Physics 105 concurrently with Physics 7C? Physicists and MechE's please help

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>Ok so an incoming sophomore physics major friend of mine is in a little bit of trouble as far as scheduling goes. For some reason, the only classes he's been able to get into for this fall are Physics 7C and 2 breadth classes.</p>

<p>He would REALLY like to take another class, and the only other feasible one I could find was Physics 105. The physics department has this stupid policy of saying that Physics 7A-7C are required for ALL of the upper division physics classes. But this doesn't really make sense; my guess would be that not all three of those are needed for every upper division class.</p>

<p>Here are the descriptions for Physics 7C and Physics 105:</p>

<p>7C. Physics for Scientists and Engineers. (4) Three hours of lecture, one hour of discussion, and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: 7A-7B, Math 1A-1B, Math 53, 54 (Math 54 may be taken concurrently). Electromagnetic waves, optics, relativity, and quantum physics. (F,SP) Staff</p>

<ol>
<li> Analytic Mechanics. (4) Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Newtonian mechanics, motion of a particle in one, two, and three dimensions, Larange's equations, Hamilton's equations, central force motion, moving coordinate systems, mechanics of continuous media, oscillations, normal modes, rigid body dynamics, tensor analysis techniques. (F,SP) Staff</li>
</ol>

<p>So my question is, given the descriptions of the two classes, is there anything in 7C that would be absolutely essential in 105? In particular, do you need to know lower division quantum mechanics before taking upper division analytic (classical) mechanics? My initial guess would be that these classes should be fine concurrently, but I want to be sure.</p>

<p>I know there are very few physicists here, so I have a question for mechanical engineers as well. You guys take several classical mechanics classes WITHOUT needing to take any quantum mechanics, right? Taking that into account, is there anything in 105 that is different from what is taught in your upper division classical mechanics classes (like ME 104)? If not, then the classes should be fine concurrently.</p>

<p>Sorry for the long post, but thanks very much in advance guys.</p>

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<p>If Physics 105 doesn’t work out, what about Math 104 or Math 113 as an alternative choice?</p>

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<p>^While taking additional math classes might look good, it’s not required for the major.</p>

<p>Stricly speaking, you shouldn’t need 7C since analytical mechanics studies classical mechanics. However, I’ve never taken Physics 105. Has he tried emailing the professor to get consent?</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>Oh, I totally forgot…Good knowledge of relatively would be extremely useful for the tensors part of Physics 105. So perhaps he should just put it off until next semester or later. Hope everything goes well!</p>

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<p>Thanks for the input. I’ll definitely let my friend know.</p>

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<p>im an incoming sophomore physics major and several of my physics friends r taking quantum 137a and 110 lab and 105 upper div mechanics and other upperdivs alrdy.
i dont think the requirements for the classes are strict.
only require that u work hard enough to keep up =]</p>

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<p>^ Without 7C?</p>

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<p>ya some of them skipped H7C or 7C and are gonna take it next sem or later.</p>

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<p>Interesting. Cool, thanks.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>[General</a> Catalog - Physics](<a href=“http://sis.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=PHYSICS]General”>http://sis.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=PHYSICS) says:</p>

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</p>

<p>Also, isn’t group theory (which one can learn in Math 113) used in quantum mechanics?</p>

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<p>Yup, group theory is used extensively in quantum mechanics from both the physics and chemistry sides. The math classes look useful for sure.</p>

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<p>@ucbalumnus</p>

<p>Yes, recommended but not required.</p>