What is it about Maths and Physics that scares people?

OP

girl afraid

I'm dyscalculic. 'nuff said.

If I said I was unable to read/ write would that be as acceptable?

Reply 22

F1 fanatic

Im also not sure that physics is a "harder" degree than something like classics or law.

What one person finds hard another person may find easy. I will say that a law degree isn't as hard as law students make out. Some parts of physics are notoriously difficult.

Reply 23

tritogeneia1

1

F1 fanatic

If I said I was unable to read/ write would that be as acceptable?

I expect it would be if you said you were dyslexic - being dyscalculic is kind of the 'maths equivalent' to dyslexia, I believe, though girl afraid would know more about it; I guess I'm trying to say it's more than just saying 'oh, I'm rubbish at maths' even if you're reasonably good at it.

Reply 24

OP

NDGAARONDI

What one person finds hard another person may find easy. I will say that a law degree isn't as hard as law students make out. Some parts of physics are notoriously difficult.

its not that bad really. Not easy certainly... but its doable I reckon :smile:

and yes maybe I was a little harsh in the previous post, but it is a commonly used excuse that, oh I cant do maths, and to just dismiss it like that.

Reply 25

I failed 'AS' level maths but got a grade 'B' in 'A' level physics. Make that of what you will. :wink:

Reply 26

OP

NDGAARONDI

I failed 'AS' level maths but got a grade 'B' in 'A' level physics. Make that of what you will. :wink:

I assume you are saying maths is harder than physics. But when done properly they are in effect one and the same thing. Physics is the application of mathematics, mathematics is the tool of physics.

Reply 27

It's only harder for me. :smile:

Reply 28

Fluent in Lies

2

Never heard of people being 'scared' before but I imagine it is just because it seen as a very challenging subject and that perhaps the presence of advanced physics and mathematical ideas in our everday world aren't as obvious - and hence are new and 'scary' - as perhaps other fields.

Reply 29

Perhaps it's like symbols, equations etc used. Would like to show some people who find physics 'scary' some of my advanced meteorology books on cloud physics. :biggrin:

Reply 30

AlphaNumeric

10

NDGAARONDI

I failed 'AS' level maths but got a grade 'B' in 'A' level physics. Make that of what you will. :wink:

That's because they removed almost all the maths from A Level physics to make it accessible to people not doing maths.

I'm a Cambridge maths student (4th year) and people get so spooked out by that that I've been talking to someone in a club, they ask what I do, I tell them and they'll stop talking to me. Despite being in the same club as them and getting along before that, suddenly the revelation I do maths makes me a freak.

Telling someone 'I've applied to do a PhD in string theory' doesn't help much either :p:

Reply 31

WokSz

17

F1 fanatic

I'm intrigued... why is there a general consensus that maths and physics is scary, why when you say you do physics or maths or whatever, do you get looks as if to say I'm completely insane/ from another planet?

For example... I was being introduced to some friends of friends, who should know better doing Classics, and when I said I did physics the look on their face was as if I'd just said I was an axe murderer... almost of disgust.

Why does maths seem to have this reputation and produce this effect, and yet other subjects, also rather daunting, like classics, law, English... don't...

All thoughts greatfully received, because I find it somewhat annoying and would like an explanation.

You answered your own question. Physicists are from another planet haha. Just joking - I don't know, I guess because it seems so boring and difficult at GCSE standard that most people drop out.

Reply 32

tritogeneia1

1

Ummm, I hate to be pedantic, but they're physicists, not physicians (who are medics, fully qualified that is). Of course sometimes you have to wonder if they are from another planet, lol.

Reply 33

Poica

14

F1 fanatic

The point is it all depends where a persons talent lies. Mine lies with maths (I'm rubbish with essays and stuff). Others have a talent for essays and find that easy, yet we scientists accept and respect the Artists. It doesnt seem to be reciprocated as much back the other way.

I'd disagree with that statement 100%. Arts type students get very little respect from Scientists - we're seen as doing "easy" subjects with very few hours. I have a lot of respect for any scientists, it's just I couldn't imagine doing the work that they do...my talents lie in writing, not in the sciences. Maths and Physics frighten people because it's incomprehensible to people who aren't studying it. I can describe my work to you and you will be able to follow what I'm talking about. Maths and Physics use a specialised vocabulary that you can't understand unless you're a maths or physics student - in that way you're kind of sectioned off from other people.
Incidentally, just because we have few hours doesn't mean arts students don't work. I do just as much work as my scientist friends, I just do it in my own time, reading for hours in the library rather than sat in a lecture hall.

Reply 34

Fluent in Lies

2

I respect people studying things like english a lot. Just because I can't write at all. It seems very easy to do reasonably in the sciences; just learn a few facts and you can get along ok but the arts seem to require more of an innate skill or talent.

Reply 35

OP

Poica

I'd disagree with that statement 100%. Arts type students get very little respect from Scientists - we're seen as doing "easy" subjects with very few hours. I have a lot of respect for any scientists, it's just I couldn't imagine doing the work that they do...my talents lie in writing, not in the sciences. Maths and Physics frighten people because it's incomprehensible to people who aren't studying it. I can describe my work to you and you will be able to follow what I'm talking about. Maths and Physics use a specialised vocabulary that you can't understand unless you're a maths or physics student - in that way you're kind of sectioned off from other people.
Incidentally, just because we have few hours doesn't mean arts students don't work. I do just as much work as my scientist friends, I just do it in my own time, reading for hours in the library rather than sat in a lecture hall.

I agree with you, what you say is exactly how it should be. Mutual respect between the disciplines. I don't consider an Arts subject... a proper one like English or History or whatever to be easy, not in the slightest. I have a great deal of respect for those that write essays and I feel it should be reciprocated, as you say you do. Thing is though, when you say you do *arts subject* you don't get a situation similar to Alphanumeric describes.

I've had exactly the same thing as him. People just stop talking to you, purely because I do physics, it seems rather unfair and judgemental. My degree does not define who I am, so why should I be judged negatively because of it?

I also agree that a lot of work is required for an arts degree, all respected degrees are hard, there is no getting away from that fact.

Reply 36

Fluent in Lies

2

F1 fanatic

My degree does not define who I am

Perhaps not completely, but I think it is fair to say that people take their degree in something that they enjoy and that suits them.

Reply 37

OP