Which course to take - chemistry or physics?

[Rhythmdvl]

Hi folks…

Here is the situation… I have a degree in Economics and Philosophy, and a minor in Environmental Science from Columbia University. Though the science minor included a significant amount of field and coursework in biology and geology (and a semester at the Biosphere II!) I was never able to fit a year of either chemistry or physics into my schedule. (Remember, it was just a minor in the filed, not a major.)

I had dropped out of high school before taking either physics or chemistry, so I had to cover a lot of background on my own to make it through my coursework. I now have a limited understanding of chemistry and sparse knowledge of classical physics (in taking a course in the philosophy of quantum mechanics, I spent a few hours each week in office hours learning the basics of qm. But beyond that, I can't tell you much more than how to calculate mu or when to use Plank's law). However, I do not know enough to truly understand what is going on in the Loop of Henley or why CO2 absorbs infrared radiation but not ultraviolet.

So now that I am working in the 'real' world, I'd like to take some courses at the local community college. Unfortunately, because of my schedule, I will only be able to take a course or two before going on to grad school. (What that will be is a topic for another thread :)). My question is - what do I take?. Do I take a couple of semesters of Chemistry? Two of Physics? One of each? Which should I (or, rather, which would you) take first? I know it is a personal choice, but that has never stopped anyone here from giving opinions. Any physics or chem majors wan to duke it out and sway me to your side? Any thoughts you may have will be truly appreciated.


Thank you for listening,

Rhythmdvl

Oh, and my apologies, [b]Manhattan[/b,] if this is in the wrong forum. It is kind of mundane and personal, but it is also a question. Coin flip landed it here.

[bibliophage]

If you don't need the college credit, you may not need to take any course. Just get a good book (or a few) and start reading.

Two excellent physics books that do not use calculus are Understanding Physics by Isaac Asimov (usually available from Barnes and Noble) and Einstein's Theory of Relativity by Max Born (published by Dover Publications). Despite the title of the latter, more than half the book is a lucid introduction to classical physics (mechanics and electrodynamics), and less than half deals with relativity. Both books are more qualitative than quantitative. For calculus-based physics, there are any number of good textbooks available. The public library and used-book stores are good sources.

As for chemistry, I never knew how interesting and exciting it could be until I started studying it on my own after one year of it in high school and another in college. Chemistry teachers seem to have a knack for making a fascinating subject seem dull and lifeless. I could probably say the same for physics teachers if I hadn't discovered how fascinating physics was early on.

[avalongod]

I wish I had been as lucky with professors as Biblio! I personally found Physics more interesting...but perhaps that reflects my personal bent toward astrophysics.

[Harmonious Discord]

I would go for physics first, chemistry second, though both help you understand the world around you much better.

[WillGolfForFood]

You mentioned that you were planning on going to grad school, but not what you'd be studying there. My opinion of whether Physics or Chemistry would be more useful to you would probably depend on what you were going to study in Grad school.

[Chronos]

You mentioned an interest in environmental science in the OP, and I suspect that chemistry might be more relevant there... By the same token, however, the courses you took in ES might have already given you a certain working knowledge of basic chem, and you'd like to try something different. What field are you planning on going in to? If it's not something particularly related to chemistry or physics, then I would recommend going with one of each, for the well-rounded approach. Just so you know where I'm coming from here, I'm a physicist-in-training, myself.

[chief]

physics.

The reason I like it is that it has much more application in real life problems and situations, at least what i've observed.

[Yeah]

Chemistry.

It has much more application in everyday life, IMHO.

[Satchmo]

The topic line reminded me of what my High School Guidance Counselor used to tell kids that wanted to know why they needed to take science courses in high school if they were going to 'repeat' them in college anyway.
"When you get to college, you'll find out that:

Biology is really Chemistry.

Chemistry is really Physics.

Physics is really Math.

Math is really hard.


My apologies, as I know this doesn't answer the OP, but as I say, I was reminded and wanted to share. I guess if your Math background is right up there, (like through Diff. Eq.), I'd still recommend 2 semesters of physics or maybe one each, again depending on what you're going to do in Grad school.

[usfrae]

As a microbio major, I enjoyed and scored higher in chemistry. Physics is good for people who are spatially orientated and are good at math. Physics teaches us the mechanics of what is going on around us, teeter-totters, falling objects, friction, electronics etc. Chemistry is good for people who always ask "why". Chemistry gives you an in depth knowledge everyday chemical reactions, why soap works, how acids behave, why do things dissolve. I found myself saying "wow, I never knew that's why..." many times in chemistry, and "who cares how strong the spring is" in physics. I'd say, go for the chemistry!

[Fillet]

Hey, Rhythmdvl, did you do Earth Camp, too?

I'm with WillGolfForFood and Chronos - it really depends on what you want to do in grad school. If you're going further in enviro sci, 2 semesters of general chem might be better for you. If you have broader earth science interests, though, or if you want to get into enviro sci with a groundwater hydrology bent, you'll need both (and if at all possible, take general physics with calculus, not algebra).

Tell us more!