Sit in on algebra-based physics while taking calculus-based physics?

[philosonista]

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Hello, SDN,

I'm approaching my second year of prerequisites and I am a bit intimated by physics. I've opted to take calculus-based physics, which has a reputation as the harder one of the two general physics classes at my school. Do you think it would be helpful toward my comprehension of physics to sit in on an algebra-based class right before I attend my calculus-based class?

I've never heard of anyone do this, but I thought it might be a smart way to learn a difficult subject. Please let me know what you all think.

Thanks in advance. 🙂

 

[Ismet]

You'll be fine with calc-based physics. I took calc-based, and I understood physics a lot better than my friends who took alg-based. Calculus was developed to describe physics phenomena, so it makes a lot more sense to study it with calc. Alg-based is kind of a cop-out.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

youtube. your classes will be out of sync and you will be wasting your time. only way this could help is if you get the exact same material retaught w/o the calc.

 

[BABSstudent]

Hello, SDN,

I'm approaching my second year of prerequisites and I am a bit intimated by physics. I've opted to take calculus-based physics, which has a reputation as the harder one of the two general physics classes at my school. Do you think it would be helpful toward my comprehension of physics to sit in on an algebra-based class right before I attend my calculus-based class?

I've never heard of anyone do this, but I thought it might be a smart way to learn a difficult subject. Please let me know what you all think.

Thanks in advance. 🙂

Honestly, doing practice problems and visiting office hours during that time will probably help you more.

 

[philosonista]

Thank you, everyone. I always appreciate the responses. They're very helpful. 👍

 

[LuciusVorenus]

It won't help at all. If anything I found calc based to be way easier.

For example, in calc based they'll teach you how to derive the range equation from the kinematic equations and you'll be forced to derive it on your test before using it. In algebra based they tell you to just memorize it. This is kind of repeated throughout the entire series.

I know deriving SOUNDS harder, but it keeps you from having to memorizing a boat load of equations while also remembering when to use them.

Overall, I found calc based to be far more focused on you understanding the material as opposed to plug and chug. I thought it helped me out a bit on the MCAT as well since so much of it is conceptual rather than brute force calculations.

Just make sure you really focus during the first 2-3 weeks. The kinematics you learn in the very beginning is the basis for everything else you will learn that quarter with dynamics.

 

[bigdogrob4284]

That would be a big waste of time.

 

[JohnQuincyAdams]

It wouldn't be a true waste of time, but it would be time that could be used in a much better way. Doing practice problem for an extra 3 hours per week would make such a larger difference, in my opinion.

 

[physguy]

Don't think its worth your time. I often overhear students in alg-based physics having office hours, and its nothing like what you'll learn in calc-based. Especially E&M semester, besides a few equations overlap is minimal.

 

[487806]

Hello, SDN,

I'm approaching my second year of prerequisites and I am a bit intimated by physics. I've opted to take calculus-based physics, which has a reputation as the harder one of the two general physics classes at my school. Do you think it would be helpful toward my comprehension of physics to sit in on an algebra-based class right before I attend my calculus-based class?

I've never heard of anyone do this, but I thought it might be a smart way to learn a difficult subject. Please let me know what you all think.

Thanks in advance. 🙂

Don't waste your time. Calc-based physics will actually help you learn physics.