Is Reviewing Intro Physics During Winter Break Worth It?

[lubuntu]

Would it better on winter break to take the time review stuff from Intro Physics I & II or to start reading ahead into next semesters work?

I had thought of doing an intensive review of Intro Physics I & II since it has been a year since I took that sequence and will now be resuming physics but at the same time I was glad to move beyond those class and start learning at a bit higher of a level. Won't almost everything we learned there be touched on again at a deeper level? Is it worth it taking time to review?

 

[fss]

Would it better on winter break to take the time review stuff from Intro Physics I & II or to start reading ahead into next semesters work?

How are we supposed to know? What does "next semesters work" entail for you?

Won't almost everything we learned there be touched on again at a deeper level? Is it worth it taking time to review?

Again, it's impossible to answer this question without more information. If you are continuing a standard physics sequence, you'll need to be strong more on concepts of energy, momentum, etc. than on how to solve problems involving bullets hitting blocks or roller coasters.

Review is usually not a bad thing, though.

 

[lubuntu]

How are we supposed to know? What does "next semesters work" entail for you?

Modern Physics is my primary physics class. Also a Math methods class..

Again, it's impossible to answer this question without more information. If you are continuing a standard physics sequence, you'll need to be strong more on concepts of energy, momentum, etc. than on how to solve problems involving bullets hitting blocks or roller coasters.

Review is usually not a bad thing, though.

This is helpful I did feel like Intro Physics has a lot of fluff and advanced concepts covered at such an elementary level as to be nearly useless for anyone who will be studying this stuff more deeply.

Might it make sense to read through key chapters and derive some basic results but not really working about reviewing how to working through the typically inane Intro Physics style problems? I sort of dread doing those sorts of problems-not because of difficulty but because most don't really help develop an understanding of the physics.

Let me put it this way.

How much does higher level physics resemble the sort of work and thinking required to do Intro Physics problems?

 

[fss]

How much does higher level physics resemble the sort of work and thinking required to do Intro Physics problems?

In my opinion, not very much at all. Mostly because you have to think in order to solve a problem instead of looking up the equation and plugging and chugging.

 

[capandbells]

In my opinion, not very much at all. Mostly because you have to think in order to solve a problem instead of looking up the equation and plugging and chugging.

Well, I think that depends on the rigor of your intro. course. I found that my 3rd year mechanics and thermodynamics courses had questions of a similar nature to those of my intro. physics work, except that the more advanced courses used much more calculus and required knowledge of how to solve basic differential equations. I think the mathematical modeling and problem solving skills you pick up in an intro. course will always be useful.