Can you do PHYSICS 1B03 and 1BB3 with only MATH 1LS3 and not MATH 1A03? How much math is needed to succeed in physics?

Thanks so much

Physics in a sense is an application of Math (what I mean is, that it heavily depends on Math depending on what strand of Physics you're talking about).

No more physics for me after 1B03 AND 1BB3.

Well I wish you the best of luck for both of those courses. =]

Umm but do you have any idea whether you need MATH 1A03 for physics or whether 1LS3 is good enough?

I'm going into first year this upcoming September. I mainly replied to this thread to state that Physics is sort of an application of Math so it will have an heavy influence. The more preparation you have the better I suppose.

Originally Posted by Galleria

Umm but do you have any idea whether you need MATH 1A03 for physics or whether 1LS3 is good enough?

It doesn't matter, if McMaster thinks you need either one they would be prerequisites. You don't do any integration in first year physics.

there actually is a bit of integration involved, if karen hughes is teaching it. but it's used more to explain concepts and it's not tested on, so I wouldn't worry about it.

I took 1LS3 , and I didn't feel like it put me at a disadvantage in physics 1B03, so in the end it doesn't really have that big of an effect.

The physics profs realize that not everyone has the same calculus background in first year, so they've designed the course to review some grade 12 calculus. The things you've already learned in gr 12 calculus should be enough for the course. In the first two weeks or so of physics 1b03 they review how to do derivatives and anti-derivatives of polynomial functions (and they say that you won't need to know any more than that). So taking math 1a03 or 1ls3 won't make any difference in how well you do in physics 1b03, as they've designed the class to give everyone potential to do very well.
With that said, since physics is highly based on math, having a strong math knowledge will always make things easier to grasp in physics.
I recommend taking math 1a03 simply because you won't learn very much in math 1ls3. You're paying to get an education, so why not learn the money worth, if that makes sense :p?

Originally Posted by ooburii

there actually is a bit of integration involved, if karen hughes is teaching it. but it's used more to explain concepts and it's not tested on, so I wouldn't worry about it.

I took 1LS3 , and I didn't feel like it put me at a disadvantage in physics 1B03, so in the end it doesn't really have that big of an effect.

I took physics 1B03 first term this semester with Hughes and integration was necessary for a test question. I will point out that if it weren't for Math 1A03, I wouldn't have done the integration so easily. Though I'm not sure how much time 1LS3 spends on integration. Math 1A03 began the first half of the course this year with integration, so I was pretty good with it by the first midterms. Once I had realized I needed to integrate on the test, the integration wasn't a problem.

Physics isn't all about math in the same way chemistry isn't about memorizing structures and reactions etc. It's about how you can apply the principles in your head. I'm in upper year Kinesiology, and focusing in Biomechanics, and my minor is in a physics field. The courses I've taken have quickly evolved from:

"If you have a 33 inch long lever and apply a 50N force on one end, how much force is applied at the other end?"

to

"A man has died after falling from the 5th floor balcony of his apartment building. He has head lacerations and has fallen 13 feet away from the building as well as serious trauma to the body indicating an impact. Write up an initial report on whether or not he was pushed, and why."

Not a lot of math, but far more application, and far more awesome.

I took only Math 1LS3, and completed Physics 1B03 and 1BA3 both with 11's as my final grade. Math 1LS3 is enough (though the math for quantum mechanics was quickly getting a little complicated at the end of the course, but it was still manageable). I also despise math and forgot a lot of it from first semester :p

@ Galleria
It is a good idea to at least take Math 1LS3 before Physics 1B03 if you are not familiar with integrating and all that good stuff from high school. But if you already learned it for whatever reason, then you're good to go.

Originally Posted by Galleria

Can you do PHYSICS 1B03 and 1BB3 with only MATH 1LS3 and not MATH 1A03? How much math is needed to succeed in physics?

Thanks so much

Yes.
Math is quite necessary, but no the same math that is taught in Math 1LS3/1A03

I agree with the above. Math 1LS3 was enough. Basic skills, and you only miss out on some more advanced integration if you don't take 1A03, to my knowledge. It may be different since it's been 3 years since I took it.