The subject of physics presents a challenge to most students. What is the incentive for taking a class rumored to be very difficult that is not required to complete high school?

Some students who want three years of science need the class to enter a medical program or just like to challenge themselves. However, most people fail to realize how difficult the class is and therefore often drop it before the semester ends.

?I chose to take physics this year because, for the different college options, it seemed like it might be helpful to have on my high school records just in case,? Luke DeGroot, ’09, said. ?The hardest part is comprehending the information. I would encourage students to take the class only if they really want to be challenged intellectually.?

Physics can often be applied to everyday life. The simple tasks throughout the day ? such as going up an elevator or throwing a ball ? deal with physics-applied acceleration and velocity.

When a person swings a bucket full of water in a circle, what keeps the water from falling out? Certain forces that act upon that object keep the water in. Physics explains why things happen the way that they do on the planet.

?Physics is relative to everything and it gives sense to so much in this world,? David McEntee, physics teacher, said. ?You don’t think about it, but the more technology we engage in, the more we run into physics. Driving a car or home electronics are all things we use today because of science.?

A 10-year-old and a major league baseball player compete to see who can hit the ball farther. Obviously, the major league player will win ? but why? The more force acted upon the ball the further it will travel. Because the baseball player is bigger and stronger, his body puts more force on the ball than the 10-year-old. Therefore, he will hit the ball much farther.

Although the subject of science includes physics, often students consider it more like a math class. The concept is scientific, but the problems that arise require higher levels of mathematics such as trigonometry or calculus.

?The level of math required to get into physics in any depth makes it complicated,? McEntee said. ?You have to have experience with calculus to really understand it completely. Although, in high school you can get by with having taken trigonometry and algebra.

“Overall, the high school level has a pretty good understanding of concepts, which are tougher to grasp. Good math students seem to understand the problems because they’re rational.?

For some, the math seems easy compared to understanding the concepts and vocabulary, such as inertia or friction.

?I’m not sure if I want to take physics next year or not,? Paige Powell, ’10, said. ?I know that it’s probably better to have three years of science for college, but I don’t really want to take the class. Science is one of my worst subjects and physics doesn’t go through my head very clearly. It’s hard for me to understand.?

Although the math can daunt prospective students, senior Scott Thao appreciates the course as an umbrella subject of science and for its experiment-focused approach to learning.

“Physics actually encompasses all aspects of science,” Thao said. “This fact alone has ‘bribed’ me into taking this class. What I love most about physics, though, is that the diverse experiments we are given teach us vital information we would otherwise have to memorize.”

Despite the difficulty of the class and the high drop rates, students often feel like they learned a lot and overall enjoyed the experience once the year ends.

?Physics is a lot more involved and hands-on than other sciences,? Jason Herron, ’09, said. ?Last year we got to do a lot of experiments and see what happens for ourselves. Students drop it because it’s not what they expect: It’s mostly a math class. However, if you’re wiling to put in the extra work, it’s very rewarding in the end.?