Question

Is it just me or is work and fluids in calc 2 painful

Answer 1

Applications require you to understand new concepts (here, physics) as well as the math underlying the situation.

Calculus was originally conceived to solve physics problems, so it's a natural source of problem material.

Answer 2

To be fair, calc 2 is painful in general

Answer 3

I remember having to spend extra time to understand those parts of the course. I've never enjoyed physics and I was easily annoyed learning about work/fluids.

I will say that when I did finally understand this material it was very rewarding! It was a worthwhile challenge.

Answer 4

Yuppp. I remember lots of word problems. Like how much work is done to lift a chain.

Answer 5

I had to teach a class at a job interview for my current position years ago.  The department assigned me a topic and I kept thinking, “don’t be work, don’t be work” and it was work!

As a commenter said below, work requires you to a) put together the concepts from Reimann Sums which you likely just learned about and may not have sunk in yet AND b) connect it to a topic that you may not be familiar with.  

Like many things in math, once you get it, it doesn’t seem that bad and you wonder why you struggled with it.  But getting there takes synthesizing two topics that may be new to you.

Answer 6

Calc 2 was the single most painful course I took in my whole college career, and I have a masters in water resources engineering.

Answer 7

Actually, calc1 and clac2 are the easiest courses I had

Answer 8

Thankfully I never did any physics related stuff in my class.

Answer 9

Not if you embrace Riemann sums and use them on every problem.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, many teachers introduce applications into a course from a variety of fields without first making sure students understand the mechanical tools set for which those applications use. Another sad thing occurs is that many (or even most) calculus 2 classes spend an enormous amount of time on applications (solid revolutions, physics, etc.) and don't even teach all of the tools and concepts for which calculus 2 should discuss.