Hardest topic in intro calc-based Physics I

[Chunkysalsa]

I'm just interested into what part of the class people have trouble with. Of course people are different so the answer may vary but I'm talking in general here. Which topic was the hardest to grasp and solve for your class and yourself.

Just curious to see where the bumps may be and if I already passed them.


Also , in general again, is physics 2 harder or similar to physics I. By physics I, I mean mostly classical mechanics and physics 2 being E&M. I believe most places are the similar in this sense. Thanks for any responses, I'm just curious.

 

[G01]

I don't think that you going to get one distinct topic as an answer. Everything in physics can be a "bump" depending on the person.

Back in my intro physics days, I found torque and moments of inertia to be the toughest thing we covered in Physics I.

 

[Chunkysalsa]

Back in my intro physics days, I found torque and moments of inertia to be the toughest thing we covered in Physics I.

I realize that, I was just curious about personal experience and recollections from your classmates' experiences. This was the kind of answer that I was looking for, thanks.

I think those topics are next for us haha.

 

[General_Sax]

Back in my intro physics days, I found torque and moments of inertia to be the toughest thing we covered in Physics I.

+1

 

[ephedyn]

Hm, I personally get intimidated most by any question that involves any kind of angular motion. Followed by conservation of momentum. I'm at Lagrangians and central forces now, which seem a tad bit easier.

 

[leright]

I've always struggled with the concept of angular momentum. Also, the concept of displacement current was a bugger

 

[nlsherrill]

Angular momentum, and more specifically, gyroscopic motion are notoriously difficult in calc based physics.

 

[Chunkysalsa]

I don't think that you going to get one distinct topic as an answer.

Seems like you were wrong here, everyone is choosing the same thing lol.

I begin rotational dynamics tomorrow and have a test on conservation of momentum/energy today. This class sure does keep one on his toes (and out of his mind)

 

[flyingpig]

Walter Lewin says it is static equilibrium.

 

[Chunkysalsa]

The MIT guy?

 

[flyingpig]

The MIT guy?

Yes.

 

[czelaya]

Believe it or not, it was differentials in general. For instance, the internal energy in thermodynamics:

dU=p'dV-TdS

Now, of course, I now understand it's more about releationships than plugging numbers into a equation and calculating numbers.

Differential notation confused me again in differential forms. Hopefully in the future some mathematician or physicist well not use this notation as a new meaning for something else.

 

[Topher925]

For me learning mechanics and dynamics was a snap. I always had trouble with electromagnetics.

 

[hadsed]

^^It's the exact opposite for me. I suck at mechanics, but e&m is a breeze. I've never heard of this with anyone else so I must be some kind of weird anomaly. Specifically, I have trouble with rotational dynamics (like everyone else) as it seems like it's somewhat difficult for it to be intuitive.

 

[nlsherrill]

^^It's the exact opposite for me. I suck at mechanics, but e&m is a breeze. I've never heard of this with anyone else so I must be some kind of weird anomaly. Specifically, I have trouble with rotational dynamics (like everyone else) as it seems like it's somewhat difficult for it to be intuitive.

I know someone just like you. Tried as hard as he could and got a B in physics 1, but got an A in physics 2(e&m), which he said was much easier for him. But this is just the first intro courses, not the upper level mechanics and e&m, so who knows when it comes to that.

 

[Thermalne]

I would say Rotational mechanics is the hardest Physics 1 subject.