<p>I'm currently at a local community college going for a degree in either Computer Science or Computer Engineering. I've finally taken enough math courses to satisfy the pre reqs to begin taking the needed Calculus courses for either major, however, the required Calculus based Physics course I'll be taking this semester worries me. I absolutely must transfer to a university after this next year of school and need to fill my science requirements which are Physics 1 and 2. The courses I will be taking this coming fall semester are:</p>
<p>Calculus 1
Intro the Engineering
University Physics I (calculus based)</p>
<p>University Physics I holds a pre req of Calculus 1, but still allows me to enroll in the course. I believe I can handle Cal 1 and intro to engineering but Physics I'm not sure of. I guess what I'm really asking is how much of a disadvantage will I be at not having completed a calculus course and taking a physics class that is calculus based?</p>
<p>You will be at a little bit of a disadvantage but not to worry. I took AP Physics C(both Mech and E+M) just last year during my senior year while taking AP Calc AB(Calc 1) concurrently. For Mechanics all you need to know how to do is solve basic integrals and derivatives. Sometimes the derivations for E+M can get a little hairy with the integrals. I spoke to my teacher about this and the summer before I just tried to get down some basic Calc concepts which is something you could do too. Plus since your taking Calc at the same time both classes reinforce your math skills in each other so I see it as a plus actually. In the end I had the highest grade in the class and I just got my AP scores back and got Double 5s for the tests. My friends who took Calc BC still got 3s even with more Calc knowledge =).</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be too concerned. When I took physics, there was very little calculus. I think there were a total of less than 5 calculas based questions on the exams all semester.</p>
<p>It can probably depend on your teacher but there was very little calculus in the mechanics course I took at my community college (SMC). Most of all, calculus helps you understand the concepts in physics better. You have to do simple derivative/integrals which you can probably learn yourself before taking the class. It’s nothing that difficult computationally.</p>
<p>More than anything else you’ll be doing lots of algebra, solving equations with multiple variables, and using trigonometry to set up physics problems to solve them. I think you’ll do fine.</p>
<ol>
<li>definition of limits</li>
<li>know how to do the basic derivatives</li>
<li>know basic integrations</li>
</ol>
<p>If your instructor does things that you haven’t learned, ask for help after class.
In the first two weeks of physics you probably need the most basic integration. That is, integrate under a simple curve. Most of the time they are just triangles, or rectangles, which you can solve with the area formulas.</p>
<p>I agree with what everybody says there’s little calc. but if you do want a pure understanding of calc/physics ( even if it won’t be on the test) get the books I got:</p>
<p>Calculus with analytic geometry ( by Ron Larson great book )
But beware it goes to multi variable calc.</p>
<p>Fundamentals of physics ( by holliday & resnick also a great book).</p>
<p>But like they said it has very little calc.</p>