The majority of physics students, both past and present, would agree with the assumption that physics ranks among the most challenging subjects in school. Some students cannot even explain the subject of physics by definition, let alone understanding the intricacies of all the formulas consisting of weird symbols. In simple terms, physics is a scientific discipline that offers explanations regarding how the world works based on mathematical concepts.
It is an interesting subject, and very useful to study. However, the number of students studying physics is low not only in Singapore but across the world. Meanwhile, the number of students studying biology and chemistry appears to be increasing. Part of the reason behind the decreasing trend regarding the number of physics students is the subject’s natural difficulty and dependence on math, which puts off students from taking up physics.
While you may not like the subject, the following reasons should help you stay on course.
Understand the world around you
I’m sure you have a lot of questions about our world. What causes earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes? How does an aeroplane work? Physical theories allow you to hypothesise the undertakings of the components of all matter. No one would be able to experience these things in daily life. On the other end, cosmology theories explain how life started and how it could perhaps end. Once more, this shows how physics goes past human experiences to explain the universe we exist in. While some may cast doubt on the level of trust to place in these physical theories, the truth is that these theories of physics are generated from a comprehensive and logical method and are continually tested against evidence obtained from experiments. Therefore, physics gives you fairly concrete ideas outside your daily experiences.
Technology
Humans rely on technology to a great extent. Physics research counts for the majority of the technologies that have transformed the universe today. For instance, the study of semiconductors led to the development of the first transistor. Seemingly simple, the transistor is a crucial component in electronic devices such as radios, televisions, and computers.
Plus, the description of the laws of optics on how light behaves is attributed to the introduction of the optical fibre networks. These networks are the most preferred for internet connectivity all over the globe. Indeed, there are innumerable examples of physics-related research that have led to the launch of key technologies. This should motivate you to study physics to be at the forefront of discovering new technologies.
A wide range of jobs
One of the main causes behind the low motivation by students to study physics is the insufficient advice offered by parents, teachers, and career experts who are not able to explain the variety of jobs that the subject of physics is relevant for. Often times, the career information given to students is archaic. The misconception is that studying physics will mean you work in a lab or become a teacher, instead of building applications or innovations.
A physics student often possesses impressive analytical, quantitative as well as problem-solving skills. They can create and evaluate large volumes of data and are able to explain their evaluations in understandable ways. These skills are useful and can be applied to various careers in the engineering, education, and energy sectors.
Conclusion
You stand to gain a lot from studying physics. The excuse that physics is hard can now be tackled by enrolling for physics tuition. The more time you spend on the subject, the more likely you will develop the passion for it.
