Durham Physics Freshers 20/21

11/10/2020

🚀PUB QUIZ SOCIAL🚀

Thank you to everyone who came to our freshers social last night, it was so nice to meet you all and I hope you guys had a good time getting to know one another!
And if you're stuck for things to do then fear not! We will be hosting another virtual social for the whole of DUPS on the 24th of October, make sure to clear your diaries 🚀

Want to prove once and for all that your college is the one to beat at a pub quiz? Then clear out your diaries for *24.10.2020* so you can come and show us what you've got at our Inter-Collegiate Pub Quiz! (the first of several inter-collegiate events we're running this year...)
You can sign up in teams or by yourself and we'll sort you out!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5FbOqyleYlYNXfUFFBmLZvgQmZt8CIB6E2zyBAtYqJMMBKQ/viewform
It's going to be a really fun evening so we're excited to see you all there! 🚀

30/09/2020

*** Fresher's Fair ***

Come and find us at the Fresher's Fair:
https://durhamuniversity.sharepoint.com/.../SUDUPS.aspx

You can chat with us all day today and tomorrow via:
https://teams.microsoft.com/.../02_Freshers%2520Face...

Get your free membership:
https://www.durhamsu.com/groups/physics-20b9

Hope you chat with you soon,
Your Physics exec

The Society for all things physics! Set up to promote and encourage an interest in physics among all students, staff and affiliates of Durham University (whether they study physics of not), we host regular talks both from rising stars and established authorities in the world of physics. These talks....

14/09/2020

*Ask the Exec #6*

This is a very easy answer because they absolutely can!

Any more questions for our lovely exec?!
https://docs.google.com/forms/u/6/d/1Qo186JFlPK4dEJC5OwjKfBgpoWWgA7Gp2PVVqAePuEI/edit?fbclid=IwAR2qTrObDch7LxeeXjpTJ-GaqImkKMR5WcGVaF69vysWfsBqwr3_AR34VL4

09/09/2020

*Ask the Exec #5*

We're loving how keen you are!

This will depend on which maths courses you're planning on studying but here is some general advice for the maths that you can revise that will help you out in first year.

Revising calculus, especially differential equations, will be useful to you. Getting very comfortable with differentiation and integration is going to come in handy!
Practice vectors and, if you've studied further maths, also practice matrix operations as this will help a lot with the linear algebra that appears on both maths pathways. It's also worth having a look at polar, cylindrical and spherical coordinates even if it's just to see what they are!
Sequences and series are worth looking over, especially the Taylor Series.
Probability and distribution functions form a massive part of error analysis so it's definitely a good idea to familiarise yourself with the key ideas. (If you already have the required textbook for Discovery Skills then you might want to flick through that, even though its not exactly engrossing literature!)
If you have done further maths (Or if you haven't and you're just curious!) it will be useful to look at complex numbers and try to get comfortable using them.
It's also worth practicing going through a few proofs from both the physics and maths courses that you have done as this can support your understanding of any new equations you come across.

Wow, that was a lot! This isn't meant to scare anyone, as we've said in previous posts the department does not expect further maths A-level knowledge for any of the first year modules. These are just a few tips for things you could have a look at before term starts if you want to!

Any more questions for our lovely exec?!
https://docs.google.com/forms/u/6/d/1Qo186JFlPK4dEJC5OwjKfBgpoWWgA7Gp2PVVqAePuEI/edit?fbclid=IwAR2qTrObDch7LxeeXjpTJ-GaqImkKMR5WcGVaF69vysWfsBqwr3_AR34VL4

08/09/2020

*Ask the Exec #4*

A lot of people are concerned about the maths content for first year and that's completely understandable!
Whilst people who have studied further maths may already be familiar with some of the content, the courses themselves DO NOT assume any prior knowledge of further maths and often lecturers will know that a decent proportion of people haven't done further maths.
One of the starkest examples is the teaching of complex numbers, they are taught from square one so people who have already done further maths may find these lectures similar to the content of A-levels but those who haven't are taught all of the basics they need to know before progressing onto the higher level stuff.
So, whilst having a look over some of the further maths content may be useful for Maths A&B, it is not necessary as the courses are taught as if everyone is starting from scratch.
As for the speed of the course, it is quite a bit faster than you're used to at school simply due to the lecture style of teaching. This may take a little while to adjust to, but it is completely manageable!

Any more questions for our lovely exec?!
https://docs.google.com/forms/u/6/d/1Qo186JFlPK4dEJC5OwjKfBgpoWWgA7Gp2PVVqAePuEI/edit?fbclid=IwAR2qTrObDch7LxeeXjpTJ-GaqImkKMR5WcGVaF69vysWfsBqwr3_AR34VL4

05/09/2020

*Ask the Exec #3*

A very good question! A lot of people can be very torn between which maths modules to take so here's a few *paraphrased* reviews from students who took linear algebra, calculus and analysis last year.

'I wouldn't advise these modules if you didn't take further maths at A-level because the maths is very rigorous and can feel overwhelming sometimes. However, it is definitely not impossible and many people really enjoyed these modules, especially the lecturers!'

'Analysis is very proof heavy and so is useful for understanding the groundwork of the equations and theories that you use in physics. Calculus primarily focuses on methods and linear algebra is mostly matrices and vectors. They are arguably less pragmatic than SMA/SMB and occasionally the methods used by maths and physics differ quite a bit which can be irritating'

So overall, these modules tend to be more focussed on proof and 'pure mathematics' so if that appeals to you then go for it! SMA/SMB will also teach you all the maths that you need to know for your degree but not necessarily the proofs behind it. Whichever one you pick, make sure you try and enjoy it!

Any more questions for our lovely exec?!

https://docs.google.com/forms/u/6/d/1Qo186JFlPK4dEJC5OwjKfBgpoWWgA7Gp2PVVqAePuEI/edit?fbclid=IwAR2qTrObDch7LxeeXjpTJ-GaqImkKMR5WcGVaF69vysWfsBqwr3_AR34VL4

04/09/2020

*Ask the Exec #2*

There is now - you asked, we answered!

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3784842431530702&extid=loddUi7D8WXImzkx

Any more questions for our lovely exec team?!
https://docs.google.com/forms/u/6/d/1Qo186JFlPK4dEJC5OwjKfBgpoWWgA7Gp2PVVqAePuEI/edit?fbclid=IwAR2qTrObDch7LxeeXjpTJ-GaqImkKMR5WcGVaF69vysWfsBqwr3_AR34VL4