<p>i love playing around with numbers, finding different solutions for problems. i love math class and doing word problems. im good at chemistry, but, for some reason, physics isnt my thing. i understand it in class, but when it comes to the tests, i do poorly. one reason could be senioritis and just not studying enough, but i find physics very boring to study for. could it be my teacher? many students are not doing well in his class either...or am i just horrible at physics and therefore should not consider pursuing engineering?</p>
<p>It's definitely possible that you have a bad physics teacher, but of course there's no way for us to know that for sure...personally, I have a great physics teacher who makes physics a lot of fun. However, while I liked chemistry, I definitely find myself enjoying physics a lot more - so maybe it's possible that you're just more of a chemistry person?</p>
<p>On another note, are you taking Physics C or some kind of other class? Just because I definitely know a lot of very smart people who are struggling in the AP Physics C classes at my school, but I have to say that struggling Physics B or some other kind of regular high school physics could potentially (but not necessarily) be an issue for someone interested in engineering...</p>
<p>It also depends what kind of engineering, though you certainly will have to take physics for any kind.</p>
<p>The bad teacher excuse doesn't hold here, if you have a text book all you need after that is a pencil some paper and time.</p>
<p>Because when you get to university, the professor will most likely suck and you will learn from the book. Engineering Physics is quite hard at times and many don't make it through the 3-4 classes. </p>
<p>But these classes are so drastically different then HS physics, that you really need to try them. You need to work on your dedication also. A engineering degree is not a easy thing to get and it in itself says a lot about the person no matter what the gpa.</p>
<p>Now if engineering is right for you.</p>
<p>Civil ,Structural, Mechanical, Aero- if you dont love Mechanics, then how will you ever get throgh solids, statics and dynamics. This is the Bread and Butter and you need to love it, because these will be your tools for life.
Electrical & Computer = More of E&M, compared to the ones above. You might like this stuff better, maybe its your calling.</p>
<p>Then theirs Chemical and its variants, which you say you like Chemistry, but they still at least at my school took statics and dynamics.</p>
<p>So you have choices, but your dedication needs work. You need to go to school for what you love, not whats cool. Theres a reason engineering has such a high drop out rate, people dont know what they are getting into. Just do what you love. Its that simple. If you do, things will always work out. Those who are most successful in life, do what they love and what comes natural to them, you cant force yourself into another mode. Its not a good thing.</p>
<p>I did pretty bad in physics in high school and considered not pursuing engineering because of it, but now I'm graduating magna cum laude. I haven't used what I've learned in physics in any of my in-major classes... so don't let it get you down.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies!
Dr Horse--I agree that i should take out my textbook and learn from it, but i just can't find the motivation to do so. i do love math and science and i really can't imagine myself doing anything other than researching, creating, innovating...all the things that engineers do. instead of doing hw, i watch MIT lectures on OpenCourseWare and understand what Professor Lewin says better than i understand what my physics teacher says. maybe i just have a bad case of senioritis?</p>
<p>Its not seniorities. I had the same thing when i was your age. You want to learn the cool stuff, you dont care about the general education classes. You want to study particle Physics but not general Physics. I think most students go through this. I say just get through the boring crap, and then have fun. The fun stuff later is based on the stuff you learn now, so ya really need to bring yourself to it. Once you get to university, things may change with the new environment.</p>
<p>Lewin is extraordinaire, it's no use to compare other teachers to him.</p>
<p>Without motivation, you'll be an average engineer. Read your book. Don't waste your time fooling around, read, get ahead, stand out, read.</p>
<p>You can only blame apathy on yourself.</p>
<p>
[quote]
i love playing around with numbers, finding different solutions for problems. i love math class and doing word problems. im good at chemistry, but, for some reason, physics isnt my thing. i understand it in class, but when it comes to the tests, i do poorly. one reason could be senioritis and just not studying enough, but i find physics very boring to study for. could it be my teacher? many students are not doing well in his class either...or am i just horrible at physics and therefore should not consider pursuing engineering?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I didn't like physics either! I wasn't great in physics in HS but so far I've gotten an A in mechanics and an A/B in E&M while in college. I'm starting to find physics much more interesting as I get further into it. Plus the more difficult concepts that are critical to physics become more of a second nature as you do them again and again. </p>
<p>If you only had one physics class in HS and didn't like it I wouldn't use it as an excuse to not persue engineering.</p>
<p>Have you just attempted to learn mechanics, or E&M as well? There are certain branches of engineering where you don't need a lot of mechanics, but you do need E&M, like EE or CompE. And there are plenty of people who are bad at mechanics but good at E&M, or vice versa. And if you are not good at classical mechanics, but do fine at wave mechanics, NukeE might be an option.</p>
<p>Purell1 I just recently graduated from HS. I too love math and was really good at Chemistry. I took AP Physics C (Mecahnics and E&M). Physics didnt come to me as easy as math and chemistry. I would understand the concepts while they were being taught but when it came to test I really sucked. It also turned out that the other students were not doing very well either because the class was the hardest you could have taken in HS after all. I felt reliefed knowing that I was not the only one that did bad on the tests. I remeber I ended up with a C my the first semester (Mechanics). This was my first C ever - I felt bad but compared to the rest of the class it was OK because mostly everyone else got Cs too. From then on I decided that I was going to study twice as hard for the second semester (E&M). In the end I ended up getting a B for the second semester. As for the AP test I ended up getting a 3 in Mechanics and a 4 in E&M. </p>
<p>Dont feel bad that you ate not doing as good as you would want but remember that if you really want to persue a career in engineering don't let physics get in the way.
I at times while taking physics feelt that I was no good at it but this not keep me from want to major in engineering. Besides you are going to have to take physics in college for any engineering major. Since you are taking it in HS it will come much easier to you in college regardless of how well you are doing right now. It is just a matter of motivation. </p>
<p>Some tips so that you could do well in physics:
(1) read the book in advance</p>
<p>(2) take good notes and see how the problems are worked out by the teacher</p>
<p>(3) ask questions </p>
<p>(4) do your homework and dont just do it for the sake of it rather do it for the gaining of knowledge</p>
<p>(5) put time aside for studying - physics is a hard subject and it requires a lot of time in order to understand it</p>
<p>(6)study by reworking out problems and work out some new problems</p>
<p>(7)finally motivate yourself to learnig physics dont let the teacher bore you</p>
<p>Engineering may or may not be for you, but it would be unwise for you to give up preemptively. If you think you might have a shot at it, then try a few real engineering courses in college and see how you do.</p>