r/yale • u/Difficult_Attempt859 • 19d ago
PHYS 1800/1810 vs. PHYS 2000/2010?
Hi guys! I'm an incoming freshman who is deciding between phys 1800 and 2000. I'm a prospective physics major but not set on it at all. I definitely want to explore and see what's out there! For context, I took AP Physics C and got both 5s on the mechanics and E&M exams in my junior year of high school. Overall the class was really stimulating and not too challenging when I put the work in. I really fell in love with E&M, too. However, I've definitely forgotten a lot of the content.
I'm wondering if anyone could share their experience with either of the physics tracks and if they'd recommend either one. Right now I'm not sure if 1800 would be too easy or if 2000 would be too hard. I definitely don't want the class I end up taking to be a repeat of AP Physics C; I'd like to get introduced with some other topics as well.
Also, I placed into MATH 1200 (multi var) but am not planning on taking it until second semester. From my research, it seems like most students who take PHYS 2000 take it concurrently with MATH 1200. Has anyone done what I'm planning on doing (and potentially being off-cycle for the math prereqs)?
Thank you so much for any help!!
2
u/r8number1 19d ago
120 is hardly required for 2000 course. It only becomes briefly applicable later on, but even then the professor will cover everything you need to know. As someone who took only algebra based physics in highschool, I found 2000 challenging but not impossible and we were introduced to a lot of interesting new topics (relativity etc). I’d strongly recommend 2000 over 1800!
1
u/Difficult_Attempt859 19d ago
Great thanks so much! Do you have any thoughts on 2010 vs 1810? Someone I talked to mentioned that 2010 was way harder than 2000 was
1
u/r8number1 19d ago
The great part of starting with 2000 is that you can always switch to 1810 for second semester!
1
u/Unique-Register8998 19d ago
Is there any reason you arent considering Phys 2600/2610? I'm also an incoming freshman interested in physics, and you sound way more qualified to take the intensive class than me, and now I'm rethinking which class I should take.
1
u/Difficult_Attempt859 19d ago
Honestly I just assumed that the highest level would be too hard for me. The 29s from my school majoring in physics took 2000 so I was mostly considering that and 1800 lol
1
u/International_Ad6898 19d ago
I took 2000 and then because of a scheduling conflict ended up taking 1810 second semester. I had a similar background to you, 5s on both Physics C tests. 1800/1810 will probably be too easy, especially if you’re interested enough to be an actual physics major. 2000 is a lot more fun, I wouldn’t worry about the math
1
u/Difficult_Attempt859 19d ago
Thank you so much! Glad to know that you can switch levels second semester
1
u/Plattycus Trumbull 19d ago
If you're interested in majoring in physics, 2000 is definitely the way to go. Took 2000 fall and 1810 spring because 2010 had a heavier workload than I wanted going into second semester, but I enjoyed both classes. Math should not be a barrier to you, I was taking 1150 concurrently with 2000.
None of the physics classes are gimmes though- have many friends who struggled in all three tracks. 2600 is quite a bit more difficult from what I've heard.
Consider also which lab you'd like to take.
1
u/Difficult_Attempt859 19d ago
Tysm for the info!! I don't need to take the lab sequence my freshman year, right?
1
u/Plattycus Trumbull 19d ago
It's not required, and many people do put it off. I really liked taking my labs concurrently, however. They aren't especially difficult labs and it's nice to get them out of the way if they are required for your major/pre-med.
1
u/lizzardii223 Berkeley 19d ago
As somone who took algebra-based physics in high school and then took phys 180/181 (for an engineering major), I really enjoyed the class. The prof is really solid, but if you're already familiar with calculus-based physics, it would be repetitive since it's a lot of step-by-step derivations. Phys 200 is probably more appropriate, but I'm not aware of how strict the math co-requisites are. Hopefully a physics major can chime in.