7
   

Do I really need physics?

 
 
Reply Sat 4 Jun, 2016 02:47 am
I'm in grade 11 and ever since I chose subjects, my family always told me that taking physics "opens doors" to every other career in life. The thing is, I've been hating it ever since I chose it. I only get C's and I don't think that's good at all. Do you think I should drop it? Considering that for what I want to do in life, I really only need biology- which I'm already taking.
 
Tes yeux noirs
 
  8  
Reply Sat 4 Jun, 2016 03:41 am
I got this from my father, only it was mathematics in his case. Sure, it opened doors for him, because he was good at that subject and wanted to be an engineer. A subject only "opens doors" for a person if they really want to go through those doors. In my case, I was much more interested in languages and literature, which my father despised as "soft" subjects. You have to identify for yourself the doors that you want to open, and also what you want to do when you have passed through them. Physics can open doors for a person talented in that subject, and motivated to use it to found a career, however concentrating on a subject that you are weak in, just because a parent orders it can be a damaging choice, because you will be encountering frustration and difficulty, which are demotivating, whereas success in a subject you love is motivating and empowering. You should seek the advice of a teacher or career adviser that you trust, and possibly get them to help you make your case to your parents.

Physics doesn't particularly open doors if you want to be an artist, a writer, a linguist, a musician, a journalist, in fact it would be a waste of time. It probably isn't essential if you want to concentrate on biology. You should consult the admission requirements for courses you wish to take that can lead to identifiable realistic career paths, and this is not necessarily something that parents are good at helping with.

farmerman
 
  3  
Reply Sat 4 Jun, 2016 08:19 am
@Tes yeux noirs,
richard feynman was an accomplished watercolorist and he opened dialogues in the pre TED years about the interdependence of the arts and sciences.
0 Replies
 
maxdancona
 
  2  
Reply Sat 4 Jun, 2016 08:33 am
@Candyflosslove ,
If you are going into a scientific career, including biology, then yes, you need physics. Science is about using mathematics to model and predict things in nature. You are learning this in physics class. And physics is the science behind many things you will learn in biology from mechanics to fluid dynamics to electric charges.

If you are not going into a science career, then I don't think the study of physics is very important in the grand scheme of things (I say this as a former physics teacher).


0 Replies
 
Tes yeux noirs
 
  3  
Reply Sat 4 Jun, 2016 09:10 am
Richard Feynman was a true polymath; they are rather rare. He was an expert safe cracker
Miller
 
  3  
Reply Sat 4 Jun, 2016 09:32 am
@Candyflosslove ,
Candyflosslove wrote:

Considering that for what I want to do in life, I really only need biology


At your young age, it's difficult to know what you want to do in life and what you'll eventually end up doing. I took calculus-based Physics as an undergraduate in college. I hated it primarily because the textbook was terrible. Later in life, I took another course in calculus-based Physics, and found that I loved Physics, primarily because the textbook was well written and was even exciting.

As far as a career in Biology today, perhaps you may be thinking along the lines of medical or nursing school or even pharmacy. All three of these areas do require that you understand some very basic principles of Physics. Some related to concepts in Physiology are :fluid dynamics, pressure/vol relations, mechanics, tension, friction...etc.

Depending on the teacher and the text, Physics can be very exciting.

As far as Biology today is concerned, much emphasis is placed on biochemistry, molecular biology, molecular genetics, developmental biology, analytical biochemistry and various aspects of physiology and biophysics. These are all areas that in one way or the other do require a knowledge of Physics.

Your interests will change as you age. As a kid in college I hated English, because I was interested in a career in science. Now as an adult, I love poetry, literature and various aspects of scientific writing.

One other point to remember, the careers of today, may not be available 10-25 years down the road. You may have to change careers at the age of 40+ and to do so, you will need to have an education that not only covers basic science, but also covers many aspects of the liberal arts and humanities.

One last thing about Physics, if you think about it , isn't Physics important to many ( if not all ) ballet movements?
farmerman
 
  2  
Reply Sat 4 Jun, 2016 10:07 am
@Tes yeux noirs,
Actually Feynman was a n ot a unique or rare commodity. Louis Fuertes, Beatrix Potter, Leonardo, Brian May, Stephen Gould, Robt Oppenheimer, etc etc. Im just off the toppa my heading here.
Tes yeux noirs
 
  2  
Reply Sat 4 Jun, 2016 11:38 am
@farmerman,
Quote:
Louis Fuertes, Beatrix Potter, Leonardo, Brian May, Stephen Gould, Robt Oppenheimer,

Is this a riddle? Were they all safecrackers?
maxdancona
 
  1  
Reply Sat 4 Jun, 2016 12:16 pm
@Miller,
If our student drops out of Physics now, and then decides later in life that she wants to pursue a career that requires the study of Physics, she can always go back. Humans aren't static... what she doesn't learn not she can learn when she needs it.

I spent nearly a decade studying Physics. This didn't give me even the slightest bit of ability in ballet. I don't think you are correct to make this connection.
0 Replies
 
nacredambition
 
  2  
Reply Sat 4 Jun, 2016 09:30 pm
@Tes yeux noirs,
Quote:
Is this a riddle? Were they all safecrackers?


Yeggs.
0 Replies
 
Miller
 
  2  
Reply Tue 7 Jun, 2016 12:51 am
@Miller,
Physics and the art of dance:

http://www.amazon.com/Physics-Art-Dance-Understanding-Movement/dp/0195341015
0 Replies
 
rubbywilliams
 
  0  
Reply Tue 7 Jun, 2016 01:39 am
You should do in what you are good at. In which you are interesting at!
0 Replies
 
Setanta
 
  1  
Reply Tue 7 Jun, 2016 04:22 am
You need to work on your English.
0 Replies
 
selectmytutor
 
  -1  
Reply Mon 20 Jun, 2016 03:08 am
@Candyflosslove ,
Yes
0 Replies
 
 

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