Physics

As stated in a book by Iwan Rhys Monus, physics is the king of all sciences (Saloma 2009). It is the leading science that talks about nature and its frontiers (Legara 2009; Saloma 2009). No matter what one does, he cannot escape it because it is everywhere. Interactions are bound by axioms, decisions by equations, among others. But why do other persons keep on bragging on it, keep on telling that they hate it and questioning its importance? Why do they find it hard to appreciate it just like how they find it hard also in other sciences? This notion must be dared immediately by the disciples of Newton, Einstein, among others.

Culture and Economy

As told by Dr Jose Magpantay (2008) in The Forum Roundtable on Science Teaching and Research, the benefits of science are what must be brought to the masses. And by science, it pertains to all the fields, especially physics. And by bringing those benefits, they will realize that physics is culture and economy itself.

First of all, it is culture because people think systematically about everything (Magpantay 2008). That is why some are not easily-driven to believe anything, especially hoaxes and superstitions (Magpantay 2008). Aside from that, physics is a thorough analysis of life in the society. That is why investigations are made from time to time. For example, it was determined through the Abrams-Strogatz model that language death is inevitable regardless speakers of a certain group are monolingual or bilingual; however, that language death can be slowed if not reversed through interaction with other groups, borrowing of languages, among others (Fudolig, 2007, p. 55). Another example is that neural network approach can predict with at most 95 percent success the outcome through survey responses (this was applied in the 1998 presidential election) (Monterola, 2002, page 108). And lastly, the most common example of this is that interaction to strangers can be made easy because in fact, everyone is just six steps away from each other (Watts-Strogatz model) (Batac 2009). Such small world scenario applies even in today’s social networking sites (Batac 2009).

Second, physics is economy because it gives an idea to improve the quality of industry and boost the wealth of a nation. One of the applications of this is the emerging field of econphysics. For example, a company needs to recruit more employees and boost its income. To recruit more employees, everyone must use their connections (friends and acquaintances) as guided by the small world principle (Legara, 2006, p. 40; Legara, 2008, p.28; Legara et al, 2008). And in order to have big profits and income, the company must advertise to attract customers, earn big, and get more famous and wealthier (Legara, 2006, p.40). The Barabassi-Albert model, which applies to the earlier scenario also explains the 80-20 rule of decisions (Legara 2006; Legara 2008). Aside from econphysics, instrumentation and materials science are also important. It applies to all the gadgets and other trends, making it receive more than half of the total research grant (Saloma 2009; Esguerra 2009).

Therefore, a reason to study physics is because it is culture and economy itself. It is a science that gives great benefits to the masses. Through it, heritage can be preserved and development can be attained.

Too Theoretical, Too Unimportant?

What about for the astrophysics, cosmology, nuclear research, among others? They seem too irrelevant with the society. But such fields must not be ignored because they are the roots of applications (Magpantay 2008). They serve as the developers of the brightest ideas physics has ever produced.

Their practitioners can teach physics needed in the applied fields (Magpantay 2008). Like in quantum physics, the dynamical quantum-classical time problem, when solved, can construct classical counterparts of quantum observables, such as transistors and integrated circuits, with no hassle at all (Galapon, 2001, p. 106; Saloma 2009). Another example is the issue of estimation. At first glance, the Drake equation is used just to estimate the civilizations in a galaxy (Esguerra 2009). However, it can actually be reconstructed from time to time to arrive on different precise estimates, like the number of dates you can have (Esguerra 2009).

There also have been many breakthroughs because of such irrelevant fields (Magpantay 2008). The quantum physics applications mentioned earlier are also under these. But, a more important thing is the hypertext mark-up language (Magpantay 2008). It is unknown to many that such language that lead to development of the Internet was developed by a staff member of the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) (Magpantay 2008).

Therefore, theoretical physics must never be ignored. It is because it is the root of the applications and breakthroughs physics everyone enjoys.

Instruction and Reflection

According to the rating basis of Shanghai Jiao Tung University, a good university is a great research university (Saloma 2009). And complementary to a great research is a great instruction (Magpantay 2008). And such good manner of instruction is developed and can be found in physics.

Nowadays, the emerging field of physics education develops ways of effective instruction (Batac 2009). As first suggested by Prof Eric Mazzur of Harvard University, student interaction opportunities (SIO) must be inserted in lectures (Batac 2009). Now, SIO is developed in the National Institute of Physics in the University of the Philippines is optimized through competition-driven peer instruction, which also involves the seating arrangement of students (Batac 2009).

Psychophysics, another emerging field, also helps improves education by giving ideas in order to detect what a man has learned and needs to learn yet. For example, one can know that he needs to understand that an indigenous person did not receive formal education through the logarithmic number line (shown in an experiment with an Amazon tribe) (Batac 2009). Therefore, through that, he may be given enough instruction on higher mathematics, especially the concept of the Cartesian plane (because number lines of formally-educated people are equally spaced compared to those of the uneducated) (Batac 2009). Another good example would be the concept of random numbers, wherein generating those numbers are affected by visual and auditory stimuli (Batac 2009).

But, aside from the mainstream physics, all the physical concepts must also apply to one’s philosophy (Villegas 2009). As told by a mentor in high school, values apply not just in the subject entitled after it but actually, it applies to everything. The concepts of physics are life’s advices in disguise (Villegas 2009). Such thing happens because life is a versatile field itself. For example, one may remember harmonic motion every time for life itself is a pendulum, problems are damping forces, and motivation is resonance (Villegas 2009). By reflecting on life through physics, one may be able to remember the concepts because he sees it every time. And for those who do not appreciate physics, they might learn to do so.

After all, one must study and appreciate physics. It is not just because one cannot escape it but because it is the one responsible for the many developments in the society. Everything everyone does and enjoys is a mere product of physics. It is just that simple. However, some things in physics may just be too complex enough. But they must not be ignored because such thing leads to the greatest breakthroughs of physics. Also, through physics, the quality of education is improved by its different experiments on instruction. And finally, those physical concepts shall always be remembered by seeing it as mere guidelines of life.

Physics is the king of all sciences, making it worth the study, appreciation, and attention. Others may state that those who satisfy such thing may be called geeks. But as told in the television series The Big Bang Theory, “geek is the new sexy” because they are more open to the society, making them shape it with no hassle.

REFERENCES
• Batac, R C. Complexity Science. Delivered in Physics 10 THU class on 10 September 2009.
• Esguerra, J P H. Physics and Society II. Delivered in Physics 10 THU class on 6 and 13 October 2009.
• Esguerra, J P H. Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Delivered in Physics 10 THU class on 15 and 17 September 2009.
• Fudolig, M I D. Language Competition in Split Populations with Limited Interactions: Consequences on Language Maintenance and Death. Undergraduate thesis submitted to the National Institute of Physics, College of Science, University of the Philippines. 2007: Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
• Galapon, E A. The Quantum Time Problem. Dissertation submitted to the National Institute of Physics, College of Science, University of the Philippines. 2001: Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
• Legara, E F T. Dynamical Model and Strategies for Network Marketing. Undergraduate thesis submitted to the National Institute of Physics, College of Science, University of the Philippines. 2006: Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
• Legara, E F T. Dynamics of Networks and Social Aspects. Graduate thesis submitted to the National Institute of Physics, College of Science, University of the Philippines. 2008: Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
• Legara, E F T. Physics 10 Overview. Delivered in Physics 10 THU class on 18 June 2009.
• Legara, E F T; Monterola, C P; Juanico, D E; Litong-Palima, M; and Saloma C P. Earning Potential in Multilevel Marketing Enterprises. Physics A. 2008
• Magpantay, J A; Formacion, S P; Espino, T; and Nicolas, M. The Forum Roundtable on Science Teaching and Research. The University of the Philippines Forum Centennial Edition. 2008: Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
• Monterola, C P. Neural Networks: New Insights and Applications. Dissertations submitted to the National Institute of Physics, College of Science, University of the Philippines. 2002: Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
• Saloma, C P. Physics and Society. Delivered in Physics 10 THU class on 25 June and 24 September 2009.
• Villegas, V P. Damped Oscillations, Forced Oscillations, and Resonance (Sit In). Retrieved 22 September 2009. http://vampireeinstein.blogspot.com/2009/09/damped-oscillations-forced-oscillations.html
• Villegas, V P. Reflections. Retrieved 2 August 2009. http://vampireeinstein.blogspot.com/2009/08/reflections.html

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Note: This is the unedited copy of my argumentative essay in English 1 under Mrs Anna Melinda Testa-De Ocampo during the first semester of being a UP Freshman.

Physics and Society 2

Yesterday (pardon for the late post), Dr Perry Esguerra delivered the last part of the lecture about physics and society. And after such lecture, I truly realize that the first semester of the new batch of physics majors has started its last days. We would really miss having Physics 10 that much with Ma'am Ekkay and the other guest lecturers (*awww*).

To summarize the whole lecture (together with the omitted parts), Sir Perry told four important points: 1) science is fun; 2) science is human enterprise; 3) science is human tradition; 4) science drives technological innovation. To explain such things further, Nobel Prize awarding system, breakthroughs, research and development, among others were tackled.

Now, the reaction. For the first point, of course, it is. That is mainly the reason why intellectuals choose to be scientists despite the various consequences such as low income or violent criticisms. They choose to be scientists because they also want to leave a good mark on their own nations. Thus, they do their research to create a domino effect on things including our economy, which then leads to the second point. And because such research that lead to better outcomes, scientists repeat and improve their work that then becomes their lifetime dedication, leading us to the third point. And lastly, because that tradition talks about the applying knowledge and improving things, it all comes down to the fourth point.

In our lives, the same thing also goes. Everyone does crave that much for knowledge and for so many different things in life. We crave too much for that knowledge and want to achieve those things because we are happy with those. Our own achievements then drive us to think of more things and gain more friends. This process then keeps on repeating itself until it has thoroughly become a part of our lives. And that part of our lives let us strive now and then to become better persons and leave a grandeur, painting a wonderful life.