Self study Definition and 208 Threads

Dear Physics Forum personnel, I am a rising college junior in US with a major in mathematics and an aspiring applied mathematician in the fields of theoretical computing. I just recently got a research project on the complexity theory about the algebraic computation, approximation, and measure...

Hello, I just finished high school and will be starting a math degree next year. However, I have recently become interested in physics and am thinking of switching to a joint math/physics degree in year 2, so I will want to spend my first year privately studying some select physics books. My...

Hi guys, I recently finished my Physics undergraduate degree, and will be starting my first job in September. My employers have asked me to improve my knowledge of electronics before I begin work. I would like to improve my ability to analyse and understand circuits, and also learn more about...

I will be taking Chemistry 1 in the fall for undergrad science majors and am looking for a good study book to brush up on the basics. I took chemistry in high school two years ago and don't want to be re-learning basics that I was expected to know beforehand (sig figs, conversions, etc). Any...

Dear Physics Forum advisers, My name is Phoenix, a sophomore with major in mathematics and an aspiring applied mathematician in the theoretical computing. I wrote this email to seek your recommendation on the textbooks for abstract algebra. I want to self-study the abstract algebra during...

I need textbook recommendations for self studying physics. I thought of buying the classic Halliday Resnick Walker Fundamentals of Physics, but was confused about which edition I need to buy. I plan to teach myself the whole of basic physics, thus forming a base to further study certain topics...

Hi, Are Calculus I, II, III courses a prerequisite requirement for studying Abstract Algebra? I have read that Proofs and a willingness to work hard is. I am studying Logic and Set Theory and want to study Abstract Algebra in the distant future. I am focused on Foundational and Pure...

I just finished my sophomore year as an electrical engineering major. Now I've got a summer free (well, I work until 4:30), and I'd like to use it to self study something (one or more topics). So far, I've taken Calculus 1-3 as well as an ordinary differential equations course. I've taken two...

Dear Physics Forum personnel, I am a college sophomore with double majors in mathematics & microbiology and an aspiring analytic number theorist. I will be going to self-study the vector calculus by using Hubbard/Hubbard as a main text and Serge Lang as a supplement to Hubbard; this will help...

Hello I was looking for a volume set in intermediate/advanced math and I can't seem to find anything. I already have a book in calculus 2 but I'm looking to self study everything after that through advanced math. I want to be a theoretical physicist, but I'm open to learning interesting math...

Homework Statement [/B] A tensile load F is to be applied to a tie bar. The tie bar is 50 mm diameter. The surface of the bar has defects resulting from the manufacturing process, these have a maximum depth of 1.5 mm and have a shape factor of 1.4. If the fracture toughness of the material...

i am currently self studying qm, and i am trying to plan ahead since i am relatively over with griffiths part1 (which is the theory part) and i was wondering if i should go ahead to part 2 (applications) or should i just keep this for later and attempt to stregnthen my basics in qm from another...

I am currently in high school and have been driven to become a theoretical physicist in an unsure field for quite some time now. I have been unfairly placed in a very easy math class even though I already know it. I have been studying upon subjects such as algebra 2 and pre-cal and recently...

So, I graduated a few years ago with a liberal arts degree and I'm currently working as a programmer. Although I'm pretty good with the practical application of computer programming, my math is horrendously bad. Now that I'm wanting to go back to school, obtain an advanced degree, and change...

I would like to learn calculus from the start. I have had pre-calculus and have basic ideas about limits and derivates(though not very rigorously). Which book should I use? I have the book "Calculus The Easy Way" by Douglas Downing. I also have access to Calculus One by Ohio State University...

What are some good electrical engineering books for self study? I want to study electrical engineering and make my own little cpu (don't ask why).

i plan to take up a subject for self study in the coming vacation (starts 22/1) anyway i want to understand quantum mechanics but my pace so far is so slow, because well, i think the math is tough in most books and there is no appropriate introduction. I am in engineering school, so my limit of...

i was pressured into engineering, and not allowed to pursue physics. I see that every year (or even semester) that passes by, i am missing out on my dream. I wish to be a physicist, and even if it will mean that i will have to study it all myself. I just want you to recommend some self study...

I'm a grad student studying electrical/computer engineering. Since I have a month of winter break coming up soon, I want to use it to study some more about probability theory and stochastic processes. Has anyone previously done a self study or partner study over a break like this? If so, how did...

Hello all, I am a high school senior applying to college this year and have a question. Like many others on these forums, I have done a lot of self-studying of physics in my spare time, purely out of interest. How should I include self-study on a college application, and for for those you who...

Hello, Quantum Physics is a topic that I didn't study in college, and, I do not know why, is calling my attention lately. Just to mention my background, I had 2 physics courses (mechanics and electromagnetism), and I used to study from Physics 1 and 2 by David Halliday, Robert Resnick, in early...

There are some classes that are not offered at my university, which I want to self study. How can I self study them effectively to get the same benefit as doing the class at university? There is this class MIT 6.024j Mathematics for Computer Science which I very much want to take online...

Hello, Firstly, let me point out that I do not have much knowledge in physics. However, after reading a certain book, I wanted to find out more about time dilation. I spent a few days reading about it. Here is the problem: Homework Statement I would like to be able to calculate the...

I am a freshman (ore med). My curriculum does not have physics until junior year of college. I want to take the MCAT at the beginning of junior year. I am reading the AP Physics textbook of my high school (I didn't actually take AP Physics, I just bought the textbook) and while I am learning a...

Homework Statement My source textbook is the community college / junior college (confer: undergraduate-lower division) probability and statistics textbook: An Introduction to Mathematical Statistics and Its Applications, 2nd Edition Authors: Richard J. Larsen, Morris L. Marx 1986...

Any good textbooks on differential geometry for self study? I'm not the best at reading comprehension. I've already studied Calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra.

Hello. I am an MD but Physics excites me. Interested in Physics, I want to self study the subject from the beginning so that I can come to grips with the subject. I have a sound mathematical background and I know I can study myself but help regarding books would be appreciated. So please anyone...

I was planning on using Richard Feynman's lectures on physics to study for high school ap tests on mechanics and electromagnetism. I don't know how in depth Feynman's lectures go, since there are no problems but I've heard it works when you're trying to grasp the material. However, I don't know...

In this post i want to discuss good chemistry textbooks vs. bad chemistry textbooks and I'd like some help finding a good General chemistry textbook for university - Undergraduate level. What Is a good introductory chemistry textbook? So i finally found a book in organic chemistry which...

I am a mechanical engineer with 2 1/2years working experience. I have a Bachelor degree in Science (Mechanical Engineering). Physics is one of my favorite subject when I was in high school. Even though I already graduated from University, during my free time, I will self study Physics. I have an...

Hello It has come to my attention that the AP Physics B test is being replaced with AP Physics 1 and 2 for the 2014/15 school year. I'm currently a junior in high school enrolled in a CP Physics course, and I had planned to take AP Physics B in my senior year. However, with these changes, I...

I majored in physics in college and have a master's degree from Michigan State Univ. in physics. I just recently retired and have the urge to revisit some of my old studies. In the last year I've refreshed the intellectual side of myself by working thru a calculus book and book on differential...

Hello, I am self studying to take the Ap Physics C test. I already know algebra based mechanics, although i DO NOT know calculus based. I have no knowledge on electricity. What textbook should i use?

Please move this if it's not the appropriate section of the forum. Could anyone point me towards some good supplements for self studying geometry? I just finished trigonometry, and I'm starting calculus, and algebra/trig based physics in a few weeks once fall courses start. However, I've...

Hey everyone, I want to see if anyone can give me their perspectives on my academic interests and situation. I know up front that this comes down to personal preference, but I want to see if anyone had any thoughts that might push me one way or another. I am a physician who is somewhat...

In October of this year i will start with math major and i decided to prepare myself in spear time. In my faculty there is no such thing as Calculus but rather you go strait to the analysis and you pick up calculus along. (There is singe variable calculus in high school). In first two years...

I'm going into a career that is heavily based in physics and I'd like to be able to read the original source material for the physics involved. However, calculus was many, many years ago for me. So, to understand and learn radiation physics, and eventually quantum mechanics, my understanding...

Hello PF, I'm going to be heading to my 3rd year as a Physics major and I want to make this last month of summer a tad productive. So my plan was to review/self study math using the mathematical methods book by Boas (and maybe some online resources to get more depth on some particular...

Hi everybody, I've been out of school for 4 years and I'd like to learn some physics. I'll give a summary of my background and I'd like suggestions as to what I should study and in what order. There's an abundance of resources that can be found through Google, but it's hard to decide what is...

Hello Everyone! I have a problem I am solving through a self study project from Lowell Brown's book entitled: Quantum Field Theory". It is a math question (basically) on recursion relations. Homework Statement The variational definition gives us the relation: det[1-λK] = exp{tr...

I am a graduate student preparing for my comperhensive exam, and do not have a very strong background in QM. Which method should I use? which book takes me to the point of getting 60% out of exam. The material is advanced undergraduate QM.

Hi, I'm new to the forums. I hear this is a helpful site with knowledgeable people who know what they're talking about. I was wondering if you could answer a couple of questions for me. I am in high-school and soon attending college in a year, I plan on going into Medicine but I want to be...

I graduated with a BA in Classicals and didn't take any math in college. Now that I've been out for a few years I find that I have an overwhelming desire to learn how things work in a way I can describe mathematically (it's hard to explain, hopefully you understand) and am starting some self...

Since there no teacher doing geometry or topology in our school,I have to learn some course all by myself.But I often come upon problems when I'm reading the book or doing the exercises.In some exercises,I even don't know which part of book can be used to solve it. So I want to ask here hope...

Alright so far I took calc1-3 which included vector calc and I'm currently taking LA. The LA class is only a quarter long and afterward I'm taking DE and Complex variables. I'm wondering what math should I take next year. I'm thinking either taking Analysis or Abstract Algebra. What do you think...

Folks, I am currently studying undergraduate final year degree in mathematics. I have covered QM's, PDE's and currently studying Functional analysis and vector calculus/complex variables. I hope to finish the degree middle of next year, however I would like to continue studying...

I dropped out of college five years ago, before my studies really had begun. My original plan was to start again my engineering physics studies in January but my problem is that some of the courses available for spring are continuing on the fall studies. Now I got a bit surprising turn of...

Am I being lulled by a basic text? I am re-studying basic physics and calculus for a run at a physics degree. I am using the Stewart text for calculus and I find it challenging. I am using the Young and Freedman physics text, and I find the calculus-based portions incredibly basic. I am...

Hey. I want to get up to an SAT II level of physics so I can skip it next year and go straight to AP Phys. Only thing is, I don't know of any textbook that would work well. Which textbooks would you guys recommend to get to the sufficient level of physics so I can test out of it? (In my school...

[1] When self studying, do you memorize vocabulary words and things like that? This isn't like taking a course where the teacher tells you what to memorize and what will be on the test. When self studying how do you separate the stuff? Or do you literally study the material "inside out" as in...