A branch of science that requires the highest IQ?

Question

It is hard to say, I know... but is it:
1) mathematics
2) physics
3) chemistry
4) genetics & biology
5) astronomy
6) something else

Or the similiar IQ is required for a good mathematician and a good astronome.

Answer 1

I disagree with your order.

Answer 2

Astronomy/Physics probably.

IQ has shown little difference in performance between people that have learned the subject properly.

Example, just because your IQ is 130 and the person next to you in Calculus has only 100 IQ, doesn't mean you're going to do better than them. Just because they have 100% in the class and you have 80%...this has nothing at all do to with intelligence, but how well you've learned and studied it. Amazingly, it only takes an IQ of some 90 to perform as well as a student of 180 IQ in school.


A higher IQ however, does suggest you will learn the subject much faster and can deal with problems that do not have set methods of solving them much better than people of lower IQ.

Example, going back to calculus and comparing a person with 100 IQ and 130 IQ, if a test problem was not something from the classes studied material it would more likely stump the 100 IQ person, but the 130 IQ person would more likely simply figure it out.

This would apply mostly to astronomy and high level physics (not low level at all, contrary to popular belief a lot of physics is simply a learned subject much like bio or chem).


Either way, it is said after an IQ of 115 the usefullness of IQ in the real world begins to drop off exponentially. Meaning, there is more of a difference in sucess between someone with an IQ of 115 to 130 than from 130-145. The IQ difference between 160-175 is generally accepted to be absolutely meaningless in terms of sucess in the real world; actually, negative correlations begin to form at such a range, which means essentially these people might be less likely to suceed.

Answer 3

I would say astronomy. Astronomy requires huge amounts of physics, which requires huge amounts of math. But physics requires comprehension of a broader set of applications, and astronomy requires understanding of some truly staggering concepts. Of course, a very high IQ is required for great breakthroughs in any field of math or science.

Answer 4

You keep hearing the phrase, "it ain't rocket science". Well Astrophysic is the branch which requires the brightest minds. Any mistakes in outer space can mean loss of the people out there.

Answer 5

Your order is almost exactly what I think, but I would switch biology with astronomy. Astronomy requires some degree of analysis and insight. Biology is mostly just methodology and experimentation.

Answer 6

I would order it like this (highest to lowest, remembering IQ is high verbal, mathematical and spatial mental functions):

Genetics & Biology
Physics
Chemistry
Astronomy
Mathematics

Answer 7

Every branch could benefit from one with a high I.Q. There are unanswered questions in every branch.

Answer 8

i would say physics would definitely test your IQ

then maths

but the rest of subjects is just memory cramming.
no heavy thinking involve. just thinking to remember

Answer 9

NO...Your out of order!
You can't handle the truth

Don't worry about it just get into politics and become president of the USA

Answer 10

every field requires its own IQ

Answer 11

Physics. It crosses many of the other disciplines you mention.