Why is it hard to explain what I love about physics?

[ProbablySid]

Summary: I always feel so satisfied when I self-study physics. It takes me time to truly appreciate what I'm learning when I'm under the pressure of university exams, but eventually when I understand it, I love it too. However, I can't explain why I love it.

Hey everyone,

I appreciate this isn't necessarily a "physics question" as such, so apologies if this is in the wrong section.

I've just finished my second year of a 4-year MSci Physics programme in a university. I have been dead set on studying physics since the early days of secondary/high school. It have always found it really satisfying, and when I begin to understand what I am learning, I just find it so fascinating.

Especially when I'm self-studying, as I'm learning it at my own pace. I find that when I'm studying at university, at first I don't really understand everything immediately and it takes me time to digest what I'm learning. Come exam time, when I start revising hard and everything starts falling into place and making sense, I get the same feeling of "oh my god this is so amazing". I don't like studying for the purpose of passing exams, and I much prefer self-study, but we must make do for now.

Anyway, when people ask what I love about physics, it is really hard for me to explain. Of course there are the clichés (I find it so interesting, I love problem solving) but I feel like this is only brushing the surface of it for me. I like astronomy in particular, something about the vastness of space, and it still being so unexplored and supposedly so far out of reach makes studying it all the more satisfying.

I was wondering what makes you guys love (or hate) physics.

Many thanks

 

[Delta2]

I am a mathematician but I love physics because they apply math in order to explain the world of physical reality around us and make new technologies.

 

[kuruman]

I love physics and I love my wife. They both "click" with me. That's why.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I love physics and I love my wife.

Just don't confuse the two.

 

[Orodruin]

Just don't confuse the two.

“I just adore your non-zero curvature tensor, honey.”

As for the question, the most amazing thing for me is that it works. That I can scribble down equations, get a result, and then have an experimentalist go to the lab and measure exactly that.

 

[kuruman]

“I just adore your non-zero curvature tensor, honey.”

As for the question, the most amazing thing for me is that it works. That I can scribble down equations, get a result, and then have an experimentalist go to the lab and measure exactly that.

Even better: scribble down equations, make a prediction and then go to the lab, do the experiment and be the first in the world to observe the prediction materialize before your eyes. Priceless!

 

[Orodruin]

and be the first in the world to observe the prediction materialize before your eyes. Priceless!

Unfortunately that does not really happen in theoretical high-energy physics …

 

[CrysPhys]

Even better: scribble down equations, make a prediction and then go to the lab, do the experiment and be the first in the world to observe the prediction materialize before your eyes. Priceless!

For me it was the opposite. Most exhilarating moments: analyze and model the problem; write down the equations; make predictions; go to the lab; design and run experiments ; ... get totally unexpected results.

 

[CrysPhys]

Just don't confuse the two.

Oh go ahead, confound the two. "Darling, let's get physic-al." [Apologies to Olivia Newton-John. By the way, interesting bit of trivia: Max Born was her grandfather.]