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High School and College Physics
Name: Na'Tasia R.
Status: student
Age: 16
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2000-2001
Question:
What is the difference between college and high school
physics?
Replies:
The difference between college and high school physics is comparable to the
difference between college and high school anything. In fact, there are
several differences:
* What is commonly taught in two years of high school physics is
covered in only one year in college physics.
* The student is expected to acquire a greater understanding of the
subject. Being able to repeat what was said in class is not enough. The
student has to combine information obtained from the class, the text,
laboratory experiments, and personal experience. Analysis of this
information can help you understand how the universe works at many levels.
It provides you with an understanding that can be applied in many classes
other than physics, as well as many situations beyond a college classroom.
High school physics can provide some understanding, but college provides
more.
* A college physics course will require more study on the part of the
student. Doing homework will not be enough.
A high school physics course is an excellent preparation for a college
physics course, but high school physics will not prepare you for beyond
first-year college physics.
Kenneth Mellendorf
College physics covers a wider range of topics at a faster rate than high
school physics. However, the biggest difference, I believe, is that college
physics assumes a knowledge of Calculus, where high school physics does not
unless it is an advanced course offering.
Vince Calder
High-school students do not have enough math to get very far into the
really interesting issues in physics. College physics is much more
mathematical. A physics major normally takes almost enough math
courses to get a math degree.
Tim Mooney
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Update: June 2012
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