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So, since a fellow blogger managed to spark a discussion about the benefits of Physics vs. Chemistry, I figured I’d weigh in.

Physics is good for macro-scale, real-world applications of things. Chemistry is good for micro-scale, really small applications. In everyday life, it’s not terribly clear that taking an AP class in either one would really help anyone. Physics helps figure out more common sense things, and can play a role in figuring out how to engineer things that you might actually want to (ramps, etc.), while Chemistry helps do very specific things, like react two things, get a different chemical, or such. However, I don’t really see most people using Chemistry in everyday situations.

So, my vote? Well, I’m partial to Physics. Then again, I could be biased: I’m in AP Physics, but not in AP Chemistry. Talking to students in both classes, they’re usually confident that the class they’ve chosen is the best one. Among the few, dedicated people (”double-execution style” club, as Tommy calls them) in both classes, Chemistry actually seems to be the favorite (with some dissension), though mostly because it’s considered more “fun.” Then again, with a teacher who routinely sets various things on fire, and makes a plush-mole cannon, that’s a pretty hard category for Physics to win.

Overall, the winners seem to be Physics for usefulness, and Chemistry for entertainment value.

Andy Schmitz