Recent content by fras

Or, the US government could return the land back to arthropods.

In my opinion the book linked below is a good book to use. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521876222/?tag=pfamazon01-20

If you have a competent instructor there is no need to take detailed notes from a book. In fact, I would say that would detract from your learning experience. Your notes should consist mostly of what was discussed in lecture. Reading the book comes next but only to reinforce what was taught in...

I will be graduating in the Fall with a degree in physics, but I am afraid. Before now, I had a plan to go to graduate school. However, I've been reading around these forums that people with PhD's in physics are broke, cannot find jobs, and the field of physics seemingly oversaturated so much so...

My school doesn't require differential geometry either for a degree in physics. It is pretty much the same requirements as ziggy's. Unlike ziggy's we are required to take Linear Algebra, and mathematical physics is taught within the junior and senior level physics courses.

Differential equations. A very boring class, but very useful class as well.

I should have put, "back to the op." Sorry for that.

You admitted that you don't have a good grasp on math because you find it to be useless. See anything wrong with such reasoning? Need to know math in order to study cosmology (as well as introductory physics courses). Partly true. ODEs, linear algebra, and complex variables are needed as...

Just wanted to share a story of how drug abuse can lead to horrible acts. http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/20619030/mum-raped-her-own-children-while-others-watched/ Someone addicted to a drug is dangerous from what I've seen, and the stories I've heard from other people. However, will...

I'll preface this post by saying I have always had an interest in companies like Bayer and their R&D departments, so I found this story relevant as it touches upon R&D and patent rights. However, I know very little when it comes to legal procedures, and especially patents (intellectual...

This is a good book for learning SR for the first time after completing Physics I. The author explicitly states this in the beginning chapters. As for the content itself, the author stresses concept more than math within the book. I found the book very easy to read and have been reading it...

I know what you mean by that. I will be taking E&M this fall and I want to use Purcell as my choice to read from after lecture.

Alright, thank you. If the problems are a level higher than Kleppner's in difficulty, I may enjoy having a go at them. As for Kleppner though, I read the book after completing a course in mechanics, so I didn't read it knowing nothing at all. But from what I did read of the text, I will say it...

I know you mean it to be rigorous when you say hardcore, but I would like to know in what way that is different from texts like Halliday or Freedman's Physics when approaching Electricity and Magnetism. Right now I know vector calculus and would consider myself pretty proficient in that area...

Since special relativity has been touched upon. I would suggest reading Helliwell's Special Relativity text which is intended for students that have completed their first course in mechanics. @WannabeNewton: Could you elaborate? I was beginning to buy Purcell after having my first...