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The most popular reviews in /r/PhysicsStudents:
One way of writing the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of a black hole. Pretty much the weirdest/deepest equation I could think of off the top of my head.
For my purposes, python is really good. If I want faster, more analytic results, then I use Mathematica or simply Desmos. To make animations like 3B1B you can install Manim and make animations exactly like Grant’s. To learn about python you can use online resources or a book. If you want to install Manim you can use a guide for anaconda (which I suggest). But for quick visuals, I usually find just standard python does the trick. You can check out r/manim for more information on 3B1B’s style
I've been working on improving my grades as well. The most important thing for exams seems to be practicing as much as possible, so this semester I started writing homework problems and past exam problems on flash cards so I can mix up my practice. Based on a math midterm and a physics midterm, it seems to be an improvement over just doing the problems in order. Videos on studying I found useful: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
About research, I would try emailing some groups anyway. It was a a while ago, but I don't think the professor I'm working with now ever asked about my GPA until we were applying for a summer grant. Check if your department has a seminar for undergraduates. That way, you have more to talk about in the email and first meeting.
You might already know all of it but I found this University of California San Diego course on learning pretty helpful in developing my study habits.
The courses are free and I usually downloaded them to my phone and listened to them during my work commutes.
Here is a short (40 easy pages) or so with the basics that you need to know. You don't need to read a 700p book on tensors just for on small side topic in a single course.
As others have mentioned, these are theories not systems. That aside,
- The central equation in general relativity is the Einstein field equations, which are 10 non-linear partial differential equations. Generically you expect chaos to arise in non-linear systems, even though some specific solutions don't have it.
- Quantum mechanical systems obey linear differential equations, so one doesn't expect chaos. However, we know the world is quantum and yet we see classical systems with chaos (e.g. double pendulum). Trying to reconcile this is an active area of research.
I'm not sure whether looking specifically at QFT changes things. John Baez and Scott Aaronson talk about chaos in renormaliation group equations here.
- Don't know enough to say, but considering so much is still unknown about string theory I don't if anyone can say anything about this.
On building Intuition with a glimpse of what to expect in graduate physics Fly by Night Physics: How Physicists Use the Backs of Envelopes by A. Zee
I was very similar to you, and found the book <em>A Mind for Numbers</em> incredibly helpful for helping develop effective studying techniques (I read it my last semester in school, and kicked myself for not reading it sooner). There's a coursea course called "Learning how to Learn" by the same woman (+ a man, iirc) that seems to cover the same content.
Good luck!
Adding to your last point, if someone is somehow familiar with classical mechanics and Hamilton's principle, then it is possible to extend this to a medium having arbitrary index of refraction. Connecting this to how a graded index optical fiber works is also possible. link
Take a look at this link, where equation 6a and 6b is what you need to solve in 2 dimensions.
Although I'm not very skillful in it, I would recommend you to check out Notion. It will allow you to create tags as well as sort by them. In addition, there's a lot of versatility that comes with it, but you would have to first learn how to use it.
Spend time outside, exercise, be social and talk to friends whether thats via zoom or Facebook it doesn’t matter just stay connected. Also meditation/prayer is really useful in helping you to relax and reframe problems. Also accept failure as part of the learning process. I had a semester a couple of years ago where I was quite sick and missed several weeks of school and because of that I failed a core course which I had to retake. While that was clearly a disappointment, completely by chance I ended up retaking it with a couple of friends who were a semester behind me. The point is to recognize that failure is not final and I actually learned a lot more from the course my second time round. Also I really recommend that you get a copy of this book called Learned Optimism.
It's not entirely physics but I got an Engineering Databook off Amazon for $12 on Christmas sale. From the description the chapters are:
>Mathematics, Materials, Mechanics, Structures, Machines and Mechanisms, Electrical and Electronics, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Systems, and Project Management
Definitely programming. I recommend starting programming now, because it'll give you a huge head start. If you enjoy it, then you'll find it a very rewarding hobby.
I started programming in the summer holiday before going to university; I'm in the 3rd year now and released this app a few months ago, which is pretty neat.
Fair warning: you might find programming more interesting than physics. I did, and it makes the degree much harder because physics requires a lot of motivation. However, if you have time to start before applying to university then you should be able to work out what to do.
The universe could want to expand forever and to be fair it probably does expand forever, but also contracts forever. Gravity and the world cooling down is bringing things closer together I believe the universe is just like one of these balls
This is what I have. No issues, works well, will last me forever.
Physics classes will have you using one a lot more than calculus has (so far).
From the amazon listing ...
"it should be noted that the examples are written in standard C and use Windows API functions."
We used Randy Harris's book. I thought it was alright; I've had worse books, but I've had some better ones. It has some good problems at the end of the chapters as well.
https://www.notion.so/collisions-question-ad4a078906334c1aa8e6fa44af1157ba
you can add comments to this page. If you desire I believe you can try to use LaTex, otherwise let me know and I can allow you to use LaTex if desired.
I spent about two weeks preparing for the PAT, solving a LOT of past papers under timed conditions. I also used a really nice book to prepare. It’s cheap and has a ton of questions and was quite similar to the exam as I wrote it myself. I’ve linked it below-
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-PAT-Collection-breakdowns-UniAdmissions/dp/1913683893
Cheers!
https://www.desmos.com/calculator/lww4pwv7vw
The function (red curve) and the linear approximation (green line) mach up at the origin, where |x|<<1. Zoom in far enough, and they're indistinguishable.
I studied Statistical Mechanics from a book by Walter Greiner
I like this book (and many others in the series) because it has very detailed examples. However, this book is tailored towards physics. Chemistry department usually cover Boltzmann equation, kinetic gas theory, and liquid theory (with cluster diagram), which are not cover in this book. But those are typically covered in the second semester or second year of the graduate course for students who plans on doing chemical physics.
My best advice would be to try this book
https://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Solved-Problems-Physics-Outlines/dp/0071763465
(There's a free pdf somewhere in the internet just google it.)
You should write down your thought process as you try to solve the problems (If you can't solve the problem, try writing the solution in your own words [provided you understand the solution! Not understanding the solution evinces a lack of understanding of the concepts, in which case you are better advised to review thereof]). Lastly, don't fret, most of the intellectual nuances you depict are ostensive, meaning that they are perhaps not only practicing more, but better; there is no scientifical convention that can ascertain a disability to do physics, your cohort has a broader cognizance in the respective subject and therefore better mental representations (of physics), that's all. Practice!
​
Also, be patient, we all learn at different paces, being slow or fast does not preclude one's ability to excel in a particular subject. Good luck!
A "th" and "n"
On a more serious note, I haven't heard of a physics book written by a "Griffin". Griffith's book on Electrodynamics is what I used for my E&M class and it is pretty good at explaining stuff.
Here's a link to the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Electrodynamics-David-J-Griffiths/dp/1108420419
Highly recommend you try for second hand stuff as much as you can, so many of the best books have been in print since slightly after the invasion of the visigoths. try abebooks
Literally any mechanical system is described by an ODE (except if you're considering a continuum like a fluid), because Newton's second law itself takes form of an ODE.
Double pendulum is kinda boring imo, because everyone is doing it so it no longer feels special. Duffing oscillator is another system that gives chaos and has a number of other fancy feature.
The Feynman Lectures on Physics, boxed set: The New Millennium Edition
$129.04
my university uses Analytical Mechanics: Fowles & Cassiday
wouldn't say it's the best but felt like you might want to give it a chance
Download all of the books suggested in this thread (libgen.is) and try them untill you figure out which one works best for you. I personally can not stand Griffiths, even though a lot of people seem to like it. It's all a matter of preference.
I got 1.2304717×10^(-6) W
I recommend downloading https://qalculate.github.io, it's what I use for physics calculations and it makes these calculations very easy since it automatically converts units.
I just typed "3.2 MBq × 2.4 MeV to watt" and it did the job.
You could try Foxit Reader. It allows you to write on the pdf. You can also pin notes to the pdf and collapse them, then just click back and it will pop back up. Can zoom in or out. I don't know how it works with touchscreen, but it works well on my laptop. It is free as well.
I forgot to mention this other one.
Nuclear and Radiochemistry 3rd Edition https://www.amazon.com/Nuclear-Radiochemistry-3E-G-Friedlander-dp-047186255X/dp/047186255X/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=
https://www.amazon.com/Genius-Life-Science-Richard-Feynman/dp/0679747044
Much more easily approachable than the Lectures, and a quicker read.
Python will help you get familiar with programming and has a lot of libraries for science and math applications. There are plenty of free intro to Python resources you can find around the internet.
I took a class that used this textbook:
And I thought it provided a decent introduction to things I still use very regularly.
Hello there!! I’ve been in a similar situation to you and I can tell you what saved me (and some other friends) was a certain book - “Calculus” by Jon Rogawski. It has very beautiful illustrations useful for understanding the difficult concepts in Calc 3. You can get the second edition for basically nothing on Amazon (this was also the edition I used).
https://www.amazon.com/Jon-Rogawski-Calculus-Early-Transcendentals/dp/B00HTJOAPQ/ref=nodl_
Not sure what your situation is but amazon currently has Exercises for $13. Shipping might bump that up though
For a physics student learning fluid dynamics, I'd strongly recommend Physical Hydrodynamics by Etienne Guyon get al..
Also, Hydrodynamics is a powerful language, but you need to build a firm foundation. Go through carefully and brush up on calculus and differential equations areas you are weak in as you go.
Hello mate, I call them iScience apps. Easy and simple, money may not be a part of your figure regarding to applying for an educational system. Beside plenty websites you can apply to, there are paid apps like iPhysics, iMath, iChemistry and iBiology.
I can’t recall any websites atm.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.droidtech.iphysicspro&hl=en
are u kidding bro u havent heard of the Manga guide to physics or the manga guide to electricity or the manga guide to relativity?
https://www.amazon.com/Manga-Guide-Physics-Hideo-Nitta/dp/1593271964/ref=nodl_
my local library only has the physics one :(((
The book is Effective Computation in Physics: Field Guide to Research with Python Effective Computation in Physics: Field Guide to Research with Python. Let's say that maybe I found the pdf only and maybe I could send you a DM.
Stewart.
https://www.amazon.com/Calculus-James-Stewart/dp/1285740629
It's on its 8th edition so if you don't need it for class get on older one of eBay or something. It'll cover nearly every intro topic of Calc and give a good base.
Just go through one of those Introduction to Physics books like from Serway and Jewett or Young and Freedman. Alternatively, the book Electricity and Magnetism gives a pretty good explanation on electromagnetic phenomena but isn't made for grade 12 students.
I have a book on it but it is in German, The title is "Gravitationwelle" ( the German word for, you guessed it right Gravitational waves ) Its from the author Günter Spanner( Amazon link to the book ) I haven't finished it but, I do like it its neither dumbed down nor badly written, so I would recommend it.
Certainly this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Mathematical-Methods-Physics-Engineering-Comprehensive/dp/0521679710
I have received recommendations for this book from several physics majors and alumni from several different universities. It is a rather thick textbook, but I think most of the chapters can be addressed independently at your current level, especially after this first year of yours. Write it down somewhere in a Google Doc, including the authors and that it's the third edition.
I generally don't other than mathematica for differential equations that aren't quickly solved when solving it isn't really a point of interest. I used to use it for integrals a bit, but I've switched to doing them by hand with this handbook when I need it. I've encountered the same integrals over and over again and I seem to remember them a bit better when I do them by hand. I'd recommend trying out something like that handbook and see how it goes for you since I've come to use it quite frequently. There's also another popular one, but it's a bit more expensive and I don't remember the name at the moment.
The single best undergrad quantum book I've found (and I've gone through a lot of them) is Zettili's Quantum Mechanics. Very thorough and doesn't skimp out on the requisite math, but also does a good job explaining things with tons of worked out problems/examples.
Sounds like your professor might be doing a flipped classroom, in which case you should have some lecture material to go over outside the classroom (If it is just the textbook then the class isn't being flipped correctly as most textbooks are awful).
For intro physics there is khan academy and no end to the lectures available on Youtube. There are also the Schaum's series of books which have plenty of solved problems for you to study. Form a study group with classmates and go over as may problems as you can as a group.
You're welcome. The primary (and extremely daunting list, which isn't too bad when you get into it) list that I recommend to people is here: http://quantizd.blogspot.co.uk/p/so-you-want-to-become-physicist.html. I personally have this textbook, which I still use well into second year http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Principles-Physics-Patrick-Michael/dp/0719533821?ie=UTF8&keywords=essential%20principles%20of%20physics&qid=1464267686&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1. Have fun!
If you want a good supplement full of solved example problems look at the Schaum's outline for whatever area you are interested in.
http://www.amazon.com/A-Students-Guide-Vectors-Tensors/dp/0521171903
Get that book and go through it thoroughly first. The physics of GR is quite simple to be honest. It's just the curvature tensor equals the stress energy tensor. That's all there is to it and rest is just solving problems.
However, learning the math of curvature requires learning the math of tensors. The book I linked is by far the best coverage of the topics I've found at the undergraduate level.
After that Schutz or Carroll for actual GR. Wald once you've done Shutz/Carroll.
The course is a requirement for my degree and also a pre-req for the other physics courses I need to take further along in my degree as well. I do enjoy the course, like it is interesting, so I have thought about pursuing a minor in physics with my applied math. The book that we are using is: Principles of physics by serway & jewett
I just finished week 4, took my first thermal physics test. Feel pretty good about it. The lecture is done by the head of our physics department and he is a very good teacher, and the text is Schroeder which is very easy to understand.
My other physics class is Electromagnetic theory, and that class is kicking my ass. I am having trouble figuring out how to set up problems, I have two review sessions with others in the class this weekend before the first test (one week from today).