November 21, 2013
Many of us may feel that physics is rocket science. Perhaps, we don’t understand it or maybe we think that there is nothing interesting in it. A usual definition of physics that a crazy person would give is- “physics is the study of matter, energy and study of the concepts of space-time which are experimentally proved and mathematically formulated.” Well, the definition is likely to be correct but it is inappropriate. Physics is actually purely using human intellect to understand our world better. It is a test of our common sense. Now you may be wondering how this so called ‘famous’ equation i.e., E=MC2 be understood by common sense. Yes, the trouble starts over here; mathematics.
- In many of our cases we don’t understand physics simply because we don’t understand mathematics. According to me, mathematics is a language, a universal language. It is used in physics to act as a medium of communication between the book and the reader. It is so beautiful that it gives the whole concept we are learning in a nutshell in the form of an equation or an expression (that’s what Einstein did in E=mc2). Nature communicates with humans through this language of maths. So from now on let us approach mathematics in a right way. Let us not forget that doing maths is an art of converting complicated stuff into simpler expressions. Hence maths is just a representation of our common sense and can be used as a very powerful tool in physics to check whether our guesses are logically right.
- Now since we are done with maths the actual issue was “Whether physics is boring”. The second reason is Examination. For people with exam problems I would like to give a possible solution. Physics can be learnt without actually opening the books and sitting for hours.
The following are four simple steps to prepare for exams:
Step 1: All what you have to do is to choose an interesting topic from your text book (if nothing interests you choose any random topic).
Step 2: If you come across any formula firstly understand what each letter or symbol means and in what context, e.g. in E=MC2, E is energy, M is mass, and C is speed of light in vacuum. Once you are done, brief through some examples that use such a formula. Correlate this with examples from your daily life.
Step 3: If possible try to perform and create simple experiments to understand the concept better.
Step 4: Spend most of your study time in discussing doubts and sharing your knowledge with others.
However preparation cannot be a one day struggle, it has to done every day. The above mentioned steps would make physics more fun and an enjoyable subject. Don’t simply memorise things, understand what the book is telling you. During your leisure time, try to make your own theories and formulate them mathematically if possible. The most important factor that differentiates between a common man and a physicist is wide observation, imagination and the ability to view nature from a unique perspective. Anyone who has these three capabilities is a physicist in himself/herself. So from now onwards try to cultivate these habits in you.
- The third reason why people find Physics boring is due to peer pressure. Many of us as students have our own group of friends .Some of us may fall into a society which does not encourage Physics. This causes the interest in physics to slowly fade out. Hence people those who are really interested in the subject must know to choose friends wisely. But for people who are stranded in such an awkward situation, there is no specific solution because it depends on the personality and interests of each person. The only way out is to learn in our privacy. Determination and will-power are two virtues that would help us overcome against all these peer pressures in our very inconvenient teenage life. These are the days which are not only the most memorable and cherished days of life but is also a time where we need to plan and work to make our future memorable and cherished.
This means that if we are really going to take up physics as our job stream we have to really work hard to assure a secure future. For people who are interested in some other subject of research, entertainment, skills etc., you would very soon realize that physics is hiding very inconspicuously in every job stream you choose.
Coming back to the same old question, Is physics boring? Could hurdles like mathematics, examination and peer pressure slow down our race to progress in Physics? Well, the answer is ‘no’ from my view point. But readers may have their own viewpoints which should not be inhibited. However physics is the philosophy of life. It is such a vast subject that the more we slip into it, the more deeper it gets.
It’s so beautiful that it acts as an interactive bond between man and nature. Nature is all around us and is eagerly waiting for us to discover and unlock its secrets. Thus I would like to conclude that in the process of learning if you find anything boring and dry just remember that:
The universe is not about formulation
It’s the extent of your imagination
Humans study it
Leaders create it
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