Is kinematics/dynamics an everyday part of the job?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relevance and engagement of kinematics and dynamics in physics education, particularly from the perspective of a math major taking introductory physics courses. Participants share their experiences and opinions on whether these foundational topics are essential for all physicists and how they relate to future studies in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses dissatisfaction with their physics class, questioning the necessity of kinematics and dynamics for all physicists and whether the course will become more interesting.
  • Another participant argues that while learning quickly is crucial, the relevance of specific topics depends on the projects one engages with in the future.
  • Several participants suggest that Physics II is generally more engaging than Physics I, with one describing Electromagnetism (E&M) as a beautiful subject that sparked their interest in electrical engineering.
  • There is a sentiment that the introductory physics courses may seem mundane but can lead to more fascinating topics in advanced courses.
  • One participant mentions the potential excitement of quantum mechanics (QM) for those who enjoy pop-science literature and have a good grasp of mathematics.
  • Another participant reflects on their experience with QM and expresses interest in attending a QM class, despite scheduling conflicts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the necessity of kinematics and dynamics for all physicists. While some find these topics foundational, others suggest that interest and relevance vary significantly among individuals and their specific fields.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of interest and engagement with physics topics, indicating that personal preferences and experiences may influence perceptions of the subject matter. There is also mention of the challenges of balancing coursework with personal interests.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students considering a major in physics or related fields, particularly those evaluating the relevance of introductory physics courses to their future studies and careers.

[Quadratic]
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I'm a math major currently in calc 3, and I'm also taking my first ever physics class. I've always had a very strong interest in physics from pop-sci books and Feynman's lectures, and I fantasized about doing some work in physics, possibly even changing majors. The problem I find myself having is I find this physics class to be incredibly boring. It is an 8:00 am class and my teacher doesn't exactly get me excited for her lectures, and I just do not find this class to be enjoyable at all. I also don't think I'm very good at it, average at best.

So, getting to the point, is this stuff crucial to every physicist all of the time, regardless of their field? Does it get better/more interesting? Is the fact that I'm not enjoying this class a sign that I probably do not have a future in physics? Or is it one of those classes that you just have to get through in order to get to the good stuff?

Also I'm taking a pretty heavy course load and do not have the time to really dedicate to learning the material as deeply as I should, and as long as I survive the rest of this semester I'm going to take it a little easier on myself in the spring when I take physics II. Hopefully it won't be as bad.
 
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is this stuff crucial to every physicist all of the time, regardless of their field?
No. It is crucial to be able to learn and understand new things quickly, but which areas you'll need really depends on the actual project.
Does it get better/more interesting?
Hard to tell, different people are interested in different things.
 
I'd say it will inevitably get more interesting. Physics II is so much more "magical" than Physics 1. Physics 1 IMO just mathematizes kind of obvious stuff about movement of objects. Physics II, I knew absolutely nothing about before I took it, and found than E&M is a truly beautiful subject. I chose to major in EE partially as a result of this class, (although the upperclassmen EE version of Electromagnetics wasn't nearly as captivating as the intro calc based physics E&M course).

I majored in EE but I probably should have majored in physics. I chose EE because it served as an "employable math degree" but I still feel pretty unemployable and probably should just not have been a wimp about it and done physics.
 
Last edited:
X89codered89X said:
I'd say it will inevitably get more interesting. Physics II is so much more "magical" than Physics 1. Physics 1 IMO just mathematizes kind of obvious stuff about movement of objects. Physics II, I knew absolutely nothing about before I took it, and found than E&M is a truly beautiful subject. I chose to major in EE partially as a result of this class, (although the upperclassmen EE version of Electromagnetics wasn't nearly as captivating as the intro calc based physics E&M course).

I majored in EE but I probably should have majored in physics. I chose EE because it served as an "employable math degree" but I still feel pretty unemployable and probably should just not have been a wimp about it and done physics.

Thanks. I've heard the same sentiment about E&M from a couple other people. I'm definitely looking forward to it and I suppose I will continue taking physics courses and see how it goes.
 
[Quadratic];4570609 said:
Thanks. I've heard the same sentiment about E&M from a couple other people. I'm definitely looking forward to it and I suppose I will continue taking physics courses and see how it goes.

If you like pop-science books and are decent at math, QM will blow your mind. I still can't believe it almost 20 years later!
 
analogdesign said:
If you like pop-science books and are decent at math, QM will blow your mind. I still can't believe it almost 20 years later!

My lab instructor invited me to sit in on his QM class next semester but I'm not sure my schedule will allow it. I bet it's awesome (and probably a little intense)! :)
 
Just going over old posts and curious if You're in physics 2 this semester.
 

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