Engineering without HSC Physics? (1 Viewer)

[eccentricity]

I don't take HSC Physics but I do take Extension 2 Mathematics. Is an understanding of the HSC Physics course content crucial for first-year engineering physics? Will the mechanics component of 4U suffice?

(I'm looking into engineering at either USyd or UNSW)

Thanks Guys

 

[Squar3root]

HSC physics is not necessary for university physics. 4U mathematics will help more since it is a maths based course

 

[Amundies]

Pretty much saying what square said. HSC Physics is not necessary for university physics, and university physics is a lot more mathematical intensive so maths knowledge is the only requirement. 4U is definitely enough.

 

[astroman]

4U HSC Maths has More Physics in it than HSC Physics does.

 

[Squar3root]

4U HSC Maths has More Physics in it than HSC Physics does.

Pretty much lol

 

[anomalousdecay]

You would only need a decent background in HSC Physics if you were to do Electrical, Photovoltaic, Renewable, Telecommunications or Computer Engineering at UNSW (not sure about other universities, but for Electrical Engineering at least it would be helpful). Even then, it isn't a necessity though it would be a little difficult to understand what is going on when you have to do Higher Physics 1B at UNSW (again, not sure about other universities).

For everything else, MX2 would suffice. A little bit of preliminary Physics would be quite helpful too. HSC Physics wouldn't really help much at all.

 

[anomalousdecay]

4U HSC Maths has More Physics in it than HSC Physics does.

I actually disagree with this. MX2 just has mechanics in it really

HSC Physics just has a low maths requirement. Some things actually are real Physics, just without the actual maths involved and as a result the questions in HSC are a bad indicator of what Physics actually can entail in further education. The content however is still related to further studies.

 

[Drongoski]

Of course certain topics (e.g. Astronomy ) in NSW HSC Physics have little direct relevance to, say Mechanical or Civil Engineering, where a good background in Statics and Dynamics (MX2 has very little of this - in Circular Motion section, you deal with a bit on forces, friction, etc) would be helpful. (I did a full HSC subject overseas, called Applied Maths, which was 100% Mechanics!).

Regardless of what people here may say, if doing Engineering, doing HSC Physics and MX2 would be, directly or indirectly, beneficial.