|
My
Physics Minor
|
|
I began
studying at NEIU in January 2002. Before that time, I had never taken a
single Physics course in my entire life, meaning in High school or in any college
or university. I don’t remember if I studied Physics in Junior High or grade
school or Kindergarten or Preschool (which I did not attend), but I seriously
doubt it. I declared the Physics minor in September 2002. I admit it here,
Physics is hard for me. I thought I was a smart person. Perhaps I was wrong... I believe
that in PHYS 201 and PHYS 202, a slightly larger portion of the classroom
instruction time should be devoted to actually teaching PHYSICS, as in
the concepts and understanding of them, even if it means spending slightly
less time doing MATH. The name of the class is PHYSICS, not MATH. It just felt to me like we spent a few
minutes introducing a concept in physics and then a half-hour or more doing
math problems that for some reason were difficult for me to understand how to
set up, even though in math, I have excelled in the past. Maybe if we spent
more time discussing the concepts we would better understand how to set up
the equations…?!?!? Hmmnn… What is Physics,
anyway? And what is the pursuit of Physics? Is it Theory, or is it
Application? Or is it both? This is a question well worth exploring for
everyone involved in the discipline, in my opinion. Personally, I do not prefer
the study of theory. I am interested in the application of science and technology to improve the quality of
life for people all over the world. Sounds corny, but it’s true. Of course, I
know and appreciate that somebody has to do a ton of math to make physics a
viable science. I’m just frustrated because when I take math classes, I do
extremely well, but I took PHYS 201, 202, 203, and 204 here at NEIU and
struggled mightily in all but PHYS 203, and I don’t want to blame the
professors because I know when assessing blame, (the preferred word is
responsibility, I know), the first place one should look is in the mirror. ß (Optics reference!) In spite of
all of this, I am extremely happy to have chosen Physics as my Minor. I’m
sure that studying Physics here at NEIU will prove to be a very
worthwhile experience. My Physics
academic history: Spring 2002
Semester: PHYS 201, PHYS 203. Fall 2002
Semester: PHYS 202 (drop), PHYS 204 Spring 2003
Semester: PHYS 202, PHYS 332 Electronics, 4 semester hour credits. Summer 2003
Semester: Computer Science courses only. Fall 2003
Semester: PHYS 365 Microprocessor Electronics (Tutored Study) Spring 2004
Semester: PHYS 215 Physics III, 4 semester hour credits. PHYS 301
Independent Study in Physics, 1 semester hour credit. In Progress… Future
Physics Study Plan: Summer 2004
Semester: PHYS 301
Independent Study in Physics, 1 semester hour credit. In Progress… |
|
LINKS: |
|
|
Visit the
Northeastern Illinois University Physics Department Website: http://physics.neiu.edu/ Plan your
own Physics major or minor! (Be sado-masochistic…) |
|
|
Visit the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Website: http://www.nist.gov/ Learn all
about the SI units, measurement technologies, metrology and calibration, and
synchronize your computer to THE TIME… |
|
|
|
|
|
Here’s a file of formulas that I tried to compile while
in PHYS 201 (Physics I with Algebra, i.e., College Physics I.) I make no
claims pertaining to neatness or accuracy. I think they’re all ok, but one
should double check them just to be sure. |
|
|
|
|
This Page was Created:
This Page Last Updated: