Do Physics classes get more interesting?

[adimi24]

I'm a senior in HS. Took AP Physics B last year had a 93 avg and got a 5 on the AP. Taking Ap Physics C this year. Started reading "The Fabric of the Cosmos" by Brian Greene and learning about astronomy over the summer. I really like this kind of stuff but the actual class, Physics B and C are both really boring. What i was reading about over the summer made me think about majoring in physics but my actual physics classes in school are really boring, is this how it would be in college?

Thanks

 

[diazona]

Depends on your high school, but if mine was any indication, the AP physics classes are a joke. I'm pretty sure you would find college-level physics classes more interesting (at least more challenging).

 

[Pengwuino]

I'm a senior in HS. Took AP Physics B last year had a 93 avg and got a 5 on the AP. Taking Ap Physics C this year. Started reading "The Fabric of the Cosmos" by Brian Greene and learning about astronomy over the summer. I really like this kind of stuff but the actual class, Physics B and C are both really boring. What i was reading about over the summer made me think about majoring in physics but my actual physics classes in school are really boring, is this how it would be in college?

Thanks

Yes. You are reading popular science which is nothing like what real physics is like. No matter what field you go into, the popular texts are all about the 'cool' aspects, much of which is written in a misleading manner, and never tell you about all the basics you must learn over years of study. So yes, your first couple of years, if you choose physics, will be full of tough, sometimes uninteresting, basic concepts and ideas. However, at the end of the day, you would be looking at all the cool concepts you read about in popular books.

This is the same problem in most fields though.

 

[adimi24]

So, I should still consider studying physics even though I don't like my high school classes?

 

[Pengwuino]

So, I should still consider studying physics even though I don't like my high school classes?

Yes, you can always switch out if you don't like it. To really get a feeling for what physics is like, you'll have to talk to people outside yoru classes, professors, grad students. They'll give you a good idea of what physics is like and you can determine whether or not it's the field for you.

 

[adimi24]

Yes, you can always switch out if you don't like it. To really get a feeling for what physics is like, you'll have to talk to people outside yoru classes, professors, grad students. They'll give you a good idea of what physics is like and you can determine whether or not it's the field for you.

Great, thanks. I'm writing my supplement to Lehigh right now about astrophysics, haha..

 

[micromass]

Be warned: studying physics and mathematics is nothing like the things you read in the pop-sci books. If your only reason to go into physics is because of the pop-sci books, then you'd better think twice.

Why don't you enjoy physics right now?? If it is because you're not being challenged and things are too easy, then college physics will be something for you.
If it is because you don't like the concepts and the way of thinking, then chances are that you might not enjoy the actual physics.

 

[adimi24]

Be warned: studying physics and mathematics is nothing like the things you read in the pop-sci books. If your only reason to go into physics is because of the pop-sci books, then you'd better think twice.

Why don't you enjoy physics right now?? If it is because you're not being challenged and things are too easy, then college physics will be something for you.
If it is because you don't like the concepts and the way of thinking, then chances are that you might not enjoy the actual physics.

I guess it's because it's nothing like what I'm reading. I like to think about cosmology and stuff but doing something like a projectile motion problem is really boring. Even though I do well, it's definitely not too easy, I usually need to get help with homework and study with other people. Maybe it's because there is a lot more math than I want?

 

[Rayquesto]

OMG! Physics gets much more interesting the more you are open to it's application, in my opinion. Think about it, what's much more interesting than gaining the power and knowledge to do the craziest things you could ever do in the world. I don't understand some people. Well, if you think that calculating forces, velocities, torques, energies, etc. are pointless, I believe you have not found the interest in physics. If you could calculate the forces involved in a chair at an angle, then you could calculuate the forces involed in electricity. If the possibilities of the application are that broad, physics should be interesting to anyone, because the more you know, the better you can apply it to anything really.

 

[WannabeNewton]

Physics C gets fun once you go into electrostatics =D. Anyways, things like QM and GR proper are incredibly interesting and imo the mathematics is what makes it incredibly interesting to begin with. Its very, very, very fun to toy around with physical concepts as profound as those entrenched in QM and GR using mathematics from linear algebra, differential geometry etc. It may seem like the classical harmonic oscillator or parabolic motion are trivial and somewhat dry but everything is fundamental for what comes later in theoretical physics.

 

[micromass]

I guess it's because it's nothing like what I'm reading. I like to think about cosmology and stuff but doing something like a projectile motion problem is really boring. Even though I do well, it's definitely not too easy, I usually need to get help with homework and study with other people. Maybe it's because there is a lot more math than I want?

If you don't like to do the math, then physics will be nothing for you. Math is so very important in physics that you'll have to like it. Physics is not philosophizing about the end of the universe or black holes. That kind of physics is really math intensive.

Applying mathematics to physical problems is the cornerstone of physics. Being able to solve a projective motion with mathematics might be boring, but all physics problems are solved in the same mathematical way.

Thinking about quarks, anti-matter and muons might be nice, but it's not like real physics.

 

[diazona]

I guess it's because it's nothing like what I'm reading. I like to think about cosmology and stuff but doing something like a projectile motion problem is really boring. Even though I do well, it's definitely not too easy, I usually need to get help with homework and study with other people. Maybe it's because there is a lot more math than I want?

AP physics is more math than you want?

In that case, I should probably take back what I said earlier. College-level physics is much more mathematically intensive than AP, so if it's the amount of math in your class now that turns you off, you're probably going to like a more advanced physics class even less.

 

[Pengwuino]

I guess it's because it's nothing like what I'm reading. I like to think about cosmology and stuff but doing something like a projectile motion problem is really boring. Even though I do well, it's definitely not too easy, I usually need to get help with homework and study with other people. Maybe it's because there is a lot more math than I want?

This is a giant red flag. Physics is applied math. Physics isn't about sitting around thinking up crazy ideas and concepts. The math and basic ideas and experimental results are what lead to what are sometimes crazy, spectacular ideas. No string theorist or cosmologist or what have you would even blink at doing mathematics that you are still a decade off from seeing.

It's like engineering. Engineers create spectacular things not based off what they want to be possible, but what is currently available and state-of-the-art. A craftsman is worthless without his hammer and hail :)

 

[Rayquesto]

"Be warned: studying physics and mathematics is nothing like the things you read in the pop-sci books. If your only reason to go into physics is because of the pop-sci books, then you'd better think twice.

Why don't you enjoy physics right now?? If it is because you're not being challenged and things are too easy, then college physics will be something for you.
If it is because you don't like the concepts and the way of thinking, then chances are that you might not enjoy the actual physics."

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TRUE! That's maybe why my 9th grade integrated science teacher didn't like my "adhd" mind. I tried thinking in terms of math and he tried to get me to think in terms of pop-science saying "ray! this is not a math class!" like I was retarted.

 

[xdrgnh]

When you get to E@M you get to use fancy line and surface integrals symbols that's kind of cool. Try to think about how these ideas like conservation of energy and F=MA can be applied to dark holes and string theories and you would see how remarkable and amazing these ideas are.

 

[ballzac]

One thing that should be pointed out, is that most people who study physics end up working on problems that no one outside of physics even know exist. In fact, if - for example - you are working on a problem in electron optics, you will talk to a particle physicist and they will have a very difficult time understanding your work.

If you are genuinely interest in the stuff that makes the cover of Scientific American, you can certainly choose an institution and courses based on the goal of getting to work on those problems. But a lot of people start studying physics because of those physics 'porn' topics, but end up enjoying working on something a lot more concrete like medical imaging or solid state physics.

If you dislike the mathematics and find it too difficult, then you will only find it gets worse as you go further. The learning curve for the mathematics is very steep, and in order to have a good foundation in physics, you will learn a breadth of topics, most of which you will probably find boring.

There were things I always found boring, but now I actually need to use a lot of those concepts in order to solve problems that I'm working on and they have become interesting to me. It also helps when you understand things better. I really disliked crystallography in second year, but by fourth year I was understanding the concepts a lot better and the courses were going into a lot more detail about it. Also, at higher levels, all these different topics start to look like aspects of the same thing. You can always draw parallels between different topics, and any mathematical 'tricks' you learn will be applicable to a wide range of topics. In some ways this makes it easier, but the mathematics is still very difficult.

The main thing is whether it is worth it to you. I was never that good at mathematics, but I wanted to learn physics so much that I put in everything I had. If it's worth it to you and you put in the effort, you will enjoy it.

 

[Rayquesto]

projectile motion gives me kinetic energy! Torque gives me potential Energy! why, because in a projectile motion, I obtain the desired energy to move a distance and torque gives me the tendency to want to stay still and not move at all! haha idk if that made sense. I am just be a bit random. Just don't punish me for it. haha

 

[turbo]

There is nothing wrong with using projectile problems to illustrate basic physical concepts, along with supporting labs. These are Pons Asinorum exercises, IMO, and should be covered in HS. Physics gets a lot more interesting later on.

The same argument can be extended to about any rigorous field of study. I liked chemistry in HS. I liked chemistry in first-year engineering, and I LOVED the labs. Qualitative and quantitative analysis were so fun (the labs, that is).

 

[mal4mac]

If you don't like doing projectile problems then physics is not for you! College physics is a serious of harder projectile problems *not* a series of popular physics books.

I really liked doing projectile problems at school, and even through undergraduate studies. I got a bit sick of it by the time I was doing my MSc - but at least I enjoyed doing physics *most* of my time, and could then get a well paying job using similar skills (programming...) For fun I now read Dickens (and maybe the odd Brian Greene book...)

What do you *really* enjoy doing at school - do that at college. You don't like any of it? Forget college and be a plumber - they make big money, are always in demand, have plenty of free time to read Brian Greene (or whatever...) and you don't have to suffer years of learning stuff you hate for less than zero cash...

Don't want to get your hands dirty? Go work for a large department store. You could be CEO by the time you are forty and earning a seven figure salary... Selling jeans, and then managing the people who sell jeans, will be a loss less harrowing than beating your head against the wall trying to do hard projectile problems for four years - unless you are of the strange ilk who actually like doing these problems...

 

[Mororvia]

Haha, I'm surprised by the harshness of some posters because someone doesn't find projectile motion all that interesting. I also didn't really enjoy the introductory freshman type of mechanics all that much. I thought the topics taught in the intermediate level mechanics was great though, even when that included projectile motion because 1) it was more realistic type of scenarios and 2) because of 1, it was more mathematically rigorous.

To answer the subject at hand though, if you feel like you enjoy the ideas of physics in general, I am of the opinion that you would enjoy some the more advanced courses. Just keep in mind that the first part any of the courses you take must teach the basics before you get to more of the applications.

 

[ballzac]

If you don't like doing projectile problems then physics is not for you! College physics is a serious of harder projectile problems *not* a series of popular physics books.

That could be quite misleading to someone who is still in high school. Physics is NOT just more and more projectile problems. There are a great deal of different things that that are taught in undergrad physics, and the OP may find many of them interesting. There's an element of truth in what you're saying, but I can imagine a comment like that could have put me off studying higher physics if someone said that to me when I was in high school.

Even if you generalise it to say that the OP probably wouldn't like any Newtonian mechanics, that doesn't mean he won't enjoy learning about electric circuits, or about special relativity, or quantum mechanics.

Really, high school and some of first year lay the foundations of Newtonian mechanics that is required to go further, but I don't think a lack of interest in projectile problems can be translated to a lack of interest in physics.

I think the OP should borrow a first year textbook from the library and read through it and see how much of it interests him. And I don't just mean reading the trivia. I mean actually looking at worked examples and trying to solve some problems at the back of the chapters. The main thing to remember is that the mathematics IS hard. If you are really concerned that you will stumble with the mathematics, then that is probably a clincher for you.

I thought the topics taught in the intermediate level mechanics was great though, even when that included projectile motion because 1) it was more realistic type of scenarios and 2) because of 1, it was more mathematically rigorous.

Not to mention that if you stick it out you will eventually be working on problems that no one has ever solved before, and even if its some trivial aspect of a very obscure field, that's a lot more rewarding than calculating where a ball will land.

 

[MissSilvy]

I will echo what others have said here that deciding to study physics because of a popular science book is dangerous. Not that it couldn't be the foundation of your interest in the field but when students go into real physics in college and don't get the immediate payoff of branes, black holes, the nature of time, and things of that sort from day one, they get frustrated.

Physics is demanding. You have to put in about 4 years of work (basically your undergrad degree) of boring-ish math and basic concepts just to establish the vocabulary for grad school level classes and actually beginning to talk about cutting-edge research. And this is for years. If you like math and enjoy the challenge of thinking physically, there is a lot in those four years to keep you interested but I can promise you won't get anywhere near the Brian Green level for a while, if ever.

I stuck through the boring parts of physics out of sheer stubbornness and it is paying off now in spades with more interesting problems and concepts that I can actually tackle but without putting in the time of learning the more mundane aspects of physics, you will never get there.

 

[Nano-Passion]

Be warned: studying physics and mathematics is nothing like the things you read in the pop-sci books. If your only reason to go into physics is because of the pop-sci books, then you'd better think twice.

Why don't you enjoy physics right now?? If it is because you're not being challenged and things are too easy, then college physics will be something for you.
If it is because you don't like the concepts and the way of thinking, then chances are that you might not enjoy the actual physics.

I agree with this. First time I took physics I was captivated by the methodology.. by the power of prediction. I was amazed how we can use math to describe the world around us so powerfully and accurately. That is when I got hooked into physics. Its fine to supplement your interest with popular shows which is how I got started, but if you don't appreciate the concepts behind the mathematics.. then chances are its not for you.

Haha, I'm surprised by the harshness of some posters because someone doesn't find projectile motion all that interesting. I also didn't really enjoy the introductory freshman type of mechanics all that much. I thought the topics taught in the intermediate level mechanics was great though, even when that included projectile motion because 1) it was more realistic type of scenarios and 2) because of 1, it was more mathematically rigorous.

To answer the subject at hand though, if you feel like you enjoy the ideas of physics in general, I am of the opinion that you would enjoy some the more advanced courses. Just keep in mind that the first part any of the courses you take must teach the basics before you get to more of the applications.

While your post does have some merit, you also have to be careful not to mislead and give 'mis-hope'. I personally was very interested in Newtonian mechanics, which is enough to convince me that physics and mathematics is for me.

I am of the opinion that you would enjoy some the more advanced courses.

Don't forget his main interest is from popular books. Whats to say that he won't hate his life when he indulges in the mathematics later? If he has an apt for mathematics then by all means go for it! But if mathematics bores you and your afraid of a challenge then pursuing something else might be a better idea.

Not trying to discourage you OP, keep focusing onto physics and your math. If you go up to calculus and still don't like it then you should definitely reconsider. I started liking math when I started with physics and then fell in love with calculus. I hope the same would happen with you. Keep an open mind, and if you understand things at a non-superficial level then I'm sure you will like the mathematics! Best of luck.

 

[ballzac]

Another thing is, if you start persist with studying physics and find you really don't enjoy it, the problem-solving skills you learn in physics will help you in just about anything you apply it to if you decide to switch. Philosophy, language, history, music theory, computer programming...

So I don't think the time would necessarily be wasted.

 

[romsofia]

I'll say it: I hate DOING Newtonian mechanics (especially projectile motion); it's boring to me. I love the concepts, but actually doing the exercises was a pain. But, physics isn't just Newtonian mechanics. After first semester, you'll start doing E&M, and that's a lot funner than Newtonian mechanics.

Good luck.

 

[Monster92]

:O Are you joking?

I just started doing a computer science degree and there is this course based on Computer Systems. I came out of the class and someone said to me that was boring. I replied "What! What lecture was you in that was amazing." Just a simple case of personal interests I guess..

Note: Learning science or mathematics is like practising to be in a running race. Sure training can be instance, difficult and unbearable. But once you cross the finishing line you feel great!

Now, to me that finishing line is understanding a complex topic. To someone else it might be passing the overal course...depends.

 

[adimi24]

Woh, lots of responses. Thanks. Well the year just started so I'll see how it goes and I'll keep reading stuff. Maybe I'll just decide once I've taken a few courses in college?

 

[turbo]

Woh, lots of responses. Thanks. Well the year just started so I'll see how it goes and I'll keep reading stuff. Maybe I'll just decide once I've taken a few courses in college?

As was mentioned above, the critical thinking and problem-solving involved in dissecting and understanding physics problems can serve you well in other fields. Do your best, and it won't be a waste of time. Good luck.

 

[Nano-Passion]

Woh, lots of responses. Thanks. Well the year just started so I'll see how it goes and I'll keep reading stuff. Maybe I'll just decide once I've taken a few courses in college?

Best choice you can make IMO.

 

[deluks917]

Interesting is subjective. Usually to be interesting a course needs to hard enough you don't find it boring (like HS physics) but not so hard you get lost. Everybody student has different amounts of intellectual maturity and background so its hard to make a class appeal to most students simultaneously. I think its important to study with other students "on the same level" as you if you want the classes to be interesting.