<p>I am currently in college right now taking calculus based physics 1 (General Physics 1), I feel like no matter how hard I try, I still am struggling to master it. My goal is to study ECE (Electrical computer engineering) at an engineering school and my only requirements for physics are Physics 1 and 2. Which is basically what you only take freshman year. I know Physics 2 gets more into electricity and magnetism which is definatly a focus and an importance for my major. So here's my question, if I am struggling with Physics 1, is it an early alert telling me this isn't the right path for me or is it still managable? In other words, how important do you need to be a master of physics to succeed in becoming an ECE...? Also how much of the material learned in physics 1 do you need to be good at for mastering Physics 2? When replying please say what you are majoring or what you majored in, thank you in advance!</p>
<p>Physics E&M will be more of an indicator of how well you will do in EE. However, many students find E&M more difficult than mechanics in physics. E&M also requires more advanced math.</p>
<p>At many engineering schools, Physics one is a tough and challenging class for all. (I had Physics AP credit and took Physics 3 my freshman year, but I seem to recall my friends saying average for the first exam was something like 37). Just grit your teeth and get through it. Then see how next semester goes. Good luck! </p>
<p>@ucbalumnus but how much of the material from physics 1 is needed to master that part of physics…? E&M physics is taught in Physics 2 right ? Or is that a separate subject ? Im only doing lousy in mechanics part basically the ones with motion and forces.</p>
<p>You will need to understand force, acceleration, vectors, energy, and the like from mechanics, as the concepts will be assumed and used in E&M.</p>
<p>Ughhhh 
lol thanks for the info, what’s your major or was your major ?</p>
<p>Physics I is probably the most important course in every engineering major - E&M is pretty heavily based on the core concepts of mechanics (energy and momentum) and so are all future engineering classes.</p>
<p>That said, the physics series is a pain for everyone. Unless it’s something that you simply cannot get through no matter how hard you try, I suggest you just grind your way through it. It’s not supposed to be pleasant.</p>
<p>Sometimes it is really hard to tell that it’s the teaching style or the professor that is making the learning difficult. I would study a supplemental book (e.g Feynman’s lectures in Physics or Schaum’s outlines) and get help from other individuals (TA’s, if your college has them). Don’t be intimidated by the looming prospect of the University, but, yes, do try diligently to learn the materials. Some of the concepts, such as free-body diagrams, and how to approach modeling a system, are key to most engineering. E&M will be more germane to ECE, so take that course before thinking about majors further.</p>
<p>A strong understanding of physics I concepts leads to a deeper understanding of material down the line. For example deriving radiation pressure from massless photons usng Newtons second law. The introductory physics topics really are first principles which you can always fall back on when you’re stuck on a problem later on in engineering and physics. If your answer is greater than c or you’ve gained energy in your closed system, you’ve done something wrong. All that said, I feel the most important take away from physics 1 for E&M (or any course afterward) is an appreciation for manipulating equations to get things in the form you want (conservation of energy and momentum equations, being comfortable with a cross product/derivative/integral). Algebra Olympics is a term I use often. Source: Junior Aerospace (minor in astrophysics)</p>
<p>Bump, more replies please, my career is on the line here Lol! Please remember to state your major when replying Lol.</p>
<p>Yes, I think math is a skill you need to have.</p>
<p>@Drgoogle that wasn’t my question though lol</p>
<p>“bump, more replies please, my career is on the line here” … Take a breath. You are a freshman. And we’ve told you that many engineering freshman struggle with physics. Why the crisis? Are you facing a course withdrawal deadline? </p>
<p>Reminder - You also have campus resources (like your prof, your adviser, upperclassmen). They can help you sort through this. If the material is not your thing, it’s probably ok. If you can’t hack intense problem sets in general, then that is a concern. </p>
<p>I thought I answered your question in the title of this thread if you are weak in physics and you can still succeed in engineering, isn’t that the question?</p>
<p>@colorado_mom I’m a sophmore not a freshman lol, its just that I just changed my major but yeah i guess i can be called freshman for this matter ? But anyways so basically what you’re telling me is that I don’t need to be like REALLY good at physics to be a successful engineer since “many engineer freshman struggle with physics” ? But would I have to eventually be an expert as the courses progresses ?</p>
<p>You need math more than physics.</p>
<p>You use both math and physics very frequently. I think it’s a moot point which you need “more” in EE.</p>
<p>@Drgoogle for ECE ? Are you sure ? I heard its more of a focus on E & M physics</p>
<p>Ships, I have a BSEE and MS in ECE or CE. You need to pass all the lower levels physics and math but once you get into the core engineering courses, very little. The most that I’ve encountered is physical electronics where it went into details the doping of NP for transistor t work, IIRC. Not the same as regular physics. I withdrew from high school physics because of language problem. I didn’t understand half of what was discussed so I’m not great at Physics. I’m always good in math.</p>
<p>@drgoogle thank god!! lol thanks so much! ;D what did you major in college ?</p>