Become a Theoretical Physicist: How to Get Started & Enhance Your Skills at 17

[Physic lover]

Hello everybody i am new to this site
I am om my mission to became a theoratical physicit like Albret Einstein was and i am very enamoured with physics and i am willing to be like him but the problem is i don't know where to start what are the books to read so they can help me in fulfilling my dreams please someone tell me where can i start i want to inhance my math and physics capabilities thanks in advance .
Any help would be greatly apreciated
And also it is possible to be like him right i mean if i work hard enough i will end up like him it is not a matter of dna or something like that right ?
And also i am 17 years old do you think its too late for me ?

 

[micromass]

If anything, 17 is rather young to start seriously with physics, so don't worry: it's not too late.

I think you shouldn't try to be like Albert Einstein. The man was a genius and one of the best physicists ever to live. The chances for you to be as good as Einstein are extremely low. So it's best not to expect to be the new Einstein, or you will be very disappointed.
Luckily, you don't need to be the new Einstein to be good at physics. Many good physicists nowadays are not as "good" as Einstein, but are successful physicists anyway. It requires hard work though. And if you want to land an academic position, then it also requires a great deal of luck.

What math and physics do you already know?? Once we know this, we might be able to recommend you some books to read.

 

[VantagePoint72]

It is definitely not guaranteed that you if just 'work hard enough' you're going to be the next Albert Einstein. It's not even guaranteed that if you just work hard enough you will succeed in becoming a professional physicist at all, let alone a famous one. This isn't meant to be discouraging, but you have very unrealistic expectations. It is a tough field, and plenty of smart people who worked hard don't find success in it.

I'm curious what your reasons for wanting to be a physicist are. What do you know about the field? What makes you think you would enjoy working in physics? If it's just fame and fortune you're after, there are more reliable ways of seeking those things. 17 years old certainly isn't too late, by any stretch, to start working towards a career in physics—but it would be helpful to know what is motivating you.

Becoming a professional physicist requires obtaining several degrees, beginning with a Bachelor's and ending with a PhD. This is not optional if it's what you want for your career. I assume you're still in high school, so you should take any math and physics classes available to you now and then apply to universities or colleges. If you are able to take a calculus class in school, that will be very helpful.

Also, being able to write clearly and effectively is an important skill in science and, frankly, your writing skills appear to be quite poor. I don't whether or not English is your first language, but even if it isn't you need to learn how to write proper sentences with correct spelling and punctuation. It would be a good idea for you to take some writing classes at your school, since otherwise you may find getting into a college will be very tough.

 

[WannabeNewton]

And also it is possible to be like him right i mean if i work hard enough i will end up like him it is not a matter of dna or something like that right ?

As nice as that would be, it is simply not true. If your goal from the start is to become the next Einstein, you are bound to be disappointed. As LastOneStanding said, be more realistic.

I also find it curious that many people have this romantic fascination with becoming the next Einstein or the next Newton. How come no one ever wants to become the next Gauss? Poor Gauss.

 

[Astrum]

As nice as that would be, it is simply not true. If your goal from the start is to become the next Einstein, you are bound to be disappointed. As LastOneStanding said, be more realistic.

I also find it curious that many people have this romantic fascination with becoming the next Einstein or the next Newton. How come no one ever wants to become the next Gauss? Poor Gauss.

Because Guaß didn't have Einstein's hair =p

Everybody knows the secret is in the hair.

To the OP, depending on your math level, you could start on an intro level physics book to see if you'd like it or not. If I had a dollar for every time I've seen "I want to be like Einstein", I'd be a wealthy man by now. People who set out to try and be the next Einstein, Newton, Feynman usually tend to fail, and are generally not actually interested in physics, but rather the romantic idea of physics.

And I assume that English isn't your first language, or rather, I hope English isn't your first language.

 

[Physic lover]

It is definitely not guaranteed that you if just 'work hard enough' you're going to be the next Albert Einstein. It's not even guaranteed that if you just work hard enough you will succeed in becoming a professional physicist at all, let alone a famous one. This isn't meant to be discouraging, but you have very unrealistic expectations. It is a tough field, and plenty of smart people who worked hard don't find success in it.

I'm curious what your reasons for wanting to be a physicist are. What do you know about the field? What makes you think you would enjoy working in physics? If it's just fame and fortune you're after, there are more reliable ways of seeking those things. 17 years old certainly isn't too late, by any stretch, to start working towards a career in physics—but it would be helpful to know what is motivating you.

Becoming a professional physicist requires obtaining several degrees, beginning with a Bachelor's and ending with a PhD. This is not optional if it's what you want for your career. I assume you're still in high school, so you should take any math and physics classes available to you now and then apply to universities or colleges. If you are able to take a calculus class in school, that will be very helpful.

Also, being able to write clearly and effectively is an important skill in science and, frankly, your writing skills appear to be quite poor. I don't whether or not English is your first language, but even if it isn't you need to learn how to write proper sentences with correct spelling and punctuation. It would be a good idea for you to take some writing classes at your school, since otherwise you may find getting into a college will be very tough.

Since I was a child I always wants to be a scientific and liked to work my brain harder. So, as I entered school I found out that (well from my own prespective) that both math and physics are the only two subjects that realize my favourite condition, and since then I try to see the physics and math in my daily life and I like it so much.And I know that there are many secrets in this cosmos which are waiting to be revealed and I am hoping to be one of their reavelers . My goal from this is not fame nor fortune,but I noticed that anytime I managed to solve a problem I get this beautiful feelings and selfconfort and like very much to admire the wonderfuls of the cosmos.
Secondly, not guaranted! why ? why? I always held a belief that if you work hard you get what you want in this life and if the things don't follow this basic life will end up to be unjustice and without any doubt life don't unfairs nobody .This is the sacred rules, and for those peaople who did not succeeded in their life is because there was something wrong did not correct it ,that's all.And to prove that, here is the bacteriologist who discoverd that the malaria came from flies .But the problem is which fly , there

 

[micromass]

Secondly, not guaranted! why ? why? I always held a belief that if you work hard you get what you want in this life and if the things don't follow this basic life will end up to be unjustice and without any doubt life don't unfairs nobody.

Welcome to life, my friend. It's certainly not fair and just.

 

[Physic lover]

It is definitely not guaranteed that you if just 'work hard enough' you're going to be the next Albert Einstein. It's not even guaranteed that if you just work hard enough you will succeed in becoming a professional physicist at all, let alone a famous one. This isn't meant to be discouraging, but you have very unrealistic expectations. It is a tough field, and plenty of smart people who worked hard don't find success in it.

I'm curious what your reasons for wanting to be a physicist are. What do you know about the field? What makes you think you would enjoy working in physics? If it's just fame and fortune you're after, there are more reliable ways of seeking those things. 17 years old certainly isn't too late, by any stretch, to start working towards a career in physics—but it would be helpful to know what is motivating you.

Becoming a professional physicist requires obtaining several degrees, beginning with a Bachelor's and ending with a PhD. This is not optional if it's what you want for your career. I assume you're still in high school, so you should take any math and physics classes available to you now and then apply to universities or colleges. If you are able to take a calculus class in school, that will be very helpful.

Also, being able to write clearly and effectively is an important skill in science and, frankly, your writing skills appear to be quite poor. I don't whether or not English is your first language, but even if it isn't you need to learn how to write proper sentences with correct spelling and punctuation. It would be a good idea for you to take some writing classes at your school, since otherwise you may find getting into a college will be very tough.

Since I was a child I always wants to be a scientific and liked to work my brain harder. So, as I entered school I found out that (well from my own prespective) that both math and physics are the only two subjects that realize my favourite condition, and since then I try to see the physics and math in my daily life and I like it so much.And I know that there are many secrets in this cosmos which are waiting to be revealed and I am hoping to be one of their reavelers . My goal from this is not fame nor fortune,but I noticed that anytime I managed to solve a problem I get this beautiful feelings and selfconfort and like very much to admire the wonderfuls of the cosmos.
Secondly, not guaranted! why ? why? I always held a belief that if you work hard you get what you want in this life and if the things don't follow this basic life will end up to be unjustice and without any doubt life don't unfairs nobody .This is the sacred rules, and for those peaople who did not succeeded in their life is because there was something wrong did not correct it ,that's all.And to prove that, here is the bacteriologist who discoverd that the malaria came from flies .But the problem is which fly , there are hundreds of flies out there but did he surrender ? no he actually did 1000 surgeys to found out that .Wow, patience! So, all what am I saying is that being succesfull is not the problem for me bu the problem is : I am afraid of taking the wrong methods to do that or waisting my time in somthings that maybe I don't need them in the future that's why I insist for the good guidance really does help.Just like Albert Einstein, I am reading his biography now and since he was a child he hold a big compation to math .Now if we want to discuss how come he and not the other children were like him.We find the answer that Akbret Einstein since he was a child was inhancing his power of logic with small stuff like puzzles and brain games which his parents save for him and then the books of math and science which his uncle bring to him , so as a result we can say that now Albret's brain is adapted of new level of hard thinking so if we try to put him in a place tha

 

[VantagePoint72]

Secondly, not guaranted! why ? why? I always held a belief that if you work hard you get what you want in this life and if the things don't follow this basic life will end up to be unjustice and without any doubt life don't unfairs nobody .This is the sacred rules, and for those peaople who did not succeeded in their life is because there was something wrong did not correct it ,that's all.

Not only is this a childish attitude, I actually find it vaguely offensive. You're basically saying that all the misfortune that happens to be people is their own fault, something they could have prevented by working harder. That immigrant down the street who came to the country with nothing but opened a restaurant, working 18 hour days for years trying to build a successful business, but having to shut down now because business has been bad for too long? 'Clearly he should have worked harder, the lazy bum!'

What you're describing are not 'sacred rules', they're a fantasy that I think someone your age should have grown out of by now.

 

[Physic lover]

Since I was a child I always wants to be a scientific and liked to work my brain harder. So, as I entered school I found out that (well from my own prespective) that both math and physics are the only two subjects that realize my favourite condition, and since then I try to see the physics and math in my daily life and I like it so much.And I know that there are many secrets in this cosmos which are waiting to be revealed and I am hoping to be one of their reavelers . My goal from this is not fame nor fortune,but I noticed that anytime I managed to solve a problem I get this beautiful feelings and selfconfort and like very much to admire the wonderfuls of the cosmos.
Secondly, not guaranted! why ? why? I always held a belief that if you work hard you get what you want in this life and if the things don't follow this basic life will end up to be unjustice and without any doubt life don't unfairs nobody .This is the sacred rules, and for those peaople who did not succeeded in their life is because there was something wrong they did not correct it ,that's all.And to prove that, here is the bacteriologist Ronald Ross who discoverd that the malaria came from flies .But the problem is which fly , there are hundreds of flies out there but did he surrender ? no he actually did 1000 surgeys to found out that it was Anopheles mosquito .Wow, patience! So, all what am I saying is that being succesfull is not the problem for me but the problem is : I am afraid of taking the wrong methods to do that or waisting my time in somthings that maybe I don't need them in the future that's why I insist for the good guidance really does help.Just like Albert Einstein, I am reading his biography now and since he was a child he hold a big compation to math .Now if we want to discuss how come he and not the other children were like him.We find the answer that Albret Einstein since he was a child was inhancing his power of logic with small stuff like puzzles and brain games which his parents save for him and then the books of math and science which his uncle bring to him without even knowing , so as a result we can say that now Albret's brain is adapted of new level of hard thinking so if we try to put him in a place that don't fit him say as in exemple a designer or a doctor or company manager he will succeed and find it very easy but he will found in the end that a lot of energy in his brain is unused
because his brain waas adapted of a hard level of thinking .So from that I concluded that if we get any child we can transfrom him to whatever we want incondition of good guidance .
Ps : Sorry for my bad writing but I will try to develop it

 

[micromass]

Now if we want to discuss how come he and not the other children were like him.We find the answer that Akbret Einstein since he was a child was inhancing his power of logic with small stuff like puzzles and brain games which his parents save for him and then the books of math and science which his uncle bring to him , so as a result we can say that now Albret's brain is adapted of new level of hard thinking

True. But there are many children who are enhancing their brains with puzzles and brain games. And they also work very hard and are quite smart. Still, they don't get to be the next Einstein. Einstein was a truly unique individual, only hard work doesn't make you the new Einstein.

So from that I concluded that if we get any child we can transfrom him to whatever we want incondition of good guidance .

Psychogolists call this behaviorism. This philosophy has been largely abandoned. It's silly to expect that any child can be a new Einstein if we train him enough.

 

[WannabeNewton]

Secondly, not guaranted! why ? why? I always held a belief that if you work hard you get what you want in this life and if the things don't follow this basic life will end up to be unjustice and without any doubt life don't unfairs nobody .This is the sacred rules, and for those peaople who did not succeeded in their life is because there was something wrong did not correct it ,that's all.And to prove that, here is the bacteriologist who discoverd that the malaria came from flies .But the problem is which fly , there

This makes for great fortune cookies. It doesn't work in real life. Just focus on doing the best you can; the rest is out of your hands.

 

[Jorriss]

Secondly, not guaranted! why ? why? I always held a belief that if you work hard you get what you want in this life and if the things don't follow this basic life will end up to be unjustice and without any doubt life don't unfairs nobody .

Not to be mean, but do you really need someone to explain why you can't guarantee becoming the next Einstein? You're not going to be the next Einstein. Maybe there will never be another Einstein.

Hard work can likely make you a great physicist though.

 

[AnTiFreeze3]

I've never really understood the ideaology behind wanting to become "the next [insert brilliant mathematician/scientist]." If you actually manage to get to the point where your intelligence and influence and accomplishments are comparable to some brilliant minds, then you will be recognized by your own merit and name, not as some "up and coming Einstein."

 

[ParticleGrl]

Hard work can likely make you a great physicist though.

Hard work is necessary but not sufficient. You'll also need a lot of luck. There are far more highly qualified, hardworking physicists then there are jobs for physicists. Hard work can get you into the job lottery, but after that luck will shape your career as much as anything else.

 

[DiracPool]

Hard work is necessary but not sufficient. You'll also need a lot of luck. There are far more highly qualified, hardworking physicists then there are jobs for physicists. Hard work can get you into the job lottery, but after that luck will shape your career as much as anything else.

Is luck where preparation meets opportunity, PG? Or is it just capricious?

 

[[Quadratic]]

As nice as that would be, it is simply not true. If your goal from the start is to become the next Einstein, you are bound to be disappointed. As LastOneStanding said, be more realistic.

I also find it curious that many people have this romantic fascination with becoming the next Einstein or the next Newton. How come no one ever wants to become the next Gauss? Poor Gauss.

I'd love to become the next Gauss! I'd even settle for the next Euler or Riemann!

 

[DiracPool]

I'd love to become the next Gauss! I'd even settle for the next Euler or Riemann!

Settle?

 

[AubryJones]

I wish to become a physicist to. I am only fourteen, and I ponder about the Higgs field every day. I live in a small town, and I don's have really anyone who likes physics as much as I do. Please send me some help.

 

[ParticleGrl]

Is luck where preparation meets opportunity, PG? Or is it just capricious?

Pretty much capricious in this case- things like the political/economic climate will have a tremendous impact on career outcomes. If there are 10 highly prepared postdocs in your subfield, and only 1 job, it basically comes down to a lottery.

 

[DiracPool]

I wish to become a physicist to. I am only fourteen, and I ponder about the Higgs field every day. I live in a small town, and I don's have really anyone who likes physics as much as I do. Please send me some help.

Don't get caught up about the Higgs field, this is the most unsatisfying "discovery" I've been exposed to in a while. Maybe someone can "correct" me?

 

[smodak]

How come no one wants to be Feynman?

 

[DiracPool]

How come no one wants to be Feynman?

We're all Feynman in our own way. Didn't you get that memo?

 

[jimmyly]

my mom always told me to just be myself!

 

[DiracPool]

my mom always told me to just be myself!

That only works if "yourself" is cool. The rest of us need to fake it until we make it.

 

[Physic lover]

Not only is this a childish attitude, I actually find it vaguely offensive. You're basically saying that all the misfortune that happens to be people is their own fault, something they could have prevented by working harder. That immigrant down the street who came to the country with nothing but opened a restaurant, working 18 hour days for years trying to build a successful business, but having to shut down now because business has been bad for too long? 'Clearly he should have worked harder, the lazy bum!'

What you're describing are not 'sacred rules', they're a fantasy that I think someone your age should have grown out of by now.

Please do not get me wrong When you fail in something it does mean you have to quit and say that I am not a lucky enough to succeed in this life even if I work hard that does not make any sense at al,so you tell him to stop working beacuse he is not lucky enough and whatever he do he won't succeed! . Please read the biography of great persons ,you will find that in contradiction they were the most unluckiest person in the world but they could change their situations to their best . What I find offensive is actually posting a thread in a physics forum where people should be a little more logic than the others and they replay me with LUCK and Fortune COOKies hhhhhh you know that is really funny and the other thing which I found offensive too is that from your words (plural) Albret Einstein was only a lucky person not more as for the work he did a lot of physicits worked really hard and they did not succeed and that is really frustrating especially when it comes from you people . Like I said I recommend you to read about great persons biography and see if they were lucky .You can start
With Colonel Sanders .

 

[VantagePoint72]

This has to be a troll. Colonel Sanders?

 

[micromass]

Please do not get me wrong When you fail in something it does mean you have to quit and say that I am not a lucky enough to succeed in this life even if I work hard that does not make any sense at al,so you tell him to stop working beacuse he is not lucky enough and whatever he do he won't succeed! . Please read the biography of great persons ,you will find that in contradiction they were the most unluckiest person in the world but they could change their situations to their best . What I find offensive is actually posting a thread in a physics forum where people should be a little more logic than the others and they replay me with LUCK and Fortune COOKies hhhhhh you know that is really funny and the other thing which I found offensive too is that from your words (plural) Albret Einstein was only a lucky person not more as for the work he did a lot of physicits worked really hard and they did not succeed and that is really frustrating especially when it comes from you people . Like I said I recommend you to read about great persons biography and see if they were lucky .You can start
With Colonel Sanders .

It's really common sense. But let me prove it to you. Let's say that each professor has around 10 PhD students over his entire career. I think this is a reasonable average. After graduating, those 10 students will attempt to get a professorship. But for each professor, there are 10 people wanting to get a position. So only 1 in 10 people will eventually get to be a professor.

What about the 9 out of 10 people who didn't make it. Did they not work hard enough? Were they not smart enough?

Getting a professorship requires a lot of hard work and intelligence, of course. But it also requires some luck.

This is the same thing with most things in science. Luck is very important. You might not like it, that's ok: I don't like it either. But that's the way it is.

 

[Physic lover]

It's really common sense. But let me prove it to you. Let's say that each professor has around 10 PhD students over his entire career. I think this is a reasonable average. After graduating, those 10 students will attempt to get a professorship. But for each professor, there are 10 people wanting to get a position. So only 1 in 10 people will eventually get to be a professor.

What about the 9 out of 10 people who didn't make it. Did they not work hard enough? Were they not smart enough?

Getting a professorship requires a lot of hard work and intelligence, of course. But it also requires some luck.

This is the same thing with most things in science. Luck is very important. You might not like it, that's ok: I don't like it either. But that's the way it is.

So let's assume that I was one of those 9 persons so what do you want me to do surrender or what ? And just for you own information Albret Einstein became a professor in university after 9 years of graduation and earned his phd after 4 years you see I think Albret was one of the 9 persons you are talking about very unlucky but he knows how to turn situations to his best

 

[WannabeNewton]

Trololol this is so troll. Either that or there really is an "Albret" Einstein and we've just been thinking of the wrong person all this time.

 

[micromass]

So let's assume that I was one of those 9 persons so what do you want me to do surrender or what ?

No. But I want you to be realistic about your chances. An academic position is no guarantee, even if you work hard and are very smart.

And just for you own information Albret Einstein became a professor in university after 9 years of graduation and earned his phd after 4 years you see I think Albret was one of the 9 persons you are talking about very unlucky but he knows how to turn situations to his best

No, he landed a professorship, which means he was not one of the 9 persons. The 9 persons I'm talking about will never land a professorship.

What do you think about those 9 out of 10? Did they not work hard enough? Were they not smart enough? Were they less able to turn situations to their best? Are only 1 out of 10 PhD students able to turn a situation to their best? How do you turn a situation good? What skills does it require?

 

[Physic lover]

Anyway thank you all

 

[reenmachine]

As nice as that would be, it is simply not true. If your goal from the start is to become the next Einstein, you are bound to be disappointed. As LastOneStanding said, be more realistic.

I also find it curious that many people have this romantic fascination with becoming the next Einstein or the next Newton. How come no one ever wants to become the next Gauss? Poor Gauss.

Hey , I do want to become the next Gauss.

But unfortunately for me and for mathematics in general , I won't.

 

[theoristo]

Saying you want to become the next Einstein is foolish...Just try to see what made him love physics and see if that something is in you by going far enough into physics and math...if not find something else that that you enjoy ...I'm a big fan of Feynman I loved reading his biographies and watching his videos on youtube ...and It became clear to me that I should not try to become a physicist because I'm inspired by feynman's life but because I looked far enough into physics ...So don't try to decide before you've known enough because I think you're trying to mimic einstein becauce of his life and his fame not because of your love of inquiry and doubt.

 

[nabil0]

It's now much harder to become a next Einstein than it was before because research problems are now much harder and the amount of background material you have to understand is very big and the material is intrinsically difficult ,but don't lose hope . You could be smart enough to earn the nobel prize but this is rare .