Physics at Durham?!?!

Maths is spawn of Satan...

But thats not much help to you.

When Matt gets back from his walk... he will help you as a Physicist himself.

Reply 2

Mattmoy_2000

9

Hello!
I return in triumph, as resident physicist.
Physics at Durham, for the first year at least, is 1 module out of 6 for practical.
You are right. Practicals (or labs, as we call them) are the spawn of Satan, but when you come to the end of your year, and you realise that you've already got a starred first in one module, you're kinda glad that you invested 3 hours a week doing labs.
As someone who studied A2 Phys, Chem and Maths too, I can tell you that it'll be fine. Further maths just means that you've already covered some stuff, but don't worry about it.
"Maths and Physics" students have 6 compulsory modules in the firstyear, which is basically the normal physics ones, and triple maths instead of double. As a Physicist, you can volunteer for extra geek points, and do triple maths, but most of us do double maths, and have a free elective, and most people choose to do Astro for that, but I'd suggest you look at other modules too, especially philosophy ones, if you're interested in doing one. here;s the layout of modules:
PHYSICSi = lots of small sub-subjects
PHYSICSii = 3 hard big subjects
LABS = labs
ASTRO = astronomy module, but this is elective, so you could choose something else.
SINGLE MATHS A - some maths
SINGLE MATHS B - some more maths

Right, that's what I did, Physics i and ii are a double module, but some natural scientists can take half (it's complicated and not worth worrying about).
The first three, as a physicist, are compulsory, and you can either do what I did, i.e. SMA, SMB + elective, or you can do "CORE MATHS A" and "CORE MATHS B". CMA is a double module, and CMB is a single, but CMA is SMA plus other stuff, and CMB is basically SMB. right, hoping you're still following.
SMA+SMB is the minimum you can do mathswise, so if you do decide to do Core, you have to do BOTH CMA and CMB to cover the whole syllabus, and thus can't take a free elective, like astro, philosophy or japanese for beginners.
This probably sounds a lot more complicated than it really is, so PM me, or add me to MSN if you need more help. Alternatively, post here.

And I can't envisage anybody envying anybody for doing extra maths.

Reply 3

Valen

As the resident Natural Scientist (taking Physics, Maths, and Geology), you also get my views on the subject. :smile:

I took the double Foundations of Physics module (which comprises Fundamentals A and B, the two physics modules matt was talking about).
I also took Core Maths A, which is the core double maths module (instead of Single A & B). This will allow me to go on and take more complicated maths modules in later years, leading to some cross over modules such as General Relativity (which require the harder straight maths modules earlier on).

Taking Core A instead of Single A & Single B has just given me more flexibility with my later modules. On the subject of Core maths B (which is a single) you will need to do it, but does not have to be read in the first year. I will be taking it in my second year as an elective (you are allowed to take a limited number of modules from a lower level). The advantage there being that Core B will then count towards my degree, and it covers much the same stuff as a portion of Core A, only more rigerously (several friends of mine took it last year and said it was one of their easiest modules).

I did take further maths, and it helped in that i had already covered the entire classical mechanics course and the basics of most of the core maths. Although you can get along fine without it, it has made my first year a whole lot easier.

Reply 4

O i just posted about you. What a co-incidence.

I was discussing ways to get your own room at Castle.

Reply 5

favaad

dont do the astro module... especially if youre a chemist :p:

gotta say though, the castle physicists are generally the safest group of people i know up at durham, had some great times in and out of lectures with them and im sure youll have a good time too, wherever you end up (castle).

Reply 6

Mattmoy_2000

9

Just to clarify, but AFAIK, in straight physics, you have to do CMA and CMB together - NatSci allows more flexibility, where physics doesn't, since in a straight physics course, you have 6 compulsory 2ndyear modules.

Reply 7

favaad

dont do the astro module... especially if youre a chemist :p:

gotta say though, the castle physicists are generally the safest group of people i know up at durham, had some great times in and out of lectures with them and im sure youll have a good time too, wherever you end up (castle).

why?

Reply 8

favaad

put it this way mate, two lectures a week right, one on a monday morn, one on a friday morn.. now i go out on a thursday night, and managed to only go to three friday morning lectures through the year... if you turn out like me all slobbish, then astro isnt something you can blag - i scraped 39.6%, dont ask me how i feel they may have taken pity on me!

to be honest i dont think the university emphasise enough how easy it is to fail the first year, if i did it again, id choose a wasters subject like beginners french and not go to any lectures mate!

Reply 9

favaad

put it this way mate, two lectures a week right, one on a monday morn, one on a friday morn.. now i go out on a thursday night, and managed to only go to three friday morning lectures through the year... if you turn out like me all slobbish, then astro isnt something you can blag - i scraped 39.6%, dont ask me how i feel they may have taken pity on me!

to be honest i dont think the university emphasise enough how easy it is to fail the first year, if i did it again, id choose a wasters subject like beginners french and not go to any lectures mate!

ah ok, archeology is a nice doss, thats what i do, maybe university doesnt account for you getting stupidly drunk in it's timetable, how stupid of them :eek:

Reply 10

Valen

AdamC

O i just posted about you. What a co-incidence.

I was discussing ways to get your own room at Castle.

Aside from the point that your so called "post about me" was factually inaccurate and rather biased against me.

Reply 11

favaad

put it this way mate, two lectures a week right, one on a monday morn, one on a friday morn.. now i go out on a thursday night, and managed to only go to three friday morning lectures through the year... if you turn out like me all slobbish, then astro isnt something you can blag - i scraped 39.6%, dont ask me how i feel they may have taken pity on me!

to be honest i dont think the university emphasise enough how easy it is to fail the first year, if i did it again, id choose a wasters subject like beginners french and not go to any lectures mate!

I recognise u!

Reply 12

Valen

cobra

ah ok, archeology is a nice doss, thats what i do, maybe university doesnt account for you getting stupidly drunk in it's timetable, how stupid of them :eek:

And fav doesnt drink! :biggrin:

Reply 13

Valen

And fav doesnt drink! :biggrin:

ok then you have no excuse what so ever

Reply 14

Valen

Aside from the point that your so called "post about me" was factually inaccurate and rather biased against me.

Hmmmm... realllyyyyyyyyy!?!?!? How interesting.

Reply 15

favaad

mate, im a teetotal that goes out a lot, and to be honest passing a first year module in a subject which i could frankly not give two ***** about wasnt a top concern in a year that doesnt even count towards the degree...

that said, if youre doing physics and astronomy then i reckon its essential, though if you find it difficult, im sure you can switch between courses... from what ive heard theyre not too fussy..

Reply 16

AdamC

Hmmmm... realllyyyyyyyyy!?!?!? How interesting.

hehe, it's amusing how everyone I know who's met valen has told me bad things about him :biggrin:

Reply 17

cobra

hehe, it's amusing how everyone I know who's met valen has told me bad things about him :biggrin:

Ahhhh! He's a nice enough guy really. It's the stalkerish behaviour that puts you off and the attempted groping of a certain female who then smacked him in the face.

Reply 18

Mattmoy_2000

9

Or you can go to formal every Thursday night (= wasted, but Fav doesn't drink) and still make Astro lectures, while mega-hungover or still drunk, and yet somehow get a first in it, by revising like a keeno till like 3am the night before the exam, using the lecture handouts they give you, which contain almost all of the course (Fav had exams on the days before Astro, I had almost a week with no exams in which to cram for it).
I didn't particularly like astro, since it was just learning facts, but it's one of the easier physics electives. If you take "Astronomy for all" it's the physics dept's code for "Astro for retards" and is apparently unfailable, yet still a full module.

Reply 19