Can Taking Fluid Mechanics Without Completing All Prerequisites Work?

[462chevelle]

I was wondering if I could get you guys advice on something. My school only offers fluid mechanics every other Fall. This spring I'm taking physics 1, calc 2, and chem 2. In the fall I'll for sure be taking physics 2, and calc 3, I could take rigid body mechanics and experimental techniques, but they offer those every fall. So I want to take calc 3, fluid mechanics, physics 2, and experimental techniques.

Physics 2 is a prereq for fluid mechanics but differential equations is a corequisite. My school only offers differential equations in the spring, since I haven't taken calc 2 and my chemistry lab gets in the way of the schedule I can't take differential equations this spring. I got the book they are using this semester for differential equations and I'm going to see how far I can get on my own. I'm not sure how that is going to go though.

Does anyone have any idea what I'm in for, as far as my academic record I would like to think I'm a good student and I'm not afraid to work hard. Here are the course descriptions.

Fluid mechanics
Study of fluid properties, compressible and incompressible fluids and
aerodynamics, flui
d statics and dynamics including viscous effects,
dimensional analysis, and fluid measurements.

Experimental techniques
Study of the techniques and devices used in experimental physics
including lasers, vac
uum systems, temperature measurements,
photographic emulsions, spectrometers and particle detectors; procedures
of data analysis.

Physics 2
Study of electrostatics, electric circuits, magnetism, electromagnetic
fields and optics; includes one laboratory per week. The laboratory
component of the course consists of measurements, observa
tion and
comparison of measured values to the accepted theoretical or measured
values.

Calc 2
A continuation of Calculus I, Analytical Geometry and Calculus.
Applications and techniques of integration, sequences, and series, conics,
parametric equations, polar coordinates, and vectors.

Calc 3
Continuation of Calculus II. Vector
-
valued functions, partial
differentiation, multiple integration, line integral
s, surface integrals.
Green’s Theorem, the Divergence Theorem, and Stokes’ Theorem.

Diff eq's
Solutions of ordinary differential equations with applications.

Thanks.

 

[Bystander]

That's one big bite to chew without a "full set of teeth (diff.Eq. & Phys. II)."

 

[Astronuc]

One should look at the math and engineering/physics prerequisites for the course in fluid mechanics. It is normal to have a course in differential equations before taking fluid mechanics, as to which Bystander alluded.

 

[radium]

It's more important to learn things well than try to take on too much at once. You should probably wait to take fluid mechanics.

 

[462chevelle]

I was hoping that I wouldn't be losing to much by taking it concurrent with physics 2 since all that it entails is e and m. I was also hoping that its possible, as far as the schedule it doesn't worry me. I have all summer to learn some diff equations, I know I would be behind for sure though. My main concern is that I don't know if I would be able to transfer without taking fluid mechanics and I was hoping to transfer after next fall. I would be completely done with all of my math and physics classes and be ready for engineering classes. Now that I think about it, it would probably be really hard and I would end up being at the bottom of the curve since everyone else I know that is taking it is done with calc, diff eq, phys1-2, and the other classes I mentioned. I might be better off taking it easy.
Thanks.