Chem Vs Phys?

[kendraaaaa]

Unit 3 Chem made me want to kill myself. It was the most boring thing I've ever done in my life. Unit 4 Chem is way more easier and conceptual, and that's the only reason I like it - because I can do it haha.

[QuantumJG]

I beg to differ with a lot of these opinions. Firstly after year 11 chemistry I hated that much that I almost considered dropping it and then I loved year 12 chemistry. Physics does dumb down a lot of the maths, but physics is about understanding the principles rather than the maths (The jump from VCE physics to first year uni physics is huge). Chemistry exams on average are harder than physics exams.

I got a 37 raw for chemistry and a 39 raw for physics and both approximately scaled to the same score.

[IntoTheNewWorld]

Although I strongly feel that VCE physics doesn't test real physics ability and is strongly watered down, it provides a basis (albeit simplified) for understanding the way in which the world works. The course itself isn't hard - you either understand it, or you don't, and if you comprehend the concepts you won't find it hard. However, you've got to realise that most of the people who take physics enjoy the subject - it's not a prerequisite for too many degrees.

I'm only doing 1/2 Chemistry, but 3/4 Chemistry seems quite analytical. I'm not sure why most people find it so difficult, but keep in mind that a lot of people who take Chemistry only study it because it's a prerequisite for the health sciences. This means that you have a lot of people who may not enjoy the subject studying it so that they can pursue specific careers. I know that this happens a lot at my school - there are students attaining 40%s in 1/2 with the intention of undertaking the subject next year because they want to be doctors. This might be why Chemistry's developed a reputation for being "hard" - some of the students who study it don't have an interest and struggle with the concepts. On the other hand, it does seem to require a little more understanding than physics at VCE level...

or VCE Chemistry really is harder than VCE physics >_> I'm sure everything is easy to you.

[appianway]

Hahaha I did look through the 3/4 course in term 3 though. There is a good chance that VCE Chemistry is considered harder by most people than physics, but there are also people who just can't click with the physical concepts. I just think that it's important to remember that when you're asking questions about Chemistry vs Physics, you're going to get a biased response seeing as a lot of people studying Chemistry don't have a passion in the subject. I'd say that a higher percentage of people taking physics are genuinely interested in it when compared to chemistry.

And SmRandomAzn, if only I found everything easy... *crosses fingers for English Language tomorrow*

[hihi001]

Physics sucks balls. It isn't interesting and the topics are stupid. For example, you are taught about light, first you are told why it is a wave, then the next exercise says that it isn't a wave but instead a particle. Then the next exercise says, it isn't either, instead it is both. So you have sat down for a week and a bit being told contradictions. Chemistry is much harder in year 12, but I prefer it over physics any day of the week, that is why I don't wanna do a Bach of Science course.

[kurrymuncher]

Physics sucks balls. It isn't interesting and the topics are stupid. For example, you are taught about light, first you are told why it is a wave, then the next exercise says that it isn't a wave but instead a particle. Then the next exercise says, it isn't either, instead it is both. So you have sat down for a week and a bit being told contradictions. Chemistry is much harder in year 12, but I prefer it over physics any day of the week, that is why I don't wanna do a Bach of Science course.

What the fuck? you're getting angry because you cant be bothered learning new concepts. So what if light is a wave and particle, thats what makes physics so interesting. Pull your fucking head in.

[appianway]

Are you serious? I was just basing my observations on the people I see at my school who all want to be doctors (and hence take chemistry), but perhaps it's different elsewhere.

But wouldn't making bombs relate more to chemistry? Unless, of course, they're talking about nuclear weapons... >.<

[/0]

Hehe bomb calorimetry has nothing on nuclear physics

[IntoTheNewWorld]

There was this physics teacher going on about how much better physics is because physicists can make nuclear bombs and chemists make sissy weak bombs...or something

[kenhung123]

hahaha lol

[Edmund]

For Physics 3/4 you could easily get away with knowing how to plug numbers into the right formula. There is not much explaining of concepts required in the exams. Students usually prepare 'model' explanations for certain concepts and copy off their cheatsheets. That's how easy Year 12 Physics can get.

I certainly found Chemistry 3/4 much more harder (new syllabus) probably because of biochem stuff and due to the fact that you can't go into the exam just knowing n=m/M and expecting to be able to any stoichiometry questions. Here, concepts play an important role in understanding what the questions ask.

[kenhung123]

I am so worried about chem

[Over9000]

Well we all know maths owns sciences but FOR A SCIENCE, physics is better, not saying its awesome but its better than chem. Chem is gay, its so stupid, an atom and some fukn shitty electrons comprise the whole damn course gaygay. We learn about some boring ass equipment, stupid ass pracs that are so uninteresting that no one int the class really tries. At least in physics, the experiments are half decent, do physics if anything.

[d0minicz]

chem is shit cause im shit at it zzz

[NE2000]

Although I strongly feel that VCE physics doesn't test real physics ability and is strongly watered down, it provides a basis (albeit simplified) for understanding the way in which the world works. The course itself isn't hard - you either understand it, or you don't, and if you comprehend the concepts you won't find it hard. However, you've got to realise that most of the people who take physics enjoy the subject - it's not a prerequisite for too many degrees.

I'm only doing 1/2 Chemistry, but 3/4 Chemistry seems quite analytical. I'm not sure why most people find it so difficult, but keep in mind that a lot of people who take Chemistry only study it because it's a prerequisite for the health sciences. This means that you have a lot of people who may not enjoy the subject studying it so that they can pursue specific careers. I know that this happens a lot at my school - there are students attaining 40%s in 1/2 with the intention of undertaking the subject next year because they want to be doctors. This might be why Chemistry's developed a reputation for being "hard" - some of the students who study it don't have an interest and struggle with the concepts. On the other hand, it does seem to require a little more understanding than physics at VCE level...

appian don't you think you're being a bit harsh on your classmates? I don't think the reason chem is considered harder has anything to do with it being a prereq for health sciences. I think if they really want to become doctors they'll work hard and do well anyway because there's a reason it's a prereq.

I think chem is harder than VCE physics basically because of the structure of the two courses. Physics skims the surface, and doesn't really try to go that deep, and while chem doesn't go that deep either I personally just find chem exams more fun than physics exams. Like in unit 3 where you look at the spectroscopy and try and deduce the structure. I found extra ones on the internet they were pretty fun to do. I think that if you like chemistry, and enjoy it, and you reckon you can put the effort in for units 3+4, you'll find it to be perhaps a more solid earner in VCE than physics. Because you can cement your concepts in physics - but that's not that difficult to do, and most people can do it. As shown by the A+ cutoff for this year's physics midyear, there's a lot more chance at play in determining your physics study score that goes beyond your knowledge.

At the end it's a personal choice. As some people have noted, don't assume success in 1/2 translates to 3/4. But do consider that you have set a strong foundation for yourself and if you keep working then you may indeed do very well at VCE chem. And it also depends on whether you want an easy subject, an interesting subject, or a solid study-score earner.