Is there a similar list for Mathmatics somewhere?
Not for self-study, but still interesting: https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~abhishek/chicmath.htm
So You Want to Learn Physics (2016)
21–30 of 126 posts
Re: So You Want to Learn Physics (2016)
#22I went to university intending to study computing science, but switched to physics half way through under the assumption that you could teach yourself computing science more easily than physics. I wouldn't change what I learned for the world, and I'm now in physics academia, but it's funny how my job these days involves using some of the algorithms, mathematics and data structures that I was just about to start learn…
Not just research, but applied physics too - at least, that was my experience working in the defence and energy sectors. Looking back, it’s remarkable how little of my physics studies were devoted to learning about the computational techniques I spend the majority of my time working with.
Re: So You Want to Learn Physics (2016)
#23Well I disagree with many of the book choices, but if there's one thing that's absolutely spot-on is this:
>One big problem is that a lot of the popular books written about physics (especially those by famous physicists) are incredibly speculative and tend to present an unrealistic view of what the study of physics is all about. When you're learning physics, it's good to avoid these types of speculative books, and stick to the good ones that talk about the real physics we know exists.
Oh god yes. Why is it that whenever a lay person wants to talk about physics they talk about "11 dimensions", "string theory", or "time dilation", or any similarly crazy-sounding term that they read in a massively incorrect pop-sci article. Basically it makes it sound like physics is about all this crazy complicated and far-fetched ideas, rather than simple and beautiful principles to understand reality, which is what it is.
I don't know if I managed to convey what I mean.
Re: So You Want to Learn Physics (2016)
#24The author recommends some interesting popular books: 1. The Feynman Lectures on Physics 2. The Character of Physical Law by Richard Feynman 3. Deep Down Things: The Breathtaking Beauty of Particle Physics by Bruce Schumm 4. The Particle Odyssey by Frank Close 5. Weinberg's The First Three Minutes IMO someone who seriously wants to learn physics should read these books after they have gone through the typical undergr…
The Feynman Lectures are not pop science, but a textbook series based on his undergraduate courses.
I agree, they belong in the “Undergraduate Physics“ section.
Re: So You Want to Learn Physics (2016)
#25Well I disagree with many of the book choices, but if there's one thing that's absolutely spot-on is this: >One big problem is that a lot of the popular books written about physics (especially those by famous physicists) are incredibly speculative and tend to present an unrealistic view of what the study of physics is all about. When you're learning physics, it's good to avoid these types of speculative books, and st…
> "11 dimensions", "string theory", or "time dilation"
One of these things is not like the others...
Re: So You Want to Learn Physics (2016)
#26Well I disagree with many of the book choices, but if there's one thing that's absolutely spot-on is this: >One big problem is that a lot of the popular books written about physics (especially those by famous physicists) are incredibly speculative and tend to present an unrealistic view of what the study of physics is all about. When you're learning physics, it's good to avoid these types of speculative books, and st…
Why is it that whenever a lay person wants to talk about physics they talk about
Because those things sound exotic and interesting. Just like (statistically) nobody goes to the natural history museum to look at chicken-sized dinosaurs.
Re: So You Want to Learn Physics (2016)
#27Having completed a graduate level Physics education, I can attest that the selection of topics is solid.
(Can't comment on the books, I learned in a different language where other books tend to be used).
Re: So You Want to Learn Physics (2016)
#28Books are too low bandwidth. You will get stuck, mostly on trivial stuff. Then what do you do? My advice is to find a teacher. If they are any good they will speed up the process by one or two (or more) orders of magnitude. Even the professionals do this.
>You will get stuck, mostly on trivial stuff. Then what do you do? Find other books. There's a reason why university libraries have old editions of the same books and very similar books on the same topic.
This is great and, in my experience, non-trivial advice. I often used to get stuck on a mathematics textbook, and wouldn't know how to go forward. Turns out, sometimes different textbooks covering the same topic will be much better, or even just will be better for teaching one specific concept.
Re: So You Want to Learn Physics (2016)
#29Well I disagree with many of the book choices, but if there's one thing that's absolutely spot-on is this: >One big problem is that a lot of the popular books written about physics (especially those by famous physicists) are incredibly speculative and tend to present an unrealistic view of what the study of physics is all about. When you're learning physics, it's good to avoid these types of speculative books, and st…
Although I can see the utility in setting the right expectations for people beginning their study in physics, surely it does more good than harm to get more people interested in the field itself via exposure to the most eye-catching ideas in physics, even if speculative?
It's kind of the same way that more people would be interested in computer science because of strong AI rather than binary search trees.
Re: So You Want to Learn Physics (2016)
#30Well I disagree with many of the book choices, but if there's one thing that's absolutely spot-on is this: >One big problem is that a lot of the popular books written about physics (especially those by famous physicists) are incredibly speculative and tend to present an unrealistic view of what the study of physics is all about. When you're learning physics, it's good to avoid these types of speculative books, and st…
> "11 dimensions", "string theory", or "time dilation" One of these things is not like the others...
To the average pop reader's digest human experience, they are pretty close. Sure, it's interesting to know that GPS is affected by time dilation, but the hours spent on thought experiments on intergalactic travel are a distraction from all the things one can learn about their everyday life.