Is it unwise to study Physics without studying Mathematics? (1 Viewer)

[Schoey93]

Hello all,

Of the five HSC science courses offered, Biology and Physics appeal to me the most. HSC Chemistry seems quite dull... it is a shame really. The course could be so much more interesting if it had better topics - more biochemistry, kitchen chemistry, household chemistry and body chemistry would be good (The Biochemistry of Movement option topic appeals to me). Earth and Environmental Science appears to have some interesting topics, but as a whole is only mildly appealing to me. Senior Science interests me, but it is very general and I would like to try a more challenging course.

I have not chosen Mathematics for the HSC. I don't dislike maths, I just chose other subjects and didn't have enough units left over to study it. I also like to learn at my own pace, and the syllabus of HSC Mathematics 2U does not really allow me to do this. I also like to discover things for myself instead of having a textbook tell me exactly how to do things.

Anyway, I am considering studying Physics instead of Biology. I am insterested in the natural world, how it works and how machines work.

Would choosing Physics be an unwise choice given I have not chosen any maths course? Would Physics overlap with PD/H/PE as Biology does?

Thank you for your advice.

James

 

[saberbladexx]

HSC physics only requires year 10 maths.

Physics doesn't overlap with PDHPE

 

[babikakez]

If you have an aptitude for physics, you are likely to have an aptitude for maths. Keep this in mind.

 

[Schoey93]

i fully didnt read ur essay just read the title haha, yeh anyways agree wid above post nah physics doesn't overlap with pdhpe

Sorry, I did type a lot.

 

[Schoey93]

I'm leaning toward Biology because I'm interested in Occupational Therapy and health sciences. Could I take introductory Physics courses as part of an undergraduate science degree?

 

[khorne]

I'm leaning toward Biology because I'm interested in Occupational Therapy and health sciences. Could I take introductory Physics courses as part of an undergraduate science degree?

You could take a bridging course if needed, but most uni physics requires a lot of maths

 

[untouchablecuz]

eh, not really

but still, i think taking mathematics has to a certain extent helped me in my understanding of concepts, and reasoning questions out (regardless of whether it's in the syllabus or not)

 

[kaz1]

The Maths in Physics is piss easy. eg. E=hf, h=6.626x10^-34 and f= 5x10^-12 what is E? HSC Physics only requires only Year 10 maths which is a bit sad.

 

[ninetypercent]

If you have an aptitude for physics, you are likely to have an aptitude for maths. Keep this in mind.

damn.. I should've picked physics.

hey, would I be disadvantaged in maths ext 2 if I don't do Physics?

 

[Uncle]

HSC Physics is self-sufficient, it does not depend on other HSC courses like the extension courses do.

its now more concept and social impacts and history of physics.

if you want to know about machines and design, go take engineering studies or something.

 

[alcalder]

Firstly, the previous Physics course was impossible to do without 3 Units of Maths.

The new physics syllabus has been simplified TOO much and now 2 Unit maths is sufficient but if you can't do maths at all, then don't do physics. I know of 2UGen Maths students who were doing physics BUT struggled so much. They couldn't do the simple maths stuff.

However, if you take Physics at school and think you can go on to Uni and continue from where you left off, unless they have dumbed down the Uni course, you will not be able to do it.

To do Physics at Uni you will need at least 3U maths (if not 4Unit) because the current physics course will not prepare you for the required maths.

I did Physics and 4U maths at school and I still struggled with Physics at Uni. When it got to double and triple integrals... whoa! Remember, not all lecturers are great teachers and really have no time to indivisually teach you, so at Uni you are on your own with some tutors (who may be able to help you, but they didn't help me).

So, sure take Physics with no maths at school if you can still do maths quite well, but don't go on to do it at Uni. You won't cope unless you do lots of bridging courses and are well motivated to keep up.

 

[hermand]

damn.. I should've picked physics.

hey, would I be disadvantaged in maths ext 2 if I don't do Physics?

not really, but i have trouble understanding the concepts of motion for some reason, but people who do physics/engineering pick it up straight away as the courses overlap. you won't have trouble if you don't do physics, but it can be beneficial.

sorry if this doesn't make sense. i think i just gave myself a concussion. lol.

 

[Schoey93]

Firstly, the previous Physics course was impossible to do without 3 Units of Maths.

The new physics syllabus has been simplified TOO much and now 2 Unit maths is sufficient but if you can't do maths at all, then don't do physics. I know of 2UGen Maths students who were doing physics BUT struggled so much. They couldn't do the simple maths stuff.

However, if you take Physics at school and think you can go on to Uni and continue from where you left off, unless they have dumbed down the Uni course, you will not be able to do it.

To do Physics at Uni you will need at least 3U maths (if not 4Unit) because the current physics course will not prepare you for the required maths.

I did Physics and 4U maths at school and I still struggled with Physics at Uni. When it got to double and triple integrals... whoa! Remember, not all lecturers are great teachers and really have no time to indivisually teach you, so at Uni you are on your own with some tutors (who may be able to help you, but they didn't help me).

So, sure take Physics with no maths at school if you can still do maths quite well, but don't go on to do it at Uni. You won't cope unless you do lots of bridging courses and are well motivated to keep up.

I can do maths. I'm not bad at maths, I just didn't choose it because I decided to choose other subjects which I believed I would enjoy more in a class situation. To me, maths in a class situation is quite boring because you speed through the concepts and there's little time to understand them properly. I know that a lot of people I go to school with wouldn't understand why when dividing fractions you "times the first by the second flipped". They just memorise the mechanical skill...and so do I, at times... it's quite sad really. I feel I'd have to resort to memorising mechanical skills and rote learning to succeed in 2U Mathematics whilst still doing well in my other subjects... doing it properly would take too much time. (I like to learn at my own pace, and as I am a lexical/visual learner - I learn best by reading, writing and talking things through - doing maths properly takes me a long time.)

Anyway, I'm not quite sure of my decision yet, but I think that I will do HSC Biology. (I've had a look through the year 11 textbook and it interests me. The course description my school gave me also made the course appealing.) I've been planning to take a gap year before going to university, where I'd like to study physiotherapy or another health science. In that gap year, I'd work and study for the Statement of Attainment in Preparing for Mathematics and Science Further Study at TAFE, taking calculus, physics and chemistry units.

I am sorry for typing so much. Reading the bolded words should outline the content of my post if it's too much to read it all!