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September 27, 2025, 05:29:10 am

Author Topic: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry  (Read 49002 times)  Share 

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Ballerina

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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #60 on: February 23, 2014, 01:00:49 pm »
0

Although, I'm painfully aware of the fact that all biologists constantly struggle with their inadequacy as they watch chemists do real science.

u w0t m8????

vox nihili

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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #61 on: February 23, 2014, 01:52:05 pm »
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u w0t m8????

As someone who is hopeless at Chemistry and Physics, and will probably end up working in Biol, I've decided that I can say that ;)
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Ballerina

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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #62 on: February 23, 2014, 01:58:26 pm »
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As someone who is hopeless at Chemistry and Physics, and will probably end up working in Biol, I've decided that I can say that ;)

I almost feel this is permissible, the way I'm half-Asian ergo can and will make an endless supply of azn jokes, but no. NO. ALL MY NOS.

vox nihili

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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #63 on: February 23, 2014, 02:59:27 pm »
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I almost feel this is permissible, the way I'm half-Asian ergo can and will make an endless supply of azn jokes, but no. NO. ALL MY NOS.

Haha I have a mate who's Filo, who I swear says "fucking Asians" at least once a day.

It was a bit of self bashing though really. Chemistry feels more sciencey, as does Physics to me
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Einstein

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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #64 on: February 23, 2014, 03:41:42 pm »
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defs chem, physics... well I've had 3 lessons so far and i think pi can explain more ;)
« Last Edit: February 23, 2014, 09:27:29 pm by Einstein »

walkec

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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #65 on: February 23, 2014, 07:29:48 pm »
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Biology <3
I did Unit 1 of Chem and hated it.
Didn't do physics.

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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #66 on: February 23, 2014, 07:32:39 pm »
+5
Biology <3
I did Unit 1 of Chem and hated it.
Didn't do physics.

I did Unit 1/2 Physics and hated it.
I'm doing Unit 1 of Chem and it's sooo bohring! 
Spoiler
^^Get the joke!!^^ "...bohring" XD
Biology is testing my attention span. Never have I devoted this much time to a subject in my life.

ealam2

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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #67 on: February 23, 2014, 08:50:13 pm »
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I did Unit 1/2 Physics and hated it.
I'm doing Unit 1 of Chem and it's sooo bohring! 
Spoiler
^^Get the joke!!^^ "...bohring" XD
Biology is testing my attention span. Never have I devoted this much time to a subject in my life.

Haha, chem jokes....  ;D

charmanderp

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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #68 on: February 23, 2014, 09:10:26 pm »
+6
University of Melbourne - Bachelor of Arts majoring in English, Economics and International Studies (2013 onwards)

grannysmith

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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #69 on: February 24, 2014, 03:38:11 pm »
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It'd be a toss up between Biology and Chemistry... hmm... Physics is just annoying.

Hokiksyo-min

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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #70 on: February 24, 2014, 07:29:26 pm »
+1
Chemistry > Biology >>>>>>>>> Physics

just never clicked with me...
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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #71 on: February 25, 2014, 07:32:17 pm »
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It'd be a toss up between Biology and Chemistry... hmm... Physics is just annoying.

I think physics is taught in a way that makes it seem very annoying. In high school they concentrate too much on classical mechanics (motion, vectors, etc.) which is very dry and annoying.
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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #72 on: February 25, 2014, 08:11:42 pm »
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Hmm, in terms of VCE subjects, I liked VCE Physics the most, followed by VCE Chemistry and then VCE Biology. This was due to having a really awesome Physics teacher though, so I think it's perfectly fine to dislike VCE Physics for its curriculum.

At Uni, I've done all three subjects again (but in differing amounts this time). I found Uni Chemistry the most enjoyable of my first-year units, followed by Uni Physics and then Uni Biology. However, I can say that the Physiology units I took (which are a subset of Biology) have really been up there in terms of enjoyment. So I guess Uni gives you the chance to look at more specific areas of these broad "sciences", and allow you to engage with the bits you enjoy! I've just finished reading my unit guide for Physical Chemistry, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Now, I'd say that the key trait amongst all of science is always being curious, and following your curiosity, seeing where it takes you, and what you can learn in the process. As you can probably tell, I really enjoy science, the idea of science, and the possibilities of science. To me, it's really amazing that because of the curiosity, determination, logic and creativity of some of the 'past greats', we can enjoy such a high standard of living and technology today. Every time I watch a documentary on a discovery, I want to stand up and applaud. To approach life with a mentality of always learning, always striving to understand the world around us is admirable to me. At this point, you may think I'm utterly mad, but that's just why I'm attracted to science, and I hope for some of you, this is what attracts you to science too :) .

To get back on topic though, in "real life", I have to say that I like Physics the most, followed by Chemistry and then Biology. Why? Firstly because I also really like maths, and Physics seems to involve a lot of cool maths, even if it's utterly mind-crushing at times. Secondly, I find that the questions in Physics are the "big questions", more "universal" than those found in Chemistry and Physics. Physics to me, encompasses everything in scale from the absolute quantum to the scale of the universe (or universes!) themselves. How did everything begin? How will it all end, if it does? What keeps things going? What explains the most basic of all phenomena in the world? Why is the Sun so bright? Why is the sky blue? What is sound? What is light? Why don't people on the opposite side of the Earth fall off? How does spinning a cricket ball cause it to turn when it hits the pitch? How can an object that is overall heavier than air fly? Questions such as these, which I'm sure we've all asked as a child, are what attracts me to physics, just as similar questions in Chemistry and Biology (and Psychology, Geology, Sociology, and even Economics etc.) are what attract me to them.

To summarise, I guess the "universality" of Physics is why I shall always love it as a discipline over the other sciences. I really like "universal" concepts (which probably also explains why I really like Maths as well), so my favourite topics in Biology are probably genetics and evolution, which apply to practically every single cell and group of organisms that exist. Likewise, in Chemistry, I love the study of atomic orbitals, the kinetics, thermodynamics and equilibria that exist in every reaction, stereochemistry, stimulated emission, and things like that. As you can see, most of these are physical chemistry topics, which probably explains why I like them.

But yeah, I guess that's just my (usual convoluted) way of expressing how I feel about sciences in general.

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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #73 on: February 27, 2014, 05:46:24 pm »
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Haha I have a mate who's Filo, who I swear says "fucking Asians" at least once a day.

It was a bit of self bashing though really. Chemistry feels more sciencey, as does Physics to me

Describing a subject as a harder science because it 'feels more sciencey' is the antithesis of science's spirit. I think we tend to qualify the  softness of a science by how easily we can quantify it, but unfortunately those who study what some may regard as the ultimate science (mathematicians) will tell you that numbers lie. Though I do enjoy that the studying of chemistry and physics appears more entangled with what science should be; analysis and problem-solving. The rote learning in biology is an outdated mechanism. Studying a field is separate to the field itself however.

I think the hardness of a science is mainly determined via the scientist. I would trust in the objectivity and rigor of an independent (and presumably impoverished) neuropsychologist, over a chemical engineer who works with pharmaceutical lobbyists.


vox nihili

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Re: Which do you prefer physics, biology, or chemistry
« Reply #74 on: February 27, 2014, 08:18:20 pm »
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Describing a subject as a harder science because it 'feels more sciencey' is the antithesis of science's spirit. I think we tend to qualify the  softness of a science by how easily we can quantify it, but unfortunately those who study what some may regard as the ultimate science (mathematicians) will tell you that numbers lie. Though I do enjoy that the studying of chemistry and physics appears more entangled with what science should be; analysis and problem-solving. The rote learning in biology is an outdated mechanism. Studying a field is separate to the field itself however.

I think the hardness of a science is mainly determined via the scientist. I would trust in the objectivity and rigor of an independent (and presumably impoverished) neuropsychologist, over a chemical engineer who works with pharmaceutical lobbyists.

I don't think it's the antithesis of science's spirit at all. Though, I can't say I disagree with you on anything else you've said there. Obviously my comments were general and aimed more at being entertaining that any analysis.

Whilst I love biology, and it is by far my favourite science, it isn't as sciency at all. To me there are certain things that "good science" do, and you've actually made all those points above so I don't need to explain that anymore.

Though this is beautiful:
Quote
I think the hardness of a science is mainly determined via the scientist. I would trust in the objectivity and rigor of an independent (and presumably impoverished) neuropsychologist, over a chemical engineer who works with pharmaceutical lobbyists.
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