Which subjects in theoretical physics do undergrads find most difficult?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the subjects in theoretical physics that undergraduate students find most challenging. Participants share their experiences and opinions on various topics such as electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, classical mechanics, and others, reflecting on their difficulties and perceptions of these subjects.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants find electromagnetism to be the hardest subject, citing its complexity and the challenge of understanding the in-between concepts.
  • Statistical mechanics is described by several participants as particularly difficult, with one noting that it feels detached from reality and involves overwhelming equations.
  • Quantum mechanics is mentioned as tricky to grasp, with some participants expressing that even professionals struggle with it.
  • Classical mechanics is argued by some to be the hardest due to its rigorous mathematical approach and the adjustment required for students transitioning to upper-division courses.
  • Astrophysics is noted to be challenging as it combines knowledge from various other subjects, making it more difficult for those who struggle with foundational topics.
  • Some participants believe that the difficulty of a subject can be mitigated by effective teaching and a solid mathematical foundation.
  • One participant mentions that their experience with mechanics was particularly negative due to poor instruction, impacting their understanding of advanced topics.
  • Another participant expresses that introductory solid state physics was the worst class they took, despite achieving a good grade.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on which subjects are the most difficult, with no consensus reached. Many subjects are mentioned as challenging, and experiences vary widely among individuals.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the role of teaching quality and prior knowledge in shaping their experiences, indicating that personal circumstances and instructional methods may significantly influence perceptions of difficulty.

Which subjects in theoretical physics do undergrads find most difficult?

  • Classical Mechanics

    Votes: 9 12.0%

  • Quantum Mechanics/Intro solid state physics

    Votes: 16 21.3%

  • Thermal Physics/Statistical Mechanics

    Votes: 16 21.3%

  • Electromagnetism/Electrodynamics

    Votes: 21 28.0%

  • Optics

    Votes: 5 6.7%

  • Astrophysics

    Votes: 3 4.0%

  • Special Relativity

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Sub atomic/particle physics

    Votes: 5 6.7%

  • Other

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    75
  • #31
I just did stat physics and QM. I did maybe 10 times more work in stat physics then QM but pulled off smilar marks with a difference of 2 out of 100 in favour of QM. The reason was that I felt in QM the physical concepts are impossible to understand no matter how hard you try so all one needs is a good understanding of the maths. That actually meant less work as the maths in QM were relatively straight forward. Now I understand why Feynman said "No one in the world understands QM". One can only understand the maths of QM.

That is not the case with Stat mech. It is possible to understand Stat mech and quite an amazing theory one which I find deeply satisfying. To learn it one must be familar with the physics as well as the maths. Thats why I needed so much more time learning stat mech. It wasn't all just maths.
 
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