<p>Because I'm pretty good at math/programming, but I kinda suck at (and don't really enjoy) physics. Although it could have just been that our physics teacher wasn't very good, but I don't really think that's the case.</p>
<p>EE: 2 semesters of physics, plus 1-2 courses in each of circuits, optics, and electromagnetics. All of which require a pretty decent understanding of physics.</p>
<p>CS:1-2 semesters of physics, after that, will depend on your college. Usually won't need it though, unless you have a specific need.</p>
<p>I am also interested in what people think about this issue. I am very interested in EE but I didn't perform very well in my E&M class...I did very well in my two mechanics, thermo, fluids, etc classes. I still enjoy physics...but perhaps the poor performance in E&M means that EE would not be a very good choice...I am much better at math and programming just like the OP. It could also have been my teacher since he said that he was a strict theoretician and everybody knew that he was the hardest...and the questions that we were given pretty much blew my mind..haha</p>
<p>Eww...optics. =|</p>
<p>Well, I guess I'm probably just going to end up suffering through the classes and assuming my actual career won't involve anything annoying like optics.</p>
<p>It's really dependent on the program itself. Of course everyone takes at least 2 semesters of Physics as well as Circuits theory, but optics is not a mandatory class in the ECE programs I've seen. EM may not be required if you are leaning toward the CmpE side. It's pretty common to see a required Semiconductor/Device Physics class at the upper level though. But realize a lot of ECE classes are applications of physics. Some might go as far as saying they are physics classes under ECE headings.</p>
<p>All EE majors are required to take at least two semesters of college-level physics (basically classical stuff) taught by the Physics department. In some top schools, an additional third semester (focusing on modern physics) may be also required. Within EE properly, classes on engineering electromagnetics (microwaves, antennas, data storage, etc.) involve a lot of physics. Photonics and micro/nanoelectronics also require a strong background in physics (including advanced topics like solid state and quantum physics). Other EE areas like signal processing, control or communication theory/systems are however more intensive in advanced math than in physics. EE majors are normally required to take at least one class from each major breadth area, but, after that, there is considerable flexibility in the choice of electives/depth courses, giving the student the opportunity to follow either a physics or a math-oriented path depending on his/her interests.</p>
<p>EE is all Physics basically.</p>
<p>any good EE program should be taking 3 Physics, with Modern Physics included.</p>
<p>if you dont do well in EM its ok my school has a average of 33 as a C, so its ok.</p>
<p>EE requires lots of physics + math + many other stuff too
in other words, EE requires a lot of everything.</p>
<p>computer requires less (about 2 semesters of physics)
but any of the engineering classes could be related to physics. So u can't hate physics and be in engineering.</p>
<p>For EE we have 6 quarters of physics:</p>
<p>Newtonian Physics, Thermo, E+M, Fluid Dynamics/Optics, Modern Physics, Modern Physics (all with labs)</p>
<p>Two quarters of circuitry, four quarters of electronics, and one quarter of electromagnetics.</p>
<p>For Computer Engineers it's 5 quarters of physics (they don't take the second modern physics class)</p>
<p>Two quarters of circuitry, two quarters of electronics. They have a lot more emphasis on computer-related classes.</p>
<p>i have the same prob as original OP. im not bad at math, and programming isnt too bad. at least i understand it for the most part and are somewhat interested in them. but i suck at mechanics in physics. i try to do the homework online through the book's website and the problems are rediculous. and what the professor writes down is just a bunch of gibberish to me. whats frustrating is that deep down i know that the physics is fundamentally easy! waaaaaay easier than the calculus that im taking. only if someone would just wipe away all the BS that its shrouded in maybe i could understand it....im just gonna try and weasel my way through my physics series and i cant wait to be done with all this lower division grunt work.</p>
<p>I am going to agree with Cronus here and hopefully people with more experience under their belts can back us up. Every teacher I have talked to has said that phys, chem, and that rest of that kind of stuff basically tries to teach you to think properly. They said that all the physics and stuff is probably not going to be a part of your future...I'm hoping that is true. Hopefully, by doing my best and passing whatever is left of this lower division stuff..I will not be affected by all that I have missed from these classes.</p>
<p>I was amazing at mechanics and stuff, and was pretty good at optics. It's just some of the electrostatics and dynamics, maxwell laws kinda stuff...was made extremely difficult by our phys teacher. If people let me, I would like to post one of the questions that we received on a test and see what people think about its importance or triviliaty with respect to one's career/future.</p>
<p>Xcron, I understand your frustration, but I think you really should know your EM physics if you are going to be an EE. You can have a weak background in this area and still be successful in EE, but it will make your life a lot easier if you have these fundamentals understood. </p>
<p>As for Maxwell's equations, there is a course you have to take, Electromagnetic Fields, where you will learn this in depth. If you are like me and did not really learn Maxwell's equations in Physics 2, then you are going to have a hard time in this course. Obviously you can still analyze a circuit, whatever kind it may be, without knowing Maxwell's equations, but it is always nice to know the governing laws behind it. </p>
<p>As others have stated, you can stay away from physics oriented EE. Signal processing/communications, control theory, etc. are quite heavy in math and do not require much physics. But to get into those areas, you must get through physics type courses (solid state electronics, electronic circuits, electromagnetic fields). Again, the moral of the story is that you can still be a successful EE with a not so great background in physics, but it will make your life easier if you have it.</p>
<p>And I don't think anyone will mind if you post those physics problems, so go ahead. :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
As for Maxwell's equations, there is a course you have to take, Electromagnetic Fields, where you will learn this in depth.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>even if u had physics, u still won't understand maxwell eqns and electromagnetic ... those are hard courses. even my professor doesn't understand all of the the original paper by maxwell.</p>
<p>Well if you are going to make that argument, then why should I add and subtract numbers to balance my checkbook. I mean we still do not truly understand the nature of numbers and elementary operations. Of course you are not truly going to understand Maxwell's equations, but you are still going to learn it. Just like how I "learned" to add and subtract in elementary school.</p>
<p>Optics, electromagnets, circuits, electricity are pretty much the worst and possibly the hardest part of physic for me atleast. That's part of the reason why I'm deciding to do Aero. eng. which does involve some of that but not as much as CE or EE.</p>
<p>Gatoreng -
My circuits class turned out to be extremely cool and I really enjoyed doing all that stuff. The EM physics may have been hard to understand because I only put <10 (~4) hrs into it per week hahaha. I just had a really strong feeling that I didn't need to think seriously about what we were covering...it seemed so theoretical and bizarre sometimes...the teacher rarely related what we learned to a practical sense. Anyways, I'm hoping EE will have more of the circuit stuff I saw in my circuits stuff..and not as much theoretical stuff that I saw in my phys class...</p>
<p>Ok, so on to the problems issue...this was from our first test..on electrostatics..and I got the same score for all three questions...I think I understood the first and some of the second, so I'll post third..(I don't even remember any of this stuff anymore):</p>
<p>Consider a solid, insulating sphere of radius R carrying a total charge 3Q that is uniformly distributed through its body. Covering the sphere is a layer of conducting material, of thickness A, that is charged to -Q.
(a) Find the surface charge density of both the inner and outer surfaces of the conducting shell.
(b) Find the electric field E everywhere in space: inside the sphere, inside the conducting shell, and outside the conducting shell, as a function or (r), measured from the center of the sphere.
(c) Taking V = 0 at infinity, find the electric potential V_o at the center of the sphere.
(d) A dipole of dipole moment (p) is located just outside the conducting layer, with (p) pointed radially inward. If it is released from rest, how fast would the dipole be moving when it reaches infinity?</p>
<p>If this is the kind of stuff that I'll be seeing very often, then tell me now! haha...I did very well in mechanics and statics, and am interested in materials..so I think I would be able to do ME, MatE, AE, or CompSci if I decide to not do EE...though I'm already transferring and will be entering 3rd year next fall..</p>
<p>You will only see that stuff in one course, electromagnetic fields. So you just have to suffer one more time. :)</p>
<p>As for the problem, aside from part d, those are pretty standard questions. If you are enjoying your first circuits course, then I really suggest you stay in the program. Circuits will only get cooler from that point on.</p>
<p>EE is mostly math...not really that much physics...even the electromagnetics stuff is mostly math..good luck</p>
<p>that sounds pretty hopeful/good...I just hope EE is mostly math and not much physics and that the material gets cooler as we go along...more circuits stuff and well...I have no clue about any of the other subjects yet (signal, comm, etc.) so we'll see....any comments about how the program is at UCLA?</p>
<p>^^ UCLA has an excellent EE program. I think it is ranked somewhere in the top 20. I can't go into the details of the program because I don't go there, but there is a thread in the UCLA forum title "Ask Flopsy: UCLA Engineering" where you can ask specific questions if you have them. </p>
<p>Signals/Comm. is about your math skills. These courses are essentially about Fourier analysis (which you will learn in the course). I enjoyed them, it is this area that I think I will continue with my studies. You won't see too much circuit theory in the course (but a lot in the labs), you will use MATLAB, Mathcad, etc. in the course. </p>
<p>I again want to say that you liking your analog circuits course is a good sign, because most people don't enjoy that course and still end up doing fine in the EE program. And might I suggest that you try to get together with some classmates in your physics course. I guarantee you that you are not the only one not enjoying the material.</p>