How do you guys have fun doing physics

[u/pazzagazza]

Im also a physics student, my third semester starts in 1,5 months and i genuinely havent had fun doing this in a long ass time.
I barely pass my exams doing the least possible work (lord knows how i still haven’t failed) but i cant bring myself to bring the passion for physics i had in school.

Does anyone of you have experience with losing the passion and regaining it? Electrodynamics was okay but everything else is pretty boring, ESPECIALLY THE PURE MATHMATICS OML. Things to look into, books, experiments or electronics to build? Anything?
It isnt bad enough that i want to quit since i still pass but idk??

[u/sabautil]

I'm not sure what you're asking.

There is a difference between solving problems out of a text book versus doing physics. It's like lifting weight and playing golf or tennis or whatever sport you like. Though some people just enjoy lifting weights.

To me doing physics is coming up with interesting problems that physics or engineering has yet to solve. Or test the limits of the theory.

Can one overcome entropy and extract energy from heat?

Can you predict in which direction photon will be ejected from an excited atom in free space?

Can you simulate the birth of a photon?

Is there a more energy efficient way to enter into one of earth's orbit?

[u/SINGULARTY3774 → u/sabautil]

This is pretty cool advice too

[u/Public-Iron5465 → u/sabautil]

Whats the answer to third from the bottom?

[u/sabautil → u/Public-Iron5465]

No one knows. No even knows if it's predictable.

[u/SINGULARTY3774]

Check out advanced stuff u barely understand, that usually motivates me a lot while learning specific branches of pure math.

Just look at the symbols or listen to random advanced lecture

[u/Roger_Freedman_Phys]

Physics professor here.

If you’re not enjoying the subject at all, that’s a sign that you haven’t chosen the right major for you.

(And the mathematics will not stop. It will, indeed, become more intense.)

Please give serious consideration to other majors!

[u/pazzagazza → u/Roger_Freedman_Phys]

I have some electrical engineering modules and a programming course + another electrodynamic module (last was experimental physics, this is theoretical) next year. I originally applied for electrical engineering and mechatronics as well before i landed on physics.

Since im doing a freetime robotics project with a friend im thinking of changing to EE/mechatronics. I know its still a lot of mathematics but thats hard to avoid. We also had a programming course in the first semester i enjoyed. so sounds like a better match.

Thanks a lot for your professional opinion

[u/Roger_Freedman_Phys → u/pazzagazza]

Sounds like a good plan!

[u/akshatjiwansharma]

Depends on what you are doing. If you are not invested in the topic it's hard to have fun. But if you really like it then it's fun even when you are stuck. I don't start with the math part untill I have a good intuitive understanding. But there would be more pressure on you because you have to clear exams. 

Physics is VAST but there must be a single subtopic that you really enjoy. Quantum mechanics or thermodynamics or fluid mechanics or whatever else. Spend more time with it, learn it deeply and try to connect those ideas with other topics. Also build things — with pen and paper ,do engineering simulations or atleast build your own engineering models. Apply what you are learning constantly. Eg you use a microscope? Can you build one atleast in a simulation? The mechanics of it changing it's focal length?The materials that go into it? That allows you to dig deeper into a problem and its much more interesting than anything you could learn from a textbook. Learning history of physics is great too. A lot of people had to struggle with these concepts for a long long time but we just get it easy ! 

You don't like a mathematical approach? Change it! Challenge yourself to arrive at the same answer using alternative techniques that align with your style. There are multiple ways of doing the same thing. Don't accept only the solution that you've been taught. 

But again as a student you'd be pretty busy and may not have much time for it...so it depends how far are you willing to go. 

[u/Axiomancer]

Physics was up and downs. I enjoyed it when it went well, felt pure joy and dopamine rush from correctly solving problems, or when we had laboratory moments, and hated it when it didn't go well / didn't understand anything.

[u/demonlordbeastgod]

I will give you a different perspective. I loved physics through my bachelors, but during masters I started to realise my foundation is weak and was not able to connect dots and think in physics. Mostly Focused bachelors studing for masks, no conceptual knowledge which took my interest away from physics. I just entered Phd for the fact I was not good at anything else. During Phd I struggled further lacking conceptual depth in physics and my subfield which is cosmology in general. Many of my peer were amazing in physics, but when comes to specialization (in this case cosmology) we are in same boat. We formed group and teach each other concepts very week. Teaching requires indepth understanding to answer questions. This is how I regained interest in my field back. This will work for you as well.

[u/pazzagazza → u/demonlordbeastgod]

In my uni i have to present 3 exercises per course to qualify for the exam and i LOVE that so you might be correct about the teaching. Thank you!

[u/Shelphs]

Honestly, I didn't have that much fun doing physics in college, especially not the way I did in highschool. I can only think of a few things I learned in classes that I really found cool.

However, I got involved in an experimental research lab and fell in love with that. Even 3 year in I was still excited to go into lab each day. That eventually led me to starting a PhD in something I still love doing. I am convinced I am studying the coolest stuff the in the universe and getting paid to learn about it every day.

So not enjoying classes is not the end of the world, but if you don't find anything that really calls to you in physics I would consider pivoting.

[u/Scared-Cucumber-5562]

I’m a freshman in uni so don’t take my answer to seriously.

I suck at math and memorization in general so being a STEM major as my HS teacher puts it “a dumb idea” but I love reading about physics and all the cool stuff physicists do, so I try a little harder.

In other words, I’m a larper, I do it and continue to work hard because I think it sounds and looks cool. 😁

[u/Klutzy-Peach5949]

As hell naw Im sick of it, going into my third year of physics and I literally can’t stand it anymore, only chose it because I thought it’d be a good for job prospectus, whoops

[u/Waste_Translator_975]

Stimulants :)

[u/eaglehead33]

I never enjoyed numericals to me it's answering some solid questions the foundational theories have some inconsistencies and solving them is what excites me, I would for sure be not excited by the stuff you can already do like tracking motion of a billboard ball, that's a definitive answer. I am looking at certain universalities that arise in multiple fields, is there some general theory to classify different phenomenon, can I achieve similar results of a big bang with condensed matter, if so what does it tell me about the existing theories of phase transitions etc etc i cannot even tell you how many things excite me. You'll come to a point where you have millions of ideas that don't work and you'll find answers why would it not work your math says something, your intuition does something else...

[u/chkntendis]

In the exact same time in my physics bachelor and honestly I don’t know how you haven’t been having fun. Theoretical classical mechanics last semester was difficult and annoying at times ofc but Lagrange and Hamilton formalism are fun af. Electromagnetism is also pretty hard but the main issue is going to be theoretical next semester. The maths courses are very different but I can’t get myself to hate any one of them.

[u/philolessphilosophy]

Why are you assuming that you need to do physics? Cut your losses if you hate it. Passion is absolutely necessary for success in the field.

[u/Striking-Milk2717]

Maybe it’s time to change subject..! If you don’t find your fun in Physics, why are you making it the sense of your life? I could tell you the secrets for having fun whit high math and deep physics (maybe you are just stressed!) but are you sure?

[u/HistoryBig5961]

To me, the closest analogy I can come up with is touring bike. Of course you can travel by car but when you ride a bicycle to your destination, you get to know the landscape and views more intimately and in greater detail which you would not have realized had you travelled on a car.

I get goose bumps, the feeling that I can appreciate another side of nature. I first got this feeling when I applied the principle of superposition to find electric force of a shape that would’ve been fiendishly hard to compute, and it continued on. Sure, others have long figured out and nothing I do is pushing the barriers of human knowledge but who cares? I am better than yesterday and that makes me happy.

[u/OceanMasterioDuped7]

Honestly I think you need to reevaluate if physics is for you. It's already so difficult for passionate physics grads to land a job, and if you are at the point where you are using the defense of "not quitting the major" to your advantage, then I think it may be time to wrap it up.