Modern Physics Class: Preparation for Physics Major

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the decision of whether to take a modern physics class at a four-year university after having completed similar coursework at a community college. The topics include the content of the course, the textbook used, and the potential benefits or drawbacks of taking the class as a preparation for a physics major.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about the necessity of taking the modern physics class, given their prior experience with three semesters of calculus-based physics, including modern physics.
  • Another participant questions the depth of the course content and suggests comparing syllabi to assess overlap with previous coursework.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that taking the course could be beneficial for acclimating to the new university environment, even if it may not provide new knowledge.
  • One participant notes that the textbook, Beiser's Concepts of Modern Physics, appears to cover similar material to what they have already learned, with minimal additional mathematical complexity.
  • There is a suggestion that the only incentive to take the course might be for an easy grade, raising the question of whether this is a valid reason to enroll.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether the course is worth taking. Some argue it could be beneficial for easing into university life, while others question its value given the overlap with prior studies and the potential for an easy grade.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the teaching style of the new professor and the specific content coverage of the course, which may affect the decision to enroll.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering transferring to a four-year university and evaluating course selections in physics, particularly those with prior coursework in modern physics.

proton
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I'll be transferring to a 4-yr university for this fall and the modern physics class I'm considering taking will cover thermodynamics, quantum mech, and modern physics. But at my community college I already took 3 semesters of calc-based physics, including modern physics.
This class will only use math up to partial derivatives. No linear algebra, mulitple integrals, stokes and divergence thm. The textbook used by the class is Concepts of Modern Physics by Beiser. The class is only required as a PREPARATION for the major in physics, therefore it isn't require for the major(it is lower-division). Its also not a prereq for ANY of the upper-div classes.

I'm only considering taking it because I figure it should be an easy A, a gpa booster, since I took modern physics at my community college. But my staff advisors still recommend I take it. Should I take this course? or will it be a waste of time? I can take an upper-div math class instead
 
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What textbook did you use at the community college, and how much time did you actually spend on modern physics? A whole semester, or just part of a semester?

How much of Beiser does the university's course cover? Can you get hold of a syllabus for the course so you can compare the topics with what you've had already?
 
Beiser is a standard, decent text and a modern course with it would help. Additionally, if this is your first physics course at the university you just transferred to, it might be helpful to take a course which is slightly easier as a way of getting to know the department.

Besides, another round of modern physics isn't going to hurt you. My opinion, take the course. And as for that upper division math course, take it also.
 
at my community college, we used halliday, resnick, and krane. it was a whole semester

I don't know how my professor will taech the modern physics class at my new school. I tried emailing him, but no response so far

I just skimmed through the beiser text. The content almost looks EXACTLY the same as what I already learned in my previous modern physics class. There's BARELY (an is 3 pages worth) any math beyond single-variable calculus

so my only incentive to take the course is for the easy grade, because I'll probably not learn anything new. unless the professor teaches differently from the book and uses higher-level mathematics
 
so is this course worth taking for the easy grade alone?
 

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