Tag: particle physics

  • So You Want a Degree in Physics

    So You Want a Degree in Physics

    Even if you don’t, watch anyway. Maybe I’ll convince you. And if not, maybe I’ll impart some important skills or perspectives upon you. A lot of what I say can be applied not only to physics, but to other academic disciplines as well.

    Online resources for learning math:

    Khan Academy
    https://www.khanacademy.org/math/
    patrickjmt
    https://www.youtube.com/user/patrickJMT
    Dr. Chris Tisdell
    https://www.youtube.com/user/DrChrisTisdell/
    MIT Open Courseware
    https://www.youtube.com/user/MIT

    Here are some resources for learning physics (in order of increasing difficulty)

    Amateur (little to no math)
    A Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking
    The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow
    The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene
    Cosmos by Carl Sagan
    Fearful Symmetry by Anthony Zee

    Recruit (some calculus, maybe a DiffEQ here or there)
    University Physics by Roger Freedman
    Physics (Vol 1 and 2) by Resnick, Halliday, and Krane

    Regular (know calculus cold, and have a good handle on DiffEQs)
    An Introduction to Mechanics by Kleppner and Kolenkow
    Electricity and Magnetism by Purcell
    Classical and Statistical Thermodynamics by Ashley Carter

    Hardened (all of the “baby maths” should be second nature to you)
    Classical Mechanics by Taylor
    Introduction to Electrodynamics by Griffiths
    Introduction to Quantum Mechanics by Griffiths
    Introduction to Elementary Particles by Griffiths

    Veteran (you will not survive)
    A Modern Approach to Quantum Mechanics by Townsend
    Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell by Anthony Zee

    Studies indicating that studying in pairs is ideal:
    Hake, R. R. (1998). Interactive-engagement versus traditional methods: A six-thousand-student survey of mechanics test data for introductory physics courses. American journal of Physics, 66, 64.

    Hoellwarth, C., & Moelter, M. J. (2011). The implications of a robust curriculum in introductory mechanics. American Journal of Physics, 79, 540.
    Prince, M. (2004). Does active learning work? A review of the research. Journal of engineering education, 93(3), 223-231.
    http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030095720100449X
    http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/13346/

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