Not only schoolchildren, but even adults sometimes ask themselves the question: why do we need physics? This topic is especially relevant for the parents of students who received education at one time, far from physics and technology.
But how can you help a student? In addition, teachers can ask home an essay in which they need to describe their thoughts about the need to study science. Of course, it is better to entrust this topic to eleventh graders who have a complete understanding of the subject.
What is physics
In simple terms, physics is the science of nature. Of course, at the present time physics is moving more and more away from it, delving into the technosphere. Nevertheless, the subject is closely connected not only with our planet, but also with space.
So why do we need physics? Its task is to understand how certain phenomena occur, why certain processes are formed. It is also advisable to strive to create special calculations that would help predict certain events. For example, how did Isaac Newton discover the law of universal gravitation? He studied an object falling from top to bottom, observed mechanical phenomena. Then I created formulas that actually work.
What sections does physics have
The subject has several sections, which are studied in general or in depth at school:
- Mechanics;
- vibrations and waves;
- thermodynamics;
- optics;
- electricity;
- the quantum physics;
- Molecular physics;
- nuclear physics.
Each section has subsections detailing the various processes. If you do not just study theory, paragraphs and lectures, but learn to imagine, experiment with what is being discussed, then science will seem very interesting, and you will understand why physics is needed. Complex sciences that cannot be applied in practice, for example, the physics of the atom and nucleus, can be considered in a different way: read interesting articles from popular science magazines, watch documentaries about this area.
How an object helps in everyday life
In the essay "Why do we need physics" it is recommended to give examples if they are appropriate. For example, if you are describing why you need to study mechanics, then you should mention cases from everyday life. An ordinary car trip can be such an example: from the village to the city you need to drive along a free highway in 30 minutes. The distance is about 60 kilometers. Of course, we need to know at what speed it is better to move along the road, preferably with a margin of time.
You can also give an example of construction. For example, when building a house, you need to correctly calculate the strength. You can't choose flimsy material. A student can conduct another experiment to understand why physics is needed, for example, take a long board, put chairs at the ends. The board will sit on the backs of the furniture. Next, load the center of the board with bricks. The board will bend. As the distance between the chairs decreases, the deflection will be less. Accordingly, a person gets food for thought.
When preparing dinner or lunch, a hostess often encounters physical phenomena: heat, electricity, mechanical work. To understand how to do the right thing, you need to understand the laws of nature. Experience often teaches a lot. And physics is the science of experience, observation.
Physics-related professions and specialties
But why do you need to study physics for someone who graduates from high school? Of course, those who enter a university or college in the humanities do not really need a subject. But in so many areas, science is required. Let's look at which ones:
- geology;
- transport;
- power supply;
- electrical engineering and devices;
- medicine;
- astronomy;
- construction and architecture;
- heat supply;
- gas supply;
- water supply and so on.
For example, even a train driver needs to know this science in order to understand how a locomotive works; the builder must be able to design strong and durable buildings.
Programmers, IT specialists also need to know physics in order to understand how electronics and office equipment work. In addition, they need to create realistic objects for programs, applications.
In medicine, physics is used almost everywhere: X-ray, ultrasound, dental equipment, laser therapy.
What sciences is connected with
Physics is very closely interconnected with mathematics, since when solving problems you need to be able to transform various formulas, carry out calculations and build graphs. You can add this idea to the essay "Why study physics" when it comes to computing.
Also, this science is associated with geography in order to understand natural phenomena, to be able to analyze future events, the weather.
Biology and chemistry are also associated with physics. For example, no living cell can exist without gravity and air. Also, living cells must move in space.
How to write an essay for a 7th grade student
Now let's talk about what a seventh grader who has partially studied some sections of physics can write. For example, you can write about the same gravity or give an example of measuring the distance that he walked from one point to another in order to calculate his walking speed. A 7th grade student can supplement the essay "Why do we need physics" with various experiments that were carried out in the classroom.
As you can see, creative work can be quite interesting to write. In addition, it develops thinking, gives new ideas, awakens curiosity about one of the most important sciences. Indeed, in the future, physics can help in any life circumstances: in everyday life, when choosing a profession, when getting a good job, during outdoor recreation.
November 2015
10 reasons why it is very important and useful to study physics in school
But really, why? The simplest questions require complex answers. Some people think that this question was asked incorrectly. What is the meaning of the question? If we think about the benefits of studying physics, then we need to clarify for whom this benefit. For example, we are talking about the benefits for all of humanity. In this case, the answer is unambiguous. After all, our civilization is technogenic. We cannot imagine existence without modern technology, which is based on physics. Physics and technology are developing, pushing each other. Scientific discoveries lead to the creation of new technology. For example, this was the case with the invention of the internal combustion engine. Maxwell's theory led to the discovery of electromagnetic waves. The creation of new technology contributes to new discoveries in physics. For example, the improvement of telescopes made it possible to expand the horizons of the Universe, with the invention of the Wilson camera, scientists were able to look into the microcosm and make many discoveries.
All of humanity hopes for physics in solving global problems: it is the preservation of the environment, and the development of new energy sources, and the replacement of humans in hard physical and dangerous work with robots.
For all mankind, the need for physics is beyond doubt. But now we pass to the individual personality. What is the use of studying physics for a specific person? For Vovochka Ivanov, a 7th grade student who has problems at school because he is too lazy to study?
The ovu is surrounded by adult relatives. The experience of adult life convinced them that the knowledge they received in physics lessons at school was not useful to them in the future. Tell me, why does a housewife need to memorize Newton's laws? Or an economist to know the properties of images given by a lens? Famous artists and singers often say in interviews that they skipped lessons, had two marks in physics, and at the same time became successful in life. Little Johnny believes all these people: indeed, one can live perfectly well without physics!
Eighth-graders once asked me: "Is it possible to live without knowing physics?" I answered: “Yes, you can. You can live without knowing how to read and write. You don't even need to be able to speak. In order to live, you need to breathe, eat, drink, sleep and go to the toilet. That, perhaps, is all. Only then the question arises: who needs such a life? "
The reader has to answer a specific Vovochka why one should study physics at school. The suggested answers can be divided into several groups. The first group is about the usefulness of studying the subject for Vova himself at the moment.
Firstly, acquiring new knowledge, Vova develops his intellect, broadens his horizons, trains his ability to think and reflect. His status among peers is growing, and his personal self-esteem is growing.
Parents sometimes say to the teacher: “My child is a humanist, he draws (dances, sings) magnificently, he does not need physics at all”. The eternal dispute between physicists and lyricists. Science and art. These areas of our culture are often viewed almost as antipodes: in science - calculation and logic, in art - feelings and emotions; science reflects, art experiences. In fact, these are two sides of the same coin, the only difference is in accents. The poet Alexei Sisakin spoke about this very accurately and succinctly.
Science is dead without art,
It adds feelings to her.
Art is meaningless without science:
Masterpieces create both the mind and the hands.
Vsecondly, while studying physics, Vova will understand the principles of operation of many technical devices that surround him and make his life interesting and comfortable. This knowledge will help Vovochka handle the instruments correctly to extend their lifespan.
The second group of answers concerns Vovina's adult life. If future profession, to which the boy aspires, is associated with physics, the importance of studying this subject is already understandable. Now engineers are in great demand on the labor market in our country. Knowledge of physics at school is the key to becoming a qualified technical specialist.
Another conversation, if Vova does not associate his future profession with physics. Then the following arguments can be given: knowledge of physics will be useful to Vovochka as future man, the head of the family, in order to correctly repair the outlet with his own hands, to act correctly during a thunderstorm, to be able to warm oneself in the cold, etc. But here Vova objects that in these cases, everyday experience is needed rather than knowledge of physical laws and the ability to solve problems.
The next argument in favor of studying physics is Vova's future children. It's great when dad has family authority, knows a lot and can do a lot. A dad who has knowledge will be able to answer all "why" to his little son. And when he grows up and studies physics, he will help in solving problems. To this, Vova can object that he will marry an excellent pupil Mashenka, and she will help the children with school problems.
And you need to learn physics in order to distinguish scientific knowledge from pseudoscientific so as not to become an easy prey for scammers and deceivers. There are now many films on the Internet about the dangers of a microwave oven. Sometimes you look, listen, and you get the impression that these people know practically nothing about heat movement, the principle of heating food, the device and operation of the microwave, but they argue, argue ....
Knowledge of physics forms a scientific understanding of the world around, about its cognizability by man, about the impossibility of violating the laws of nature. The more extensive knowledge a person has, the more difficult it is to lure him into various sects, subjugate him to someone else's will, and deceive. It is easy to sell a useless device for a lot of money for a person who has studied physics poorly at school. For example, an emitter of infrared rays, which cures all diseases in the world. A former undergraduate in physics would easily believe that an air purifier can distinguish between good and bad odor molecules and only destroy bad ones.
From the next group of answers. Some teachers and parents, when asked why study physics, answer that so need to finish school... And that's all! There are big bosses in the Ministry of Education who know better what and how to study in school. Therefore, we do not reason, but teach. Learning to get good grade so that neither parents nor teachers "get it" .
Many schoolchildren, especially girls, will be satisfied with this answer. They trust adults, because mom knows better how to dress, dad knows how to make money. It is the dad and mom who know what is best for their child. And it is easier and easier for the child to obey. For many children, this is more convenient, and even adults will praise for diligence.
The survey about the usefulness of physics does not arise in teaching with enthusiasm... If a person is engaged in something with interest, then the question “why” he does not ask himself.
At school, a child spends eleven years of life - this is a period of rapid development. The child is gaining a baggage of knowledge and skills for the next stage - the acquisition of a profession. It is during the school years that the formation of the future social personality takes place, the skills of interaction in the team are being worked out. The individual begins to assess his abilities and capabilities, to compare himself with others.
Each subject plays a role in personality formation. Literature and history develop language, form moral and ethical norms of behavior, mathematics affects abstract thinking, biology allows a deeper understanding of oneself, forms the perception of a person as part of the living world, a foreign language trains memory, fosters tolerance and the ability to see the world through the eyes of other people. I read somewhere that at school there are only two intellectually forming subjects: geometry and physics, the rest are intellectually consuming. These two subjects develop subconsciousness, consciousness and superconsciousness.
And it is the physics teachers who have a diverse arsenal of tools for the all-round development of the child. Here it is, the surrounding world, in all its diversity and splendor. You just need to take a closer look, and you can make interesting discoveries, put forward hypotheses, and conduct research. “Science is the daughter of surprise and curiosity,” say the sages. And for a physics teacher, the most important and most difficult thing is to maintain the child's ability to be surprised by the world around him.
What kind of techniques and techniques are not used by physics teachers to form and develop students' interest in their subject! This is conducting experiments on the verge of tricks, discussing problem situations in the lesson, demonstrating entertaining video clips, making physical devices with your own hands, etc.
The teacher is a special breed of people. All their lives they are happy to learn something new and share their knowledge with others. And it doesn't matter how old they are: 20 or 60. They do not get tired of learning, making discoveries for themselves, learning this world with interest and enthusiasm. They are the ones who can "infect" their students with a craving for conquering the heights of knowledge. And the most important discovery on this path is that the more you know, the wider the horizons, the more interesting it is to live.
And such a teacher will not have to puzzle over the answer to the question: why do you need to study physics at school. The answer is simple: physics is a fascinating and interesting science.
Why does a person need to study physics at school
February 14, 2017
Often schoolchildren (and especially schoolgirls) ask the question: "Why should I study physics if it is not interesting to me and is not useful to me at all in my life?"
Here's a simple answer. After all, motivation when studying a subject is a very important thing. Indeed, how to explain to a teenager who is not interested in physics, who is not going to associate a profession with it, that he needs to learn all these formulas, laws and theories?
Knowledge of the physical laws of the structure of our world will be useful to any person in one way or another. This is the same part of the general cultural basis, as well as knowledge of the basic rules of the Russian language, as an orientation in geography or history, as the ability to count money, as an acquaintance with the general principles of biological evolution ...
Knowing the basics of physics, we understand a bunch of things: how a car engine works, why a rocket flies in space, why an iron ship does not sink, why a parachutist needs a parachute, what is controlled thermonuclear fusion, how a pump or an electric kettle works ... Yes, without this knowledge it is quite possible to live ... But still…
And there is another important point. Almost all of today's high school and high school girls will become parents, dads and moms over time. And their little kids will ask a million questions: why is the trolleybus going? why is there a rainbow? Why does the water strider easily run on the surface of the water, and not sink? why is the thunder thundering? Why is there weightlessness in space? Why can't you stick your fingers into the socket, but you can plug from a table lamp? why is the light bulb shining? why are snowflakes so different? ...
All these children's questions will have to be answered. If you once at school understood the essence of the matter well enough, then even after 10-20 years you will easily be able to explain to a child of preschool or primary school age all such things - briefly and taking into account his level of understanding.
Of course, the study of all these physical formulas, problems and experiments that are included in the standard school curriculum represents a much deeper level of studying physics than it will be useful in the future for most students. But the trick is that this is the only way to understand well the essence of physical laws. Well, how to understand Archimedes' law or the law of universal gravitation, if you do not solve at least a little of the corresponding problems?
It is clear that not all high school students will be inspired by the thoughts expressed in this article ... But maybe they will inspire someone. Or, at least, they will give strength and patience to study physics a little more diligently, without excessive disgust.
And also physics is necessary to know how our world functions!
Physics is the science of the phenomena of the world around us. To understand the processes that you observe every day, you need to know physics. Physics shows the fundamental relationship of processes and phenomena in nature in qualitative and quantitative form. It allows you to deeply understand what is happening around you and, in collaboration with mathematics, allows you to predict events. In the end, it is physicists who must give the perfect answer to the question of how the universe actually came into being. Physics answers such questions as: why does the pupil of your eye appear black? Or why are batteries usually installed under a window? Look around and put your hand in your pocket - cell phone, computer, and everything else - how would all this exist without physics? And then turn on the consideration and a little - the imagination. A person basically needs to study physics in order to have access to new sources of energy, to improve the power of man over nature! Because it is everywhere. Without physics, you can go straight to the coffin. Because you can't live.
You do not need. You can stupidly poke at the buttons of a computer or mobile phone, which smart ones who have studied physics will make for you. Or else: every action is equal to opposition - you were pushed, but you pushed in response so that the offender fell. In one place the law of communicating vessels has departed - in another it has arrived. The gimbal's rule is absolutely sacred - we know which way to turn the bolt and screws. The golden rule of mechanics - the quieter you go further, or the larger the shoulder, the less resistance. Yes, there is a lot of interesting things in physics to remember at least Archimedes - a body submerged in water, etc. To know that opposites attract. For life - every day we encounter it, even while having fun - the same billiards.
The most common complaint of a student about the difficulty of the subject sounds like this: “Why do I need this stupid…. (you can put anything here - physics, mathematics, history, biology), if I'm not going to do it after school ?! ”
Indeed, does the poor child need to cram formulas and deal with the laws of Newton and Faraday? Maybe, well, her, this dirty trick, let's do something interesting better? Surprisingly, many adults themselves do not understand why they taught physics at school and sincerely do not see the connection between this entertaining science and everyday life. Let's find this connection!
Imagine your typical day. So you got out of bed, stretched and looked in the mirror. And the laws of physics started working right from the start of your day!
The movement, the reflection in the mirror, the gravity that makes you walk on the ground and the water flow into the sink instead of your face, the force it takes to lift the bag or open the door — all this is physics.
Pay attention to the elevator, which quickly and easily takes you to the desired floor, car or other transport, computers, tablets and phones. Without physics, all this would not go anywhere, would not turn on and would not work.
The development of physics can be equated with progress.
At first, people understood the laws of optics and invented simple glasses so that those with poor vision could better navigate, read and write. And then microscopes appeared, with the help of which scientists made incredible discoveries in fields such as biology and medicine. And telescopes in which astronomers saw planets, stars and entire galaxies and were able to draw conclusions about the structure of the Universe. Each discovery in physics helps humanity to take a new step forward.
Okay, you say. But for all of the above, for all these discoveries and developments, there are physicists. That is, people who deliberately chose this particular science as their main profession. And what about the rest, and even the humanities? What is this knowledge for them, if you can just read the instructions for your phone and this will be enough to use it?
We have already written that, but besides this, we will give several examples from everyday life, when basic knowledge of physics can be useful to everyone. Moreover, we will analyze only one section of physics, almost completely created by Isaac Newton - mechanics.
Movement, speed, acceleration.
So, everything in the Universe is constantly moving, including our planet and the earth on which we walk. And we go to different places almost every day. This means that we are constantly counting on how quickly we will get to the theater, work, friends, so as not to be late. We solve speed problems in high school as part of a math course, but in reality this is basic physics.
Now imagine that you are choosing a car. You have a desire for a fast car, but you need to drive your family, so size matters too. That is, high-spirited and big. And how do you know which one is right? What will you pay attention to? To accelerate, of course! There is such a parameter - constant acceleration, that is, acceleration from 0 to 100 km in a number of seconds. So the shorter the time from 0 to 100, the more cheerful your car will be at the start and cornering. And physics will tell you this!
When you start (and continue) to drive a car, some of the basic physics course will come in handy. For example, you yourself will understand that it is probably not worth it to brake sharply on the highway at a speed of 120 km / h just because you suddenly wanted to admire the beautiful view.
Even if a few more cars are not following you at the same speed, the drivers of which may not have time to react. It's just that when braking, the acceleration is negative, so everyone who sits in the car is suddenly thrown forward. Believe me, belts digging into the body and stretched neck muscles are unpleasant. Just keep in mind the concept of acceleration from physics.
Gravity, momentum, and other utilities.
Physics will tell about the law of gravitation... That is, we already know that if you throw an object, it will fall to the ground. What does it mean? The earth attracts us and all things. Moreover, the planet Earth attracts even such a heavy space object as the Moon. Note that the Moon does not fly away along its trajectory and is shown to people every evening. Also, any things that we threw on the floor in our hearts do not hang in the air. Thrown objects are also acted upon by acceleration, because the Earth has a tremendous gravitational force. And also the friction force.
Therefore, knowing about these laws, one can understand what happens if a person jumps with a parachute. Is the area of the parachute related to the slowdown in the fall rate? Maybe you should ask for a larger parachute? How does the impulse work on the skydiver's knees, and why can't you land on straight legs?
How to choose alpine skiing? Are you a great skater or are you just starting out? Think about friction, check these parameters for your new skis. If you are a beginner who does not know physics, then a mistake in your choice is very likely. Will you have time to stop?
Okay, you are not going to skydive and you don’t want to know anything about alpine skiing.
Let's get back to everyday life. Here is a nut and a wrench in front of you. What part of the wrench must be grasped to apply maximum force to the nut? Those who have studied physics will take the wrench as far away from the nut as possible. To open a heavy door to an old building, you need to push on it from the very edge, away from the hinges. Do I need to talk about the lever and the fulcrum that Galileo lacked so much?
Probably, these examples are still enough to illustrate the daily presence of physics in our life. And that was just mechanics! But there is also optics, which we mentioned at the beginning of the article, and electricity with magnetic fields. And we are modestly silent about the theory of relativity.
Believe me, physics at a basic level is necessary for everyone in order not to look stupid and funny in the most ordinary situations.
We begin a series of articles on problems and outdated concepts in the school curriculum and invite you to speculate about why students need physics, and why today it is not taught the way we would like.
Why is a modern student studying physics? Either so that he does not get bored by his parents and teachers, or then, in order to successfully pass the USE by choice, gain the required number of points and enter a good university. There is another option that the student loves physics, but this love usually exists somehow separately from the school curriculum.
In any of these cases, the teaching is carried out according to the same scheme. It adjusts to the system of its own control - knowledge should be presented in such a form that it can be easily tested. For this, there is a system of GIA and USE, and preparation for these exams, as a result, becomes the main goal of training.
How is the Unified State Exam in physics arranged in its current version? Exam tasks are compiled according to a special codifier, which includes formulas that, in theory, every student should know. This is about a hundred formulas for all sections of the school curriculum - from kinematics to the physics of the atomic nucleus.
Most of the assignments - about 80% - are aimed precisely at applying these formulas. Moreover, you cannot use other methods of solution: if you substituted a formula that is not on the list, you did not receive a certain number of points, even if the answer was the same. And only the remaining 20% are understanding tasks.
As a result, the main goal of teaching is to ensure that students know this set of formulas and can apply it. And all physics comes down to simple combinatorics: read the conditions of the problem, understand what formula you need, substitute the necessary indicators and just get the result.
In elite and specialized physics and mathematics schools, education, of course, is arranged differently. There, as in the preparation for all kinds of Olympiads, there is some element of creativity, and the combinatorics of formulas becomes much more complicated. But we are interested here precisely in the basic physics program and its shortcomings.
Standard problems and abstract theoretical constructions, which an ordinary schoolchild should know, very quickly disappear from the head. As a result, after leaving school, no one knows physics anymore - except for that minority who, for some reason, are interested in it or need it in their specialty.
It turns out that science, the main goal of which was the knowledge of nature and the real physical world, at school becomes utterly abstract and removed from everyday human experience. Physics, like other subjects, is taught by cramming, and when in high school the amount of knowledge that must be mastered increases dramatically, it becomes simply impossible to cram everything.
Visually about the "formula" approach to learning.
But this would not be necessary if the goal of teaching was not the application of formulas, but the understanding of the subject. Understanding is ultimately much easier than cramming.
Form a picture of the world
Let's see, for example, how Yakov Perelman's books "Entertaining Physics" and "Entertaining Mathematics" work, which have been used by many generations of schoolchildren and post-schoolchildren. Almost every paragraph of Perelman's "Physics" teaches us to pose questions that every child can ask himself, starting from elementary logic and everyday experience.
The problems that we are being asked to solve here are not quantitative, but qualitative: we need not calculate some abstract indicator like the efficiency, but reflect on why a perpetual motion machine is impossible in reality, is it possible to shoot from a cannon to the moon; you need to conduct an experiment and evaluate what the effect of any physical interaction will be.
An example from "Entertaining Physics" in 1932: the problem of the Krylov swans, crayfish and pike, solved according to the rules of mechanics. The resultant (OD) must carry the cart into the water.
In a word, it is not necessary to memorize formulas here - the main thing is to understand what physical laws the objects of the surrounding reality obey. The only problem is that knowledge of this kind is much more difficult to objectively verify than the presence in the head of a student of a precisely defined set of formulas and equations.
Therefore, physics for an ordinary student turns into a dull cramming, and at best - a kind of abstract mind game. To form a holistic picture of the world in a person is not at all the task that the modern education system performs de facto. In this respect, by the way, it is not too different from the Soviet one, which many are inclined to overestimate (because earlier we, they say, developed atomic bombs and flew into space, but now we only know how to sell oil).
According to the knowledge of physics, students after leaving school now, as then, are divided into approximately two categories: those who know it very well, and those who do not know at all. The situation with the second category worsened especially when the time for teaching physics in grades 7-11 was reduced from 5 to 2 hours a week.
Most schoolchildren really do not need physical formulas and theories (which they understand perfectly well), and most importantly, they are not interesting in the abstract and dry form in which they are presented now. As a result, mass education does not perform any function - it only takes time and effort. For schoolchildren - no less than for teachers.
Attention: Wrong approach to exact science teaching can be devastating
If the task of the school curriculum was to form a picture of the world, the situation would be completely different.
Of course, there should also be specialized classes where they teach how to solve complex problems and deeply acquaint themselves with the theory, which no longer intersects with everyday experience. But it would be more interesting and useful for an ordinary, "mass" schoolchild to know according to what laws the physical world in which he lives works.
The point, of course, is not limited to schoolchildren reading Perelman instead of textbooks. The very approach to teaching needs to be changed. Many sections (for example, quantum mechanics) could be removed from the school curriculum, others - reduced or revised, if not for the ubiquitous organizational difficulties, the fundamental conservatism of the subject and the educational system as a whole.
But let us dream a little. After these changes, perhaps, the general social adequacy would have increased: people would have less faith in all kinds of torsion swindlers who speculate on “protecting the biofield” and “normalizing the aura” with the help of simple devices and pieces of unknown minerals.
We have already observed all these consequences of a vicious education system in the 90s, when the most successful fraudsters even used considerable sums from the state budget - we are seeing them now, albeit on a smaller scale.
The famous Grigory Grabovoi not only assured that he could resurrect people, but also removed asteroids from the Earth by the power of thought and "psychologically diagnosed" government planes. He was patronized not by anyone, but by General Georgy Rogozin, Deputy Head of the Security Service under the President of the Russian Federation.
