<p>A question for any current or former Mudd students out there.</p>
<p>The frosh physics course first semester, it goes under the label 'Special Relativity and Quantum Physics.'</p>
<p>How mathematically intensive is the coverage of these concepts? Are there vastly complex formulas and proofs and derivations of all the parts of Relativity and Quantum? Or is the emphasis more on understanding the concepts of Relativity and Quantum?</p>
<p>I'm just asking because, well, they make you take Relativity/Quantum before Classical Physics, so I'm wondering how they'd do that.</p>
<p>Well, it's got a fair number of equations involved, but it's not <em>too</em> bad. It's more to give you an understanding of the concepts, I think. I think it's was a little weird that they put Special Relativity and Quantum Mechanics first, too, even after having taken both.</p>
<p>I think you only need calculus (derivatives and Euler's formula). Personally, I felt that relativity/quantum was less math-intensive than second semester. Proofs aren't too complicated, and the material's been toned down, so you wont be getting into Schrodinger equations or blackbody radiation stuff (you'll cover those in 2nd semester chem...haha)</p>