physics questions!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Im signing up for classes now, and not sure who to take for physics 150: Thomson, Fortune, Soven, Hollebeek. Could someone put them in order of best to worst? Also, is avoiding Crotty in math 114 worth it to take the class with another prof at an undesirable time? </p>

<p>do any physics majors have insight on the differences between phys 150 and phys 170? i did get a 5 on ap physics c mech, so i could use that credit, but i was planning on taking it again (unless anyone has a compelling reason not to)</p>

2

<p>i don't know about the other 3, but thomson is cool (and has a cool scottish accent too)</p>

3

<p>can i avoid ever taking a legit physics class if i want to? i suck at physics.</p>

4

<p>well what's your major - that kinda makes a difference</p>

5

<p>i'm thinking econ/ppe right now.</p>

6

<p>i second thomson. she is a really good teacher and is very approachable if you have questions.</p>

7

<p>also if you are econ/ppe there is no reason to take a real physics class let alone science/engineering physics unless you find it interesting.</p>

8

<p>very nice.</p>

9

<p>phys 170's supposed to be really hard because everyone in the class wants it to be. at least much harder than 150. Only take it if you love physics.</p>

10

<p>Physics 170 is unnecessarily difficult.</p>

<p>I've heard pretty bad things about Soven.</p>

11

<p>Personally probably taking Hollebeek (Penn Course Review says he's alright). According to PCR, and some others, Hollebeek and Thomson are comparable?</p>

<p>And yea I have heard bad things about Soven, and somewhat about Fortune.</p>

<p>As for Physics 170 - only take it if you love tons of extra work, love physics, and probably have 5s in both AP C Physics (will make you par for the class). It erans its 4.0 work required/difficulty on PCR.</p>

<p>I second the statement that there's no need for a humanities major to take any real science class. If you're really bent on Physics - do the 101/102 instead of 150/151.</p>

12

<p>It's such a shame that Penn lets humanities (and even social science, like econ) majors get away without taking real science.</p>

<p>Really, it's a shame that Penn lets people major in humanities at all.</p>

<p><em>ducks</em></p>

13

<p>nothing beats rocks for jocks! :P</p>

14

<p>Thats why as an econ major I took a year of chemistry for my science requirement. Now I just need to find a good living world class. I love how at Penn you can get by without taking any science, yet at MIT if you're an econ or polysci major you still need a year of calculus based physics.</p>

15

<p>what do you guys consider a "real" science? would chemistry be one?</p>

16

<p>real science: chem 15/16, bio 121, physics 170/171.
realistic science for those of us who aren't going to get PhDs in physical science: chem 101/102, bio 101/102, phyiscs 150/151 (101/102 for premeds)
fake science: everything else</p>