Khan Academy is a nonprofit organization that offers free education in various subjects, including math, art, computer programming, economics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, history, and more. They provide a free AI Physics tutor to help students solve, grade, and explain problems. The platform also offers free science and math simulations for teaching STEM topics, including physics, chemistry, biology, and math from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Mathematics is often considered “the language of physics”, and Khan Academy helps students become experts in these subjects. They offer free GCSE/IGCSEs and A-levels, past papers, exam questions by topic, revision notes, worksheets, and solution banks. The AI problem solver provides step-by-step explanations for physics homework questions, helping students form a real learning habit with fun content, game-like progress tracking, and friendly reminders.
Mathematics is a major part of the physics discipline, and understanding algebra concepts like rearranging equations, working with polynomials, and exponent rules is essential for physics. However, it is not enough to know math; understanding concepts is also necessary. Problem sets in math and physics courses are an excellent preview of exam material, and exam questions may be harder than expected.
Research from the University of South Australia found that mathematics homework can sometimes cause more harm than good. To address this issue, students should visit physicsforums.com, where homework help is already available. For physicists, math is a tool used to answer questions, such as Newton’s calculus, while mathematicians use it to describe motion.
📹 iShowSmart Helps Fan With Math Homework 😂
Do physicists need to be good at math?
Physicists and mathematicians both rely heavily on math for calculations, but they differ in their approach to abstract mathematical ideas. Physicists seek answers through computations, while mathematicians focus on understanding everything completely before performing computations. This fundamental difference leads researchers to use the analogy of language to emphasize the need to “translate” ideas to make progress and understand each other.
Formulating physics questions as mathematics problems is typically the hardest part, as it requires understanding the underlying concepts. Mathematicians, on the other hand, focus on translating the problem rather than simply proving it, as they are able to understand the physicist’s perspective.
Is physics harder or biology?
A-Level Biology is considered harder than Physics, as evidenced by the percentage of students who received As and As. In 2022, 16. 4% of students achieved an A, while 22. 1 received an A. Biology, on the other hand, has only 12. 8 students achieve an A*, compared to 16. 4% in Physics. However, the difference in A-level Biology is negligible, with Biology’s 21 being below Physics’ 22. 1.
What’s harder, physics or math?
The perception of physics as a challenging subject is influenced by its application of mathematical concepts to real-world scenarios. Individual preferences and prior exposure to mathematical and scientific concepts can also affect this perception. Some individuals find the subject intuitive, while others find it challenging.
Do maths and physics go hand in hand?
The disciplines of mathematics and physics are closely intertwined, with students engaged in the study of mathematical physics, modern algebra, and differential equations. Mathematics serves as a crucial instrument in the quest for knowledge within the field of physics, underscoring the intrinsic interconnectivity between these two disciplines.
Can I do physics if I’m bad at math?
Physics is not just about mathematics, but it is more than just that. With effort and proper study techniques, overcoming the hurdle of mathematics is possible. For those struggling with physics, remember concepts rather than formulae. Formulae are not important, as they are just the logic behind the concepts. Internalizing the logic behind formulae is easier than memorizing them straight. This will help overcome the hurdle of mathematics and help individuals excel in physics.
Is a B in physics bad?
A B in a class doesn’t necessarily make you look bad compared to an A in the same class. The level of difficulty in the class also matters. A “B” in an AP class is considered better than a “B” or even an A in a Regular class. Top colleges consider applications with a broad perspective, not just perfect GPAs and test scores. They want students to take the initiative to excel beyond academics, and if they can do that really well, they’re a competitive applicant. Be kind and respectful, keep posts relevant to college admissions and high school, and use CollegeVine’s chancing instead.
Is physics harder than chemistry?
The choice between Physics and Chemistry is subjective and depends on individual strengths and preferences. Physics involves mathematical concepts and logic, while Chemistry combines concepts, memorization, and hands-on lab work. Some find Chemistry easier due to their math-based nature. Reflecting on past experiences and talking to current students in the same courses can provide insight into the workload and content. Regardless of the choice, putting in effort and staying engaged is crucial for success. Good luck with your decision and remember that effort and engagement are key to success.
Is physics the hardest class?
Physics is often considered one of the harder majors due to its advanced mathematics and abstract concepts. Majors typically take courses in calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, and quantum mechanics, which can be challenging for some students. However, those with a strong interest in mathematics and critical thinking may find the material manageable and enjoyable. Other majors like engineering, mathematics, and computer science are also considered difficult.
The hardest major depends on personal strengths, interests, and existing knowledge in the subject area. Focusing on what you’re passionate about and where your individual strengths lie can increase your chances of success even if the major is considered more challenging overall.
To succeed in physics, you need discipline, good time-management skills, and dedication to studying and reviewing complex concepts. However, if you have a genuine passion for physics and are prepared to put in the necessary work, pursuing a major in physics is not a reason not to pursue it.
Is physics too difficult?
Physics requires problem-solving skills and involves theoretical concepts, mathematical calculations, and laboratory experiments. To develop these skills, students should gain clarity on basic concepts, use flash cards, improve math skills, be attentive in class, review notes, make good notes, practice important equations, double check answers, and practice previous year’s question papers.
Is a 70 in physics good?
Graduate courses have grading standards that use letter grades for final reporting, equivalence with numerical grades. A minimum passing grade for a graduate student is a ‘B-‘ (good=70), with a higher level of performance considered adequate mastery. To proceed past the first year in the graduate program, an average grade of at least B+ must be earned in coursework, calculated using a 9-point scale. The above-B+ threshold is an average of 6. 0 or higher.
Grading for graduate PHY courses should be based on more than one component, as research shows a strong positive correlation with the number of contributing components. If a significant fraction of the grade is based on a seminar or oral examination, it is strongly recommended that the seminar be accompanied by a report written by the examiner and signed by the student, which need not be formal or comprehensive.
Is physics basically math?
Mathematics and physics are closely related but not synonymous. In mathematics, objects can be defined exactly and logically related, but the object need not have a relationship to experimental measurements. In physics, definitions are abstractions or idealizations, approximations adequate when compared to the natural world. Newton built a physical model around definitions based on observations, leading to the development of calculus and highly accurate planetary mechanics.
Mathematics deals with entities whose properties can be known with certainty. According to David Hume, only in logic and mathematics statements can be proved. In the physical world, one can never know the properties of its beings in an absolute or complete way, leading to a situation where a single experiment can prove one right or wrong.
Some problems considered in the philosophy of mathematics include explaining the effectiveness of mathematics in the study of the physical world, clearly delineating mathematics and physics, understanding the geometry of physical space, the origin of the axioms of mathematics, and the influence of existing mathematics on the creation and development of physical theories.
Is arithmetic analytic or synthetic? What is the difference between doing a physical experiment to see the result and making a mathematical calculation to see the result? Do Gödel’s incompleteness theorems imply that physical theories will always be incomplete?
In conclusion, the philosophy of mathematics addresses various questions related to the relationship between math and physics, the geometry of physical space, the origin of axioms, and the nature of mathematical invention.
📹 Are you smart enough to study physics?
A small pep talk followed by some practical steps you can take to find out if physics is a good fit for your intelligence. This video …
I found that the more important question is not “Am I smart enough to study physics?” but, rather, “Am I genuinely interested enough in Physics to commit an immense amount of time to my studies?” I mean, this is a question you’d ask for almost any occupation you’re thinking about. Physics isn’t for geniuses. It’s just not something many people are interested in. Not many people find it appealing to sit down with pencil and paper to solve hard problems, or to be in the lab for hours at a time doing the same thing until, finally, you get results. The reality is : you must put in a lot of work and effort to master *anything*, including mathematics and Physics… This may sound distressing, but keep in mind that it’s this immense work that is required to master something which is also what makes it so satisfying to master… So yeah, if you’re interested in doing Physics, challenge yourself to master it. I’m getting my PhD currently in Physics. During my high school career, I was sub-par. My ACT score was ~21, which was the national average. I was in Pre-calculus in 12th grade while some people I knew were finishing Calculus 2. By all the standard measures: I am not a genius (far from it, actually). I just really really like Physics. I worked hard to build up to the understanding I currently have, which I have learned is very very little. I know someone else in my department whose story is similar and I’m sure others feel the same. It’s sad because we need passion in this field, not “geniuses” who can spit out math on a chalk board, and I feel that many passionate individuals are intimidated by this idea of requiring high intellect to master this material and turn to other fields instead.
I wanted to major in astrophysics. After having an incredibly hard time in every math class that I took, including basic algebra, I decided that astrophysics isn’t realistic for me especially in my current financial situation and the pace at which I take courses. I’ve always loved computer science, so that became my major. I still have an incredibly hard time with the math classes required for comp sci. I’ve literally taken linear algebra 5 times! But I think this 5th time I’ll pass. I have ADHD which severely hinders my memory and prevents me from recalling information for an exam. I was thinking about doing a physics minor along with my comp sci major but at this rate id graduate after being in college for 11 years. So I’m just doing the comp sci major now which means I’ll graduate after a total of 9 years in college and that’s just for a bachelor’s degree. I’m currently in my 7th year of college. I’m going to finish, this is my life. And there’s nothing else worth my time other than learning how the world works and creating things that help people and expand knowledge. My goal is to work for NASA programming their computers/applications. I feel lazy, behind, and mentally handicapped, but I keep pushing.
As a person who had sort of a disability: autism, I struggled with math my early adulthood. So, I believe, it all depends on who you are. I think if you are patient and consistent, it will work but a lot of head ache. But that head ache makes you stronger. Get your foundation in math very strong, then step by step put your feet into the water of physics… Just make sure you cement a lot of the concepts in your mind and practice them. Take tons of notes. I am working on my 8th book of notes. I am studying math, chemistry and some physics…So working my way up to it physics. Awesome and informational article.
I scored in the bottom 50th percentile of the Math portion of the SAT and never got a higher grade than a “C” in all my HS math classes ( Including a “D” in Chemistry WOOT WOOT)…..Took me a bajillion years and an Learning Disability Diagnosis, but it looks Like I’ll be getting my Physics Degree this May. If I can do it anyone can!…EDIT. I’ve been very flattered by the responses. FYI I am now pursuing my MS. I hope to start on my Thesis soon. I’m still no “outstanding” student ( nowhere near as good as Tibees was, btw), but with proper accommodations for my LD, I am trucking by….Would there be interest in a VLOG about doing physics with a learning disability?
I agree. I did want to study physics, but I found I was not smart enough to learn physics EASILY. The result, then, as you pointed out, was that I would have had to devote tremendous amounts of work and study and memorization to the task. I was particularly unwilling (too proud and also I felt it lost the point) to memorize formulas, and therefore ended up doing poorly in physics after the first two courses. So I did not continue. You’ve helped me understand that I probably made the right choice for my particular personality and inclinations. I prefer to be a generalist, as best I can, rather than trying to specialize and do a more narrow kind of work. I will never be as good at maths and physics or any technical subject as I would like to be, but that is the way I am and I’ve found I cannot change myself that drastically to be much different. One more point: I think your articles are valuable and that your approach is a good one. Thank you.
I’d like to make the point that every one of us is more capable than we think that we are. Nobody can do everything but none of us use our brain as efficiently as we possibly can. Our brains can potentially do more than what they are doing at present – we need to figure out how to get the most out of our brain. You undoubtedly have many viewers that are presently considering studying physics or maths in the future and are maybe questioning how successful they would be at studying physics. To these viewers, I have this advice: It would be worth taking the time to learn how the brain works and forming some study habits around this. Study habits that take into account the natural workings of the brain are likely to be more effective, and more effective study habits will make you more successful.
I studied Software Engineering, and I took a few physic classes… I only have one thing to say: You don’t need to be good at maths… YOU NEED TO EXCEL at math! The math in my software engineering courses are NOTHING compared to the mathematic notions that you will see in Physics courses. But one thing that is also true is that how ever good you are, if you don’t have self-discipline you are going to struggle. Being good is not enough (it might be for some, we call them genius). You gotta have to invest dozens of hours per week studying, doing the SAME exercice twice, thrice. Stay away from parties (leave that stuff as a celebration when your semester will end). 3 years for a degree is short, time flies! Focus on SCIENCE guys!
Well, honestly I don’t think that i am smart enough for physics. Nevertheless i still don’t want to crash my chances without trying, I will try the first year with the mindset that I am going to be smart enough, sometimes one finds that he is capable of things that seemed pretty difficult when he gives it a shot
I’d say the more important question is whether physics is something you have a genuine interest in, or even better, a passion for. Physics is one of those disciplines where to be successful you either have to be naturally gifted or very interested in the subject. Also, I’d recommend not using MIT as a reference point for determining whether you’re smart enough to do physics. MIT is pretty hardcore. I know someone who did physics there and the classes he took freshman year were classes I took in my junior year (I was a physics & math double major at Virginia Tech).
Short answer: no. But I have a lot of fun trying. Luckily my career doesn’t depend on it. Thanks for your work on these articles. You have some great ideas. I’m too old for university study, but I’m using college textbooks to teach myself. I’ve mastered the early math, but I still need calculus III. I’m mostly interested in Electrodynamics since I work in power supply design.
In my case, the answer to that question also depended on when it was asked. I did well in science in my junior highschool years, and then not so well in my senior highschool years (I took Physics and Chemistry). In Physics, I was average to slightly above average, except for the semester when we studied electricity, magnetism and electronics – where I got top marks. Similarly with maths: I was average to slightly above average, except for the semester when we studied complex numbers. So, when I finished school, the answer would’ve been “No”. Instead of going to university, I did an electrical engineering trade. Towards the end of that, I found a lot of the physics and maths concepts I had struggled with were much more obvious … so much so that I wondered (and still do) why I had so much trouble in school. So I decided to give engineering a try at university. And that’s where I applied the same thinking as stated around 10:48 in this article: I decided I needed to be good enough, regardless. I had no problems with the classes run by the physics and maths departments at uni, and enjoyed learning stuff they weren’t covering in the physics classes … so much so that my assignment work started ringing alarm bells with our lecturer and tutors. One day in the lab, the department head asked who I was and why I knew more about the previous week’s lab topic (black body radiation) than he did. After a few questions he was satisfied that I wasn’t getting someone else to write my work, and he gave me the best compliment I ever got during any of my physics studies: “Any time you want to switch from engineering to physics, come and see me.
The point with me is I loved Physics. The analysis of how the world works, the problem solving, the understanding how the math relates to the physical principles we observe. I was just getting started in grad school when I had an opportunity for a real (good paying) job. In my career, I used technical writing, logic and computer programming, but now that I am retired I can revisit the Physics and do it for fun. I was happy to discover the MIT OCW courses. I had professors like Prof Lewin who were very engaging and the hands on labs were lots of fun.
At the introductory class my uni rector said to us – all of you here are smart enough to be here and study physics. But, the ones that actually finish and graduate, are not necessarily the smartest students but the most determinate ones. And I can confirm. There were times when I literally cried over my textbooks thinking I cannot do this and I’ll fail all my exams, I did feel like an imposter occasionally. But then I realized most of us studying physics occasionally felt like this but the most important thing is that we wanted this so so much and we didn’t quit, no matter how hard it got. We fought for out place there and for understanding. And this is the most important thing. Perseverance and determination. It’s also ok to fail a class or two (or in my case the entire year 😅🙈). You accept it, learn from it and move on. You study more next time and pass.
The following qualities are needed : 1) a good IQ : not necessarily a genius IQ. If you can logically follow an argument and it’s implications and make reasonable deductions then you are good to go. An average IQ is okay. 2) confidence and passion for physics. 3) hard work and discipline. 4) Enjoy mathematics.
As a summary of what he said, just follow your dreams, do what you want, don’t let anyone stop what you want to be. Because in the end you will come back to great, you will try and try every time you fail, try again, your desire to succeed must always be greater than the fear of failure. Only then will you succeed. So never stop always continuing the day you do it in life you will be rewarded.
As a Physics major who graduated last year, I would say that if you’re good at math and like science, then maybe yes. But, I would say very strongly that you have to be very good at math because that is ALWAYS in the way of understanding higher level physics. Very important to know well Calculus, Differential Equations, Liner Algebra and some higher lever concepts from Numerical Analysis, Statistics, and Applied Analysis. You have to be good at math, period. The physics concepts themselves are very clever and take a good amount of thinking to understand, though imo, there aren’t as many things to memorize as say Biology or Chemistry. So you don’t really need a good memory, you just need to see the concepts frequently from different sources to get different explanations and have one stick to you.
I gained a BSc in Astrophysics (specialising in Cosmology). I’m dyslexic and find math genuinely difficult. The “trick” is that you need to ask for help when you don’t understand something, regardless of how basic and simple it may seem. If you don’t understand something from first principles you won’t understand it at all. Pure maths is a language and you need to learn how to read/manipulate it. Everything can seem difficult until you’re taught how to do it and sometimes it’s just a question of finding the right teacher/explanation. Let your passion for the subject drive you to succeed. For me, modules like solid state physics were more mathematically challenging than “exotic” subjects like quantum mechanics. YouTube is an incredible tool and I wish lectures were freely available when I was doing my undergrad.
Im only 15 but I’ve aspired to become a theoretical physicist since I was 10. It would be my dream to specialise in Quantum theory or string theory or dark matter. Physics and maths are my faveroute subjects in school right now and your articles have inspired me to persue my dream to become a world changing physicist one day🤞. Thanks Tibees
As someone who used to hate everything related to math i had the same fear when i had to decide which carrer to study, finally i decided physics, im in 4th semester and im having so much struggles but thats is not the important, as the time was passing i started to realize the beauty of math and physics, i love art and trust me i was able 1to find art on math and physics, you just have to believe that on yourself.
Yeah. I went to school with a brilliant maths student. He won every prize. But he couldn’t understand novels at all; the English teacher had to say to him that for your final year exam choose a novel that is concrete. Because abstract themes didn’t work for him. The hardest subject in my opinion is musical composition. I’ll say why. Composition is functional and aesthetic. So you can make great music technically and fail to make it sound good. Whereas in physics, maths, brain surgery and flying a plane sure, it is hard and requires a lot of training and discipline. But your task is functional. At least most of the time. (we could get into engineers making stuff that also looks good, computer programmers making more elegant code etc) . You have to get it right. It doesn’t matter how beautiful your physics is. It just has to work right.
My sincere preoccupation is not whether I’m smart enough or not, but if I’ll be able to compete with those who are WAY smarter than me. Will I be left out of good jobs and end up doing the stuff that nobody wants to do, because the interesting positions are already taken by these geniuses? Will I dedicate 15 years of my life, to end up failing and working in a field that has absolutely nothing to do with what I studied?
I always thought I am, and I definitley think I am now at second year. I like what I am doing, and I just want to know more about physics every day. I like doing exercises so much (in particular when they’re strange and unusual ahahah) and studying prooves. And I have learnt, studying physics, how much I love math and how I want a grade even in math. I made classical studies in high school for 5 years, just like most of my teachers at university, and at first studying new things was hard, hard AS FUCK, but I then realised how I didn’t want to do anything else in life. I found out how I could apply my logic in latin translation, for example, throught problems and I’ve found that I personally prefer a lot more solving problems. I personally am a problem solver (dealing with anxiety but yeah). It’s hard for everybody studying physics, but if it’s what you really like (be sincere obv) it’s the right choice. Greetings from Italy
Smart enough is not enough nowadays. If you are not the top guy, you are literally wasting time being mediocre even if you are just some random experiments being Postdoc or correcting papers of undergrad or whatever. And then you slog away your life being an assistant lecturer or whatever shit position it is. There is so much competition in Academia that you need to be in the top of your game which is why many end up going to banking/finance which is a shame.
I’m glad you encourage a growth mindset instead of this asinine fixed one where people can be categorized as “bad at math” or “good at math”. I fell into the fixed mindset when I first took physics and chemistry and I struggled in it. When I came back to chemistry at least, I was determined to be good at it, and it paid off in dividends.
As a student in my first master’s year studying Astrophysics, I think that yes, everybody could do that but you just need to love what you are doing. Of course it will be difficult, as you say it requires a lot of discipline. For the mathematics point of view, I think it is important to enjoy math in a physical point of view. But if you don’t like pure mathematics it is not a big problem, I’ve never enjoyed pure differential geometry for example but I love its application in general relativity. For every of you that love physics, don’t think too much, just follow what you want to do in your life
Math is hard for me. I feel like I understand enough to be fascinated by the actual tests that theoretical physicists come up with to use to figure out fundamentals, or test some aspect of the universe/ on the quantum scale/ quantum computing. I wish I was smart enough to help set up those experiments.
Yep, so many people are harsh on themselves and give up before trying thinking they’re not smart enough but the truth of the matter is University is not a place that was intended for geniuses to gather at but rather a place for the average joe to come and learn, and you’ll do just fine with effort and dedication.
I am extremely passionate about physics and I’m completely sure that I’ll study physics in College, but I am scared of not being good enugh. I’m a sophomore in High School and I find it very hard to determinate if I am either a good student or not, because I do better than most of my classmates but I don’t get the best grades (at all). Anyways the decision is alredy made and I’m certain that I won’t change my mind happens what happens, so at this point fear is useless. Thank you so much for making this article, it really helped me! Now at least I know where to start
I never considered myself as a “smart person ” even that my family keeps calling me a genius but they don’t know how much effort i put on studying physics and mathematics and all other subjects and i know that im not enough to be a physicist as i wish but still something makes me keep loving it and studying it anyway and i know that im not smart i am not i am just a hardworking person
I made A’s in Precalculus through Calculus II. In Calculus III, I made a B. I did very poorly in University Physics I. It got me realizing that being good at math isn’t enough. Even if I understood Calculus, I needed more than that. I needed to understand how to use my analytical thinking properly when it comes to other subjects. I wasn’t one of those students who relies on solely remembering the formulas. Rarely used a calculator cause it would have gotten my way into understanding math. It’s just with physics, you have to expand the way you think.
It’s funny the reason most chose Physics is because they thought they were smart. The whole concept of “smart” is elusive, what exactly does it mean to be smart? Furthermore, is smarts an immutable trait, a result of genes? or is it something to be developed and genetics is not a factor at all? It is definitely possible for it to be both.
It does not matter how smart you are. It matters about how much you love the subject and how willing you are to develope. I when studied engineering physics we a lot of clever people in our class but those whom made it thourgh all the courses was thouse whom never gave up and always talked about physics. If your math skills are excellent you will be fine in physics.
I approach the question from a vocational vantage. How do you expect to earn a living? Are you smart enough depends on one’s goals. Does he (or she) want to teach, to do research, to work in an industrial setting, to be an administrator in science? In teaching, there are opportunities from secondary education to university. In good universities, teaching is accompanied by research and/or administrative work. In colleges, teaching is the major occupation along with administration, with much less time for research. Each of these goals demands its own skills. Rarely, does one person excel in all of them, but there are such people. I think that questions of ability are less often the concern. The folk law of hydrodynamics, “water seeks its own level”, applies well here. What is often more of concern is inadequate preparation. Everyone should have a fall back position. These are hard times. Because of competition in the marketplace for jobs, various professional organizations set up barriers not entirely designed to protect the public from incompetents, though they do have that function. For example, a physicist in times of scarce job offerings may try to find employment as a teacher or an engineer. He will find the lack of a teaching certificate a high barrier to teaching in secondary education. He will find the lack of an engineering degree or of a P.E.’s certification a serious handicap. If one knows that his abilities place him in the top rank of university physicists, he may probably rely on his professors to find him a place no matter the state of the economy – I suppose!
I always loved physics but never thought id study it at degree level. I gave myself a year to do maths, to see A) if I could learn highschool maths(as i didnt remember any of it) and b) to see if I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it within literally 3 days of teaching myself maths. I would say doing physics its not so much about how smart are you at all but how ready are you to organise your life so you get time to study? There are parts where you can just barrel through it. But particularly the final year requires time to think over subjects and fully grasp all the elements involved.
If I decide to return to uni for a second B.S. degree in biology, I will have to take an intro physics course. I do worry about it. As a “mature” student, my maths are not what they used to be, and I struggled enough to earn a C in chemistry 101. I think for some it is less about being smart enough than being confident enough and determined enough.
Hey, I’m a 15 Year old German girl and I really want to study physics. This article really helped me, because I was always very curious about what they would teach me when I would start to study and now I kinda have the opportunity to study a little for my own because I never really thought about just searching the exams and books and stuff so I’m pretty excited :3 so thank you for that 😀
I’m studying Electrical & Computer Engineering right now, and as a second semester third year student sometimes I wish I took an easier major such as computer science or German. So even if you get into a difficult major course, I think it is still very important to find ways to keep yourself motivated to finish. College isn’t as easy as everyone says it is.
It would be very hard to answer the question “are you smart enough”, especially for someone having a Physics background. Those of us who have studied physics and maths are more used to working with terms that are precise. “Smart” is a word that’s not very precise at all – it’s open to interpretation and therefore means different things to different people. It is not very well defined. Certainly not defined well enough to make any quantitative statement about – something that people with a physics or maths background obviously like to do. You rightly say that people considering a physics degree shouldn’t worry too much about IQ tests. I believe the IQ system is an attempt at the impossible – an attempt to quantify intelligence. It is therefore extremely limited. Someone needs to make the definition of intelligence more precise before it can be successfully quantified in my opinion. Keep up the good work Toby 🙂
Nope. My IQ is 121 and the average IQ of a physics student is about 133 – most of whom will go on to work outside of academia, or if in academia will do mediocre work and would be lucky to have there name as a reference in a paper. She was wrong to say that IQ isn’t relevant. To be a top-tier physicist (or mathematician) you need to have an IQ of at least 160 and if you’re exceptional it will be in excess of 180. I don’t think that even Tibees would score as high as that. People like Newton and Galileo are born, not made. No wonder most people prefer to do liberal arts degrees. Maths and physics are intellectually elite subjects. You also need an intense ability to concentrate on what you are studying. I would find doing a maths or physics degree very boring. I still like her articles though.
The word smart is a complex word to define since its meaning might depend on the context. However, I do believe that everyone has the capacity to learn Mathematics or Physics. Society has taught us that if you are not able to understand math, you are not smart enough and that is the most ludicrous thing you can ever know. We all are smart beings that have the capacity to learn whatever thing we want. We just need to believe that we can do it because if we are living our lives with limitations, we won’t be able to change our reality. Moreover, it is hard to understand physics or math because it takes time to understand them properly, but everything pays off at the end. You just need to really work hard.
Any core science ( Biology, chemistry, physics ) is going to be extremely difficult. And this including some engineering courses. But what matters is your will to finish, your passion for science or stem. Of course there are genius around, and we can’t deny some people with cognitive problems. But anyone with average iq can, but you do need to sacrifice lots of social life. And your reward is not always money, or recognition, it’s your happiness to shed light on a phenomenona.
Hey Toby, can you please explain this to me. This is important. I’m in high school (senior year) and I want to take Physics in college but the things that are stopping me are as follows: #1> I don’t think my are basics are very clear. #2> I have repeated a year in high school (junior year). #3> I also like CS (maybe slightly more than Physics). My (corresponding) concerns are: #1> Do others also have thoughts like these? #2> Will it have any damage on my employability as a professor or my acceptance at a good uni for PhD? #3> Can I learn some programming stuff (i.e not-too-deep-CS material) WHILE pursuing Physics (maybe in vacations?). I would very highly value any advice you give me.
Hi! It would be great if you could acknowledge this comment. The truth is I’m not particularly smart but physics and anything math related makes me excited. I’m 17 years old and I’m at the point where I have to decide what I will do and even though I’m not the smartest and am a bit slow, I think if I try hard enough I can actually make it . If I try hard enough. Those couple words might mean a lot to me soon lol . What do you think ?
I don’t think I’m apt for a physics degree, that’s why I joined one. I’m halfway through the first year, I’m behind on work and am struggling to get stuff in on time, but I would never let that stop me from following my hearts deepest desire. Watch me struggle and stumble clumsily to the top. I don’t care how many drawbacks there are, I’ve got tunnel vision, and a physics post-grad research program is at the end of this tunnel. 🙂
My theory is that at the smallest scale things travel at the speed of light, and motion is the result of successive displacements based on force attraction events. So everyone in physics treats objects as things having velocity and mass and acceleration, it may not be relevant to the smallest of particles or strings. I have another theory that gravity acceleration is caused by a change is spatial dimension, but not field size causing an imbalance in otherwise balanced matter. Just theories though.
Since you are mentioning studying physics, could you help me with an issue bothering me? I am interested in knowing how much time a person can take to study, including working on problems, a physics book like Physics by Giancoli or College Physics by Sears and Zemansky. This question is an attempt to understand if I am slow in physics or not, as I want to prepare for GRE Physics Subject Test. For your knowledge, I took 11 months to complete Sears and Zemansky’s College Physics. I hope you shall have the time to answer my query.
i almost failed my senior year (did my 11th and 12th grade in pandemic and oh boy that was not good for academics) and i wanted to go into physics since middle school and i really really enjoyed physics too. but then idk if it’s because of the burnout jee coaching and everything had on me, along with continuous failures and my inability to just do it i feel as if maybe i am not made for this. i have been trying to find something else for the past year but absolutely nothing feels the same as physics did and i feel so lost. so perusal this article did help a lot tbh. i am not smart enough, but i will still do it because this is the only thing that ever made me feel this way and i don’t think i am ready to give up yet
I think even uttering or suggesting that the idea of being “smart enough” to do anything exists is destructive in of itself. We all have the same brain and we all are capable of the same things. Believe you can do it, find the passion, focus and drive and you will make it happen. Don’t buy into the idea that there is such a thing as “smart enough” “good enough” etc. YOU can do it…..don’t listen to anyone else.
I finished a bsc in biopsychology, and now pursue a second bsc in math & physics through the OU. I have a no idea anymore where I’ll end up, but trust my intuition to be comforted in any of 4-5 possible carreer scenarios. Ranging finance master for money, biophysics master – > phd for consciousness, msc aerospace engineering for awesomeness, msc/phd theoretical physics – – > coding monk or interesting postdoc + passive income. I’m information addicted.
are you? How are Electron described? As having a negative charge, only! With this each body is described as a monopole. What happens when you put two monopoles together that are of the same charge? They separate. In the shell of an atom, these bodies would first push apart. Then close bodies would connect. However, neutrons would linger, and the electrons and protons would gather but against the atomic shell. And more than likely fall to the bottom.
Everyone is smart enough . Like myself I am particular the smartest person but I am now in my 5th semester in Germany (physics major bachelor) and it is going actually okay not great nor bad first 3 semesters were brutal from all the input u got which u always need too understand and actually know how too derive it again but I think everyone can atleast get a bachelor if u take take it seriously
I hated physics in school…but with age ( now late 40s ) I’m so interested in not just physics but all the science’s…it’s too late for me I believe to be interested enough to try to take courses to learn so I just keep up my interest by perusal articles and reading books but if you’re young I’d say just go for it and good luck.
Great suggestions! I would add two others from my own experience. Are you one who devours the latest edition of Scientific American or some other advanced public science journal? These are broad-based science literature available to anyone. The idea here is that you’re ravenously curious about the physical world. Second suggestion ties into the first. Are you one who from time to time finds themselves reading over abstracts of proper scientific journals? This is where you challenge yourself. You can’t be afraid of intellectual challenges. You can’t be afraid of asking your Uni professor questions on things you don’t understand. Bonus: Have you watched the Feynman Lectures on Physics (freely available here on youtube!)? If these bore you, physics might not be for you. Bonus Bonus: Have you watched Dr Leonard Susskind’s complete Stanford Lectures on physics (also freely available here on youtube)? If these two examples don’t excite you, physics probably not for you. Notice I said ‘excite’, and not ‘understand’. It’s possible you might not be ready or prepared to understand the concepts presented. More schooling and education will help. But you have to be EXCITED about the material. That excitement will carry you through the grueling and frustrating aspect of your studies.
The question isn’t are you smart enough for physics because that gives people an out to say “everybody is smart enough if they work hard and put the time in!” That kind of thinking isnt based in reality. The better question is “Are you smart enough to get a bachelors in physics in 5 years or less.” This actually weeds people out. Frankly I’d say if you didn’t get at least a 600-620 (MINIMUM) on the math section of the SAT, then the answer is no. It might be possible, but you’re either going to really struggle, or you’ll spend extra time in college which will cost you and your family heaps of money. If you’re still interested but don’t hit that mark take some physics courses as free electives while having a different major for your first year in college. If you do well, switch majors before you get too many credits in your current major. (or try for a dual major) If you don’t, then at least you’ll know it wasnt for you.
There’s the Uni and the Universe. Formal study of physics occurs at the Uni where answers are assumed given problems to be presented. Informal study of physics occurs relative to the Universe where problems and answers are not nicely presented. If a person is presented with a problem and told that there’s an answer, then they are motivated to seek the answer, knowing that there is one. It’s totally different when faced with an indifferent complex that in effect says, “Figure me out, but there may not be any answers.” This takes real tenacity and intelligence to undertake, knowing that there may be no resolve whatsoever.
Physics is offered as a “discrete” field of Space-time, which I am unable to accept is Actuality. Eg BBT is acceptable as the Big Picture, not the e-Pi-i sync-duration connectivity Perspective function cause-effect of Logarithmic Time Actuality. No one is right if everyone is wrong about what the significance that this Big Picture represents.., Mathematically Incomplete.
I think looking to see if you’re interested in learning the content is a much better idea than trying to do the sample problems. For anything beyond first year the student is just not going to have the mathematical background and will put themself off and “feel dumb” when they’re stumped. I think Tibees that perhaps you’re forgetting that once upon a time the symbols in an exam question were indecipherable to you. Lectures would be a better place to start than exams. Even if you don’t fully comprehend, early exposure might help you “get it” later on. Even if you can’t follow the math, and it doesn’t tell you wether you can, it’ll tell you if you’re interested in the concepts. That said for those that do have both the ability and not just the inclination but the persistence and love of the subject they absolutely can get a head start. In fact you can actually find full blown lectures on both introductory and advanced topics. Walter Lewin’s stuff is still out there. Leonard Susskin’s lectures are available, and there’s a lot available through the various open initiatives you mentioned. Unless you’ve had a very early start though that advantage won’t last long before your coursework catches up with the advanced material you’ve looked at. And there are issues with studying in isolation vs with a group in that your incorrect assumptions and mistakes won’t be caught as easily. My own story for what it’s worth, which pre-dates the availability of everything online: When I tried to do a physics degree at USyd in 1993, I went in cold and the biggest mistake was assuming that because I’d done well at 3U math in highschool that I’d cope.
Of course you need to be skilled, but believing in yourself must be a really important requirement to succeed at physics. I wish I believed enough in myself to overcome my fears to mathematics. Never had a passionate math teacher, because I was taught to fear these subjects, and to fear on doing exercises instead of seeing new chances to learn. Although I was good at some areas of physics at high school, Physics is among the disciplines I’m not smart enough to succeed at, being honest. Can’t feel bad about it, because I have some other skills that I’m grateful for. Indeed, I believe we all have a talent inside, a unique ability that distinguishes us from each other, and it’s our job to keep looking for that thing, whether it’s physics, medicine, nursery, psychology, teaching or business.
After a health-related hiatus, I’m finally starting my journey towards my lifelong dream of doing physics research. I know I’m smart enough, for me, it’s the discipline aspect that will be the harder of the two. I am actively pursuing information outside of classes though, so, I really think I can do this! Best of luck to all other physics students. 🙂
Perfect timing, the quarantine demotivated me so much. Even though Im in engineering but I still want to learn pure physics. I know its a huge tackle for side task, not required to pass my degree. Big risk is I might drag my undergrad study and my “hobby” to study physics, hopefully I can stay strong. My university dont offer undergraduate study for pure subjects so Im wondering if its normal to study physics/chemistry/maths while doing engineering.
Be prepared to : 1 Give up all other pursuits for at least 4 years, you won’t have any time for anything else 2 plunge deeply into math. You will need to learn and use more of it than you ever heard of 3 learn the basics first. You have to learn to crawl before you can walk, walk before you can run 4 accept ideas that make no rational sense and defy common experience 5 perform experimrnts, collect data, and analyze it. Then write a detailed report. 6 go beyond the bachelor’s degree to a master’s at a minimum 7 Besides being intelligent in the areas that apply you will have to be stark raving mad or become stark raving mad. Every physicist I’ve ever met or saw was. There’s a hazy line between genius and insanity. Be prepared to straddle it and drift back and forth between them 8 don’t expect to turn Star Trek into reality. Forget all of the science fiction you ever read or saw. It doesn’t apply. You won’t be traveling through time or visiting other planets. 9 Look at adds for job openings for physicists. That’s most likely the kind of work you’ll be doing. 10 don’t listen to what people who are not experts. Listen to what real experts like other physicists have to say. Few if any who aren’t know what they are talking about. One guy tried to convince me to help him work on a wind powered car. I tried to explain to him what a perpetual motion machine was but he wouldn’t listen. I told my mechanical engineering friend about it and he laughed because his county government was going to try something like it.
I am not really smart at all to be perfectly honest, but I have completed a Master’s Degree in Mathematics and have applied to a PhD program in Atmospheric Physics. …yes it takes more effort for someone with perhaps less than average mental ability like myself to tackle these subjects, but it’s a lot of fun.
My problem is different. I am smart enough to study maths and physics but I don’t have the degree to get into university because I dropped out of middle school too soon. Later I found out I am on the spectrum. Right now I have no idea if I ever will get into an university which would devastate me if I won’t. I have nothing else to live for..
I was terrible at math when I started physics, my Freshman year of undergrad I said “F that!” and decided to major in psychology… until I remembered who tf I was, put the change major form down and now am currently in an MS/PhD program in condensed matter physics in Texas… No matter how BAD at math you are, if you see it enough, one day, as if by magic, you’ll wake up and it’ll just make sense… somehow. It never fails.
Agree with almost everything you say. Out state college had quite a mix of people studying Physics, from an Army veteran to spoiled kids from academic families. We were all good at math and enjoyed studying on our own. I was an auto mechanic when I started college and majored in Physics because I enjoyed the Freshman classes and didn’t have the memory for Chemistry, although I liked Chemistry more. Ended up going to grad school, got an MS in Physics and transferred into Biophysics at a top school. I worked very hard and independently, those that were dependent on others for homework solutions and such were not successful.
Toby! There was a programme on BBC Radio 4 today that would be right up your alley. It was about Emmy Noether and discussed mathematics and physics combined. The programme is called ‘In Our Time’. Was on today, 24 January at 09.00. If you can access it on BBC Radio IPlayer, you would love it, I think. It runs for 45 minutes.
IQ well don’t worry about that, you do not need the IQ of an M.I.T student. Some really outstanding Physicists have very high I.Q.’s and some not so high. Nobel prize winner Richard Feynman reported his I.Q. at 125, whereas today a school like M.I.T the typical students are more like 140 and above with a few in the Feynman range. Most University students at less elite schools range 115 and above in terms of I.Q. The more important parameter for studying Physics is to be curious about the physical universe. For Physics beginners with as yet only beginning algebra try reading: “Understanding Physics by Isaac Asimov” Comes in one large volume or in 3 separate paperback books …
Probably not. Breezed through high school level physics but dropped out of college altogether first year due to not having an as strong mathematical background and feeling depressed. The fact that everybody else around me was either faster/smarter than me or/and also had a strong mathematical background didnt help neither. But i still love physics and wish to eventually get a degree in it anyways. One thing i did learn over the years was that if i truly liked it, it wasnt a race or competition and I could lessen the course load if i cannot handle the 4 year bachelor. After all, im just here for the material.
‘Smart enough’ is not the right phrase: ‘competent enough’ or ‘capable’ would be better descriptions and they apply to almost any academic discipline. Many physicists would not make competent English Literature academics, likewise many English Literature academics would not make competent physicists.
Tried. Got a BS in Astrophysics, but then was stonewalled by graduate courses in Electricity & Magnetism. If you can hack E & M up to and past that point, you’ll probably wind up with some kind of advanced degree. In my case, I’m evidently not “going to be” smart enough. What’s the difference between the inside and the outside of a hollow conductor in a magnetic field? The magnetic field specs don’t matter. There just has to be one. Now accelerate the hollow conductor in 4D space-time and try again. Then accelerate the magnetic field in 4D, but not to the same amplitudes or directions as the conductor. Quantities aren’t needed – do everything in terms of symbolic variables. Use Maxwell’s equations for curved spacetime. Compare and explain the results of the three scenarios. If you can answer those questions and *completely* understand the results (that’s the real challenge), keep going. I went through some of the math a few times and got solutions on paper, but just couldn’t “get it.” Difficult to describe “couldn’t get it”. You have to “not get it” yourself to know the sensation. I do keep trying in non-academic contexts. E & M, though…. Sigh.
I dont know if im smart enough to study physics, but it is really sad to find out that physics is actually really super fun subject to learn for me. That because I never had a chance to study that subject in the first place since my grade weren’t good enough to participate on science courses. All I can do is watch articles like this on youtube to satisfy my curiosity.
lol i can’t decide between a physics major or a mathematics major… i am much better at math than i am at physics (idk?). for example, i’m doing very well in a linear algebra w differential equations course but i’m struggling in my mechanics electromagnetism class ( sophomore in high school, ahead in math but lagging far behind on the physics). i am very interested in both but i feel like a major in physics would be much more useful than a math degree. any tips?
i was wondering can a person make a strong enough energy source to make sound waves to move objects such as a vehicle,I had a vision of a black hole type graph like a vortex of sound waves that would hit a point then it concaves on its self in word going back half the distance of starting placement of source the sound wave rotates inside the funle makes a vary strong energy source not much power needed I’m just wondering if that is physically possible
I don’t think it’s as difficult as is generally made out to be, providing you’re not allergic to maths. Of course depends if you get inspiring lecturers or not – some can make or break your interest in a topic. Sadly it seems the focus in my experience is too much on assessment (applies to teaching in general, secondary school etc…) rather than cultivating a love of the subject matter – and that mindset of prioritising marks above all else (instead of knowledge for the sake of wanting to learn) is being instilled during teenage public exams. But in terms of broadening the awareness of life in general it’s useful for anyone to do, even if moving into a different career/workspace afterwards.
Over the past few days I’ve been trying to find the electric field and potential due to a charged disk, at any point ON the disk. Not above, on the axis or anywhere else. But at a point on the disk. So far, I’ve only been able to do this for either a point on the circumference or the centre. I’m planning on trying to Poisson’s Equation now, since I’m also aware of the potential at the centre and at any point on the boundary. Are there are any other/better ways to do this?
I’m good at middle school and up to about 10th-grade physics, which means that I don’t have a deep understanding of it. I read a lot of layman books. At the book sale, they asked me if I had children, and it’s like, back off. I used to be pretty good at analyzing literature at a college level, undergrad, but I’ve acquired some brain damage. I have a hard time remembering math in detail. I can’t think math, I guess, I have to write it down, which means I’m not a mathematical philosopher.
I think you don’t need to be smart to study anything in particular, it takes willingness, sacrifice and hard work. What I found after my time in uni is that the ones that get the good results are not always the smartest but the ones that put the hours and have great memorystic abilities, usually, smart people don’t do that well, I know it sounds cliché but it is true.
Self-studying physic atm and I’m having trouble focusing. I’ll be trying to work out a problem in Classical Mechanics and I’ll end up getting distracted. What the hell is a dimension? Why are vector spaces so useful in capturing the essence of our intuitive notions of time, space and motion? Classical Mechanics takes place within the arena of the Euclidean metric, but I seem to be more interested in the general notion of metric than working Mechanics problems. I keep telling myself that I have a responsibility to learn about “the real world” (in the Newtonian sense) and therefore I must press on!
I am doing the basic physics classes right now. I actually enjoy physics, I hate the math I need to take but understand physics better than the maths. I am a bio major and never thought I would enjoy/understand anything math related. I really wish I could take further classes in physics without having to do the math. I enjoy the lectures on the theories, I just do not like solving actual problems. However, I also was an optician and love optics. I am considering a minor in optics since at my uni only first year physicis is needed then 2 classes focusing on physics.
The more useful question here is physics a good option for a career choice unless one has the intellect and inclination to go full PhD – otherwise, engineering fields have more pragmatic opportunities for careers. People well gifted in their math skills, etc., will be in the top tier of those fields. So Australian accent?
The problem I had when studying physics at university was the pure maths course that came with it (ie it was a combined course). Was really enjoying the physics course but the pure maths course at that level was just too much for me at that time. So because I couldn’t continue with that, it meant I had to drop the physics too. Really sad for me…
I always wanted to take a major in physics. It was one of the things which struck my head a few years before. I am from India. I participated in jee main. And I got a pretty decent position. But I dont want an engineering degree. But my family wont allow me to major in physics cause it will consume much more years to reach a good position. But I want that degree so badly. Please help me
I have an IQ of 140, I know most definitely I can get any PHD from anywhere at any point, given enough time, but as I already have 5 different Interests, Physics is just not worth studying for me. It is about intelligence, but once you have it, it is about interest. I’ve always wanted to say my IQ at least once, no more.
I’m a mechanical engineering student so I do cover a great deal of math and physics (obviously not as much as pure physics students). It’s not a question of being smart enough, but rather, a question of how committed and dedicated you are to the subject. Are you willing to make sacrifices and devote your time to it? Are you willing to put countless amounts of efforts to earn the desired results? I’m personally not an academically talented individual and I made it to where I am because of all that. Sleepless nights of Time, effort and devotion and hard work. People earn success, not necessarily because of good grades, but because they’re passionate in what they do.
Hi, I am knew to this website, but I really like all of the content so far. I have a question concerning something mentioned in the description box – namely, that mathematics cannot really be divorced from physics. Since I find this issue very interesting from a philosophical perspective, I was wondering if you could elaborate on that. Thanks in advance 🙂
i think the destinction between an einstein and a dreamer without a possability of succsess is actually doing the work and understanding the maths properly :P. new concepts cannot be arrived at by derivation tbh, so dreaming is kind of nessesary, and yes you can dream in equations, but its not always practical, i cant think of a human that ever lived that would arrive at GR without considering physical concepts.. 😉
“Smart enough” should probably be “interested enough in the content and applications for the outcome after graduation? Most people I’ve met are smart in their own way, but need to understand the actuality objective of putting in a lot of effort and expenditure for a ROI. In full disclosure, and because I’m interested in Tibee’s generation that’s going to be the biggest influence on my Grandson’s experience, I was very motivated to study Science and Technology at University levels because of whole “NASA going to the Moon” while trying to “ban the bomb”, thing. There’s not a lot of connectivity in that, so I’m paused in my Undergraduate progress while I reconcile the Actuality of what should and shouldn’t be relevant to existence, ie modulated QM-Time is the fundamental communication of education<-resonance imaging. (Ie, I Don't expect to get any conventional type qualifications, but am keen to support the general context of Teaching and Learning)
First of all, please forgive me for my bad English because I don’t speak English. I use an artificial intelligence called DeepL My opinion on the subject is that I think a serious intelligence and talent is required for success in scientific fields such as physics and mathematics. I don’t know if people can become geniuses with natural or chemical methods or if we can train ourselves as a genius with special training. But thanks to the developing technology, chips will be implanted in our brains and in this case, positive or negative things may happen to us in the future. If we think that Chatgpt is in your mind, I think we will have to ask different questions because whether it is more important to be intelligent or the processing capacity of the chip will be more important. I think seriously, brain and physics are fields that affect me very much and it is very difficult to predict the future.
I always question my intelligence, fearing I’m not able to go through a physics major and the academia. I’m waiting for the universities results here in Brasil and its very frustrating. I wonder if you’ve ever heard of any of the universities I’m trying to get into (if they are known for their research outside Brasil). I’ve heard one of them (UFABC) was doing some research alongside with MIT. The other one (USP- University of São Paulo) is known as one of the best (if not the best one) universities of latin america. (I think what I wrote sounded a little bit confusing, but, if you see this, I just wanted to know if these universities here are known outside Brasil)