#1.) The fact that this course has an emphasis in learning physics concepts rather than math is all throughout the syllabus but I'll entertain that challenge nonetheless.
I will pick up with your half quote of page 9 of the "50 suggestions" handout, which reads; "You MUST understand the concepts and theory absolutely thouroughly to solve problems sucessfully. However knowing they theory is useless if you can't apply it to solve problems."
Somehow you imply that the missing link is math, however if you take the time to read a few sentences below, it continues: "The source of the furstration is...
the student must not only UNDERSTAND the THEORY AND CONCEPTS but be able to apply them to new situations. Applying general principles to decipher a puzzle in some altogether new and specific situation requires sound logical thinking, and that's the hard part that makes physics different...ON THE EXAM YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ASKED TO SIMPLY WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED...RATHER, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ASKED TO FIGURE OUT PUZZLES USING WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED...YOU MUST PRACTICE THE APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES AND THAT WILL CURE YOUR FRUSTRATION AILMENTS."
If that is not enough I will go back to the beginning..
Page 1, "Course Philosophy":
Physics has a reputation of being mathematical and hard to understand. WE WILL USE ONLY THOSE MATHEMATICAL METHODS NECESSARY TO STATE PRINCIPLES ACCURATELY
...Page 6, "Exams":
The purpose of the exams is the evaluate and assess your progress in the course. ONE THIRD OF EACH EXAM WILL CONSIST OF CONCEPTUAL MC QUESTIONS...EXAMINATIONS ARE DESIGNED TO TEST YOUR ABILITY TO THINK.
Page 4 of the grading guidelines, notice that each description of the homework grading focuses on how "The underlying concept" of the problem is conveyed? Notice how there is more emphasis on understanding the problem than being able to do the math in the problem? Yes, maybe you missed that part...
Page 7, continued...
What counts is your UNDERSTANDING of the basic physical CONCEPTS and being able to APPLY those CONCEPTS using LOGICAL THINKING PROCESS...
Page 12 of 50 tips, "The end of chapter level 1 problems are such plug and chug problems that WILL NOT APPREAR ON EXAMS.
To solve level II and III problems you must UNTERSTAND THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES."
The list goes on and on throughout each page. Too much to cite because the word concept is in almost every paragraph.
I suggest reading for the main idea, rather than specific details, it will help you during the MCAT verbal section.
Anyway, I accept small bills, or beer. Whichever you prefer.
#2) As I stated before my advice was, as the syllabus suggests also, to buy the shaums math book. It is complete in the basics needed to do well. I used it to prepare, having not taken math in over 6 years and I've had only one test lower than an A, which was an A-. And unlike you, I've taken every exam. Which, since you want to quote the syllabus, is something Dr. Rueckner highly recommends.
Case in point, the last exam. Basic math, yet all conceptual, and everyone is complaining about how hard it was compared to all of the past exams. Why? Because it was purely concept based. If you did not know how to setup the problem, plugging the numbers does not work.
Understanding basic math is a neccesity in all sciences, we know that. The focus of the course, as evidence by every line of the syllabus and an A student, is understanding the concepts. I think that clears up this issue.
jays2cool4u said:
It seems that you have missed my point that the underyling concepts and math are equally important. Dr. Rueckner seems to agree that they are equally important also.
Math preparation
2. That you need to have solid math skills for physics should go without saying, yet many students seem to think theyll somehow be able to get by with weak math skills. Dont fool yourself...the mathematical symbols should conjure up physical concepts and relations if you hope to truly learn some physics...As with any new language, this takes time and training and you must have the prerequisite math skills to embark on this training program.
Problem solving
19. You must understand the concepts and theory absolutely thoroughly to solve problems successfully. However, just knowing the theory is useless if you can't apply it to solve problems. A common refrain is: "I know the theory, I just can't solve the problems."
Taken from the
physics E-1b Website . Click syllabus, then click how to succeed in this course.
If you can find anywhere in the syallbus where Dr. Rueckner explicitly puts more weight on the concepts than the math I'll give you a million dollars. You must have a sound understanding in both in order to succeed in physics.
Jays2cool4u