<p>I'm taking these next semester. I'm taking Differential Equations right now, so I'll have that under my belt.</p>
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PHYS 3315: Modern Physics I
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: PHYS 1301 and 1302, or PHYS 1322, and credit for or concurrent enrollment in MATH 3331. The fundamental concepts of quantum physics and relativity. Applications to atomic structure and spectra, black body radiation, solid state physics, and nuclei.
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MATH 3335: Vector Analysis
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite: MATH 2433 or approval of department chair. Algebra and calculus of vectors, vector differential operators, Green's and Stokes' theorems, curvilinear coordinates, tensors.
<p>Honestly, the only thing I’d review is mechanical and electromagnetic wave motion. I am taking a modern physics course right now and that is the only thing I found I had to review. Everything else should be explained in the course (polar and sphreical coordinates, solutions to second order diffeqs, fourier analysis, seperation of variables for PDEs). You could review / learn those topics as well but is entirely unnecessary.</p>
<p>As far as vector analysis goes, all those topics except for tensors were covered in my calc III class, so can’t really give ya any advice there.</p>
<p>I have to second Jimmy on this one. Just make sure you are familiar with the basics of wave motion at least to the point where you know the stuff taught about waves in the prerequisites. The amount you are expected to know coming varies by school so looking at what the prerequisites require is a good indicator of what you will be expected to know. Chances are the class will do a little review to start off anyway.</p>
<p>For vector analysis, you really don’t need to brush up on too much. It is mostly new material that you wouldn’t have seen anywhere else before except for the simple parts like dot and cross products. That is most likely all you will be expected to know coming in. Again, there will probably be some review at the beginning of class to help you out.</p>
<p>Also, just a word of advice, make sure you pay attention when they talk about tensors, especially if they talk about shorthand tensor notation. That will be handy down the road in some of your later classes, and a lot of undergrads either don’t ever see it or forget about it thinking they will not use it again.</p>