of equations without fully understanding the science behind them.

It's true that the MCAT only tests algebra-based physics, but with an understanding of calc-based physics, I was able to derive some of the equations I forgot when I started the MCAT. You can memorize to your hearts content, but when your mind goes blank at 8am on MCAT day, you can have something to fall back on if you understand what the equations mean.

 

[investing101]

I took calc a little over one year ago and honestly didn't get an A but I did pass. Is calculus that involved in Statistics?

 

[FSU2013]

There isn't a huge difference. The basic stuff you learn in your first two semesters of physics with calc doesn't actually use much calc. The big difference is that in calc based physics, the derivations are done using calc. The homework and tests use very little calc. Having the ability to use calc makes life easier for the professor because there is much less "hand-waving."

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

Let me be honest with you. DO NOT take it with a bad professor, regardles of the type of math you need. Either can be easy, but physics with a bad professor is a bad idea.

 

[Josh7]

Let me be honest with you. DO NOT take it with a bad professor, regardles of the type of math you need. Either can be easy, but physics with a bad professor is a bad idea.

Physics and math are classes that the quality of your professor can really make or break it for you. With biology and chemistry it is somewhat straightforward to study the material on your own but with math and physics a firm understanding of the fundamentals is most important and can really only be delivered by a good teacher.

 

[Charles Darwin]

Physics and math are classes that the quality of your professor can really make or break it for you. With biology and chemistry it is somewhat straightforward to study the material on your own but with math and physics a firm understanding of the fundamentals is most important and can really only be delivered by a good teacher.

+1

The reason I don't have a 4.0 is because I had a math professor first semester who failed the majority of the class. Literally 60-70% of the class either dropped or failed by the time finals were over. I'm sure at any reasonable school, this guy would have been out on his ass after a few semesters, but not at mi escuela...


So for the love of God, tread carefully before you sign up for certain math classes. They can potentially break you.