How much Maths is involved in a Physics degree?

Question

If you weren't amazing at Maths but loved Physics, can you still do well in say an Astrophysics or Physics with Astronomy Degree?

Answer 1

My husband is working on a B.S. in Physics and he has to have

1) Calculus 1 & 2
2) Multivarible Calculus
3) Differential Equations
4) Linear Algebra and Matrices

If you love physics, you will eventually have to learn the math. The sooner you do it, the better prepared you will be.

Answer 2

Astronomy is boring, learning where stars are and comets and the like. Astrophysics is much more interesting, because its about how the universe actually works.

It requires a lot of maths, probably just as much maths as a maths degree.

Answer 3

Sorry, no. Here's the absolute minimum:

You need three semesters of calculus (up through multi-variable calc)
You need differential equations.
You need linear algebra (usually packaged with some other specific skills in a math for physicists course).
You almost certainly need some sort of scientific computing class.

For some subfields, you'll need a few more math courses.

If you don't like math, just about every physics course you take in college (including the astronomy ones) will be miserable for you.

Suggestion: if you like physical sciences but not math, consider geology. You won't have NO math, but it's much less mathy and more qualitative than physics or chemistry. They don't call it "rocks for jocks" for no reason.

Answer 4

Beyond the most elementary level, physics IS mathematics. If you are not mathematically minded, you cannot be a physicist. The same goes for most branches of engineering. My physics degree was essentially three years of progressively more advanced mathematics. My Masters in electronic engineering was yet more maths. At doctoral level, it was little else…

Answer 5

Physics is 95% maths and if you haven't done A level maths then forget it unless you can learn it as you go along. You will need to get Core Mathematics to start with:

Bostock, L. and Chandler, S. (2000). Core Maths for Advanced Level 3rd edition. Cheltenham: Stanley Thornes.
ISBN: 0748755098

Then you will also need:

Stroud, K.A. and Booth, D. (2001). Engineering Mathematics 5th edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
ISBN: 0333919394

hope this helps.

Answer 6

If you don't do well in math, stay out of the hard sciences altogether. The language of the hard sciences is math; if you can't speak or write the language, you will not find any of the sciences easy...sorry.

Astrophysics and astronomy are full of high-level, complex mathematics like: perturbation equations, tensors, matrices, partial differential equations, probability and statistics, and on and on. All the hard sciences and many other disciplines, like economics, operations analysis, and engineering, use very complex math as major tools of the trade.

Answer 7

A lot of maths is involved in Physics!!

Answer 8

you certainly don't have to be one of the worlds leading mathematicians to major in physics.

but you do need to understand calculus and it's inverse, differential equations. and of course, you will have to take electives in higher level math such as linear algebra, statistics, etc.

To do research in physics, you will need a Ph D. the better you are at math, the easier it will be. but again, being good at math doesn't mean you have to be one of the top experts. study hard and get help when needed.

Answer 9

Loads, I'm afraid. I'm in the same boat, love astrophysics and cosmology - hate maths.

Answer 10

Probably not. Math is the language of physics. It's essential.