Studying physics requires more than just knowing how to do equations and use formulas in the right way.
If you want to be successful, it’s also important to understand why you’re doing the things that you’re doing, how those things help you become better at what you want to do, and where they fit into the broader picture of your future career plans.
Before beginning your physics coursework, it’s important that you learn some of the most basic concepts that will serve as the foundation of your knowledge base going forward.
Here are 4 Things You Need to Know Before You Study Physics!
1) Physics is the study of the fundamental principles governing the natural world
Physics is the study of the fundamental principles governing the natural world. Here are three things you need to know before studying physics.
It’s a hard subject, and you’ll need to spend a lot of time on it if you want to be good at it.
A degree in physics will give you an edge when looking for jobs because there are so few people with such degrees.
There are many interesting areas within physics to choose from: Particle physics, astrophysics, solid-state chemistry, nuclear engineering and engineering mechanics.
If you’re considering majoring in this field but still have some doubts about whether or not it’s right for you, here are some pros and cons to consider.
It’s a hard subject, and you’ll need to spend a lot of time on it if you want to be good at it.
Many large companies seek physicists out because they know how much effort goes into obtaining a degree like this one.
If you find yourself struggling to keep up with your studies then make sure to speak with your advisor as soon as possible – they can provide advice based on your specific situation.
A degree in physics will give you an edge when looking for jobs because there are so few people with such degrees.
In 2010, only 7% of college graduates majored in physics yet physics majors were hired by Fortune 500 companies more than any other group.
There are many interesting areas within physics to choose from:
Particle physics, astrophysics, solid-state chemistry, nuclear engineering and engineering mechanics.
If you’re unsure which area interests you most, talk to professors or professionals working in that area.
They may be able to point you in the direction of what would work best for you.
One way to narrow down your options is to look at the physics concentration available at universities around the country.
For example, Johns Hopkins University offers an engineering physics program; Harvard University offers astronomy and earth science; Rice University offers condensed matter physics; MIT offers mathematics and computer science as well as aeronautics and astronautics.
2) A strong foundation in mathematics is essential for success in physics
A strong foundation in mathematics is essential for success in physics.
However, it is not enough to simply study the traditional branches of mathematics such as algebra, geometry, and calculus; students must be able to apply mathematical concepts to a variety of problems across disciplines including physics and engineering.
There are also some non traditional subjects that may be helpful or even necessary depending on your interests, such as probability theory or abstract algebra.
For instance, you will need a good understanding of probability if you plan to study quantum mechanics or statistical thermodynamics.
Abstract algebra might come in handy if you are interested in astrophysics or theoretical chemistry.
The key point here is that there isn’t just one type of math to know before studying physics: no matter what your focus, there’s an area of math that’s important for success.
Some topics such as calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations are very broad and can be applied to many fields.
Others like differential geometry or topology might have more specialized applications in particular subfields of physics like geology or electromagnetism.
Whether your main interest is optics or particle physics, you should expect math class to play an important role in your education.
It doesn’t matter if you’re majoring in aeronautical engineering or cosmology you’ll need to learn about vectors, matrices, and tensors eventually!
It’s also worth mentioning that when we talk about physics we usually mean something called classical physics.
That means forces don’t depend on velocity, energy conservation doesn’t always hold, etc.
3) An understanding of the scientific method is important for physics students
The scientific method is the backbone of physics. It’s a systematic, logical way of answering questions about the natural world by formulating hypotheses and testing them for accuracy.
The steps of this process are outlined below.
First you ask yourself an important question that you want to answer; second, you come up with a possible answer or hypothesis
Third, you test your hypothesis using experimentation; fourth, draw conclusions from your experiment and compare it with other experiments/theories.
-The scientific method is the backbone of physics.
-An understanding of the scientific method is important for physics students.
-The steps of this process are outlined below.
-First you ask yourself an important question that you want to answer; second, you come up with a possible answer or hypothesis;
-Third, you test your hypothesis using experimentation; fourth, draw conclusions from your experiment and compare it with other experiments/theories.
4) An understanding of Einstein’s work is essential for physics students:
It’s hard to talk about physics without discussing Albert Einstein.
The celebrated theoretical physicist changed how we understand gravity and light with his famous theory of relativity.
But he didn’t stop there – his work was also integral in helping scientists unlock new discoveries about quantum mechanics.
In fact, many physicists today study more than one subfield of science because they’re interested in different facets of physical reality.
If you’re considering studying physics but aren’t sure where to start, here are three things you should know before beginning.
