<p>I'm entering as a pre-med student at Cal, and am wondering whether I should take A or B, as I have taken AP Physics B.</p>
<p>Straight From The Course Descriptions from Berkeley's website:</p>
<pre><code> Introductory Physics -- Physics (PHYSICS) 8A [4 units]
Course Format: Three hours of lecture and four hours of discussion/laboratory week.
Prerequisites: Mathematics 16A or equivalent or consent of instructor.
Credit option: Students with credit for 7A will not receive credit for 8A.
Description: Introduction to forces, kinetics, equilibria, fluids, waves, and heat. This course presents concepts and methodologies for understanding physical phenomena, and is particularly useful preparation for upper division study in biology and architecture.
Introductory Physics -- Physics (PHYSICS) 8B [4 units]
Course Format: Three hours of lecture and four hours of discussion/laboratory section per week.
Prerequisites: 8A or equivalent.
Credit option: Students with credit for 7B or 7C will not receive credit for Physics 8B.
Description: Introduction to electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic waves, optics, and modern physics. The course presents concepts and methodologies for understanding physical phenomena, and is particularly useful preparation for upper division study in biology and architecture.
</code></pre>
<p>Basically, 8A is mechanics & 8B is Electricity & Magnetism & Other Things.</p>
<p>Basically 8A ~ Physics C: Mechanics, while 8B ~ Physics C: E & M</p>
<p>Since you took Physics B, you need to take both 8A & 8B. If I were required to take the 8 series, I would take 8A first because I understood nothing in E & M during high school.</p>
<p>why are you taking physics so early? The pre-med web site recommended us taking physics at junior year... just curious.</p>
<p>Probably because they think Physics B prepares you for Physics 8A & 8B, real well.</p>
<p>Well, it doesn't. That @&^* is freakin' hard as heck. I understood nothing about E & M. I'm glad I'll never take Physics with Calculus again.</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong, but I think the physics 8 series shouldn't be that tough.
Nevertheless, as 8A & 8B deal with different subjects, you should take both of them anyway.</p>
<p>To BlueElmo: </p>
<p>Physics 8A and 8B are lower-division requirements for certain majors at Cal (especially for majors in CNR)</p>
<p>BTW, which pre-med website were you talking about?</p>