Show Posts
1
Science / Re: physics
« on: April 10, 2015, 01:29:58 am »
Okay if you are seriously considering learning about physics, disregard most posts before this one.
If all you do is watch Kakku videos and "soft" tutorials, you'll never learn a single thing. Posts like "Check out the Maxwell Equations" are also useless- you aren't going to know what they even mean if you haven't had a course in differential equations.
Kaku has written books but there are two levels:
1. Bullshit books about "The future of the mind", the possibilities of parallel worlds, and many others that don't contain a single equation - you won't learn anything
2. Very technical books designed for graduate students. I've seen his book on QFT but I don't have first hand experience with any others. These books are designed for masters and phd students. Without a couple of 500 level math and physics courses these books are moot.
The best way to go about self teaching physics is by modifying a university's program. Most colleges require you to take general chemistry I and II, physics I, II, III (equates to netowinan mechanics, optics, electricity and magnetism, and modern physics) along with calc I II II, differential equations and linear algebra I II (equivilent to a lower division and upper division).
The reason why you NEED these pre reqs is because all of modern physics is essential built off of them. An example is quantum mechanics. First, you need to know how to use physics to model a vibrating string. Then you need the math to formulate it into an equation. It turns out the governing equation is a PDE (partial differential equation) which can be broken into two linearly independent ODEs (ordinary differential equations). The schrodinger equation is derived from various cases of the solution to the PDE. The solution method is to recognize that the two ODEs representing the PDE are linear - and there exists a solution method for these types which you learn in your ODE class.
Once you master the general requirements, students typically take theoretical physics (essentially a math modeling class) before moving onto higher up classes, like the ones you wish to know about.
My ultimate recommendation is to go find a university whether its Stanford, MIT, or your local CC and check out the course path. From that course path, determine where you are and which classes you need to take. Then go find the course web pages and find out which book they use for the curse-you can even email the course instructor for this. Then buy the book-a hard copy- and start at chapter 1. Repeat.
If all you do is watch Kakku videos and "soft" tutorials, you'll never learn a single thing. Posts like "Check out the Maxwell Equations" are also useless- you aren't going to know what they even mean if you haven't had a course in differential equations.
Kaku has written books but there are two levels:
1. Bullshit books about "The future of the mind", the possibilities of parallel worlds, and many others that don't contain a single equation - you won't learn anything
2. Very technical books designed for graduate students. I've seen his book on QFT but I don't have first hand experience with any others. These books are designed for masters and phd students. Without a couple of 500 level math and physics courses these books are moot.
The best way to go about self teaching physics is by modifying a university's program. Most colleges require you to take general chemistry I and II, physics I, II, III (equates to netowinan mechanics, optics, electricity and magnetism, and modern physics) along with calc I II II, differential equations and linear algebra I II (equivilent to a lower division and upper division).
The reason why you NEED these pre reqs is because all of modern physics is essential built off of them. An example is quantum mechanics. First, you need to know how to use physics to model a vibrating string. Then you need the math to formulate it into an equation. It turns out the governing equation is a PDE (partial differential equation) which can be broken into two linearly independent ODEs (ordinary differential equations). The schrodinger equation is derived from various cases of the solution to the PDE. The solution method is to recognize that the two ODEs representing the PDE are linear - and there exists a solution method for these types which you learn in your ODE class.
Once you master the general requirements, students typically take theoretical physics (essentially a math modeling class) before moving onto higher up classes, like the ones you wish to know about.
My ultimate recommendation is to go find a university whether its Stanford, MIT, or your local CC and check out the course path. From that course path, determine where you are and which classes you need to take. Then go find the course web pages and find out which book they use for the curse-you can even email the course instructor for this. Then buy the book-a hard copy- and start at chapter 1. Repeat.