A Level Physics of Chemistry?
Discussion for A-Level students and for those choosing their A-Level subjects.
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Re: A Level Physics of Chemistry?o.O I took A-level Physics without Maths and the maths was significantly harder than GCSE Maths!(Original post by vedderfan94)
Tbh, the maths in A-level physics is pretty much GCSE maths so I wouldn't really say they complement each other at A-level. But pick physics because it's awesome!
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Re: A Level Physics of Chemistry?Physics is obscenely awesome, and also tenfold easier than Chemistry (provided you have an interest in it. But why wouldn't you?). Only pick Chem if you want to sit and learn off mounds of info, for diminishing returns.
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Re: A Level Physics of Chemistry?You should tell my A-level Physics teacher this. He is being a right fairy and trying to avoid teaching AQA Unit 5C on rotational dynamics, thermodynamics and engines next year. He wants to teach us Unit 5B on medical physics.(Original post by vedderfan94)
Tbh, the maths in A-level physics is pretty much GCSE maths so I wouldn't really say they complement each other at A-level. But pick physics because it's awesome!
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Re: A Level Physics of Chemistry?But you initially mentioned "basic science", and physics is more fundamental than chemistry. Physics could also be applied to that because those sciences (biology, chemistry, geology, medicine, etc) deal with systems that obey the laws of physics.(Original post by navarre)
No. Chemistry is known as the central science, because it is relevant in biology, physics, psychology, geology, medicine, geography...
Read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_central_science -
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Re: A Level Physics of Chemistry?What mathematical methods did you find hard?(Original post by britchick)
o.O I took A-level Physics without Maths and the maths was significantly harder than GCSE Maths! -
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Re: A Level Physics of Chemistry?I got 100% in my GCSE chemistry and i'm struggling to scrape a C at a2, so i'd just suggest taking the one that you have the greatest interest in.
I concur with one of the posters above that a lot of chemistry is just memorising mounts of information. I chose the option of being a lethargic wastrel and not learning it than having it melt my brain -
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Re: A Level Physics of Chemistry?Both are useful, but as others have already said, make sure you consider what your proposed course at university will require before you decide.
Make sure you look at the specifications beforehand, too, as some are harder than others. I did OCR Physics A, but apparently Physics B is more straightforward for most people (same for Chemistry).
Most importantly, don't forget to consider your own strengths! As someone who isn't very good at Maths, I just about struggled through some of the concepts in Physics, but I'm sure I would have found it much easier if I were a Mathematician. Likewise, for Chemistry, if you're not logically-minded, it's probably not for you!
At the end of the day, it's your choice, but if I were you I'd speak to a teacher/form tutor/head of year/anyone to get some advice, as they'll know you much better than I do!
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Re: A Level Physics of Chemistry?As a non-Maths student I found it more difficult to do mechanics at AS/further mechanics at A2, logarithms and natural logs and sin/cos functions and graphs (also Maths students learnt differentiation to help with something here but I have no clue what that even is) to name a few. And just the general ability to practice maths. None of my other subjects even require a calculator so it's a miracle I personally even made it through Physics alive - I got a D at AS and had to do a bunch of resits and work really hard to drag that up to a B and will hopefully get a B overall at A-level come results day - it was definitely the maths that pulled me back. It did become easier with practise but it was quite a rough journey.(Original post by vedderfan94)
What mathematical methods did you find hard? -
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Re: A Level Physics of Chemistry?i echo this.(Original post by cjd2k)
Physics is obscenely awesome, and also tenfold easier than Chemistry (provided you have an interest in it. But why wouldn't you?). Only pick Chem if you want to sit and learn off mounds of info, for diminishing returns. -
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Re: A Level Physics of Chemistry?Did you do additional? Because that would help as well.(Original post by swylde)
So If I get an A in my GCSE Maths I should do Physics you think?
And if doing Physics, you might want to strongly consider maths, if only at AS. You don't need horrendously strong maths for Physics (unless you want to do it for the rest of your life (which you will, if you're cool enough)), but golly does it help. Especially when you can use further maths knowledge for the lols in your exams.
I wish you luck either way. -
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Re: A Level Physics of Chemistry?Did you really?(Original post by boromir9111)
I picked both and enjoyed both equally.
