<p>I would agree that Mathemtics is the backbone of Engineering. Physics does the same?? I am interested in Mechanical Engineering. I have taken a few advance topics in Classical Mechanics (eg. Coriolis force, rigid body motion, planetary motion etc..) and a few E&M and optics classes which are mainly based on physics theory. I haven't actually started taking many advance Engineering classes. I am not sure how important those physics topic will apply to Engineering classes. Does it help building any skill or should i not waste too mcuh time studying Physics classes and rather choose more application skill in Engineerng??</p>
<p>bump...................................</p>
<p>Physics is absolutely essential to developing a good engineering knowledge foundation. Math is just a tool that we use to facilitate our understanding of the physical properties of the world. Don't skimp on the physics.</p>
<p>Math is NOT related to engineering. Math is also not related to physics much. The challenge of physics is * setting up the problem *. The most difficult part of math are the proofs, probability theory stuff, and some other things. You don't do these things in physics. Most of engineering and physics (even the advanced stuff) is really easy math. Setting up the problem however, can be very difficult. Solving it using mathematical techniques; however, is trivial. A lot of times, when you have complex math computations - you can just use an advanced program to solve them. When you use things like Matlab, mathamatica; you are not doing the math. You're just setting up the problem - the computer is doing the actual computation for you.</p>
<p>Physics is more closely related to engineering but we have to go more in depth to explain it. </p>
<p>Physics II (electricity and magnetism) is very closely related to electrical engineering. Note that you don't study deal with pure studies of electrical phenomena but rather study more of the applied side of it. For example, you'll work with resistors, capacitors, AC and DC circuits - all the applied side of E&M physics. </p>
<p>Physics I stuff (forces, moments of inertia, stress/strain, fluids, basic thermodynamics) is more closely related to mechE and civil engineering. You also use physics I in chemical engineering because you deal with fluids and thermodynamics.</p>
<p>Physical chemistry I is closely related to chemical engineering. You deal a lot w/ thermochemistry, mass transfer, etc...</p>
<p>***Where is the key you ask?</p>
<p>The key is that certain kinds of in-depth classical physics' topics like thermodynamics, stress/strain, fluids, E&M etc... are the backbone to certain kinds of engineering.***</p>
<p>physics is really important cause it teaches critical problem solving skills. after getting through physics you should be able to get through anything imo.</p>
<p>I agree physics is important for engineering as most of the application based on physics theory. However there are also a lot of higher level undergraduate topics in physics that i believe engineering does not reach such as rocket physics, relativity, wave theory etc.. However I think it would be a plus sign if an engineering student know both engineering and advance physics in addition to one year fundemental physics requirement. </p>
<pre><code> But for those who are studying engineering, the physics that you guys are learning are in statics or dynamics approach?? Or they didn't really make any different?? Thank for the reply
</code></pre>
<p>Your 21 and your still yet to switch into engineering? What year are you (fresh., soph., etc..)and what college do you go to? </p>
<p>If you don't mind me asking, that is.</p>
<p>I don't think anything wrong with 21 switching engineering degree. Anyway I am junior year, but my program is 3+2 engineering program where I have to study in liberal art school for science and art three year and then transfer to engineering. So just curious how I will make different by studying more science than ordinary Engineering major. Thank for replying.</p>
<p>ttartee, I think eternity_hope was questioniong your age since most engineering majors require a decision early on. I really can't comment on how studying extra science will or will not help (I'm an entering freshman), but I'm sure it can't hurt ;)!</p>
<p>ttartee,</p>
<p>you wouldn't be a Wesleyan student would you? I do know that Wesleyan is unique in the sense where they have a program where you can earn both a BA in arts and a BS in engineering where you study in Wesleyan for 3 years and spend the last two years in Columbia or Cal-tech and get your engineering degree.</p>
<p>you are right dude, but I am not from Wesleyan. I am a small college in Indiana. I hope after this year, I will be going to bigger school doing great engineering plus science.</p>
<p>yes u need to know physics...but also math...especially stuff like diff. eqns and linear algebra....you use those a lot in engr. they are both equally important IMO</p>
<p>I agree with fei. I'm doing aerospace engineering and I have the majority of my major classes with differential equations and physics 1 as a prereq (most others only require through calculus 2).</p>
<p>I have a feeling that aerospace engineering uses significantly more math than other kinds of engineering.</p>
<p>No more than structural, eternity_hope. Most of what they do is numerical analysis, which is a blend of programming, physics, mechanics, and differential equations/tensor calculus. That's incidentally what I do, too, as a structural engineer. Most engineering requires knowledge of differential equations, linear algebra, and calculus, and that's generally where the math stops. Like I said, math is simply a means to an end when it comes to engineering. The actual comprehension of the ideas of engineering is more related to physics.</p>
<p>eternity almost all of the engr. (except maybe chem, environ, etc.) uses a lot of Math...especially majors like EE and ME would use a lot of math...(ME more of physics too) but EE I hear is mostly differential, lin. algebra etc...</p>
<p>aibarr: I agree...you have know the physics behind the math...Math is just a tool to express the physics part. So basically you need mastery in both to succeed.</p>
<p>Yeah but using math is different from saying "you need to have a mastery over math". Like I said, setting up the problem is more difficult than actually solving it. </p>
<p>Sure, everyone uses math. Even biologists use math. It's the purest science of all. Number crunching isn't trivial and you certainly don't need a "mastery" over math in order to be an excellent engineer.</p>
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yes u need to know physics...but also math...especially stuff like diff. eqns and linear algebra....you use those a lot in engr. they are both equally important IMO
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<p>There are many different kinds of engineers and many of them don't use differential equations that much. Also, you only have to know the basics of linear algebra for many kinds of engineering.</p>
<p>Furthermore, many engineers use Calculus III but calc. III is in essence, a physics course. It's a very applied kind of math and it's nowhere as theoretical as the rest of math. For example, when your taking the triple integral of something, the hardest part is setting up the constraints of that integral - not actually solving the intergral once it's set up. Also, civil engineers and aerospace use calc III more than any other kinds of engineers. </p>
<p>The point is, a "mastery" over math is not required to do well in many kinds of engineering. Also, a "mastery" in only certain kinds of physics topics is essential. Physics is a VAST science. Just because a person sucks at quantum mechanics doesn't really mean anything for his future in engineering. Also, EE's could care less about physics I material and mechE's and chemE's could care less about physics II material (E&M).</p>
<p>Like I said before, certain kinds of in-depth classical physics topics correlate to certain kinds of engineering.</p>
<p>Also, Aibarr: your a graduate student. I have a strong feeling that undergrads in civ. E don't deal with all the math that you deal with.</p>
<p>Note that there are certain areas where in graduate school, where certain fields overlap. For example, if a chemE persues nanotechnology in grad. school, he's going to have to learn more than he would like to about EE stuff.</p>
<p>All the things I said above are mostly of concern to undergraduate engineering majors. When you go really indepth in things (like in grad school), the math tends to become more and more sophisticated.</p>
<p>Well... the only thing I didn't use in undergrad that I use in grad school is tensor calculus. Remember, once upon a year ago, I was an undergrad, too. ;)</p>