Studying Preparing for upper division courses (transfer)

[Noah BK]

Hi,

In about two weeks I'm starting my Junior year at a UC, after transferring from a community college. I want to review/get ahead before the quarter officially starts, but I'm at a loss of how to do so. I feel like I may be at a disadvantage to other students because my previous courses weren't that difficult.

The two physics classes I'm taking are a (lower division) QM/stat. mechanics and a course on mathematical methods. In particular, the upper division math worries me, because the courses I've taken focused heavily on computation.

What books or online materials would you guys recommend, which would serve as a good primer for the aforementioned classes? Thanks.

Oh and also, the required materials still haven't been posted for my classes, so yeah.

 

[kuruman]

What books or online materials would you guys recommend, which would serve as a good primer for the aforementioned classes? Thanks.

Why are you asking us? Find out the contact information of the people who are teaching these classes and ask them. They are in a much better position to inform you.

 

[berkeman]

The two physics classes I'm taking are a (lower division) QM/stat. mechanics and a course on mathematical methods.

Which UC? Can you link to the information on the classes at the UC website?

Oh and also, the required materials still haven't been posted for my classes, so yeah.

It's unlikely they will change the textbook from the previous years' classes. Can you find out which texts they use and skim through it at your local technical library? Or use "Look Inside" at Amazon.com...

Find out the contact information of the people who are teaching these classes and ask them.

That would be ideal, but it may be hard to get ahold of the professors or TAs for the upcoming classes. Unless he is already on-campus, then he could just walk over and see who he can talk with...

 

[MidgetDwarf]

I would review Calculus 1,2,3. In my upper division circuits, and EM.Many students had trouble with related rates and Stokes Theorem, respectively for the classes mentioned. Review introductory physics. I cannot stress enough the topics from mechanics needed for the derivations of topics in EM. Have you taken Linear Algebra and Ordinary Differential Equations? If not, you should also take it you're first semester, even if they are not required courses. The topics learned in these two classes are used widely throughout physics. I am majoring in mathematics, but I take physics classes for fun.

How good were you're math classes? If you are coming from a community college in the LACCD, you may be deficient in mathematics, even if you got an A. I worked for these schools...