is it possible to be a good physicist and suck at math?

Question

I really love physics when it comes to theory: the laws of motion, the priniciples of weight distribution, the speed of light, etc but math is an alien language to me. anyone else like this?

Answer 1

Mathematics is the language in which the laws of physics are expressed. It's like saying you really love poetry but can't express yourself in English; can you be a poet anyway?

And Einstein's self-deprecation aside, he was terrific at math.

Answer 2

Nope. You need a certain agility at math to be successful.

I do share your pain, though. I am also not very good at math, so I can't be a theoretical physicists. I am doing OK with experiment design and the engineering that surrounds much of physics, though. I could also do data analysis, if I had the stamina to work through endless amounts of experimental data. This has less to do with math than with discipline, though. It's not something you want to do if you get bored easily.

But the experimental part is great fun!

Answer 3

Because advanced physics deals with unusual properties that can not be visualized or modeled in our physical worlds, mathematics is the language they used to describe them.

For example, the string theory requires hundreds of dimensions where we have only 3 (or 4 if you include time as the 4th dimension). It is impossible to explain it fully without the use of mathematics.

You won't go much further than college physics if you are not good in math.

Answer 4

on an identical time as the large Bang form is easily popular in cosmology, that's in all threat to be sophisticated sooner or later. Little is extensive-unfold with reference to the earliest moments of the Universe's historic previous. The Penrose-Hawking singularity theorems require the existence of a singularity on the initiating of cosmic time. in spite of the undeniable fact that, those theorems anticipate that regular relativity is right, yet regular relativity might desire to wreck down till now the Universe reaches the Planck temperature, and a proper scientific care of quantum gravity might avert the singularity. some proposals, each and each of which includes untested hypotheses, are: * fashions such simply by fact the Hartle–Hawking no-boundary condition wherein the entire of area-time is finite; the large Bang does symbolize the shrink of time, yet devoid of the will for a singularity. * brane cosmology fashions wherein inflation is as a results of the stream of branes in string theory; the pre-vast bang form; the ekpyrotic form, wherein the large Bang is the effect of a collision between branes; and the cyclic form, a variation of the ekpyrotic form wherein collisions happen periodically. in the latter form, the large Bang grow to be preceded by way of a huge Crunch and the Universe for ever and ever cycles from one technique to the different. * chaotic inflation, wherein nicely-known inflation ends regionally right here and there in a random style, each and each end-factor maximum proper to a bubble universe increasing from its very own vast bang. Proposals in the final 2 categories see the large Bang as an adventure in a a lot larger and older Universe, or multiverse, and not the literal initiating.

Answer 5

They say Einstein was good at physics and bad at math, but since the next big hurdles in physics are quantum mechanics and turbulent flows, I don't think you could even understand the problems without decent maths.

Answer 6

You could always be an experimental physicist. The theoretical physicists get to do all the tricky math. You get to play with expensive equipment.

Answer 7

q answers Einstien wasn't bad at maths he just wasn't exceptional. Exceptional ability is required to prove a lot of Einstiens laws. And to answer your question NO.

Answer 8

same here
im mildly dyslexic so i mess up numbers all the time
but ya i love math theory

the only thing ive found that works foe me is taking my time

Answer 9

physics is the understanding of how nature works mathmatically so i dont think you will get too far if math isnt your strong point. you can try chemistry

Answer 10

its not imposible, but its difficlut whe you get equations like
MEintitial = MEfinal

wha is the final speed?

problems like that are extremely hard if your math is weak.