Chem 3/4 or physics 3/4

[Dkontro]

I'm currently doing both Chem 1/2 and physics 1/2. I was originally set on doing physcis as a 3/4 but I am really struggling in it and exceeding in Chemistry. What is the jump like from Chem 1/2 to 3/4. Sorry if this is the wrong place to be posting this

Thanks

[keltingmeith]

Do you have any plans for after VCE?
What do you like about chemistry/hate about physics?
What level of maths are you doing?

[Dkontro]

Do you have any plans for after VCE?
What do you like about chemistry/hate about physics?
What level of maths are you doing?

Doing well in Methods at the moment. Thought I would like Physics more since it is math related. From someone who has done Chem 1/2 and 3/4, I want to know what the jump is like as the general consensus is that Chem is a lot harder than physics

[keltingmeith]

Doing well in Methods at the moment. Thought I would like Physics more since it is math related. From someone who has done Chem 1/2 and 3/4, I want to know what the jump is like as the general consensus is that Chem is a lot harder than physics

See, the reason I asked these questions is so that you'd answer them - that way I could answer your questions more appropriately.

If you wanted to go into a civil engineering course, I would not suggest dropping physics even for a second. But if you wanted to go into medicine, I would immediately say drop physics for chemistry.

If what you enjoyed/were doing well with in chem was ionic bonding, but struggled with the mole, well you'd find the jump a lot more difficult to cope with than if you were breezing with the mole. However, if the part of physics you were struggling with is astronomy, very little-to-none of that is done in 3/4, so I would suggest that physics might get better for you.

Your question is not as easy as you think it is, more information is needed to give you a good/appropriate response.


A lot of people do say that chem is a lot harder than physics, but there's a lot of varying reasons for that, and they all depend on the person. I myself found all chemistry I've done a LOT easier than any physics work I've ever done.

[dankfrank420]

In my opinion, physics is far easier than chem.

There's less content and the calculations are less involved. It's basically interpreting a question and subbing stuff into a formula, with the theory rote-learned or chucked onto a notes sheet for the end of year exam.

If you have to do one, I'd choose physics over chem.

[Dkontro]

See, the reason I asked these questions is so that you'd answer them - that way I could answer your questions more appropriately.

If you wanted to go into a civil engineering course, I would not suggest dropping physics even for a second. But if you wanted to go into medicine, I would immediately say drop physics for chemistry.

If what you enjoyed/were doing well with in chem was ionic bonding, but struggled with the mole, well you'd find the jump a lot more difficult to cope with than if you were breezing with the mole. However, if the part of physics you were struggling with is astronomy, very little-to-none of that is done in 3/4, so I would suggest that physics might get better for you.

Your question is not as easy as you think it is, more information is needed to give you a good/appropriate response.


A lot of people do say that chem is a lot harder than physics, but there's a lot of varying reasons for that, and they all depend on the person. I myself found all chemistry I've done a LOT easier than any physics work I've ever done.

Thanks a lot for the detailed response. I found the mole concept difficult to understand at first but I completely fine with it now. Currently averaging 90's in chem and 60's in physics. Too early in the year to make the call but i'm a bit worried

[Kel9901]

I'm currently doing both Chem 1/2 and physics 1/2. I was originally set on doing physcis as a 3/4 but I am really struggling in it and exceeding in Chemistry. What is the jump like from Chem 1/2 to 3/4. Sorry if this is the wrong place to be posting this

Thanks

they are both fairly small jumps between 1/2 and 3/4 TBH, though from my personal experience chem was bigger.

In my opinion, chem and physics are about equal difficulty and are really similar in style. people on this forum bash physics hard because of the cheat sheet, but honestly you hardly even need a cheat sheet (I walked in to the exam without a cheat sheet ) if you thoroughly learn all the concepts involved (you don't need to memorise explanations because you can actually explain them). Chem might not have as many calculations as physics, but it still has many 'if you get the answer right you get full marks' questions like equation writing, naming/drawing carbon stuff etc.

what aspects with physics are you struggling with?

[lzxnl]

they are both fairly small jumps between 1/2 and 3/4 TBH, though from my personal experience chem was bigger.

In my opinion, chem and physics are about equal difficulty and are really similar in style. people on this forum bash physics hard because of the cheat sheet, but honestly you hardly even need a cheat sheet (I walked in to the exam without a cheat sheet ) if you thoroughly learn all the concepts involved (you don't need to memorise explanations because you can actually explain them). Chem might not have as many calculations as physics, but it still has many 'if you get the answer right you get full marks' questions like equation writing, naming/drawing carbon stuff etc.

what aspects with physics are you struggling with?

You've just demonstrated why we bash the cheat sheet. You can do the course perfectly fine WITHOUT a cheat sheet; why on earth does the exam need one? The course has LESS content compared to 2012, but more time to study for it (no more mid years to study for, can focus on more coursework). There is too much rote learning of equations and question styles and not enough actual physical insight. VCE physics doesn't, for instance, address why a person in uniform circular motion feels as if they're being push outwards when they're clearly not. Nor does it provide an accurate explanation for the stability of atoms (the Bohr theory of the atom, mentioned in VCE physics, does not work for anything above the hydrogen atom, which is something I fee students should be aware of at least).

The gripe lots of people have with physics is actually its repetitive nature and lack of substance. Lots of the course follows the form 'know this for the exam, know that for the exam, this is too hard for you'. VCE physics is far too watered down that most students previously enthusiastic about physics, like myself, become quite disappointed. Add to that the ridiculousness of not making maths a co-requisite for physics (I dare you to do first year uni physics without spesh) and the course becomes almost patronising at times.

Anyway, enough physics-bashing. Physics at uni is actually quite enjoyable, especially after you get through first year physics which can be a bit dry.
If you had a choice between physics and chemistry, then everything else being equal, I'd say go with chemistry. Chemistry is more necessary for uni requirements. Physics is only really needed for physics and engineering students; chem is needed for chem and all health science majors (health science is in a significant part applied chemistry). As EulerFan mentions, we need to know what you want to do later on in life first.