<p>Any one majoring in physics/mathematics? Please offer insights. I would want to hear more. I am the only one in my school/friends community doing so.</p>
<p>I'm a junior physics major. Do you have any specific questions?</p>
<p>Physics major here. It's fun. I play around with liquid nitrogen in my lab class and have a job with a professor on campus looking for laser pulses from aliens.</p>
<p>Thank you for the replies.</p>
<p>I am also a physics major (yay!)</p>
<p>Would you recommend taking the honors versions of the introductory classes, or skipping them with AP credit? Also, how much does higher math help with physics? I mean, I'm interested in both fields, and I'd like to know how directly helpful math classes above, say, differential equations are for the upper level physics courses. </p>
<p>Thanks for the help. I'm a senior in high school, but am expecting (and hoping) to major in physics, possibly minor in math.</p>
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Would you recommend taking the honors versions of the introductory classes, or skipping them with AP credit? Also, how much does higher math help with physics?
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It depends on the level of the intro classes as well as the level of the high school classes. If you get a 5 on physics C, though, most of the first year will be redundant/review at the majority of schools.</p>
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Also, how much does higher math help with physics? I mean, I'm interested in both fields, and I'd like to know how directly helpful math classes above, say, differential equations are for the upper level physics courses.
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So knowing calculus, multivariable, linear algebra, and (ordinary) differential equations are obviously all needed (as it sounds like you know). </p>
<p>Later, things like complex analysis, ODE boundary value problems, partial differential equations, group theory, calculus of variations, and in depth statistics become necessary. Complex analysis is needed to perform many of the integrals you encounter in physics. Boundary value problems have obvious applications to wave and lead into PDEs which are essential for everything from E&M to quantum mechanics with continious Hilbert spaces. Group theory has many applications in the fields of particle physics and condensed matter physics - anywhere where identifying symmetries gives insight. Calculus of variations is the backbone of all analytical mechanics. Finally, a deep knowledge of statistics is helpful for any experimental work (particularly in nuclear or particle physics). </p>
<p>There's obviously more math, but those areas are what generally come to mind. So yes, math beyond a basic differential equation class is very helpful. In general, classes that emphasize problem solving over proofs could be the most helpful (depending on your particular learning style).</p>
<p>Much of the more advanced topics are often taught alongside the physics that requires them in the physics courses, but it varies from school to school.</p>
<p>I usually recommend retaking intro physics (especially if there's a good honors class offered) unless you are exceptionally wonderful in physics. It's not as much about the material either, most people in honors physics have seen/done well in the stuff, but rather based on the fact that college physics is often taught very differently than high school physics because there is a much greater emphasis on thinking like a physicist. (The class can also be the first time you bond with all your fellow majors; I didn't take the honors class freshman year and still feel like I missed out on something at times.)</p>
<p>As for math, math is your friend. :) You'll probably be required to go up to very high level math classes as a physicist (I had to do two years' worth, up to differential equations), and most homework problems I have are two lines of physics consisting of setting up the problem and a half page of math. cghen did a good run-down regarding the specifics, though, so I won't repeat it much.</p>
<p>One thing to note though is that math as studied from a physicist's point of view is very different from that of most upper division math department courses. Mathematicians focus almost entirely on proofs. Higher level math courses in group theory, functional analysis, tensor analysis, complex variables, etc... often do very little in terms of problem solving (at least this has been my experience with abstract algebra this semester). Physicists are not as crazy about hardcore math rigor, and prefer to focus on using the technqiues to solve problems, do calculations, etc...</p>
<p>Thanks so much to the three of you for all the advice. I assumed as much about the serious differences between math for mathematicians and math for physicists that tiyusufaly brought up, which is probably the biggest reason why I've been wondering if it would be better to actually take the classes in the math department or just stick to "math for physics" type courses. cghen, thanks for that list. It's great to actually see the connections, though I suppose it'll depend on the specific school I end up at if it'll be better to leave the math teaching to the physics profs or not. </p>
<p>As for the introductory classes, I hope you all don't mind if I ask another question. I'm in physics C, and fully expect 5s in both halves. I'm confident in my ability in the theoretical/computational side of the course, but my school's lab equipment is lacking. We're really behind the times (nothing computer-based, and only very basic set ups for electricity and magnetism), and I'm wondering if that might be a big enough reason to retake the classes next year. I've heard that people who skipped the intro year tend to struggle at first in their lab classes...was that your experience, stargirl?</p>
<p>Thanks again, everybody.</p>
<p>Most universities will not let you skip the intro classes if you do not have a good enough experience with lab (this is usually determined on a case by case basis where you meet with the head of undergrad labs at the beginning of the semester and bring all the info you can about your lab). Most schools also realize that it'd be silly to sit through a class you're already good at, however, so they often give you the chance of just taking the lab part as its own class.
For example, my university (Case Western Reserve) was deemed at its last accredidation to be the best in the country for undergraduate labs, so it's assumed after freshman year that you can do detailed error analysis, plotting/ curve fitting, and even a Monte Carlo simulation. You'd be at a definite disadvantage for skipping the labs but no worries, you could just take the labs themselves as a class so in the grand scheme of things you'd be with the sophomores for "normal" classes but with the frosh for lab classes.
If your school does not have the option of just taking the labs, however, and unless the school is not that big on labs in general, I'd say just retake honors intro physics. Freshman year has a way of giving you other challenging things to do anyway, and I promise the professor will ask you to do problems you won't be able to solve anyway. ;)</p>
<p>Thanks again. I really appreciate all the help. And this---</p>
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I promise the professor will ask you to do problems you won't be able to solve anyway.
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<p>---I don't doubt. :)</p>
<p>By the time you're a Junior there'll be one problem per set that can't be solved - often due to a mistake!</p>
<p>I'm a prospective Physics/Math Major. I know I want to get a PhD and ultimately do research. What kind of undergraduate experience do I really need to get into the top PhD Programs? </p>
<p>I guess what I'm really asking is: I want to go Big Ten (Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota) for undergrad, but not really Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Chicago, for undergrad. Grad School, yes. Undergrad no.</p>
<p>Is this feasible and/or possible? Or do I sound like a raving lunatic?</p>
<p>I'm also a physics major. The following math courses are required for me, but the last is an elective I chose. Cal I-III, Linear Algebra, Diff. Eq., Intro. to Partial Diff. Eq., Vector Analysis, and Intro. to Complex Analysis.</p>
<p>I've heard Cal II is the hardest course, but obviously I have yet to find out. What will the Intro. Complex Analysis course be like? I'm also trying to figure out which specialty of physics interests me the most. Heh.</p>