ATAR Notes: Forum

Uni Stuff => Engineering => Faculties => Chemical => Topic started by: alisoneom on April 16, 2018, 10:37:43 pm

Title: Should I be choosing Chemical Engineering if I don't like Physics?
Post by: alisoneom on April 16, 2018, 10:37:43 pm
(The title sums up everything, really.)

I'm in Year 12 and studying chemistry as my only science, but I'm really enjoying it so I am considering pursuing a career in it! I've done some research and according to the UNSW website, physics is a "recommended unit of study" for chem engineering and it takes up a large part of the course - which seems problematic for me because I don't really like physics.

So to reiterate my question, should I look for alternative courses if I don't enjoy physics? Is physics an essential part of chem engineering?
Title: Re: Should I be choosing Chemical Engineering if I don't like Physics?
Post by: owidjaja on April 16, 2018, 10:52:56 pm
(The title sums up everything, really.)

I'm in Year 12 and studying chemistry as my only science, but I'm really enjoying it so I am considering pursuing a career in it! I've done some research and according to the UNSW website, physics is a "recommended unit of study" for chem engineering and it takes up a large part of the course - which seems problematic for me because I don't really like physics.

So to reiterate my question, should I look for alternative courses if I don't enjoy physics? Is physics an essential part of chem engineering?
Hey there,
I happened to know two people who did chemical engineering at UNSW- one changed to doing just mathematics and the other did a double degree in chemical engineering and chemistry. Physics is inevitable. One of them (the one who changed degrees) actually sent me a folder of chem engineering stuff before dropping and there's a physics folder there. Even if you didn't do physics, they'll reteach all the physics concepts you know, just more applicable to chem engineering.

So the physics topics that they'll go through (I'm assuming this is first year chem engineering) are:
Mechanics (linear motion, vectors, motion in two and three dimensions, force and motion, work and energy, gravitation, centre of mass and linear momentum, rotation and torque)
Thermal physics (temperature, kinetic theory of gases, heat and first law of thermodynamics, entropy and second law of thermodynamics)
Waves (oscillation, wave motion, sound waves)

But that doesn't mean you're not alone if you don't like physics! My other friend who did the double degree despised physics yet he graduated last year! So no, just because you don't like physics, doesn't mean you should just discard your goal in doing chem engineering.

Hope this helps!
Title: Re: Should I be choosing Chemical Engineering if I don't like Physics?
Post by: alisoneom on April 16, 2018, 11:05:49 pm
Hey there,
I happened to know two people who did chemical engineering at UNSW- one changed to doing just mathematics and the other did a double degree in chemical engineering and chemistry. Physics is inevitable. One of them (the one who changed degrees) actually sent me a folder of chem engineering stuff before dropping and there's a physics folder there. Even if you didn't do physics, they'll reteach all the physics concepts you know, just more applicable to chem engineering.

So the physics topics that they'll go through (I'm assuming this is first year chem engineering) are:
Mechanics (linear motion, vectors, motion in two and three dimensions, force and motion, work and energy, gravitation, centre of mass and linear momentum, rotation and torque)
Thermal physics (temperature, kinetic theory of gases, heat and first law of thermodynamics, entropy and second law of thermodynamics)
Waves (oscillation, wave motion, sound waves)

But that doesn't mean you're not alone if you don't like physics! My other friend who did the double degree despised physics yet he graduated last year! So no, just because you don't like physics, doesn't mean you should just discard your goal in doing chem engineering.

Hope this helps!

Thank you so much for that! That helped me gain a better insight into what I should be expecting - I will continue looking into it and hopefully attending Open Day and stuff will help

Also, a special thanks for answering every single one of my questions I've been posting on ATAR Notes lately! All of them have been SO insightful - you're a superstar ;D
Title: Re: Should I be choosing Chemical Engineering if I don't like Physics?
Post by: owidjaja on April 16, 2018, 11:15:24 pm
Thank you so much for that! That helped me gain a better insight into what I should be expecting - I will continue looking into it and hopefully attending Open Day and stuff will help

Also, a special thanks for answering every single one of my questions I've been posting on ATAR Notes lately! All of them have been SO insightful - you're a superstar ;D
Haha no problem :D Didn't realise that I answered to all your latest questions!