INTJs and Physics

[bubbles]

I noticed on the other thread "What science do you like?", a lot of INTJs voted physics. So I was wondering, what do you like about physics? How does it appeal to an INTJ's mind? Do you only like the conceptual stuff (like demos and experiments) or the math?

[thod]

Physics is always a favorite subject on internet fora. It offers a chance for psuedo intellectuals to demonstrate their profound knowldege of the universe and its workings.

They love to rattle on about black holes and quantum theory. Never will you see any equations come from them, only some conclusions they read some place. They have never studied physics at all. As a subject it isnt about drawing conclusions about big subjects. Its about esoteric branchs of applied mathematics. I cant comment on string theory because when I tried to understand the maths I couldnt make sense of it. I can comment on quantum theory because I sat numerous courses on it at university. Yet most of the conclusions I have are the interpretations of other men.

[Cookabara]

thod, once upon a time it was maths that was developed to model the physical world (think Newton). Later Einstein made sense of the Lorenz transformations, ie the maths was leading and the understanding of the physical world was lagging.
Too old for the string theory, doesn't get me excited.
What really fascinates me is the Uncertainty Principle, not so much its significance for understanding the microcosm, more the paradox in it.

[ssfanatic]

I like that there are the same basic principals, but yer soooo many posibilities. Plus physics leads to many new discoveries, and what INTJ doesnt want to be credited with that! ;)

[Zilal]

I like it because it speaks to the basic mysteries of the universe. Also, it's an elegant science, unlike, say, biology, which is pretty messy.

[Ace1337]

I like it because it's applied mathematics. It's interesting that I've got an A in Physics and a C in mathematics :D
I only learn the things in mathematics which I can apply to something. And one more thing I like about physics is that you can get to the solution in so many ways, that's why I love computer programming too.

[blueeyedsusan]

Physics is understanding to the minute detail. It is INTJ to the max. Plain and simple.

[ssfanatic]

I like it because it's applied mathematics. It's interesting that I've got an A in Physics and a C in mathematics :D
I only learn the things in mathematics which I can apply to something. And one more thing I like about physics is that you can get to the solution in so many ways, that's why I love computer programming too.
I havent even taken physics yet and i can have an educated dicussion with the physics teacher (which i do frequently). Its just like a natural longing.

[Angothoron]

Physics, Mechanics especially (The Statics portion) is a draw because with that looks like only a tiny amount of information, like 2 angles and a vector, you can unravel a insane amount of information (Moments, Potentially hundreds of other Force Vectors, Distances, Angles ect.). Even better is that you can turn that knowledge around and make something that you know will work ahead of time.

In Optics, Electrostatics, and other disciplines the draw is in the relatively simple experiments showing the amazing predictive power of the theory.

[Gabrielle]

I like Physics because it's like a puzzle. No more, no less :)

[AgentofGaming]

Any of you know Maxwell's equations?
The set of 4 equations that describe all electromagnetic phenomena.

Well... at least that's how mystical the professors make them sound like in my Electromagnetic Fields class.
The poor foundations in Multivariable & Vector Calculus that the University gave us really make this course a bit hard.

[phoenix]

Any of you know Maxwell's equations?
The set of 4 equations that describe all electromagnetic phenomena.

Well... at least that's how mystical the professors make them sound like in my Electromagnetic Fields class.
The poor foundations in Multivariable & Vector Calculus that the University gave us really make this course a bit hard.


I know them! Or rather, just like any good scientist, I know precisely where they are in my books from grad school should I ever have need of them. 10 years after finishing E-Mag, the details become a bit sketchy.

Alternatively, I could go pull out my APS (American Physical Society) t-shirt that says:
"And God said:"
(insert Maxwell's equations here)
"and there was light!"

I love that shirt. That one and my "Don't drink and derive" shirt....

[AgentofGaming]

I know them! Or rather, just like any good scientist, I know precisely where they are in my books from grad school should I ever have need of them. 10 years after finishing E-Mag, the details become a bit sketchy.

Well I'm an engineer and a computer engineer at that, so I don't particularly enjoy the complexities of using vector calculus.



Alternatively, I could go pull out my APS (American Physical Society) t-shirt that says:
"And God said:"
(insert Maxwell's equations here)
"and there was light!"

I love that shirt. That one and my "Don't drink and derive" shirt.... That's a nice one... oh the differential calculus.

Integral Calculus hurts my mind, actually solving differential equations by hand does far more.

[safetypin00]

I like it for all the reasons stated above. It seems so magical, and yet, at the same time, so clean and mathematical. Like someone said, it seems so open to possibilities and yet so defined in laws and equations. At least I guess from my perspective, since I'm studying neuroscience. I love reading about cosmology, but I know my heart is in neuro.

[burazekun]

Now, I am not going to bother with reading other posts in this thread till after my answer is made.

I beleive that the reaon many INTJ's would appreciate physic's or even chemistry is because the dirrect results of any physical or chemical reaction is visually noticable at some level we would have at hand based on the experiement.

Physics is also a defined rule which allowed us to build even bigger or more unconventional theories.

I remember taking both Physic's and Chemistry through highschool and reading up on several books on quantum theory, ignoring the mathimatical equations and listening in on the arguements that were made.

I have to say that Physic's as a science comes to me as a physical equation that I never needed a math equation to demonstrate to myself where the apple would land if it fell down from a tree and a light breeze was sweeping in from the west. This alone allows me to look past the physical relations and into the deeper more complex ideas behind it.

My arguement being. I beleive that people relate to Physic's based on the fact that they see it first.

[Antares]

Well, I'm a Freshmen in High School, so it would make sense that I wouldn't be too adept at the subject, but when I first took Physics in Gr. 8 science, I knew that it's just my subject. I seem to be doing quite well when others were failing under the scrutiny of my teacher, who was very strict. This year, I took Physics for one trimester and I'm in Chem right now. I'd have to say that I did much better in Physics, and I enjoyed it immensely. Even things as apparently dull as periodic and simple harmonic motion were fascinating to me while everyone couldn't wait to get out of Physics. I started reading more into Physics by myself and I can say that it was very captivating.

It may take someone like me (with very elementary training in Physics) a long time to chew books such as A Brief History of Time, but in the end, it was all worth it, especially the part where Hawking describes the unfortunate man who falls into a black hole and how the singularity would only lie in his future. While his theories might not be true, it was amazing how his imagination reached the end of the universe and beyond. When I closed the book, I was thinking: "Wow." (Probably because my imagination just went wild also) It opened my eyes to other areas of science, such as Cosmology and Astrophysics and gave me a whole new understanding of our universe. Heck. I don't even mind the math and all the equations. It's just the sheer beauty of Physics that leaves me mesmerized.

I like it because it's applied mathematics. It's interesting that I've got an A in Physics and a C in mathematics :D
I only learn the things in mathematics which I can apply to something. And one more thing I like about physics is that you can get to the solution in so many ways, that's why I love computer programming too.

Haha. I'm doing none too well in math, but not acing Physics is something I'd be ashamed of.

[AgentofGaming]

I have to say that Physic's as a science comes to me as a physical equation that I never needed a math equation to demonstrate to myself where the apple would land if it fell down from a tree and a light breeze was sweeping in from the west. This alone allows me to look past the physical relations and into the deeper more complex ideas behind it.

My arguement being. I beleive that people relate to Physic's based on the fact that they see it first.
Consider the case of classical mechanics:
The math is there to abstract the physical world into data. It's not there to describe the physical concepts. The equations of classical mechanics, are at best approximations of the natural phenomena. Example: If you wanted used g=9.81 alone, it wouldn't be accurate for a mountain due to variations in altitude.

Well then again you could be right. An Italian mathematician wrote to Einstein telling him he made errors in his math.

Also know that there are limitations in humans doing math. Those who've ever tried to integrate a complicated function or solve a non-homogeneous differential equation will know that.

Electromagnetic Field is a branch of physics that involves a lot of vector and multivariable calculus:
Here's a little sample of math hell. Try solving the off-axis field due to a uniform ring of charge (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) and you'll know what I mean (sorry for the messy writing).
There's crazy integrals that I doubt any human being using standard algebra and calculus could solve.
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[Octavianus Caesar]

I like that there are the same basic principals, but yer soooo many posibilities. Plus physics leads to many new discoveries, and what INTJ doesnt want to be credited with that! ;)

Physics is like history, there is alot to learn and alot to put your rubber stamp on and when you are done, there is still more to learn.

[burazekun]

Consider the case of classical mechanics:
The math is there to abstract the physical world into data. It's not there to describe the physical concepts. The equations of classical mechanics, are at best approximations of the natural phenomena. Example: If you wanted used g=9.81 alone, it wouldn't be accurate for a mountain due to variations in altitude.

Well then again you could be right. An Italian mathematician wrote to Einstein telling him he made errors in his math.

Also know that there are limitations in humans doing math. Those who've ever tried to integrate a complicated function or solve a non-homogeneous differential equation will know that.

Electromagnetic Field is a branch of physics that involves a lot of vector and multivariable calculus:
Here's a little sample of math hell. Try solving the off-axis field due to a uniform ring of charge (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) and you'll know what I mean (sorry for the messy writing).
There's crazy integrals that I doubt any human being using standard algebra and calculus could solve.

Any physical equation is first made with observation. Simplistic numbers, become more complex with each individual addition. Breaking down the physic's is sometimes essential to make a appropriate observation.

To add to this, math then becomes a tool to explain, and write about the observation, bringing reliable data to proove and provide a means for replication of the observation.

[lachezar88]

This is immensely interesting topic. I could say that INTJs like physics because there is an application of the theory in practice. That is quite attractive for INTJs(we like theory too much :D). The most important is that we use simple math and some well-known constants and we can predict everything.For example if we know the angle, the initial velocity, we are able to say the exact position where the subject(point mass) will fall. We use little more difficult math we could make prediction for electrons, photons, etc.(Quantum theory) Isn't that fascinating?

[thegnat]

Physics is very interesting. It's probably what I'd do if I weren't a chemistry major (I still like my chem better though hehe). Though intro physics is boring as heck. My quantum mechanics class is faar more interesting. And we're applying it to spectroscopy so it has a use for me. The differential/integral calculus necessary is a pain, but once it's done it's sooooo nice.

lachezar88: The problem with the simple algebra-based math is that it's highly unrealistic. You have to get into at least a little calculus even for classical physics. Which is why my intro physics class bores me - it's algebra based and now we're going to do algebra-based quantum when I've been doing advanced calculus for it in quant for weeks...sleepy time for me in physics class!

Octanavius Caesar: Physics has logic in it though...so it's not like history where it's just straight memorization IMO...

AgentOfGaming: I know all four of maxwell's equations. And I understand your pain with integral calculus.

phoenix: Nice shirts!

[E148]

I like Chemistry and Math. I can take or leave Physics. I mean in so far as solving Phyics problems. I do like ot know about the universe both big and small.

So, what do I do? I am in Electronics-- basically applied Phyics. I have a AS Mathematics and almost a BS Mathematics.

I also have software degrees -- basically applied Mathematics. I have been trying to get into software for years now, but I do not think it will happen.


I believe that most things in life are a puzzle, something to be figured out. Finding the truth wherever that may lead.

This is what I like.

[Gabrielle]

AgentofGaming: I understand your pain, because I remember sitting in class for E/M and saw all the integral signs and thought "this is beyond my comprehension". I'm in Quant/Rel at the moment and for Quant I thought about committing bloody murder... then I realized that I had Mathematica and I can have that solve my homework for me. Then came the exam time and I was screwed...

but Physics is a puzzle. :D I like puzzles.

[Nausved]

I don't much care for physics. I don't know why. It has always felt kind of pointless to me, unless I'm building something. I also don't care much for basic chemistry. The answers seem too straightforward.

I generally don't take much joy in subjects that a computer could do. The more creative side of my mind balks at the very thought.

I strongly prefer the "messy" sciences, particularly biochemistry, cellular biology, ecosystem ecology, and genetics/evolution. These subjects have drastically altered my everyday world view; they color everything I see. And they're so much fun to study, because results are so frequently unexpected. It's great to work backwards and try to figure out why my predictions were wrong. It feels so...scientific! It feels like I'm actually getting somewhere.

[Antares]

Nausved: Maybe some of us just want to know about different things ;) Me, for one, I like to know about the universe; how it started, what happens in Black Holes, parallel universes, E=mc2 etc.

[Nausved]

Nausved: Maybe some of us just want to know about different things ;) Me, for one, I like to know about the universe; how it started, what happens in Black Holes, parallel universes, E=mc2 etc.

Astrophysics is a very messy science! I must agree with you on that—black holes and the rest are quite exciting. (Not as exciting as DNA, though, hehe. ;) )

[Antares]

Astrophysics is a very messy science! I must agree with you on that—black holes and the rest are quite exciting. (Not as exciting as DNA, though, hehe. ;) )

Pfffffft Black Hole is forever out of our realm of complete understanding. DNA is not. :laugh:

[AirmanINTJ]

I really can't say why I love physics, I just do. I am thinking about becoming a high school physics teacher once I am done with the Air Force.

[thegnat]

I don't much care for physics. I don't know why. It has always felt kind of pointless to me, unless I'm building something. I also don't care much for basic chemistry. The answers seem too straightforward.

I generally don't take much joy in subjects that a computer could do. The more creative side of my mind balks at the very thought.

I strongly prefer the "messy" sciences, particularly biochemistry, cellular biology, ecosystem ecology, and genetics/evolution. These subjects have drastically altered my everyday world view; they color everything I see. And they're so much fun to study, because results are so frequently unexpected. It's great to work backwards and try to figure out why my predictions were wrong. It feels so...scientific! It feels like I'm actually getting somewhere.

Chemistry straightforward? Chemistry is a beautiful puzzle to solve. It's involved in everything. It's involved in your biochem, cell biology, ecosystem ecology, genetics/evolution. You're basing your opinion on basic chemistry which of course will seem dull. It's a chemistry major's initiation. But then after orgo you get into more complex 'answers' so to speak and methods and logic....and unexpected answers too....and my world view has changed. I see chemistry in *everything* and am just more and more curious about the world. It's awesome.

Chemical physics is also fun. I enjoy chemical physics much more than basic physics. *INTRO* level physics seems dull. I think I'd prefer upper level physics. It's that little side scientific interest I have though.

[gogurtdynasty]

It's all so seemingly chaotic but sticks to repetititve patterns AND is full of paradoxes?

Pffft! It's way more exciting than american idol

plus I think gravity is just too darn interesting<3

[nightengale]

wow.

I hate physics. I never went to class because it was so boring and only showed up for tests and labs. And I really dislike math in general. with a passion. I enjoyed geometry and I liked biology, but science and math aren't really my thing. I'm more into English, Philosophy, and Pyschology.

Apparently, I'm among the few INTJs who don't love science.

[Minerva]

Many of the INTJs I have met love Physics and Math and Engineering too!

[AresX9]

High School Physics from my experience is dull compared to what I've been reading:
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It's my first ever non-fiction book, and I must say, my jaw has been removed. If this isn't my calling, then I don't know what is. This book has opened a door that I cannot close, and it has exposed me to many topics that I need to research on my own in order to fully understand what's going on.

But live on, E= ±mc² !

[Minerva]

High School Physics from my experience is dull compared to what I've been reading:
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It's my first ever non-fiction book, and I must say, my jaw has been removed. If this isn't my calling, then I don't know what is. This book has opened a door that I cannot close, and it has exposed me to many topics that I need to research on my own in order to fully understand what's going on.

But live on, E= ±mc² !

Actually, I was thinking about college level physics and math. My brother was quite bored with high school physics too. He ended up in Engineering.

[lordrrr]

It's all so seemingly chaotic but sticks to repetititve patterns AND is full of paradoxes?

Pffft! It's way more exciting than american idol

plus I think gravity is just too darn interesting<3

Exactly! Who wants to hear a bunch of bad singing and annoying political correctness when you've got gravity?

[Phaedrus]

Physics is great. I'm better at chemistry, but physics is better.

Biology is just really complicated chemistry. Chemistry is just really complicated physics. So...it's all physics. A basic understanding of physics is almost equal to a basic understanding of everything in science. And that's a lot.

[Myrak]

Deep down I want to be really interested in physics/chem, but the Year 11/12 courses offered are unbelievably soporific. Not to mention the workload is huge.

Later down the track I'll probably get more into it, but right now I think I made the right choice of not doing either of Chem or Physics for Year 12. Way too much work for very minimal gain.

[marcclarke]

Any of you know Maxwell's equations?
The set of 4 equations that describe all electromagnetic phenomena.

Well... at least that's how mystical the professors make them sound like in my Electromagnetic Fields class.
The poor foundations in Multivariable & Vector Calculus that the University gave us really make this course a bit hard.

Maxwell's equations DO describe all elecromagnetic phenomena, in just four equations. No other branch of science or applied science (engineering) can make such a claim. That is why Maxwell's equations are so cool. I even have my tee shirt with Maxwell's equations from EE grad school.

[airshiplogic]

I don't really mind physics. The mathematics often take a faster time to solve than long essays required by biology and sometimes chemistry.

[Monte314]

In some ways, certain areas of physics are beginning to lose their way. Under particular stress of fracturing are the theories of the very large (cosmological) and the very small (string).

We have once again reached a moment in the history of physical science at which we have multiple competing theories in diverse areas that can only be resolved by appeal to experiment. In the past, we have broken through these barriers by developing better instruments and more refined techniques.

However, a heretofore unexperienced challenge now presents itself: we have pressed some theoretical constructs so close to the edge of what is observable *in principle* that it isn't clear that definitive experiments are even possible. That is, we might have reached the point at which God might actually be "hiding the dice".

[foroneonly]

I've always despised physics. It just seemed so dry and tedious. I felt the same about calculus. It may have been because when I took it my learning style was to simply memorize equations and not learn the technical basis behind it. I loved biology, chem, ochem, anatomy ect though.

[Moriarty]

Pfffffft Black Hole is forever out of our realm of complete understanding. DNA is not. :laugh:

Never say never! Granted, finding an expendable type to go into one and take samples might be difficult and even counterproductive. ;D

Agree on the DNA tho. Absolutely agree.

[BlackNight]

Well I'm an engineer and a computer engineer at that, so I don't particularly enjoy the complexities of using vector calculus.


That's a nice one... oh the differential calculus.

Integral Calculus hurts my mind, actually solving differential equations by hand does far more.

Hey Agent, what are the opportunities in doing computer engineering.Are there any major downfalls?I have done accountancy for the last ten years straight out of school and am now looking at studing computer engineering.I wanted to do some thing which I could use to open up my own buisness.You can't open a busisness with computer programming, but possbly more so with computer engineerning.You opion would be appreciated.Blacknight.

[zoophilia]

i think it appeals to more left-brained/deterministic individuals. the thing i like about physics is that it seems like the most comprehensive way to understand the world.

Physics is always a favorite subject on internet fora. It offers a chance for psuedo intellectuals to demonstrate their profound knowldege of the universe and its workings.

I would agree for the most part but many of those individuals seem to lack formal understanding because of circumstantial factors rather than inherenet lack of capability.

[ssrprotege]

I would agree for the most part but many of those individuals seem to lack formal understanding because of circumstantial factors rather than inherent lack of capability.

I agree. For my case it was boring teachers, one of which has a nickname "a walking sleeping pill."

Even though my preference on subjects is heavily affected, I still liked physics. At some point, I just feel I don't like physics much because I like (and am better at) chemistry more. But for INTJ's physics is indeed appealing because it's the subject that really gives you 'a general picture' of the Universe.

Ironically, I think my interest in physics grew as I was preparing for the big exam s that I just finished today. Relativity is hard to grasp, but it's certainly fascinating; we also learn that "a black hole sucks everything" is a misconception; Olbers's paradox suggests that the night sky should be bright!
Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle is one of my best. :)

Physics can be counter-intuitive; hence, a person with strong Ni is likely to enjoy its counter-intuitivity. Whether I will further study physics in university I am not sure; but it's interesting, really.

[Marcus]

I love the models in physics. When I grasp a model intuitively, I feel real understanding. Also I like their predictive power.

Areas I liked the best: electricity, gas theory, atom physics. Models models and more models. :)

I have had very good (ENTP) physics teachers both in elementary and high schools.

I have learned to hate physics at the university when we had an F type teacher (what the hell she was doing there?).

I agree that modern physics sucks. Where's the data to fit the model?

[demaugustus]

I'm not personally flattered by physics, it was just too easy in high school, so it never kept my interest.

My dad, on the other hand, an INTX, got a degree in physics from MIT and a PHD.

He specializes in Astrophysics.

[Ool]

I don’t particularly like physics. I just prefer not to bump into things, particularly at harmful and fatal velocities…

I do get geekgasms thinking about space elevators, (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) though, and you need a fair amount of physics for that…

[Mozzes]

I'm not personally flattered by physics, it was just too easy in high school, so it never kept my interest.

Introductory anything is easy. If I had that sort of attitude I doubt I would've made it past my first year in college.

[Rei]

I like the physical aspect of physics... redundant isn't it?

I like how everything can be visualized, and how events that you see can be explained... simple as that.

Likewise, it's why I dislike parts of physical chemistry...

Introductory anything is easy. If I had that sort of attitude I doubt I would've made it past my first year in college.

I completely agree with that. First year university was torture, but I trudged through it and life is getting sweeter every year...

[demaugustus]

Introductory anything is easy. If I had that sort of attitude I doubt I would've made it past my first year in college.

Yeah, you're right...It was easy because it was introductory, but mostly I was rebelling against my dad...I eventually did/doing Anthropology instead. I suppose I feel that the formulas and calculations for physics will always be the same, but culture is always fluid and ever changing, keeping me confused and amused.

Not to say physics can't be fluid and ever changing in one form or another beyond my (our) comprehension.

[beverly penn]

I think physics was my first love.

[Ool]

I think physics was my first love.

Mine too. And I still have the vacuum pump hickeys to prove it…

[scifi1]

I like physics because it explains how the world works and why many undetectable things happen. I also like the possibilities the universe can hold (which are explained in theories) and the fact that it is related to calculus is a bonus.

[MysString]

Theoretical physics is the most interesting entity that I have ever encountered. To be able to understand(or at least attempt to understand) things that are seemingly so far beyond (or under) our scope... it's purely amazing.

I'm in school now, and I hope to come to understand the mathematical concepts, in time. I am uber excited for calculus next semester. ;D

[Vathir]

Speaking about black holes...

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This little thing called the Large Hadron Collider will be capable of creating very small black holes maintaining their form for a fraction of a second, among other things...

[Megalomania]

I'm more of a chemistry/biology person than physics. I find what physics I've had so far to be extremely boring. I do enjoy physics as it applies to time and space though. I read a brief history of time and it was interesting, nothing like the physics I had learned in school.

[MysString]

I'm more of a chemistry/biology person than physics. I find what physics I've had so far to be extremely boring. I do enjoy physics as it applies to time and space though. I read a brief history of time and it was interesting, nothing like the physics I had learned in school.

Yeah, Stephen Hawking's book is more based on astro- and quantum physics rather than classical physics.

When I first read A Brief History of Time, I was taking an Astronomy class, and the first several chapters of the book pretty much exactly described what I had just previously learned in Astronomy. I got quite bored and put the book down. It wasn't until much later that I actually finished the book and was angry at myself for delaying my reading of such awesome-ness!

[Megalomania]

I'm actually reading the elegant universe right now. It's pretty good so far.

[Monte314]

I spent my first two years in college as a Physics major, but I found it to be too imprecise and switched to mathematics.

[Kisai]

I prefer engineering to hard physics. Hard physics puts me to sleep. Building and designing nifty things and having them actually work fills me with ecstacy.

[True Rune]

Physics isn't really my thing, at least the way I had to learn it. In a crammed time period at a fast pace very early in the morning. I liked the labs though. I will take it again in the fall, hopefully later in the day where I can learn it better, I'm usually good at things like this so I won't give a conclusive answer till October/November.

[Monte314]

Try solving the off-axis field due to a uniform ring of charge (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.) and you'll know what I mean (sorry for the messy writing).
There's crazy integrals that I doubt any human being using standard algebra and calculus could solve.
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I have worked on the off-axis problem, and it is quite difficult.

As to attacking complicated integrations: Even though Isaac Newton had the calculus available, in his Principia he still performed a number of tricky volume integrations using purely geometrical methods, because these techniques were well known. Further, calculus was initially quite controversial... Bishop Berkely, the British empiricist, wrote a treatise criticisizing Newton's use of infinitesimals (his criticism was valid, by the way) as being nonsensical.

I once wrote a calculus II final examination with a typo in it that presented the students with an integration that has no closed-form solution. Of course, no one was able to do it (since it couldn't be done), so I had to DOCK ALL OF THEM! Ha! Ha! Ha! Except for one kid who wrote on his paper, "Can this actually be done?" I gave him half credit....

(note: since I was grading on the curve, this didn't affect anyone's grade)

[MysString]

I once wrote a calculus II final examination with a typo in it that presented the students with an integration that has no closed-form solution. Of course, no one was able to do it (since it couldn't be done), so I had to DOCK ALL OF THEM! Ha! Ha! Ha! Except for one kid who wrote on his paper, "Can this actually be done?" I gave him half credit....

Seriously? That's kind of mean...

[Tabemashoo]

Even though I hate Math, I love Physics immensely. It might be the fact that it's applied mathematics (wow! there was actually a use for all this shit after all!), or the fact that you can just get deeper, and deeper, and deeper, and just start understanding how everything works around you. I really don't know what it was for me, just that it was my favorite subject in High School.

[pinkroger]

I always liked the conceptual part of physics, because it explains the world on a level that none of the other sciences can. It explains the entire universe at once, not just the way a frog works, which is terribly trivial in comparison.

[JessicaHavenLea]

Love the theoretical. Hate the mathematical. I can't help it. The universe is too fun a toy to not play with. I derive great pleasure from tinkering with the time/space continuum :p

[Tulula]

To me, physics is all about energy and how it pertains to infinity and beyond -- it is the essence of this universe -- it is what makes every single thing work -- and the day we figure it all out, will be the end of the world as we know it -- physics is simply God's magic!

[Anderson]

I always enjoyed physics. In high school that was the easiest science course for me. I suppose it's because physics, like math, is more conceptual and less rote memory like in biology/chemistry. Even in college, I thought physics was interesting--at least its more useful than chemistry. Redox equations=gag.

Another thing I found interesting about physics, is that it always seems to be taught by professors who seem to have some passion about what they teach, unlike dull calculus/math professors---no offense, Monte! Just my experience.