2nd Level Phys -> 3rd Level Phys

Civilian_Target

Son Goku wrote:

What are you studying at Imperial? Is it a masters or a Ph.D?
If you don't mind me asking.

1 year MSc in Advanced Computing (specialising in High Performance Computing)

Its actually every bit as tough as physics (which is a good thing, sortof!)

I got the same results as Prof Fink in my LC and to be honest, I don't think I could have done any much better in either subject to be honest.

To get an A in leaving cert. doesn't always require a thorough understanding of the subject, just a knowledge of the course material, and I was never going to be able to remember every little point of each of the pre-determined leaving cert physics experiments, nor every detail of the proofs on the maths course...

Son Goku

Civilian_Target wrote:

1 year MSc in Advanced Computing (specialising in High Performance Computing)

Its actually every bit as tough as physics (which is a good thing, sortof!)

All of Imperials Masters are very hard. I remember hearing it has the highest MSc standards in the world.

All of them are designed to make you Research capable in the relevant field.

nesf

Civilian_Target wrote:

1 year MSc in Advanced Computing (specialising in High Performance Computing)

Its actually every bit as tough as physics (which is a good thing, sortof!)

One of my old classmates was doing something similar in the University of Edinburgh (I think). The last time I met him he was bitching about how difficult it was, quite a big change from Physics/Maths apparently.

ZorbaTehZ

An A1 in honours physics isn't really asking a lot - (like you said) looking at the current course it is imo very basic. But an A2-A1 in maths? I definitely disagree with that.
There is no comparison between what the current maths honours and physics honours course is asking in terms of understanding and comprehending. In physics 75% is about learning off definitions - and the maths? Everybody complains about the maths which I find quite funny really when half the time you're finding the average refractive index for the umpteenth time or the average wavelength for the umpteenth time etc.
In comparison, the honours maths papers are taking a very positive step in the right direction, where you need to actually have a very good understanding of how Limits, Asymptotes, Logarithms, Absolute Values etc. work to get an A1. Just take a look at some of last year's questions.
You can get an A1 in physics by simply cramming, you can't in maths.

What says it all? The fact that I know more about physics than my damn teacher does.

In short no. There is no comparison between the physics 2nd level course and any kind of course focusing primarily on the same subject in 3rd level for the sole reason that the quality of Physics in 2nd level is a joke.

*lawl i realise that that probably sounds like im raging. I'm not though. 'swear

kevmy

ZorbaTehZ wrote:

What says it all? The fact that I know more about physics than my damn teacher does.

In short no. There is no comparison between the physics 2nd level course and any kind of course focusing primarily on the same subject in 3rd level for the sole reason that the quality of Physics in 2nd level is a joke.

I wouldn't say it's a joke. I did the new course in its first year and I thought it set me up pretty well for 3rd level. Mind you I had a good teacher and she always maintained that the course may have been made a bit easier but the basics remained the same.
I also thought that cramming for physics while possible is not the best way to study. Grasp the idea and the rest will seem to fall into your head once you have the ability to solve equations etc.