Re: [Phys-l] Premed Requirements Commentary

["Bob LaMontagne" <rlamont@postoffice.providence.edu>]

I think the same thing could be said within the physics departments as well.
No one "really" understands physics after taking general physics. One has to
encounter the material many times - e.g., the junior level mechanics course
- to develop an intuitive feel and consistent logical web of thinking. FCI
courses do no better - except of course they prepare you for an FCI test.

I started my college life as an engineer and took physics with the
engineering department. I then transferred to the physics department as a
Sophomore. I didn't feel that I was starting to see through the fog until
the Junior-Senior courses. In fact, it may not have been until graduate
level mechanics and e&m.

I have not seen the statistics on calculus and physics, but I was just
talking to the chemistry chair in our building and she says that organic
chemistry is a tight predictor for success in medical school. The actual
material may not be used, but the thought process and organizational
techniques used in orgo are similar to that in physiology - hence the
predictive power and the benefit of repeating similar thought patterns.

Bob at PC

> -----Original Message-----
> From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-
> bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of John Clement
> Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 12:07 AM
> To: 'Forum for Physics Educators'
> Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Premed Requirements Commentary
>
>
> At my son's college the physics profs are held in low regard by the
> engineering dept.  They have stated that the engineers only really learn
> physics when they get into their mechanics course.  Actually, the
> mechanics
> course is so conventional, that it is doubtful that physics is really well
> learned there.  It is just that the general physics courses are poorly
> taught by comparison.
>
> We have met the enemy and he is us!
>
> John M. Clement
> Houston, TX