Self-Learn Physics: A High School Student's Guide

[unsure]

Hi I am a high school student. I want to know about a good way to start physics curriculum on my own, whether this is through videos or a well known textbook.

I've already had a very basic "Physical Science" course where I learned Newton's & Kepler's laws, a bit about forces and optics, all through the context of Astronomy. When I will start learning physics, I will have just completed a year of Calculus. So, I may as well learn Physics with Calculus from the start right?

The book or lectures or other things should be very clear and introductory. At the same time, I want to get a lot of practice, and actually go in depth so I will be able to retain and apply knowledge later. If such a course or text exists, please tell me about it! I figure Physics Forums would know. Thanks in advance!

 

[micromass]

If you don't mind challenging and difficult books, then I highly recommend Kleppner and Kolenkow.

As it stands, you might want to learn a bit more calculus first, such as integration and integration techniques and (very important!) solving basic differential equations. But you should be able to learn these things quite quickly. After that, you should be able to start a book like Kleppner or Morin.

The problems can be quite difficult though, but they will teach you way more than solving stupid problems from Halliday & Resnick. Feel free to use this forum to ask questions or to ask for help.

 

[jtbell]

When I will start learning physics, I will have just completed a year of Calculus. So, I may as well learn Physics with Calculus from the start right?

If you know the basic concepts and applications of derivatives and integrals, and your algebra is solid, and you know some trigonometry, you're ready for a first-year college calculus-based intro physics textbook. There are several widely-used ones you can choose from. See our physics textbooks forum:

https://www.physicsforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=224

and check out the ones tagged as "Intro Physics".

Actually, even for a calculus-based course, you'll use algebra and basic trig a lot more than calculus when doing the exercises. The calculus is mainly used to simplify the derivations of important equations.

Kleppner & Kolenkow is a step above these books. The exercises do use more calculus!

 

[unsure]

How about this series of books: looks interesting

http://www.physics.pomona.edu/sixideas/

 

[Matrix0]

I highly encourage your interest in self-learning physics. It is a great way to develop critical thinking skills and expand your understanding of the world around us.

Firstly, I would recommend starting with a well-known textbook that covers the fundamentals of physics. Some popular options include "Fundamentals of Physics" by Halliday and Resnick, and "University Physics" by Young and Freedman. These textbooks provide clear explanations and plenty of practice problems to help you understand and retain the concepts.

In addition to textbooks, there are also many online resources available such as video lectures, interactive simulations, and online courses. Some popular platforms include Khan Academy, Coursera, and edX. These resources can provide a more visual and interactive approach to learning, which can be helpful for some students.

Since you have completed a year of Calculus, I do recommend learning physics with calculus from the start. This will give you a deeper understanding of the concepts and allow you to apply them in more complex problems. However, if you feel like you need a refresher on calculus, there are also resources available specifically for learning calculus in the context of physics.

Lastly, I would suggest joining online communities such as Physics Forums where you can ask questions, discuss concepts with others, and get additional support in your learning journey. It is also a great platform to stay updated on new developments and discussions in the world of physics.

Overall, the key to self-learning physics is to have a combination of clear and introductory resources, plenty of practice, and a supportive community. I wish you all the best in your self-learning journey and am excited to see where it takes you!