What parts of our Maths and Physics A Levels should we look over before starting our course?
All of them
First year seems to go over all the A level content of any course to get people up to the same level, then starts adding a few bits, but that's all I know
Personally I've started learning programming, so i've got one less thing to be completely confused about!
Calculus and vectors. Your life will be easier in first year if you are really solid on those two areas.
How competent do you need to be at those to be fully prepared for first year do you know?
I love calculus, and so I think I'm okay with that, never really struggled with it over A Levels. However vectors I found really difficult in C4, but then in FP3 I quite liked them (although this was more because the questions on them were easier than the other topics).
How competent do you need to be at those to be fully prepared for first year do you know?
I love calculus, and so I think I'm okay with that, never really struggled with it over A Levels. However vectors I found really difficult in C4, but then in FP3 I quite liked them (although this was more because the questions on them were easier than the other topics).
They form the basis of a lot of the topics you will be studying. Vectors are used a lot in mechanics and electromagnetism, for instance. You'll start doing more complicated things with calculus (e.g. calculating moments of inertia using triple integrals) so it will be much easier if you're not having to struggle with the basics.
Also, you will be taught complex numbers and matrices in first year, as not everyone will have done further maths, but it certainly won't hurt to learn/revise these topics beforehand.
They form the basis of a lot of the topics you will be studying. Vectors are used a lot in mechanics and electromagnetism, for instance. You'll start doing more complicated things with calculus (e.g. calculating moments of inertia using triple integrals) so it will be much easier if you're not having to struggle with the basics.
Also, you will be taught complex numbers and matrices in first year, as not everyone will have done further maths, but it certainly won't hurt to learn/revise these topics beforehand.
Ah yeah I had problems with the complex numbers in FP3, I should probably try and understand those better