Are you smart enough to study physics?

A small pep talk followed by some practical steps you can take to find out if physics is a good fit for your intelligence. This video also applies to mathematics, something I find hard to separate from physics.
MIT department of physics: web.mit.edu/ph...
MIT physics courses: web.mit.edu/phy...
Cambridge mathematics: www.maths.cam.a...
Cambridge math tripos courses: www-wp.maths.c...
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[@jacobhempel1855]

I found that the more important question is not "Am I smart enough to study physics?" but, rather, "Am I genuinely interested enough in Physics to commit an immense amount of time to my studies?" I mean, this is a question you'd ask for almost any occupation you're thinking about. Physics isn't for geniuses. It's just not something many people are interested in. Not many people find it appealing to sit down with pencil and paper to solve hard problems, or to be in the lab for hours at a time doing the same thing until, finally, you get results. The reality is : you must put in a lot of work and effort to master *anything*, including mathematics and Physics... This may sound distressing, but keep in mind that it's this immense work that is required to master something which is also what makes it so satisfying to master... So yeah, if you're interested in doing Physics, challenge yourself to master it. I'm getting my PhD currently in Physics. During my high school career, I was sub-par. My ACT score was ~21, which was the national average. I was in Pre-calculus in 12th grade while some people I knew were finishing Calculus 2. By all the standard measures: I am not a genius (far from it, actually). I just really really like Physics. I worked hard to build up to the understanding I currently have, which I have learned is very very little. I know someone else in my department whose story is similar and I'm sure others feel the same. It's sad because we need passion in this field, not "geniuses" who can spit out math on a chalk board, and I feel that many passionate individuals are intimidated by this idea of requiring high intellect to master this material and turn to other fields instead.

[@animationspace8550]

Summary: "Does math suck?"

[@viradeus4322]

Honestly when people say that they are not smart enough to study physics, I just tell them about Richard Feynman. I heard he had a average-ish IQ, and yet he was an excellent teacher and a novel prize winning physicist. Summary, if you like physics pursue it until you can't no mo'!!

[@jonasmuller2775]

thanks, i really needed to read something like this and i totally agree

[@raffydiron2402]

I'm 13 and i think I'm not smart enough to be a physicist when i grow up, this past few days I've been over thinking how can i become a physicist when I'm not a genius, and now this day i came across this video checked the comments and saw this, thank you very much i needed to read something like this

[@cory99998]

I'm gonna take a wild guess and assume you had no interest in what they were pushing at you during high school haha. I think a lot of us are in that boat and didn't really accel until we found something we were passionate about. For me, high school was trying to get my homework done as quickly as possible and put the absolute minimum effort required for a ~B in the majority of course work. I only really studied for memorization based classes like german or biology and I was still pretty lazy about it. Finishing high school was one of the best feelings of my life and once I started doing what I wanted to do, it turned out that I was pretty good at learning. So many of us don't belong in the school system since its catered to give the masses a pretty general education.

[@xyzct]

As someone with a physics degree, I think it is important that you really enjoy mathematics.

[@21studies87]

xyzct I am a sophomore in high school and I find mathematics hard, but I always end up getting good grades. However, I do really good in Physics and I enjoy studying it a lot. I always thought about mathematics as the lenguaje of physics, being not as hard as mathematics itself. Is it like this in college? I’m turly sorry for making a very broad question.

[@bilalhabeeb4684]

@@21studies87 You should put more effort in english tbh

[@eliselol85]

@@21studies87 in university I find physics harder because the maths needs a good understanding and the ideas are complex and the examples are applied to real life examples where you have to infer external condotions as the world doesn't aways fit a spexific model to set up the solutions to the problem. With the maths modules once you know how to do the problem it is mostly easier to understand and perform better on the exam plus there are no labs. With that being said the concepts in Mathematics are also extremely hard to understand but that is my persnal experience.

[@dabtican4953]

Maths is only enjoyable once you're able to do it, not if you're learning

[@obinator9065]

vd studies If you study with focus on intuition math won‘t be as hard. You‘ll need to understand calculus(it was created for physics), complex numbers(as in rotation), Lagrange/Fourier(for the uncertainty principle etc), Differential Geometry (Spacetime curvature etc..), Linear Algebra and many other concepts in order to fully get why the equation works.

[@quahntasy]

I am not smart enough but I am doing it anyways.

[@rumaa3049]

Same!

[@BrAdZtaA]

and hows this going for you?

[@lameesrawat4005]

This is actually me. Period.

[@galaxy7289]

THAT ME

[@lilosnitch3247]

the beauty of humans is that we can always try

[@jackkelly3697]

I’m smart enough to know that I’m not smart enough to study physics

[@ceskehry]

That makes you smarter than an average physicist

[@aidis138]

sort of Socratic "I know that i know nothing about [some subject here]". smart indeed)

[@aidis138]

@FAT cat you know, I honestly think Socrates was a fictional character. but what does it changes? i mean if it makes sense, it makes sense.

[@ozymandias8523]

Aidis don’t believe everything you saw on internet -Abraham Lincoln

[@aidis138]

​@@ozymandias8523 Why not?

[@theotron84]

I scored in the bottom 50th percentile of the Math portion of the SAT and never got a higher grade than a "C" in all my HS math classes ( Including a "D" in Chemistry WOOT WOOT).....Took me a bajillion years and an Learning Disability Diagnosis, but it looks Like I'll be getting my Physics Degree this May. If I can do it anyone can!...EDIT. I've been very flattered by the responses. FYI I am now pursuing my MS. I hope to start on my Thesis soon. I'm still no "outstanding" student ( nowhere near as good as Tibees was, btw), but with proper accommodations for my LD, I am trucking by....Would there be interest in a VLOG about doing physics with a learning disability?

[@Cyberspine]

I have immense respect for people who struggle with math, yet have the perseverance to attain a STEM degree.

[@theotron84]

@P A U L I N A keep on trucking! Getting confused and feeling dumb/overwhelmed is part of the game! Everyone goes through it. Don't worry about everyone else. Everyone Learns differently, and if you compare yourself too much to your classmates it'll drive you nuts haha.

[@northernskies86]

@P A U L I N A Underestimating your intelligence is a sign of a brilliant mind. The Dunning - Kruger effect, a well known psychological effect says just that. So you are not dumb, you are probably very intelligent. I constantly feel as if I am dumb myself and actually am insecure about it, but everyone in my physics class thinks I am the smartest kid in there.

[@johan7262]

What an inspiration

[@MrRooibos123]

Sir, congratulations

[@sciencepetr5179]

Yes. The answer is yes. For everyone. If you don't have the background just yet, get the background, and then do it. I believe in all of you. Great video Toby, thanks for talking about a really important thing.

[@tibees]

Thanks Petr 😌

[@ceskehry]

I know you won't change your mind, but people are retarded, not everybody can learn it...

[@sciencepetr5179]

I'd change my mind if you gave a convincing argument. Physics is hard. But people are tenacious. Being "smart" doesn't matter THAT much. If people work hard enough for long enough, the vast majority of people would be able to do a physics degree. It's not like winning a Nobel prize...

[@sciencepetr5179]

No U

[@sowmyag5142]

@@sciencepetr5179 100% agreed and I saw sciencein your and SUBSCRIBed

[@btc54723]

I wanted to major in astrophysics. After having an incredibly hard time in every math class that I took, including basic algebra, I decided that astrophysics isn't realistic for me especially in my current financial situation and the pace at which I take courses. I've always loved computer science, so that became my major. I still have an incredibly hard time with the math classes required for comp sci. I've literally taken linear algebra 5 times! But I think this 5th time I'll pass. I have ADHD which severely hinders my memory and prevents me from recalling information for an exam. I was thinking about doing a physics minor along with my comp sci major but at this rate id graduate after being in college for 11 years. So I'm just doing the comp sci major now which means I'll graduate after a total of 9 years in college and that's just for a bachelor's degree. I'm currently in my 7th year of college. I'm going to finish, this is my life. And there's nothing else worth my time other than learning how the world works and creating things that help people and expand knowledge. My goal is to work for NASA programming their computers/applications. I feel lazy, behind, and mentally handicapped, but I keep pushing.

[@Mk-me8pm]

I think you're amazing...

[@manfredthen]

Un honor es leer tu comentario. El camino es largo, pero te pido que mantengas la resistencia.

[@Meph_X]

Nah man, you're fricking insane, 7th year? By now hopefully you've completed it? I can't tell you how much I respect the grit you have to push through all that and pursue your degree. Here I am almost giving up in my first year, then there are people like you who refuse to give up. That's really inspiring. How are you doing now?

[@heysumaiya]

I am so proud of you. You're great and passionate about your work. May Allah bless you.

[@barrjohnm]

I went back to school when I was 30 years old and I was basically illiterate 5÷1 = 5 baffled me! I got my bachelors of science degree in meteorology. I also did a minor in applied mathematics.

[@monukeys1105]

Really ? You are amazing !!

[@curtiskennedy6360]

I’m currently on the way to this, how’d it go?

[@sowmyag5142]

There are gifted , hardworking and passionate physicists. Ultimately anyone can study physics if they aren't scared Fear is the only thing that stops us from learning physics. We just have to enjoy it & be curious . That's it .

[@SmashBrosBrawl]

If you are doing well in math thus far then yes. Don't listen to the OP,. If you struggle in math, taking physics is a set up for failure. This everyone can do everything fantasy is just that.

[@sowmyag5142]

@@SmashBrosBrawl what is OP? Also what I said is valid for math too. I mean if one works hard then they can also do well in math

[@dionysus951]

@@sowmyag5142 OP stands for Original Post or Original Poster. Since they were replying to your comment, OP refers to you.

[@sowmyag5142]

@@dionysus951 thanks

[@tharunmalayil2332]

@@sowmyag5142 maths skill is gift.....

[@Loveumica]

There's no point in doing something to prove one's smartness, the point is to do something which you would love to keep doing when you wake up everyday.

[@a0flj0]

My motivation was less than to do physics for my entire life. It was sheer curiosity. I just wanted to know, and believed that physics will satisfy my curiosity. Many years later, I think I was right. Even if I ended up as a programmer.

[@achyuththouta6957]

@@a0flj0 To me it was the only subject that did not bore me at school. Maths was enjoyable to a certain extent but not as much as Physics. I used to literally feel like sleeping in every other class

[@RalphDratman]

I agree. I did want to study physics, but I found I was not smart enough to learn physics EASILY. The result, then, as you pointed out, was that I would have had to devote tremendous amounts of work and study and memorization to the task. I was particularly unwilling (too proud and also I felt it lost the point) to memorize formulas, and therefore ended up doing poorly in physics after the first two courses. So I did not continue. You've helped me understand that I probably made the right choice for my particular personality and inclinations. I prefer to be a generalist, as best I can, rather than trying to specialize and do a more narrow kind of work. I will never be as good at maths and physics or any technical subject as I would like to be, but that is the way I am and I've found I cannot change myself that drastically to be much different. One more point: I think your videos are valuable and that your approach is a good one. Thank you.

[@DavidSanchez-oh2vc]

Your honesty with yourself was unvaluable man, i wish you the best of success

[@davidwilkie9551]

Agree with all of that, so I'm pleased to see people like Tibees maintaining the discipline, completing their studies, so we can appreciate their dedication to keeping these basic principles of science working.

[@lukapapez]

Well honestly I never try to memorize formulas. I only do some exercises and when I need formulas I look for them and then with some exercises I memorize them all.

[@xMiDniTe17]

@@lukapapez As you move along your degree and especially in graduate school, it does become a memorization game with derivations and their resulting formulas. It's rare that you'd have time to practice exercises that force you to remember the formulas through repetition like in a typical first- and second-year physics course. You can google things whenever you need to, but you're expected to know these things as you move further along your degree and graduate school.

[@ludovicaricardi9173]

But you don't need to memorize formulas! The task is to remember where the formula comes from, maybe from a proof or something like that, or to remember the measurement unity of the formula, so you can remember easily what you will have. Memorizing for me it's a shame, like in prooves I just like to remember where I have to start and (sometimes ahahah) where I have to end, and then just go by logic. Another thing is: it's not easy to study physics, and there are plenty of people (just like me) who at first had to struggle hard to get it throught (now I'm one of the 20 people who passed all the exams of the first year), because I have done classical studies in high school. But if it really interests you, you will get it throught and you will learn just like the others or better (I'm one of the two person - we're 45 in class- who have already done an optional exam - and it was non-euclidean geometry), because being smart isn't being a genius: being smart is have the faculty to adapt yourself to situations. Maybe adapting at first would not be easy, but if it really interests you, you will do great then, maybe better than the others. And, just to say, most of my teachers have done classical studies in high school and now they're great physicist 😜

[@Adinga123]

I think think that the most important thing for studying Physics is passion and hard work..🙂

[@advaitavedanta6295]

No, the only thing needed for studying physics is intelligence

[@abisgamer4825]

@hwhehe hehehe 10% luck 15%skill 15%concentrated power of will 10%pleasure 50%pain and a 100% reason to remember the name

[@uzairhussain4856]

I think same.

[@hiiamjustacoolrandomuser168]

@@advaitavedanta6295 tbh I kinda of disagree

[@zapstarfr]

@@advaitavedanta6295 200% hard disagree on this statement. It's not something you need/acquire intelligence, you have to understand the concepts to the point where there arises no doubts at all, it requires some sort of intelligence but it's not the ONLY thing for you to study physics. Your observational skills, practical knowledge, environmental awareness are all necessary too, they aren't true 'intelligence' as they come under different secitons.

[@JustinGarfield1]

As a person who had sort of a disability: autism, I struggled with math my early adulthood. So, I believe, it all depends on who you are. I think if you are patient and consistent, it will work but a lot of head ache. But that head ache makes you stronger. Get your foundation in math very strong, then step by step put your feet into the water of physics... Just make sure you cement a lot of the concepts in your mind and practice them. Take tons of notes. I am working on my 8th book of notes. I am studying math, chemistry and some physics...So working my way up to it physics. Awesome and informational video.

[@giandie]

this is good advice! it seems like most ppl w autism have good mathematical intuition but mine is not so it’s nice to see your comment!!

[@dylancosto]

My teachers: “physics requires a monumental amount of experimental work” Me studying string theory: SIKE

[@Raletia]

Psych* I can't help myself, sorry =S

[@dylancosto]

Raletia fortunately for me, English is a very malleable language

[@patricioramosnegrete1192]

But then you have to ask the real questions: Is string theory physics? Is it even science?

[@dylancosto]

Patricio Ramos Negrete good point, it’s theoretical physics, many of Einstein’s first ideas were not experimentally proved until years later (like general relativity) but we’ll meddle in obscurity until we find something useful:)

[@patricioramosnegrete1192]

You will find differing opinions within the field of physics. Its detractors argue that it is not science because it is unfalsifiable. There is quite a debate going on right now.

[@vide0gameCaster]

I studied Software Engineering, and I took a few physic classes... I only have one thing to say: You don't need to be good at maths... YOU NEED TO EXCEL at math! The math in my software engineering courses are NOTHING compared to the mathematic notions that you will see in Physics courses. But one thing that is also true is that how ever good you are, if you don't have self-discipline you are going to struggle. Being good is not enough (it might be for some, we call them genius). You gotta have to invest dozens of hours per week studying, doing the SAME exercice twice, thrice. Stay away from parties (leave that stuff as a celebration when your semester will end). 3 years for a degree is short, time flies! Focus on SCIENCE guys!

[@BGBTech]

Yeah. I am smart enough to write code, but "actual" physics is a bit much (for my merely "above average" intelligence). OTOH, the world of programming is mostly basic arithmetic and occasionally solving for things or similar, most everything else is "patterns". If a person can understand things like bitwise operators and hexadecimal notation, they are well on their way.

[@kevinmcfarlane2752]

vide0gameCaster I didn’t do physics at university but I remember learning that the physics department required a higher qualification in maths itself than in physics. They said “we will teach you physics, but we won’t teach you maths.” 😊

[@ameerhamza4816]

I'm also studying software engineer but i like physics. I'm learning it myself!I don't agree with people who are saying that learning physics is so difficult it hard but not so difficult. Programming is also difficult for someone who don't know it. When your start learning something it eventually become easy. And internet make learning so easy, plenty of resources are available.

[@albertomolano]

Thank you for your encouraging comment

[@Cognitoman]

Wing self taught is the key

[@jonathandavis7019]

You know I’m probably not smart enough but I did it anyway 😜

[@privatejr2702]

Jonathan Davis how’s it going so far?

[@mavihs26]

Same 😂😂

[@jonathandavis7019]

Private JR When I first started studying physics, it was brutal. Almost gave up several times. But I stuck with it and luckily had a few great TA’s and professors. I’ve met my requirements and will be graduating in April!

[@letticeherma2228]

@@jonathandavis7019 That's awesome! Your comment is making me feel hopeful about my studies in science!

[@privatejr2702]

@@jonathandavis7019 thats awesome to hear man, happy for you!

[@kevincannon2269]

I’d say the more important question is whether physics is something you have a genuine interest in, or even better, a passion for. Physics is one of those disciplines where to be successful you either have to be naturally gifted or very interested in the subject. Also, I’d recommend not using MIT as a reference point for determining whether you’re smart enough to do physics. MIT is pretty hardcore. I know someone who did physics there and the classes he took freshman year were classes I took in my junior year (I was a physics & math double major at Virginia Tech).

[@ameerhamza4816]

You don't need to be genius to learn physics instead you need hard working

[@scheimaa172]

Well, honestly I don't think that i am smart enough for physics. Nevertheless i still don't want to crash my chances without trying, I will try the first year with the mindset that I am going to be smart enough, sometimes one finds that he is capable of things that seemed pretty difficult when he gives it a shot

[@OP-lk4tw]

I'm in the same bro, just started this second semester of 2018, it's the basic cicle, I did pretty good, but the real difficulty starts after this, but i'm going with the same mindset I went to those courses, give 100% and let it all out, have realistic expectations and be able to surprise myself, study as hard as it takes. If you kinda enjoy it, I believe you can do it, I don't know if I'm smart enough either, but I'm going for it with all I have. Good luck, and you are not alone :)

[@ceskehry]

you can choose your mindset?! wow you'll be very good at everything!

[@alih5665]

great comment.

[@mackeydoodle]

i've learned that i need to get over the fear of being wrong, because most of the moments when i'm wrong i will learn and get the most out of it

[@janmejayrathore217]

When Notification came, i thought she's personally asking me whether i am smart enough to study physics...

[@ceskehry]

:D

[@lesselp]

I'm dreading "Are you smart enough to be my subscriber ?".

[@ceskehry]

​@@lesselp "are you smart enough to support my channel on patreon?" ( ;-) )

[@chrisheath687]

Am I the only one who finds myself smiling while she is smiling? Lol

[@martm216]

Yes, I love the way she can talk and smile simultaneously. I have tried, but it always comes out sounding like some obscure and impenetrable dialect of Chinese 🙄.

[@codyriceandothers]

I love how she's always so calm even when she's studying something so stressful.

[@mayflowerlash11]

I agree. Toby has a subtle smile, it's only just there. Like she is sharing a secret with the viewer. The secret is that physics, maths and science is awesomely interesting fun. Don't tell anybody or everybody will want to join in.

[@MMABeijing]

i smile and poop as she smiles, anyone else get that?

[@choirinamuqtavia6623]

No im not. And im in 3rd year in physics department

[@vk2ig]

In my case, the answer to that question also depended on when it was asked. I did well in science in my junior highschool years, and then not so well in my senior highschool years (I took Physics and Chemistry). In Physics, I was average to slightly above average, except for the semester when we studied electricity, magnetism and electronics - where I got top marks. Similarly with maths: I was average to slightly above average, except for the semester when we studied complex numbers. So, when I finished school, the answer would've been "No". Instead of going to university, I did an electrical engineering trade. Towards the end of that, I found a lot of the physics and maths concepts I had struggled with were much more obvious ... so much so that I wondered (and still do) why I had so much trouble in school. So I decided to give engineering a try at university. And that's where I applied the same thinking as stated around 10:48 in this video: I decided I needed to be good enough, regardless. I had no problems with the classes run by the physics and maths departments at uni, and enjoyed learning stuff they weren't covering in the physics classes ... so much so that my assignment work started ringing alarm bells with our lecturer and tutors. One day in the lab, the department head asked who I was and why I knew more about the previous week's lab topic (black body radiation) than he did. After a few questions he was satisfied that I wasn't getting someone else to write my work, and he gave me the best compliment I ever got during any of my physics studies: "Any time you want to switch from engineering to physics, come and see me." So some four or so years after I felt I wasn't smart enough, a department head with a Ph.D in physics told me I was! 😁

[@SanilJadhav711]

k

[@marvinfuchs3152]

Congrats

[@ozymandias8523]

You switched to physics?

[@vk2ig]

@@ozymandias8523 No, I stuck with electrical engineering due to my interests in radio at that time... although looking back I could have swapped and enjoyed a career in experimental physics instead. About a year after I graduated, I visited a radio observatory where the astronomer in charge suggested I might like to go back to uni and study astrophysics. The trouble was that I was starting an interesting engineering career, and I had run out of money after studying engineering for four years.

[@Dopaaamine27]

It takes lot of hard work. Smartness is not a factor.

[@dawnbroker5156]

The following qualities are needed : 1) a good IQ : not necessarily a genius IQ. If you can logically follow an argument and it's implications and make reasonable deductions then you are good to go. An average IQ is okay. 2) confidence and passion for physics. 3) hard work and discipline. 4) Enjoy mathematics.

[@justgemthings]

"Are you inspired enough to study Physics?"

[@meaninglessjunk9594]

so far physics isn’t bad for me. i’m majoring in physics at UCLA and am currently taking differential eqns, linear algebra, electricity and magnetism, and optics/thermo. kinda nervous for what’s to come!

[@nooralazzam4542]

It's been 4 years... So was it the right decision to major in physics?

[@KeithMakank3]

Its just hard work, you gotta love it, and you gotta love working at it.

[@JagjivanSinghCheema]

We are hard enough to sustain the aim of studying Physics !!

[@beenaalavudheen4343]

You might wanna rephrase that

[@Noah-nt4tb]

Please work on phrasing and grammer

[@spiceboyruns970]

*strong buddy you mean strong

[@flayy5750]

lmaooo hard

[@studentperson4552]

no. I think he's British. here in the England section, "hard" can be used in the same manner as "tough".

[@laupii1]

I'm watching this while I'm in the 4th year of my undergraduate physics course 😂😂

[@Tigerman303]

I don't know why I'm watching this, I'm actually a biology student lmao

[@uzairhussain4856]

Its fine to watch anything 😅

[@sardarbekomurbekov1030]

I want to learn Physics

[@abdusabdud8218]

Wow then what we can do?

[@Speed001]

@@abdusabdud8218 Learn Calculus.

[@christopheribarra1170]

As a Physics major who graduated last year, I would say that if you're good at math and like science, then maybe yes. But, I would say very strongly that you have to be very good at math because that is ALWAYS in the way of understanding higher level physics. Very important to know well Calculus, Differential Equations, Liner Algebra and some higher lever concepts from Numerical Analysis, Statistics, and Applied Analysis. You have to be good at math, period. The physics concepts themselves are very clever and take a good amount of thinking to understand, though imo, there aren't as many things to memorize as say Biology or Chemistry. So you don't really need a good memory, you just need to see the concepts frequently from different sources to get different explanations and have one stick to you.

[@washyourmouthoutwithpope1334]

"good at math" isn't a thing. maths is a skill that can be learned like any other and all you need is a willingness to learn it, even if it might take you longer than others. too many people give up on their dreams of pursuing stem because they've been convinced they're "bad at math", when in reality they probably just need some more time and a different way of learning.

[@Animeabhay-tw9fc]

I am good in physics theory and maths calculus but I do some time struggle in some minor calculations I am above average student overall can I do physics

[@musicalneptunian]

Yeah. I went to school with a brilliant maths student. He won every prize. But he couldn't understand novels at all; the English teacher had to say to him that for your final year exam choose a novel that is concrete. Because abstract themes didn't work for him. The hardest subject in my opinion is musical composition. I'll say why. Composition is functional and aesthetic. So you can make great music technically and fail to make it sound good. Whereas in physics, maths, brain surgery and flying a plane sure, it is hard and requires a lot of training and discipline. But your task is functional. At least most of the time. [we could get into engineers making stuff that also looks good, computer programmers making more elegant code etc] . You have to get it right. It doesn't matter how beautiful your physics is. It just has to work right.

[@santiagomaffeis1440]

As a summary of what he said, just follow your dreams, do what you want, don't let anyone stop what you want to be. Because in the end you will come back to great, you will try and try every time you fail, try again, your desire to succeed must always be greater than the fear of failure. Only then will you succeed. So never stop always continuing the day you do it in life you will be rewarded.

[@ludovicaricardi9173]

I always thought I am, and I definitley think I am now at second year. I like what I am doing, and I just want to know more about physics every day. I like doing exercises so much (in particular when they're strange and unusual ahahah) and studying prooves. And I have learnt, studying physics, how much I love math and how I want a grade even in math. I made classical studies in high school for 5 years, just like most of my teachers at university, and at first studying new things was hard, hard AS FUCK, but I then realised how I didn't want to do anything else in life. I found out how I could apply my logic in latin translation, for example, throught problems and I've found that I personally prefer a lot more solving problems. I personally am a problem solver (dealing with anxiety but yeah). It's hard for everybody studying physics, but if it's what you really like (be sincere obv) it's the right choice. Greetings from Italy

[@Epilogue_04]

As someone who used to hate everything related to math i had the same fear when i had to decide which carrer to study, finally i decided physics, im in 4th semester and im having so much struggles but thats is not the important, as the time was passing i started to realize the beauty of math and physics, i love art and trust me i was able 1to find art on math and physics, you just have to believe that on yourself.

[@DAVID.PRINCIPE.DURAN.]

You have to enjoy in order to learn something! Come on, your voice is wonderful!

[@salvatoreshiggerino6810]

The real question should be "are you patient enough to deal with all the bean counters in academia?"

[@thiagolima4054]

A great video to start my third semester on physics!

[@cedric2803]

You just need to be smart enough to follow your dreams! :D

[@allietarasova3560]

Lol...

[@complex_variation]

thank you Tibees, I´ll go study now.

[@Watson_1776]

I mean I dont know where to start but I have been dipping in and out of studying physicis since I was 17 and honestly I am obsessed with it, I'm 27 now and I'm much more inquisitive and curious than I was 10 years ago, this is my calling

[@arecus54]

Am in first year of physics, unfortunately I wished I didnt sleep through math in the past, my math skills are definitely showing right now... Oh well

[@hazyherbs1923]

I like she was straight forward with the name. Not a single American would post a video with a title like this. Thank you.

[@alienkishorekumar]

Smart enough is not enough nowadays. If you are not the top guy, you are literally wasting time being mediocre even if you are just some random experiments being Postdoc or correcting papers of undergrad or whatever. And then you slog away your life being an assistant lecturer or whatever shit position it is. There is so much competition in Academia that you need to be in the top of your game which is why many end up going to banking/finance which is a shame.

[@zualapips1638]

Would you consider banking and finance mediocre positions?

[@xMiDniTe17]

@@zualapips1638 It's not mediocre, but you're not practicing physics anymore and rarely does anyone go into a physics PhD program with the intention of leaving the field after they've received their PhD. So it's shame in the sense that you're not able to practice your passion anymore because the field is not very employable outside of Academia and research facilities. @Alien Machine is right. It's so insanely hard to get any professor position at a university, let alone a tenure track full-time professor position. It's unfortunate that such a beautiful field is so unemployable within its field.

[@iffatchowdhury25]

Banking finance isn't easy.. it's very brutal in hours and grind if you want to do well. I know many peers working 100 hours weeks and doing work beyond trying to get up.

[@jonasdaverio9369]

For a physicist? Probably

[@anushkakulkarni2238]

You are very negative .

[@lukeivanov2327]

My SAT score on the math section was only above average. I didn't get all A's during my high school math and science courses. About to finish my 3rd year on my Applied Math and Statistics degree

[@cielolopez3019]

Not sure if I’m smart enough since my high school career my mental health was in shambles and I never made good grades but now that I’m better off I make really good grades in all my classes so hopefully it’s something I can do later in my life 🥺

[@maxivides]

Talk about illegal ways of getting e-books 😜

[@ChristianGonzalezCapizzi]

Lib-gen

[@Bob-np9no]

@@ChristianGonzalezCapizzi library genesis :)

[@erkinalp]

We would surely like to see a Toby interviews Alexandra Elbakyan video.

[@StevenPhD4]

maxivides torrents

[@weareallinthis3668]

maxivides LMFAOOO

[@ShidenYTx]

Before even watching the video, it should be : Am I motivated enough to study physics ?

[@pascalphysics8034]

Im only 15 but I've aspired to become a theoretical physicist since I was 10. It would be my dream to specialise in Quantum theory or string theory or dark matter. Physics and maths are my faveroute subjects in school right now and your videos have inspired me to persue my dream to become a world changing physicist one day🤞. Thanks Tibees

[@formerunsecretarygeneralba9536]

Well I wish you the best of luck and advice you to not make the stupid decision I made in highschool to take accounting, even though I really wanted to take physics but nooo I just had to choose the class that my friend chose.

[@pascalphysics8034]

@@formerunsecretarygeneralba9536 Thanks for the heads up. My Friends are telling me to persue something else but will continue to become what i want to become. That tip really helped! The thing is I just don't know where to start and how to become one

[@frede1905]

​@@pascalphysics8034 Hey. How is it going right now? Very late comment, but I was inspired to check in, as I am currently a 20 year old physics student myself, meaning I am probably your age.

[@cafux78]

My sincere preoccupation is not whether I'm smart enough or not, but if I'll be able to compete with those who are WAY smarter than me. Will I be left out of good jobs and end up doing the stuff that nobody wants to do, because the interesting positions are already taken by these geniuses? Will I dedicate 15 years of my life, to end up failing and working in a field that has absolutely nothing to do with what I studied?

[@salva6579]

No, I am not.

[@Tntpker]

Calm down Joker.

[@blueheartz3629]

Tntpker lol

[@BenDover-vh9rs]

Or pherhaps you're afraid to see that you haven't tried your best, that you don't know your fullest self.

[@musicalneptunian]

You are smart enough to say that you are not. So you are smart enough to do it!

[@HeyKevinYT]

No, if you say so. Don’t let fear control you because it already got your tongue.

[@carlosgallegos1265]

Probably mental stability means more than intelligence. I get depressed often and I messed up my 2nd year of my degree in astrophysics. Be stubborn, ask for help when you need it and you'll do better than me for sure.

[@stargate4847]

The word smart is a complex word to define since its meaning might depend on the context. However, I do believe that everyone has the capacity to learn Mathematics or Physics. Society has taught us that if you are not able to understand math, you are not smart enough and that is the most ludicrous thing you can ever know. We all are smart beings that have the capacity to learn whatever thing we want. We just need to believe that we can do it because if we are living our lives with limitations, we won’t be able to change our reality. Moreover, it is hard to understand physics or math because it takes time to understand them properly, but everything pays off at the end. You just need to really work hard.

[@21studies87]

I am extremely passionate about physics and I’m completely sure that I’ll study physics in College, but I am scared of not being good enugh. I’m a sophomore in High School and I find it very hard to determinate if I am either a good student or not, because I do better than most of my classmates but I don’t get the best grades (at all). Anyways the decision is alredy made and I’m certain that I won’t change my mind happens what happens, so at this point fear is useless. Thank you so much for making this video, it really helped me! Now at least I know where to start

[@JusNuncle]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the subject! Definitely for me.

[@advaitavedanta6295]

What is your IQ?...I think more than 125

[@WinStunSmith]

“Less than legal ways” to get textbooks online!! So, smart and, possibly, a bit deviant. damn!

[@siegfriedhiryu4660]

I'm glad you encourage a growth mindset instead of this asinine fixed one where people can be categorized as "bad at math" or "good at math". I fell into the fixed mindset when I first took physics and chemistry and I struggled in it. When I came back to chemistry at least, I was determined to be good at it, and it paid off in dividends.

[@joshsmit779]

It would be interesting to see a study where they measure participants IQ before and after they complete their physics degree.

[@b377e4]

Yeah

[@samscott6880]

The study was conducted. The Average post-grad in the field of Mathematics and Phy-Science score between 130-135.

[@MisterH1992]

I made A's in Precalculus through Calculus II. In Calculus III, I made a B. I did very poorly in University Physics I. It got me realizing that being good at math isn't enough. Even if I understood Calculus, I needed more than that. I needed to understand how to use my analytical thinking properly when it comes to other subjects. I wasn't one of those students who relies on solely remembering the formulas. Rarely used a calculator cause it would have gotten my way into understanding math. It's just with physics, you have to expand the way you think.

[@accidentalGamer69]

physics is the best subject for me, the best thing about it is I don't have to memorise anything

[@advaitavedanta6295]

Yes

[@nourelimane7839]

I never considered myself as a "smart person " even that my family keeps calling me a genius but they don't know how much effort i put on studying physics and mathematics and all other subjects and i know that im not enough to be a physicist as i wish but still something makes me keep loving it and studying it anyway and i know that im not smart i am not i am just a hardworking person

[@goedelite]

I approach the question from a vocational vantage. How do you expect to earn a living? Are you smart enough depends on one's goals. Does he (or she) want to teach, to do research, to work in an industrial setting, to be an administrator in science? In teaching, there are opportunities from secondary education to university. In good universities, teaching is accompanied by research and/or administrative work. In colleges, teaching is the major occupation along with administration, with much less time for research. Each of these goals demands its own skills. Rarely, does one person excel in all of them, but there are such people. I think that questions of ability are less often the concern. The folk law of hydrodynamics, "water seeks its own level", applies well here. What is often more of concern is inadequate preparation. Everyone should have a fall back position. These are hard times. Because of competition in the marketplace for jobs, various professional organizations set up barriers not entirely designed to protect the public from incompetents, though they do have that function. For example, a physicist in times of scarce job offerings may try to find employment as a teacher or an engineer. He will find the lack of a teaching certificate a high barrier to teaching in secondary education. He will find the lack of an engineering degree or of a P.E.'s certification a serious handicap. If one knows that his abilities place him in the top rank of university physicists, he may probably rely on his professors to find him a place no matter the state of the economy - I suppose! He may take a second major in mathematics. For most physics graduates, a second major in engineering is more practical than one in mathematics, I would suggest. It makes easier getting a P.E. To have a teaching certificate for the worst of times is not a bad idea. During the 1930s, the days of the Great Depression, many fine physicists with published research taught in the City Colleges of New York. I hope my comments will be helpful.

[@sriyamadarapu7250]

Thank you! I needed this.😊

[@JPowerMMA]

Thanks Tibees, this helps me a lot. Like your channel and your approach to solving problems Oh and you’re so right about the stereotype about physicists. All I here is: you must be very smart, or: that must be a lot of math

[@iWrInstincts]

i chose physics because i liked it a lot and i thought the equations were elegant. though i definitely do not call myself a genius in maths/physics, i try my best to put in my 100% effort.

[@jacoboribilik3253]

Anybody can study math and physics but just a few can become Newton and Gauss.

[@owlie1744]

It's also a question of why like if you really want to study xy then there's a way and you will manage if your why is strong enough

[@chrisheath687]

I already know I am not... but I'm gonna watch anyway lmao

[@Tatterdemalion-77]

If I decide to return to uni for a second B.S. degree in biology, I will have to take an intro physics course. I do worry about it. As a “mature” student, my maths are not what they used to be, and I struggled enough to earn a C in chemistry 101. I think for some it is less about being smart enough than being confident enough and determined enough.

[@cjbest]

Thank you Tibees, The links was so helpful to me. Love you.

[@HeyItsKora]

I don’t think I’m apt for a physics degree, that’s why I joined one. I’m halfway through the first year, I’m behind on work and am struggling to get stuff in on time, but I would never let that stop me from following my hearts deepest desire. Watch me struggle and stumble clumsily to the top. I don’t care how many drawbacks there are, I’ve got tunnel vision, and a physics post-grad research program is at the end of this tunnel. :)

[@LarsGuerra]

"Admiration is the furthest state from understanding." ~ Aizen

[@xcalibur6482]

Also why dont you make a video like... Engineering vs physics

[@eduardorivera508]

Your videos provide such great motivation! I'd love to hear your perspective on how one can build the right amount of discipline to stay consistent in studies!

[@LivingDead53]

IQ is a joke, and it's destroyed my life. It's a memory stress-test. Given enough time, people could easily pass. The trick to it is to not run out of time.

[@yeetyeetyeet1967]

IQ tests measure different kinds of intelligence and divide them to get the average, and the memory test is just one of them

[@LivingDead53]

@@yeetyeetyeet1967 have you ever had an IQ test? It's almost all memory. The blocks require you to remember a shape. The matrix requires you to remember steps in your head, the knowledge section asks (randomly) what you remember from school, etc.

[@Isaiaswolf66]

Any core science ( Biology, chemistry, physics ) is going to be extremely difficult. And this including some engineering courses. But what matters is your will to finish, your passion for science or stem. Of course there are genius around, and we can't deny some people with cognitive problems. But anyone with average iq can, but you do need to sacrifice lots of social life. And your reward is not always money, or recognition, it's your happiness to shed light on a phenomenona.

[@mommywraith1316]

Hi! It would be great if you could acknowledge this comment. The truth is I’m not particularly smart but physics and anything math related makes me excited. I’m 17 years old and I’m at the point where I have to decide what I will do and even though I’m not the smartest and am a bit slow, I think if I try hard enough I can actually make it . If I try hard enough. Those couple words might mean a lot to me soon lol . What do you think ?

[@samihenrisub7i997]

I'm doing first year in physics...I'm not dead yet so that's a good sign

[@damii5669]

What about now:)? How you doing

[@yaoyaoxiao6637]

I did not expect her to say Sheldon Cooper but I am here for it.

[@y7ke]

I got 100% without physics but after adding physics I got 97% you know it’s hard🤣🤣

[@yasserelfahli]

Im from Morocco and I love physics 💕

[@BrokenGamerYT]

My old siblings say it’s really hard, put idk, I have to wait till high school

[@lukedefreitas3603]

It doesn't matter if you are smart enough or not. It matters if you have the grit

[@paulmiz3671]

Ah Tibee - you are keeping my spirits up. Love you

[@cagryagmur7849]

Your voice is so calmy i feel like i am on the coast

[@renkun7064]

You are so cute.

[@DragonRazor9283]

Ren kun lmao

[@CJ-ic5iq]

lmao

[@foreverKHHV]

"ooo, someone's simping!"

[@Tobi21089]

Everyone is smart enough . Like myself I am particular the smartest person but I am now in my 5th semester in Germany (physics major bachelor) and it is going actually okay not great nor bad first 3 semesters were brutal from all the input u got which u always need too understand and actually know how too derive it again but I think everyone can atleast get a bachelor if u take take it seriously

[@n.h.2337]

That simple 'probably yes' at the beginning was a pleasant surprise

[@sumitkumarsingh2893]

Hey does IQ really matters because most of us have IQ of 130 & above and still just sitting at home and watching your youtube videos

[@dabtican4953]

Speak for yourself, I realise that I'm pretty slow but I just like physics

[@arturocevallossoto5203]

Like buying the most expensive toolbox set in Home Depot and never using it.

[@Grim-kg9bf]

my iq is 122 and im offended

[@danielstone5810]

Yup, what she's saying about the documentaries and stuff is true. I was blown away by a quantum physics documentary and got immediately to reading and studying theoretical physics from books and the internet. I got hooked by the math; math is indeed a magical, worthy-of-epic-music thing!!!

[@DasIllu]

Flipping burgers must be really hard. McD has a lot of physicists doing just that. Just kidding. =)

[@MyuFoxable]

Actually probably more like engineers as they figure out how to make a fully automated restaurant.

[@Andreas4696]

Engineers and physicists get jobs quite easily. Chemists and biologists are as screwed as the liberal arts majors.

[@geddon436]

@@Andreas4696 Why are chemists and bioligist screwed?

[@eliselol85]

@@geddon436 not so much chemiwts as biologists. Chemists can still transition to finance corporate sector work(Law Patent Atrorney etc...) and chemical engineering/pharmacy/grad Medicine because the have enough mathemarical content in the UK. Biologists its either grad med/bio or teaching research or you are screwed.

[@mahimakammar5852]

I may not be smart now, but I'm going to develop qualities that are needed to study physics.

[@beachboardfan9544]

9:55 summation, if you're too lazy to google the exams/textbooks/course requirements, you're probably not going to fair well during the courses. Saw that smirk 😄 Self efficacy is paramount when it comes to education 👍

[@mohitnarwal91]

You are curious and smart so that you can study physics. Toby is a Genius. This world take time to search about Genius(Toby).

[@ascarinights]

Nope

[@atoz5859]

You know what I was thinking about this question since a few days. I wanted to ask someone who would give me the proper answer. And coincidently you uploaded the video on the same question. Thank you so much. I haven't watched it completely. Now I will watch it.

[@noelnewlon]

There's the Uni and the Universe. Formal study of physics occurs at the Uni where answers are assumed given problems to be presented. Informal study of physics occurs relative to the Universe where problems and answers are not nicely presented. If a person is presented with a problem and told that there's an answer, then they are motivated to seek the answer, knowing that there is one. It's totally different when faced with an indifferent complex that in effect says, "Figure me out, but there may not be any answers." This takes real tenacity and intelligence to undertake, knowing that there may be no resolve whatsoever.

[@gene9230]

I think I am not smart enough for physics, but I already have a PhD in physics, so what should I do?