<p>Which one do you think is more important for our understanding of the universe?</p>
<p>Which one do you think has more real world applications?</p>
<p>Which one do you think helps develop your mental abilities the most?</p>
<p>(I'm using answers to these questions to help me choose between chemical engineering and engineering physics)</p>
<p>I think both are equal...</p>
<p>Try to choose the thing you are more interested about, that you really want to study</p>
<p>Physics explains everything, including chemistry.</p>
<p>Engineering is basically the application of physics, so definitely physics.</p>
<p>Physics is much harder than chemistry, but chemical engineering is really hard too.</p>
<p>I actually enjoy both a lot. If I could double major in both, I definitely would, given that my choice of university allow me to do so.</p>
<p>benderunit, what school would you take engineering physics at? McMaster?</p>
<p>McMaster, Queen's, or UofT.</p>
<p>Are you from Ontario?</p>
<p>You might be able to say that physics explains chemistry to some degree. But that is why there is a field called physical chemistry. So it is really a matter of definitions. </p>
<p>Saying that physics explains chemistry doesn't mean that a physics major will also have the chem knowledge that a chem major will have.</p>
<p>In terms of real world applications, they each have so many that they are basically equal. It's really a matter of personal preference.</p>
<p>Naw I'm from Edmonton. Didn't think UT or Queen's offered EngPhys.</p>
<p>If somebody has taken courses in both, can you tell me which one is more interesting?</p>
<p>Would you say physics is more focused on theory and chemistry has more hands on stuff?</p>
<p>I've always loved chemistry, but lately I'm becoming more interested in photonics and quantum physics.</p>
<p>I also feel that somebody who major in physics seem to be smarter than somebody who major in chemistry. Maybe it's because the quantum physics stuff are much more abstract than the chemistry stuff I know so far.</p>
<p>If you want to explain the universe, go into physics. I find physics more interesting, but as others have said, both apply equally to real life. Just pick what you like to do.</p>
<p>I don't think I'm competent enough to understand advanced physics. I always found chemistry much easier than physics. I think I'll just go with chemical engineering then. :(</p>
<p>There isn't as much chemistry in chemical engineering as you think. You will take two semesters of orgo, analytical chem, inorganic chem, and physical chem and several lab courses. That is basically all the chem background you need. The rest of chemE is mainly physics based (thermo).</p>
<p>I wouldn't underestimate chem. I've looked at some hw sets for upper level chem classes and have attempted to read some chem journals. Very sophisticated stuff. However, I do agree physics is more mathematical, but that doesn't necessarily make it harder. Many people struggle in orgo b/c of the lack of math in that class.</p>
<p>I think that physics is basically the same stuff that just gets harder and more complicated but involving much of the same ideas. There are so many different areas in chemistry that apply to many things. So many different kinds from the massive scale all the way down to the quantum level (in fact a quantum prof came to teach us chem for a little while in my gen chem course).</p>
<p>As far as the universe. If it is String Theory that is proven it will be physics. If it is some kind of matter maybe still physics.</p>
<p>As far as real world applications. Physics has so many variables it can only go so far. Chemistry is much more visible and applicable until you bring it to a quantum level (Heisenburg [sic]) but beyond that I think much more real world than physics.</p>
<p>As far as mental abilities one of the things that I like about chem is that it seems to involve physics and bio and chemistry all into a sort of package that requires more various sorts of thought than physics. If you're good in gen chem that doesn't guarantee you orgo. If you're bad in gen chem that doesn't mean you'll be bad at p-chem. It is all different ways of looking at similar and different aspects of everything that is needed to make things react, form, and change. I think chemistry overall exposes you to the most different types of thought and mental challenges which as opposed to physics mostly challenges you in the same way but harder each time. Just my take on things.</p>
<p>I'm a ChemE by the way.</p>
<p>Physics is by far the most challenging pure science of all. The smartest people in the world aren't actually mathamaticians - they're physicists. I've had over 3 different physics profs so far. They are all geniuses. </p>
<p>Two of them persued law, got a JD. One of them become a patent lawyer and become rich and then came back to college to teach. The other went on to join the CIA and then become a commercial airline pilot. The other (third) physics prof. is one of the top optical physicists in the world. I studied under him in University of Colorado, Boulder (a top school in physics) back in the day for "quantum mechanics". He also has a Phd in EE. These people are <em>ridiculously</em> intelligent and wonderfully successful. I'd also like to point out that they're oddballs (even though somewhat diverse in their background). </p>
<p>W/ the exception of the guy who went to be a commerical airline pilot (he was very social and people loved him), I honestly disliked the other two profs because they were very rude and anti-social. It was in their nature to be very arrogant.</p>
<p>" Physics has so many variables it can only go so far." Quite the pearl of wisdom there, ain't it?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Physics - An older friend told me he majored in physics to learn how the universe worked. He ended up in the aerospace industry, after getting a B.A. and a master's.</p></li>
<li><p>I don't know, but I can tell you with certainty, do not major in regular chemistry unless you plan to get a Phd in it.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>3.Physics.</p>
<p>I know you guys have dicussing this suject to death... But this is my 2 bit cents on this subject.</p>
<p>And it is academic, Physics is a precise science...(I.e. you can put it on paper with maths... Chemestry is alway and shall be changing.. for good reasons...) this is why physics will always rule, because it is able to prove itself (and pardon my french). I am not dissing Chemistry in any way, it is after all who and what we are (But the table keeps on changing). Physics, well, aside from quantum and Chaos (ooooh big words) it is still a precise (And I do repeat myself) science.</p>
<p>Please no arguments, everybody knows this fact. I just had to put it in...</p>
<p>Sorry Cherry,</p>
<p>But, physical chemestry... It is actualy a field? I can understand that I am a pleeb but still... </p>
<p>Question...: What is it based on? </p>
<p>If you can pass the fact that the table of elements is in evolution... pass the math... How can you prove you're mathematics (long term of course). Sorry I just need to understand.</p>
<p>I think it's a mistake to say that "physicists are the smartest people in the world.....hands down." There are people who would make brilliant physicists, but they're in love with something different, say, biology. So they chose to go into biology rather than physics. Does this make them any less brilliant? No.</p>
<p>physical chemistry is a field. i know because my father got a PhD in it from UMich.</p>
<p>P Chem as they call it, it using physics to understand the physical properties of chemicals (aka everything in the world)</p>