Pursuing a career in Physics, etc.

[AnthroAndStargate]

So I am sitting in the library studying for finals when I realize that deep down I would really love to be involved in a Natural Science or Physics. I have always eaten up any works by people like Sagan and all the pop-metaphysics stuff that is out now - yet I have feared Physics due to a general fear of math.

I am currently a B.S. in Anthropology with a few minors to boot... and I am planning on pursuing a career in the social sciences. The problem is I don't really have time to pick up a Physics major (I'm a Junior).

I am wondering if any of you know of any cool cross-fields that people have mixed - I guess one such field that mixes the social sciences/humanities is Scientific History - and the popular works that come with that. Any comments are appreciated!

 

[Eeezee]

If you enjoy pop-metaphysics stuff, then Physics and Natural Science is DEFINITELY not for you because you'll realize how that's all just bullcrap that people like to use to make them sound smart. Did you know that the movie "What the @#@# do we know?" was actually paid for and produced by a cult? Pretty much all of those people who are heavily into pop-metaphysical crap are idiots or scam artists or both.

Also, if you fear math, then Physics is not for you. I've done difficult math almost every day for 3 and a half years as a Physics major. One more semester of difficult math and I'll have my BS. Six more years and I'll have my PhD.

Scientific History would definitely be more along the lines of what you're interested in. You may want to consider engineering too, as it's MUCH less math-intensive. Having graded for and having taken a few engineering courses, this is just a fact. As far as amount of math goes, Math Major > Physics Major > Engineering Major. Doing anthropology might mean that you've already taken a few courses that could apply toward an engineering degree, check some course catalogues.

No, I think a specialization in Scientific History is really something that would suit you better judging by your post. But please, please please please, keep in mind that metaphysical-pop bullcrap is in no way related to Physics or any science for that matter.

 

[AnthroAndStargate]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
If you enjoy pop-metaphysics stuff, then Physics and Natural Science is DEFINITELY not for you because you'll realize how that's all just bullcrap that people like to use to make them sound smart. Did you know that the movie "What the @#@# do we know?" was actually paid for and produced by a cult? Pretty much all of those people who are heavily into pop-metaphysical crap are idiots or scam artists or both.

Also, if you fear math, then Physics is not for you. I've done difficult math almost every day for 3 and a half years as a Physics major. One more semester of difficult math and I'll have my BS. Six more years and I'll have my PhD.

Scientific History would definitely be more along the lines of what you're interested in. You may want to consider engineering too, as it's MUCH less math-intensive. Having graded for and having taken a few engineering courses, this is just a fact. As far as amount of math goes, Math Major > Physics Major > Engineering Major. Doing anthropology might mean that you've already taken a few courses that could apply toward an engineering degree, check some course catalogues.

No, I think a specialization in Scientific History is really something that would suit you better judging by your post. But please, please please please, keep in mind that metaphysical-pop bullcrap is in no way related to Physics or any science for that matter.

Thanks a lot for the advice! I have intentionally never seen that what the bleep do we know movie because I read that it was a bunch of tripe and not accurate. When I said metaphysics I kind of meant string theory and stuff? I don't know if that would metaphysics or what - but I have heard some lectures on string theory, time, etc. and they were all really mind blowing. Perhaps I should have said popular physics instead?

Anyway thanks for the advice!

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
If you enjoy pop-metaphysics stuff, then Physics and Natural Science is DEFINITELY not for you because you'll realize how that's all just bullcrap that people like to use to make them sound smart. Did you know that the movie "What the @#@# do we know?" was actually paid for and produced by a cult? Pretty much all of those people who are heavily into pop-metaphysical crap are idiots or scam artists or both.

Also, if you fear math, then Physics is not for you. I've done difficult math almost every day for 3 and a half years as a Physics major. One more semester of difficult math and I'll have my BS. Six more years and I'll have my PhD.

Scientific History would definitely be more along the lines of what you're interested in. You may want to consider engineering too, as it's MUCH less math-intensive. Having graded for and having taken a few engineering courses, this is just a fact. As far as amount of math goes, Math Major > Physics Major > Engineering Major. Doing anthropology might mean that you've already taken a few courses that could apply toward an engineering degree, check some course catalogues.

No, I think a specialization in Scientific History is really something that would suit you better judging by your post. But please, please please please, keep in mind that metaphysical-pop bullcrap is in no way related to Physics or any science for that matter.

it isn't we have less math , we just make sh|tloads of simplifications so that we can try to build something Depending on how complex it is, we'll need more or less simplifacations..

I don't doubt for a minute that a physics major will have to deal with some kind of esoteric trig identity to solve an integral in the complex plane whereas the engineer will somehow 1/2 ass it and still get an answer that is satisfactory, but it doesn't mean we do any less math If anything, it means we know how to apply the equations to the real world if we can figure out exactly what really makes the system tick


but yeah...if you don't like math...stay away from sciences and engineering. Unless you want to focus on like maybe the softer sides of bio engineering (you still need loads of bio in that case...) or some material/ceramic engineering you'll need plenty of the math Its the scientist and engineer's tool

 

[AnthroAndStargate]

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: Eeezee
If you enjoy pop-metaphysics stuff, then Physics and Natural Science is DEFINITELY not for you because you'll realize how that's all just bullcrap that people like to use to make them sound smart. Did you know that the movie "What the @#@# do we know?" was actually paid for and produced by a cult? Pretty much all of those people who are heavily into pop-metaphysical crap are idiots or scam artists or both.

Also, if you fear math, then Physics is not for you. I've done difficult math almost every day for 3 and a half years as a Physics major. One more semester of difficult math and I'll have my BS. Six more years and I'll have my PhD.

Scientific History would definitely be more along the lines of what you're interested in. You may want to consider engineering too, as it's MUCH less math-intensive. Having graded for and having taken a few engineering courses, this is just a fact. As far as amount of math goes, Math Major > Physics Major > Engineering Major. Doing anthropology might mean that you've already taken a few courses that could apply toward an engineering degree, check some course catalogues.

No, I think a specialization in Scientific History is really something that would suit you better judging by your post. But please, please please please, keep in mind that metaphysical-pop bullcrap is in no way related to Physics or any science for that matter.

it isn't we have less math , we just make sh|tloads of simplifications so that we can try to build something Depending on how complex it is, we'll need more or less simplifacations..

I don't doubt for a minute that a physics major will have to deal with some kind of esoteric trig identity to solve an integral in the complex plane whereas the engineer will somehow 1/2 ass it and still get an answer that is satisfactory, but it doesn't mean we do any less math If anything, it means we know how to apply the equations to the real world if we can figure out exactly what really makes the system tick


but yeah...if you don't like math...stay away from sciences and engineering. Unless you want to focus on like maybe the softer sides of bio engineering (you still need loads of bio in that case...) or some material/ceramic engineering you'll need plenty of the math Its the scientist and engineer's tool

Thanks again for info! Damn suburban school's crappy math teachers!

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: Eeezee
If you enjoy pop-metaphysics stuff, then Physics and Natural Science is DEFINITELY not for you because you'll realize how that's all just bullcrap that people like to use to make them sound smart. Did you know that the movie "What the @#@# do we know?" was actually paid for and produced by a cult? Pretty much all of those people who are heavily into pop-metaphysical crap are idiots or scam artists or both.

Also, if you fear math, then Physics is not for you. I've done difficult math almost every day for 3 and a half years as a Physics major. One more semester of difficult math and I'll have my BS. Six more years and I'll have my PhD.

Scientific History would definitely be more along the lines of what you're interested in. You may want to consider engineering too, as it's MUCH less math-intensive. Having graded for and having taken a few engineering courses, this is just a fact. As far as amount of math goes, Math Major > Physics Major > Engineering Major. Doing anthropology might mean that you've already taken a few courses that could apply toward an engineering degree, check some course catalogues.

No, I think a specialization in Scientific History is really something that would suit you better judging by your post. But please, please please please, keep in mind that metaphysical-pop bullcrap is in no way related to Physics or any science for that matter.

it isn't we have less math , we just make sh|tloads of simplifications so that we can try to build something Depending on how complex it is, we'll need more or less simplifacations..

I don't doubt for a minute that a physics major will have to deal with some kind of esoteric trig identity to solve an integral in the complex plane whereas the engineer will somehow 1/2 ass it and still get an answer that is satisfactory, but it doesn't mean we do any less math If anything, it means we know how to apply the equations to the real world if we can figure out exactly what really makes the system tick


but yeah...if you don't like math...stay away from sciences and engineering. Unless you want to focus on like maybe the softer sides of bio engineering (you still need loads of bio in that case...) or some material/ceramic engineering you'll need plenty of the math Its the scientist and engineer's tool

Trust me, it's less math. I'm not saying this is a bad thing. In my mechanics course, 5 pages of algebra and calculus is the average for one problem on a six problem homework assignment; that's skipping steps like u-sbustitutions, trig identities, etc., skipping stuff that a formal mathemetician would have to include. On engineering homework assignments I've never seen more than a few pages for a single problem, and those problems are often considered "extremely tedious." That's less math. You guys have to worry about stuff unrelated to math anyway.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: AnthroAndStargate

Originally posted by: Eeezee
If you enjoy pop-metaphysics stuff, then Physics and Natural Science is DEFINITELY not for you because you'll realize how that's all just bullcrap that people like to use to make them sound smart. Did you know that the movie "What the @#@# do we know?" was actually paid for and produced by a cult? Pretty much all of those people who are heavily into pop-metaphysical crap are idiots or scam artists or both.

Also, if you fear math, then Physics is not for you. I've done difficult math almost every day for 3 and a half years as a Physics major. One more semester of difficult math and I'll have my BS. Six more years and I'll have my PhD.

Scientific History would definitely be more along the lines of what you're interested in. You may want to consider engineering too, as it's MUCH less math-intensive. Having graded for and having taken a few engineering courses, this is just a fact. As far as amount of math goes, Math Major > Physics Major > Engineering Major. Doing anthropology might mean that you've already taken a few courses that could apply toward an engineering degree, check some course catalogues.

No, I think a specialization in Scientific History is really something that would suit you better judging by your post. But please, please please please, keep in mind that metaphysical-pop bullcrap is in no way related to Physics or any science for that matter.

Thanks a lot for the advice! I have intentionally never seen that what the bleep do we know movie because I read that it was a bunch of tripe and not accurate. When I said metaphysics I kind of meant string theory and stuff? I don't know if that would metaphysics or what - but I have heard some lectures on string theory, time, etc. and they were all really mind blowing. Perhaps I should have said popular physics instead?

Anyway thanks for the advice!

Ah, so you're just interested in the cool experimental results and theoretical applications. I would still suggest that science history may be the route to go. Get a subscription or two to some science magazines and read some amateur textbooks. I wouldn't suggest going beyond that unless you really want to get serious and receive the full education, which will take at least a full 4 years if you do it right. A lot of becoming a scientist is just practice and building intuition, memorization, etc. If you're looking for results, reading the latest news in magazines is going to be best for you. For example, a lot of my average day is spent doing math or computational physics, programming or tweaking an existing simulation. It's really not the kind of excitemeny you're looking for. The end results don't show up for months.

 

[FreshFish]

After getting my Physics degree, I feel that most of the beauty and intrigue in the subject is bogged down by the math involved. If you really *get* the math at a intellectual level, then you would probably still enjoy the subject...

 

[TheoPetro]

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: Eeezee
If you enjoy pop-metaphysics stuff, then Physics and Natural Science is DEFINITELY not for you because you'll realize how that's all just bullcrap that people like to use to make them sound smart. Did you know that the movie "What the @#@# do we know?" was actually paid for and produced by a cult? Pretty much all of those people who are heavily into pop-metaphysical crap are idiots or scam artists or both.

Also, if you fear math, then Physics is not for you. I've done difficult math almost every day for 3 and a half years as a Physics major. One more semester of difficult math and I'll have my BS. Six more years and I'll have my PhD.

Scientific History would definitely be more along the lines of what you're interested in. You may want to consider engineering too, as it's MUCH less math-intensive. Having graded for and having taken a few engineering courses, this is just a fact. As far as amount of math goes, Math Major > Physics Major > Engineering Major. Doing anthropology might mean that you've already taken a few courses that could apply toward an engineering degree, check some course catalogues.

No, I think a specialization in Scientific History is really something that would suit you better judging by your post. But please, please please please, keep in mind that metaphysical-pop bullcrap is in no way related to Physics or any science for that matter.

it isn't we have less math , we just make sh|tloads of simplifications so that we can try to build something Depending on how complex it is, we'll need more or less simplifacations..

I don't doubt for a minute that a physics major will have to deal with some kind of esoteric trig identity to solve an integral in the complex plane whereas the engineer will somehow 1/2 ass it and still get an answer that is satisfactory, but it doesn't mean we do any less math If anything, it means we know how to apply the equations to the real world if we can figure out exactly what really makes the system tick


but yeah...if you don't like math...stay away from sciences and engineering. Unless you want to focus on like maybe the softer sides of bio engineering (you still need loads of bio in that case...) or some material/ceramic engineering you'll need plenty of the math Its the scientist and engineer's tool

Trust me, it's less math. I'm not saying this is a bad thing. In my mechanics course, 5 pages of algebra and calculus is the average for one problem on a six problem homework assignment; that's skipping steps like u-sbustitutions, trig identities, etc., skipping stuff that a formal mathemetician would have to include. On engineering homework assignments I've never seen more than a few pages for a single problem, and those problems are often considered "extremely tedious." That's less math. You guys have to worry about stuff unrelated to math anyway.

Its true. I only took mechanics 1 but it was an assload of math. Most of the time you forgot the physical aspect and focused mostly on the math. Our exams had to be pieces of problems or one large problem just so we could finish it in 50 min.

 

[darthsidious]

I agree. I've taken both physics classes and engineering classes at my school (my major is engineering), and physics definately has way more math. The intro quantum course was basically described as an integral solving boot camp... I still have vivid memories of trying to reduce complex trig integrals (I gave up on some and went to maple, or canned them out of formula books). The ability to use and be comfortable with abstract math is taken for granted. Enginnering classes simply don't do that. Hell, three of my classes 'retaught' basic complex algebra because most people weren't comfortable with it. (And this is at one of the top enginnering schools in the country. I shudder to think what happens at an average to below average school)

And the "engineers can approximate stuff better" doesn't hold in general. Almost all of higher quantum mechanics is approximations, and good physicists, in my opinion, have the perfect balance of theory and approximations. Any decently good physicist will usually approximate, and know WHAT he is approximating, and when it is valid to do so. I've rarely met a engineering student who has the same level of knowlege of tradeoffs, and when what is valid. Hell, most of them seem to treat approximated formulas as gospel.

I attirbut this to the fact that most physicists are better motivated and smart (you better be really enthusiastic and good at physics if you want to get a physics area job), compared to engineering, where a lot more people do it, and their intro curriculum. Physics involves grounding in solid math, and a much better knowledge of series approximations, binomial theorem, etc, compared to most enginnering classes. I'm not saying that enginners can't be good at math, but rather the fact that the enginner who understands math well and uses approximations wisely is rarer on average the his physics counterpart.

\rant

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: Eeezee
If you enjoy pop-metaphysics stuff, then Physics and Natural Science is DEFINITELY not for you because you'll realize how that's all just bullcrap that people like to use to make them sound smart. Did you know that the movie "What the @#@# do we know?" was actually paid for and produced by a cult? Pretty much all of those people who are heavily into pop-metaphysical crap are idiots or scam artists or both.

Also, if you fear math, then Physics is not for you. I've done difficult math almost every day for 3 and a half years as a Physics major. One more semester of difficult math and I'll have my BS. Six more years and I'll have my PhD.

Scientific History would definitely be more along the lines of what you're interested in. You may want to consider engineering too, as it's MUCH less math-intensive. Having graded for and having taken a few engineering courses, this is just a fact. As far as amount of math goes, Math Major > Physics Major > Engineering Major. Doing anthropology might mean that you've already taken a few courses that could apply toward an engineering degree, check some course catalogues.

No, I think a specialization in Scientific History is really something that would suit you better judging by your post. But please, please please please, keep in mind that metaphysical-pop bullcrap is in no way related to Physics or any science for that matter.

it isn't we have less math , we just make sh|tloads of simplifications so that we can try to build something Depending on how complex it is, we'll need more or less simplifacations..

I don't doubt for a minute that a physics major will have to deal with some kind of esoteric trig identity to solve an integral in the complex plane whereas the engineer will somehow 1/2 ass it and still get an answer that is satisfactory, but it doesn't mean we do any less math If anything, it means we know how to apply the equations to the real world if we can figure out exactly what really makes the system tick


but yeah...if you don't like math...stay away from sciences and engineering. Unless you want to focus on like maybe the softer sides of bio engineering (you still need loads of bio in that case...) or some material/ceramic engineering you'll need plenty of the math Its the scientist and engineer's tool

Trust me, it's less math. I'm not saying this is a bad thing. In my mechanics course, 5 pages of algebra and calculus is the average for one problem on a six problem homework assignment; that's skipping steps like u-sbustitutions, trig identities, etc., skipping stuff that a formal mathemetician would have to include. On engineering homework assignments I've never seen more than a few pages for a single problem, and those problems are often considered "extremely tedious." That's less math. You guys have to worry about stuff unrelated to math anyway.