Quote:
Originally Posted by astrocookie
hi all,
like everyone on ice in space, I am passionate about astronomy. At the moment, have been thinking of a future in astrophysics. during my lower highschool years, i have always felt confident in the science classroom but I'm now really starting to worry that my not being any good at maths (I average at c level) will prevent me form being able to progress with my studies without it being really difficult 
I know that hard work is the only thing thats going to help, but I find maths really mind boggling sometimes 
advice would be much appreciated |
Hi Molly, I'm the one Steven was talking to you about
What are the grades they give you in Victoria for your subjects?? That'll give me some idea of where you're at present. Oh, and what grade are you in?? Even if you're in Grade 11 (or 12), you can still get your maths marks up to give you a decent start.
Nothing worth the effort is easy. Even I struggle with things at times, but you just have to be persistent and don't be afraid to ask for help.
With any science, let alone astrophysics, it does pay to have a reasonable grasp of maths. You don't have to be a "super genius" or an A grade student (it helps though
), but so long as you can understand the basics of algebra and calculus, you'll be OK. Most people who enter uni and end up doing astronomy/astrophysics in graduate/postgrad school usually take physics and some maths classes at uni. Although the physics classes are the most important. However, you can come at it from several angles....you can do geology, chemistry or biology and still do astronomy in postgrad. It's not all physics, although it will be a major component of any course. Someone with a background in chemistry, for instance, can become an astrochemist and study the chemistry of molecular and dust clouds. You could become an astrobiologist, and study the "bugs upstairs"...comparing life here with any possible life in space, looking for Earth like planets and figuring out the environments there. As a planetary geologist, you look for planets orbiting other stars and use what we know about our own solar system to model the other planets and the conditions which allow their formation. You will even have heaps still to study about our own solar system. There are many different avenues which you can try. See which ones you like. I'm a planetary geologist, but I also have an interest in stellar formation and evolution. I like to know how the stars, of all sizes, are formed and evolve because they can give me clues on how widespread the formation of planets is, and just how common terrestrial and giant planets are. Knowing what types of star are more likely to form planets also allows scientists to work out where possible places for life to be found, might be.
Where maths will really come to the fore is when you start to get into areas like cosmology, galaxy formation evolution and dynamics, stellar formation and evolution, stellar structure (helioseismology, thermodynamics and the like), anywhere you need maths to model astrophysical characteristics and phenomenon. That can be pretty much in all branches, however some are more laden with maths than others.
If you don't want, or need, to do a pure maths/physics course at uni (if you're not thinking of becoming a particle physicist/cosmologist or any sort of purely theoretical astrophysicist), then I would suggest you take other courses in science which you may like. Say a combination of physics/geology, physics/chemistry, physics/biology...or whatever you feel is going to get you into where you want to be. If there are any astronomy subjects you can take, then do so. They will help quite a lot and give you an idea of where things will head for you in the future. Plus, give you the introductory background knowledge you need. In any case, a mix of courses will give you extra grounding in how science works across disciplines and helps to break things up a bit. Keeps you from going mad