So You Want To Be A Physicist Discussion

[tionis]

BTW, you never stated your career goals. You stated that you don't want to go into Academia, you don't want to teach, you don't want to work in a lab, etc... so what exactly do you want to do with your Ph.D degree in physics?
Zz.

Oh yeah sorry. My career goal right now is to study hard so I can write an interesting baccalaureate thesis. If after that, I'm accepted to grad school, then I plan to pursue a PhD and then move on. I'm not planning on staying in academia, but who knows...

 

[ZapperZ]

Oh yeah sorry. My career goal right now is to study hard so I can write an interesting baccalaureate thesis. If after that, I'm accepted to grad school, then I plan to pursue a PhD and then move on. I'm not planning on staying in academia, but who knows...

Those are your ACADEMIC goals, not CAREER goals. What do you wish to do with your degree? What kind of a career are you looking for?

Zz.

 

[tionis]

Those are your ACADEMIC goals, not CAREER goals. What do you wish to do with your degree? What kind of a career are you looking for?

Zz.

The degree is just the icing on the cake. It proves that you have been rigorous in your studies and have met the criteria of the community to do physics in a correct manner like you said. I don't plan to make a career out of it in the sense of working for a university and getting paid for it, if that's what you're asking. I suppose I can continue to do physics independently after I'm done with school. Hopefully by that time, I have learn the process well and have a few connections in the community to bounce ideas back and forth. That is what Garrett Lisi is doing, I think.

 

[ZapperZ]

The degree is just the icing on the cake. It proves that you have been rigorous in your studies and have met the criteria of the community to do physics in a correct manner like you said. I don't plan to make a career out of it in the sense of working for a university and getting paid for it, if that's what you're asking. I suppose I can continue to do physics independently after I'm done with school. Hopefully by that time, I have learn the process well and have a few connections in the community to bounce ideas back and forth. That is what Garrett Lisi is doing, I think.

How do you propose to make a living? Working at McDonalds?

And do you think it is a good idea to model your life with an exception or an unusual situation, rather than the rule?

Zz.

 

[tionis]

How do you propose to make a living? Working at McDonalds?

Zz.

Well, I rather not discuss my finances in polite company, but that is not going to be a problem for me. BTW, McDonalds was my first job and I thoroughly enjoyed it lol.

 

[Adgorn]

Quick question regarding ”Mathematical Methods in the Physical Science”, does the book require a mathematical background beyond high school level math? I'm asking since you mentioned it is intended to be used at the end of 2nd year, so do I need to learn additional math (for example introductory undergraduate level calculus) before delving into this?

 

[jtbell]

do I need to learn additional math (for example introductory undergraduate level calculus) before delving into this?

Boas assumes that you have previously studied differential and integral calculus of a single variable, corresponding to Calculus I and II in a typical US university math program, or Advanced Placement (AP) calculus in high school. The book does cover material that is normally in Calculus III: partial differentiation, multiple integrals, and vector analysis (div, grad, curl, etc.).

 

[Adgorn]

Boas assumes that you have previously studied differential and integral calculus of a single variable, corresponding to Calculus I and II in a typical US university math program, or Advanced Placement (AP) calculus in high school. The book does cover material that is normally in Calculus III: partial differentiation, multiple integrals, and vector analysis (div, grad, curl, etc.).

I see, so can't really start it from scratch. Any suggestions for a good book covering Calculus I and II for self-teaching to read before this one?

 

[jtbell]

Try our Science and Math Textbooks forum. Use the forum search feature to look for "Calculus" and see what comes up.