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physics/astrophysics?

  • 24-12-2009 1:35am
    #1
    TEMPLAR KNIGHT
    Closed Accounts Posts: 961 ✭✭✭


    hi everyone i am currently on a year out ( i just did my leaving in 2009) and im deciding what i should put down on my CAO in secondary i loved physics and got a B1 in honours (i left out most of mechanics for the leaving) but im not great at maths i did pass and got an A2 i could have done honours but im not sure i would have did well anyway my question is if i go on to do physics or astrophysics in college( i love space and astronomy) is there a lot of maths involved? and the maths that is involved is it very difficult? thanks in advance!


Comments

  • #2
    Vergast
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26 ✭Vergast


    Hey templar!

    Now physics courses by their very nature will contain a fair bit of maths unfortunately, much more so that any other of the physical sciences. Although a lot of a physics degree is experiment and grasping ideas, maths is the language that is used to explain the concepts and make predictions . Astrophysics and physics are thought very similar for the first two years or so, and their level of maths is about the same throughout.

    As for the difficulty, in comparason to a leaving cert level it isnt easy, but they dont just throw you in at the deep end. You start off in first year at a leaving cert level or below and they teach you the maths thats needed as you go through your degree.

    Physics and astrophysics are amazing subjects and if you have the interest, you will easily get over any quibbles you have with maths with a bit of work. Going into first year with doing pass maths will only mean you wont be as familar with some of the concepts, such as integration, but there is so much resources in college for maths this isnt really as big a deal as you'd think. Its all about the interest, once you have that and with a bit of effort the rest falls into place,

    Merry Christmas!


  • #3
    Helix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    any reading material anyone could recommend for learning a bit about the maths stuff yourself? ive already gotten quantum physics for dummies, which although it assumes you know nothing at all about physics, it does assume you know a little about maths - and it being 10 years since i did my leaving, im a little ropey. something that i could use as a reference point for differential equations would be pretty sweet (i know i could find it out on the web, but thats not really conductive to a decent book session imo)


  • #4
    Vergast
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26 ✭Vergast


    Well, one of the best differential equations book that starts out from the near the beginning is Boice and Diprima's http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elementary-Differential-Equations-Boundary-Architect/dp/0471433381 . A very good dip in book for differential equations, something that comes up loads in physics! And I know what you mean about a good book, so much easier to study from!

    I cant vouch for any of the 'for dummies' books when it comes to physics or maths, but ive heard soem good things!


  • #5
    Helix
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    Vergast wrote: »
    Well, one of the best differential equations book that starts out from the near the beginning is Boice and Diprima's http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elementary-Differential-Equations-Boundary-Architect/dp/0471433381 . A very good dip in book for differential equations, something that comes up loads in physics! And I know what you mean about a good book, so much easier to study from!

    I cant vouch for any of the 'for dummies' books when it comes to physics or maths, but ive heard soem good things!

    cheers for that!


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