What is the difference between Calculus based Physics and Algebra based?

[Wanderforhope]

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Stupid question. I just can't figure this out or if I'm going to be over my head.

I go to a liberal arts college that has Calculus 1 as it's pre-req for Physics II that I'm enrolled in when the summer hits. I transferred from another college in the same state with a Physics I credit. I have no earthly idea with what I was taking was Calculus based or not. The class was for Biology majors though, but it transferred correctly. I'm fine with calculus, but it's been like 2 years since I've taken it. I'm assuming that I did have Calculus based Physics since there was some really hard questions, not just a plug-in-chug problems?

 

[y0ssarian87]

Stupid question. I just can't figure this out or if I'm going to be over my head.

I go to a liberal arts college that has Calculus 1 as it's pre-req for Physics II that I'm enrolled in when the summer hits. I transferred from another college in the same state with a Physics I credit. I have no earthly idea with what I was taking was Calculus based or not. The class was for Biology majors though, but it transferred correctly. I'm fine with calculus, but it's been like 2 years since I've taken it. I'm assuming that I did have Calculus based Physics since there was some really hard questions, not just a plug-in-chug problems?

Did you use integrals and derivatives to solve mechanics problems?

 

[Skrumpy]

Stupid question. I just can't figure this out or if I'm going to be over my head.

I go to a liberal arts college that has Calculus 1 as it's pre-req for Physics II that I'm enrolled in when the summer hits. I transferred from another college in the same state with a Physics I credit. I have no earthly idea with what I was taking was Calculus based or not. The class was for Biology majors though, but it transferred correctly. I'm fine with calculus, but it's been like 2 years since I've taken it. I'm assuming that I did have Calculus based Physics since there was some really hard questions, not just a plug-in-chug problems?

Did you use integrals and derivatives to solve mechanics problems?

Hmm we didn't get into integrals until Calc 2 (on a semester based system). Mostly Calc 1 is doing differentiation and all of the associated rules that go along with it (i.e. using the chain rule, product rule, quotient rule, etc). Back when I was worried about this same issue I was going to take the calc based physics as I heard it was easier (as many of the problems are built around using calc). I was told that the algebra based versions of physics can be harder because it is built on a foundation of calc (no clue if this is actually true and I'm sure it varies from individual to individual). Either way I ended up having to take the algebra based physics as that was all that was offered during the summer. If you are decent at math you won't really have a problem as physics is really just a bunch of word problems. I guess I wouldn't take the calc based though if you have no clue what I was talking about above (with derivatives and the associated rules). If you are "fine with calculus" then I wouldn't worry about it, as the math is not the hard part. It's knowing how to setup the problems.

Either way, wouldn't the easiest thing be to just call your old school and ask or maybe look on their webpage for the course number?

 

[y0ssarian87]

Hmm we didn't get into integrals until Calc 2 (on a semester based system). Mostly Calc 1 is doing differentiation and all of the associated rules that go along with it (i.e. using the chain rule, product rule, quotient rule, etc). Back when I was worried about this same issue I was going to take the calc based physics as I heard it was easier (as many of the problems are built around using calc). I was told that the algebra based versions of physics can be harder because it is built on a foundation of calc (no clue if this is actually true and I'm sure it varies from individual to individual). Either way I ended up having to take the algebra based physics as that was all that was offered during the summer. If you are decent at math you won't really have a problem as physics is really just a bunch of word problems. I guess I wouldn't take the calc based though if you have no clue what I was talking about above (with derivatives and the associated rules). If you are "fine with calculus" then I wouldn't worry about it, as the math is not the hard part. It's knowing how to setup the problems.

Either way, wouldn't the easiest thing be to just call your old school and ask or maybe look on their webpage for the course number?

Ah, I honestly don't remember the difference in Calc I and II as I took it as Calc BC in high school.

Surprisingly my university never mentions that my physics course was calculus-based in its course description or syllabus. You might need to get additional information from the school if the course description doesn't specify.

 

[Skrumpy]

Ah, I honestly don't remember the difference in Calc I and II as I took it as Calc BC in high school.

Surprisingly my university never mentions that my physics course was calculus-based in its course description or syllabus. You might need to get additional information from the school if the course description doesn't specify.

Ya the big differences are Calc 1 = Differentiation, Calc 2 = Integrals (at least on the semester system). The only reason I know which physics I took because I remember ruminating over the 2 possibilities myself, much like the OP.

 

[Jibby321]

Stupid question. I just can't figure this out or if I'm going to be over my head.

I go to a liberal arts college that has Calculus 1 as it's pre-req for Physics II that I'm enrolled in when the summer hits. I transferred from another college in the same state with a Physics I credit. I have no earthly idea with what I was taking was Calculus based or not. The class was for Biology majors though, but it transferred correctly. I'm fine with calculus, but it's been like 2 years since I've taken it. I'm assuming that I did have Calculus based Physics since there was some really hard questions, not just a plug-in-chug problems?

At my school there is college physics (pre req of trig) and general physics that has a co req of calc 2. I took calc one on a semester system and we covered alot of integration. Majority of pharmacy schools that I looked into and applied to just require the algebra/trig physics. But I'm sure the calc based physics may make you "more competitive." Anyways good luck.