Physics

So, this term, I am truly pushing my limits by taking classes that I am pretty sure I will have to put in a thousand tons of hard work. Especially Physics. This term, I am taking Physics 143: Mechanics and Relativity with Problem Solving. This should be fun.

I dislike Physics, despite taking it for 7 years from Grade 6 to 12. Did not matter how much I tried: the concepts eluded me always, and I had problems memorizing the equations, the theorems, the laws and the formulas. Not to mention my former physics teachers were soooooooooo bad. They would try and fail to teach us real physics, and just dish edout equations for us to use in exercises and exams. And trust me when I say that the kind of Physics I am used to is “An object is rolling at a speed of x m/s,” not “You are a private investigator who was trying to find out why someone got hit on the head by a flower pot”. So yeah. When the teachers got creative when it came to creating new exercises, it was just bad. For me. So secondary-high school physics was absolutely useless for me (well, not quite). Or maybe I am just kind of dense when it came to physics (I am good at Chemistry though!)

But anyway, Physics classes here (or at least Physics class with Professor Barry Costanzi) is like nothing I have ever seen. Besides getting to play as a private detective trying to investigate why someone got hit on the head with a falling flower pot, students get to study physics without being imposed upon by the teacher. I don’t know how to say it, but the thing I like (and probably my downfall, but I am working on it) about this class is it is a splendid chance for students to work on solving problems and figuring out new concepts on their own — with guidance from the instructor.

We sometimes get told what to do, of course, but Professor Costanzi really has us do most things on our own, thus allowing us to learn more and understand more about the concepts in physics as a whole. I think this is great, because if there is anything I have learned throughout my life, it definitely is “If you wanna understand something, you gotta untangle it yourself.”

So far, the course is going extremely well, and while I cannot say that I cannot wait to learn more about Physics from Professor Costanzi, I sure am going in with a more open mind now that I have taken this class for a week (that is, I don’t have that great of a problem with the concepts anymore, and I don’t think of Physics as something I cannot enjoy anymore either).

Besides, why would anyone not like Professor Costanzi? Look at the things I found on his office door!

I don’t know about you, but if all physicists are funny like this, I am absolutely game.