I did really wish there was a physics-specific differential equations course, something I'm pretty sure the math professors also wished for (along with major-specific courses for other majors that required diff eq and not taught by math faculty).
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Differential Equations I: the single worst passing grade I have ever received in a course in my life. Differential Equations II, where they actually taught applications and use cases rather than Pure Theory: I got an A-. Physics departments should not outsource this to math departments.
aug 19, 2025, 12:23 am • 8 0 • view
I barely passed calculus I by rote memorization. Then the next semester I took physics I (calc was a prerequisite) and within the first two weeks I retroactively understood everything I hadn't gotten from calc.
aug 19, 2025, 2:00 am • 3 0 • view
Yes. I got yelled at for using physics rather than math in ODE. Look, if you give me a projectile motion problem I know how to do that in three lines.
aug 19, 2025, 12:26 am • 7 0 • view
We had differential equations as a prerequisite for an engineering class they called System Dynamics. We walk in and sit down the first day, "Hey so you know that whole course you all took last semester? Yeah nobody actually does that. Let me tell you about the Laplace transform."
aug 19, 2025, 12:33 am • 1 0 • view
The problem is that physics majors aren't the only people who have to take differential equations, you also have chemistry majors, potentially some econ and biology majors, and various engineering majors if you're somewhere with engineering programs.
aug 19, 2025, 12:40 am • 1 0 • view
this was a small regional undergrad uni and the class was 30% physics, 60% engineers, 10% math majors. it was tailored only to the last. phys and eng probably would have gotten along fine with a course tailored to either.
aug 19, 2025, 12:41 am • 1 0 • view
I took it twice in order to pass it. The second time I had a professor who tried to include applications but was unfamiliar with common conventions in physics including what units are used, so it was confusing and frustrating for everyone. I think the chemistry majors would have said the same.
aug 19, 2025, 12:32 am • 1 0 • view
a huge part of it was just that the textbook they used for DE II was better and explained things without bogging down in abstract theory. at the end of the course the entire cohort went "you should use this book for both classes" and the prof implemented it because the class GPA was *28% higher*.
aug 19, 2025, 12:33 am • 1 0 • view