does non calculus based physics limit your ability in the physics world compared to calculus based physics?

Question

like does one or the other allow you to solve more basically?

Answer 1

Without Calculus you will never do much more than the simplest mechanical problems. And even those you won't understand -why- the equation works. And, besides Calculus, you'll need a good course in differential equations, and courses in both real and complex analysis and linear algebra. And a bit of modern algebra and topology wouldn't do any damage either ☺

Basically, the more math you have, the better you'll be at physics (or any other physical science). It's interesting that all of the -really- hot computer algorithms are published by.... Mathematicians.

Doug

Answer 2

I teach almost the same material in calculus-based and algebra-based introductory physics courses. The main differences are twofold.

1) People in algebra-based courses rarely go on to take more physics, which of course will automatically limit you.

2) Simply having made it to calculus tends to make students a little better prepared to do algebra and trig, since the older stuff has had time to sink in, and has been used again in calculus. But if you've already taken calculus and want to take algebra-based physics, that won't be a factor.

In terms of the conceptual stuff, it's really more a matter of who's teaching the course and whether it's traditional or reform style. You'll probably learn more in a reformed algebra-based course than in a traditional calculus-based course.

However, the main barrier that algebra-based courses put in your way is that the prerequisites for more advanced courses usually include calculus-based courses. So you're limited in physics if you don't take a calculus-based course, simply because you can't go on to anything beyond introductory material. At Kansas State, there's a 400-level "Contemporary Physics" course that's open to anyone who has taken any previous physics, calculus-based or not, but this sort of course isn't available everywhere.

Of course, you can always take calculus-based physics after taking algebra-based physics, that's how I did it, and I have a PhD in Physics now. :) (Okay, so the algebra-based course was in high school rather than college, but one of our current physics majors here at KSU took a math-light course a couple years ago, decided she liked it, and went on to take the calculus-based course the next year and got into a research group as an undergrad.)

Answer 3

Multiply 8 x4.
The answer is 32.
How do you calculate this?

There are many ways.
Simplest is to use a calculator.

Another method is to memorize multiplication table of 4 or 8.
The basic method is to add 8 four times or to add 4 eight times.

If one does not want to memorize multiplication table or decline to use calculator will it affect his ability to do study physics or mathematics?

Calculus is a tool and if one declines to use that tool, then he has to seek his own hand and the work will take his life time to finish his job.

There are plenty of ways to go from one place to another place. One can walk, run, catch a bus, and travel in a train or boat or in plane. Will it affect my journey if I walk when there are other ways?
Answer to your question is in the answer to the above question.