The Physics and Astronomy FAQs
by Joe Heafner

This page was created to provide you with answers to many frequently asked questions (FAQ) regarding physics and astronomy courses. These questions need not specifically apply to courses here at CVCC. If you're not careful, you may also pick up some useful information that applies to similar courses taught at other colleges and universities. Much, but not all, of this information reflects the personal opinions of the faculty here.

Q: Are physics and astronomy courses at CVCC easier than the same courses at four year schools?

A: NO! One popular myth about community colleges is that courses there are easier than the same courses at four year colleges and universities. This is quite unfortunate because here at CVCC, we take this issue very seriously. If you take a physics course here, you'll be learning the same material you'd be learning at any other college. The difference is that at CVCC, you'll have greater access to your instructor and that means you'll have more opputunities for one-on-one contact outside of class. This access is an extremely important part of the learning process and is often neglected at the undergraduate level at four year schools.

Q: What exactly is physics anyway?

A: Physics can be defined in many different ways. Basically, it is the study of the nature of the entire Universe. However, we have to break the Universe into small, manageable chunks to study and even then, we can't realistically hope to cover everything in our courses. Similarly, we can break the entire field of physics into smaller, more manageable chunks and carefully decide which chunks are needed for students in particular areas of study. Students who want to become engineers don't necessarily need the same body of material needed by students who want to become furniture production managers. Physics can benefit both, however. Read on!

Q: "Well, my major is so-and-so and I don't see why I need physics in the first place!"

A: I hear this one many times every year. Usually, my response is that "the people who created your curriculum deemed it necessary for you to learn some physics and that's why you have to take it". Admittedly, this is not a very satisfying answer and I don't like giving it. More than anything else, studying physics will train you to look at the world around you from a totally different perspective. This is an extremely important concept: openmindedness. You will never succeed in any line of work if you can't learn to see things from other points of view. You don't have to agree with the other point of view, you just have to acknowledge that it's there. Among other things, physics will train you to be organized with your thoughts. You'll learn to organize information and data for the purposes of solving problems. You won't start out with any revolutionary problems, but you'll get experience in applying the process. This concept of "process" is not unique to physics or astronomy, but to all science. Many times you'll hear me tell my students, "We really don't care what the final answer to the problem is. We're more concerned with the process you used to arrive at that answer." This is because in science, if your process is correct your answer will most likely be correct too. You can't name a single job or line of work in which you don't have to think about what you're doing. Physics will help you gain that skill.

Q: "I've always been told that physics is hard and that I'll never be able to learn it."

A: Different people have different strengths. Some are good in math and science while others are good in history and sociology. Sociology would be difficult for someone who is not trained to "think" or "see the world" from a sociological point of view. Similarly, physics would be difficult for someone not trained to see the world through scientific eyes. The whole point in taking the course is to TEACH you to see from that new point of view.

Q: "Physics and astronomy involve math, and I'm no good at math."

A: It is true that to effectively apply scientific concepts in the real world, some knowledge of mathematics is required. That does NOT mean, however, that you must be mathematical genius. Look, mathematics is a tool. It is to a scientist what a brush is to a painter or a hammer is to a carpenter. You can never take any science class anywhere and not look at the numerical relationships among quantities we observe and measure. For example, if you know you're driving down the highway at 50 miles/hour and you need to know how far you will travel in 2 hours you simply multiply your speed by the time interval you are concerned with. The answer is 100 miles. Well, believe it or not, this is math! It's fairly common sense math, but it's math nonetheless. Numbers are all around you and to make sense of them, you need some basic math skills. In science, particularly physics, you will learn how to analyze the world quantitatively.

Q: "There are so many formulas and equations to memorize."

A: I get this one a lot too. I actually heard one student define physics as "the science of knowing which formula to choose." This can't be further from the truth! As I stated above, math is just a tool. Equations are simply one way to symbolically state a physical principle or relationship (the other way is the written word). Physics isn't the study of equations and equations aren't unique to physics (they crop up in all disciplines). I maintain that if you understand the concepts and principles involved, the equations will simply help you state these principles and concepts in a form optimal for problem solving. Another way of thinking of it is to realize that equations are just statements written with symbols that represent real, measurable, physical quantities. Don't ever worry about memorizing equations. Concentrate on the physics and you'll be able to remember the equations.

Q: "I understand the theory, but I can't work the problems."

A: I hate to say it, but this statement is garbage! If you find that you can't work problems, then I maintain that you really do not understand the theory. This is not meant to sound rude or offensive, but it is true. The problems are designed to solidify your understanding of the theory. If you find yourself struggling because of weakness in algebra or calculus, that is not a problem with the physics. You should review the math. Remember, you can't build a house without the correct tools and you can't expect to understand physical concepts without the correct tools either. Math is just one of the tools you will need.

Q: Can you guarantee that I'll be able to use everything I learn in physics in my own line of work?

A: In a word: no. The reason is that physics is not an applied science; it is inherently theoretical. Physics encompasses a broad range of concepts, ideas, problems, and solutions. When physics is applied to the study of the cosmos, it becomes astronomy or astrophysics. When physics is applied to day-to-day applications, it becomes engineering. When physics is applied to the study of matter, it becomes chemistry. When physics is applied to the study of the Earth itself, it becomes geology. I cannot guarantee that you'll be able to use EVERYTHING you learn in my classes in your line of work, but you should be able to use SOME of it!

Q: For what jobs or careers will physics be useful?

A: If you are a college transfer student, physics will most likely satisfy a general laboratory science requirement at most any four year school. If you're planning to major in any physical science (physics, chemistry, geology, astronomy, etc.) physics will provide an excellent (and necessary) background. Engineers must also have a solid background in physics because engineering is merely applied physics. Medical schools like to see applicants who major in physics because is means that the applicant has good problem solving skills. For technical and industrial students, physics provides a basic background in science and a chance to understand why certain things work the way they do. For all students, physics provides the opportunity to link qualitative reasoning with quantative reasoning. Most importantly, in my opinion, physics provides you with the perfect opportunity to see the world from an entirely different perspective, one from which no one has ever made you realize exists. In short, physics is potentially useful for any job or career choice.

Q: "I always made A's in high school science, but I got to this class and I'm making C's. Why?"

A: It's not difficult to make it through high school without really applying yourself. I'm not saying that is ALWAYS the case, but some of the time it is. In high school, you probably had teachers watching your every move during the day. You were told when to study, when to write, when to respond to a question, or when to open your book. In college, the burden is entirely on you. YOU decide when to come to class. YOU decide whether or not to do your homework. YOU decide when to respond to a question. YOU decide when to study. This is college, and the atmosphere is entirely different from that of high school. It's not your instructor's responsibility to watch over you and be your caretaker (so to speak). Your instructor's job is to pass along knowledge and to, hopefully, instill in you an attitude that makes you WANT to succeed. Don't be too quick to simply pass your poor (in your eyes) grades on a "bad instructor" because more often than not, this is a cop out on your part. Instead, you should take a look at your attitude toward your work and your reason for being in college. Also, remember that just because you got "all A's" in high school is NEVER a guarantee that you'll perform the same in college. College level work should make you THINK about WHAT you're doing and WHY you're doing it. Any instructor that lets you pass a course without provoking you, making you think about things you've never thought about before, causing you to take a closer look at what someone else says, or simply acknowledging (but not necessarily agreeing with) another point of view is not giving you your money's worth for your education.