Will Sophomore Year Physics Be Challenging?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential challenges of taking sophomore year physics in high school. Participants explore factors that may influence the difficulty of the course, including preparedness and mathematical background.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about the challenges of sophomore year physics and seeks input on the topic.
  • Another participant suggests that challenges can arise from a lack of preparation and emphasizes the importance of practicing questions and seeking help from teachers.
  • A different participant notes that the timing of taking physics may vary, with many students taking it in their junior or senior years, and highlights the significance of having a solid mathematical foundation, particularly in algebra and trigonometry.
  • One participant encourages asking questions, regardless of how trivial they may seem.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that preparedness and mathematical skills are important factors in determining the challenges of the course, but there is no consensus on the overall difficulty of sophomore year physics.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about prior mathematical knowledge and individual learning styles may not be fully addressed, and the discussion does not resolve the varying experiences students may have in the course.

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next year I am going into my sophomore year in high school, i think I am taking physics.

will it probably be challenging?

hope this isn't the wrong place to post this, it probably is though :(
 
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Anything can be challenging if you are unprepared. Practice LOTS of questions and ask your teacher for help with any little thing you don't understand.
 


So, you're thinking of taking high school physics? Most people actually take physics in their junior or senior year. However the real issue isn't age, but mathematical ability. If you've taken algebra 2 and trigonometry (which is sometimes just rolled into algebra 2), then you should be fine. In the first semester you'll be solving a lot of quadratic equations and doing a fair bit of coordinate algebra. And it's pretty important for you to know what sin, cos, and tan mean. If you've taken all the math that you need, I'd say go for it.
 


ask "stupid" questions
 

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