Why is it important for the average person to study physics?

Question

Is it important?

Answer 1

As a physics grad, I don't believe it is necessary for the average person to study physics. But a little bit of physics can help make the average life more effective and, perhaps, less costly. I'll give you an example:

I know of a person who wanted to shell out $40 to buy a "miracle product" that would speed up thawing frozen meat. I pointed out that the bottom of any good heat conducting fry pan could do the same job; and no additional investment would be necessary because the person already had the fry pan.

How did I know the fry pan would do the job...physics. I knew that heat conduction was a prerequisite for a good fry pan...the same kind of heat conduction the "miracle product" had. Thermodynamics, a branch of physics, paid off in saving $40 and still being able to thaw out meat.

So did that person need to study physics...no, but it might have saved her $40 had she learned a bit about conductivity.

Answer 2

From physics, math, literature, etc., they all give you a breadth of knowledge that makes you a better person. If you never plan on being in an accident, why have an airbag in the car? No one knows what is exactly required out of life, so we prepare the best we can through education. Is it important? Absolutely.

Answer 3

IMHO - yes.

Physics studies things like velocity, drag, etc.. Physics makes practical use of things like algebra and calculus. Physics is one of the few subjects that takes everything else you've studied and brings it together into something practical.

For example, if your driving from LA to SF, going 65MPH and it's 500 miles distance, how long will it take you get there? That is a physics problem.

Like all courses, you start with basics and work to harder stuff.

If you can't tell, I loved physics when I took in college, one of the few classes I aced. It all made perfect sense to me.

Answer 4

If you want to understand the universe you are living in then yes it is important. If you don't care then I'm sure you will go on living just fine like all of the other animals on the planet.