4 ms·
I would posit that the reason so many people wipe-out in undergrad physics is that the coursework insists on pounding the square peg of law into the round hole
by jstewartmobile 8y ago
I would posit that the reason so many people wipe-out in undergrad physics is that the coursework insists on pounding the square peg of law into the round hole of analytic methods.
Something most people in the STEM fields refuse to acknowledge is that throwing away information complicates things just as often as it simplifies them.
I say that if the ball doesn't bounce forever, the equation should reflect that.
- crispyambulance 8y agoIf you ask any STEM professor or TA that teaches undergrads, the reason so many students "wipe out" is because of a lack of preparation in fundamentals-- not just "calc 101", but even more basic than that, algebraic manipulation. The material in a physics 101 course is just the barest minimum and it goes beautifully hand-in-hand with calculus 101.
- BeetleB 8y agoIt entirely depends on your goals. If you want to be a productive engineer, then most of that stuff is not going to be useful in your job. OTOH, if you study physics at an advanced level, it's rather shocking how effectively all that analysis models the world, despite throwing away a lot of information. Try studying solid state physics. It's crazy the number of assumptions they make, and yet the theory still produces very accurate results. There's a reason Eugene Wigner penned an essay with the title "The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics".
- crispyambulance 8y agoWord up for Mr. Wigner !!