Argh physics!!!

Joza

Physics!!

Does anyone else just really not like the way physics is taught in TCD? Bar some lecturers who are good, the whole thing just isn't to my taste.

Don't get me wrong, physics is why I went to college in the first place. I really liked it, learning about the mysteries of reality:D

But now I just hate labs. I don't know why, but they are nothing compared to other labs where one dons her lab coat. And some lecturers just fly through material like we are obviously geniuses....some people DO have to grind through math!! And never mind that really uncomfortable lecture theater!

Ah well, maybe I will change my view as time goes on....I hope so....because it is really wrecking my head!

Podge_irl

I'm guessing you're in first year? Labs in first year can be somewhat on the crap side unfortunately but they do get much better in subsequent years. However, in my opinion anyway, while physics labs themselves may not be as "fun", the theory behind them is much more interesting. The experiments really do cover a vast range of topics in physics, and from second year on you will be studying stuff for labs that you have not yet covered in lectures, which makes it more interesting again as you will have to read up on stuff yourself.
As regards the lectures, its a tricky one. They have to balance the lectures with regard to the level of maths as the standard in the class varies wildly. I was often frustratred by the lack of solid maths in the way they went about things (but then I'm a TP). "Grinding" through maths, however, is something that will ultimately benefit you more if you do it yourself rather then see it anyway. You should not expect them to lay everything out, you should be going back over your notes and trying to derive steps they may have skipped and ensuring you understanding everything they have done. It might help if you organised a small group to do this together. And finally, if you ever get really stuck and can't figure something out, drop into the lecturer in question and they will try and help you with it.

Also, you should have tried sitting through lectures in the Schrödinger before they even had those pathetic cushion thingys.

ApeXaviour

So would I be right in assuming you're Junior Freshman Science? Your subjects are Maths Chemistry and Physics?

The lectures. As you said some are really good. But lecturing physics IMO is never going to be easy or perfect. The student zones out for a second and they're lost for the rest of it. It only really works in very small groups, this is why your small group tutorials are very important. When I went to lectures it was merely to transcribe, I'd go over it later. I found myself wishing they gave more tutorial sheets. The bridge between reading through the material to a point of understanding, and being able to answer questions on it is enormous.

Let's deal with labs. Sure you don't wear white coats or glasses, and yes all the experiments appear to be just pendulums and resistors etc. For now... the labs get better as you go on. There's less supervision, you're given a lot more leeway and the experiments get a lot cooler, using radioactive sources, investigating pretty neat physics like the hall effect or plasmas, spectroscopy etc. Chemistry on the other hand, in my opinion, is always just mixing stuff together, refining or baking this or that.

The Schroedinger Lecture theatre? You're complaining about its comfort? It's only been about a year since they cushioned those seats. I had to sit for 4 years on hard wood. My posterior thinks it glorious now by comparison.

In the end it comes down to passing/doing well in exams. To do this you need just to go to all your labs (since they're mandatory), do all your tutorial sheets, and maintain a full set of notes. When it starts coming close to the exams (say march ) print out all the past papers and just start practising them. Exams measure your ability to answer exam questions, best way to this is practice. Plus the questions can repeat (i.e. be similar).

Joza

Apologies by the way, I feel like i am moaning a lot!

Yea I guess it all just comes down to passing the years! I don't take notes, I just use my text books.

I'm gona get em out and go over everything we did this term in physics and chemistry. I kinda didn't do much work first term:(

Cheers amigos

Fallen Seraph

I personally *hate* the schrodinger. It's always unbearably hot. It's like a wizard casts level 3 sleep on me the minute I walk in there. SNIAM ftw.

ApeXaviour

Joza wrote: »

Apologies by the way, I feel like i am moaning a lot!

Don't worry about it. It's an Irish pastime.

Joza wrote: »

Yea I guess it all just comes down to passing the years! I don't take notes, I just use my text books.

The book is one book, university physics. And while you can get away with that in first year (I did, even got away with it in 2nd year to a degree but was bitterly disappointed with my result), it's inefficient, you can't hope to do well. The lecturers will test what they taught. Subject matter in the books will overlap, but it'll be expressed differently with different notation.

Joza wrote: »

I'm gona get em out and go over everything we did this term in physics and chemistry. I kinda didn't do much work first term:(

You'd be better off printing out the past papers and tutorials and attempting the questions of material you've covered (referring to the book of course), rather than just reading. It will leave you exponentially better prepared and doesn't take nearly as long.

I personally *hate* the schrodinger. It's always unbearably hot. It's like a wizard casts level 3 sleep on me the minute I walk in there. SNIAM ftw.

The Schroedinger is only hot if you sit in the first few rows near the radiators. If you sit near the middle or back like a normal student this is no longer problematic.

I much prefer it to the SNIAM, the lecture room has the crappy chairs and is way too cold in the winter. The Lecture theatre appears well designed, yet it's also cold and there's often a smell of sewage down there due to inferior plumbing. Also they both are utterly lacking in character when compared to the classic aesthetic quality possessed by the Schroedinger theatre.

Podge_irl

Joza wrote: »

I don't take notes, I just use my text books.

You're better off taking notes and using the book as a study aid when you run into trouble understanding something in the notes (or at least that's the best way to pass the exams. It certainly wouldn't hurt to read the book on its own, it will give you a good grounding in a lot of areas of physics). Also, some lecturers will put their notes online.

paperclip

They cushioned the seats? Having had to suffer through physics (I did bio and chem in the LC, ok?), the physics was slightly hellish (particularly since we didn't have the labs to supplement the knowledge) and it's somewhat of a miracle that I got through it. Some minds are just not made for the glorious world of physics. Pharmaceutics, though, is nearly all physics, but in a more understandable, kind way and with less calculating to be done (but more greek symbols).
Ahh, you'll be fine. Chill out.