Course Definition and 958 Threads

I'm wondering if and how to establish an online community of people who would like to self-teach physics from the bottom-up without direct involvement in academic institutions. The idea is to structure it in a flipped teaching classroom format where students first follow a video course and/or...

Hello, Is anyone here familiar with teaching Biophysics or biology/life-science focused physics courses in a two-year institution? We have problem of low enrollment in the traditional physics course - i.e. both in algebra-based and calc. based physics courses! But we have very healthy...

In the syllabus of the class, it recommended three mathematical background books: Mathematical Methods for Physicists by Arfken Mathematical Methods in Chemistry and Physics by Starzak. Mathematical Methods in the physical sciences by Boas I don't know difference between these three. Any...

Hi, I am currently an undergraduate student and I plan on taking advanced math courses such as Abstract Algebra, Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, etc. There are two courses which I think could help me prepare for the courses above as they are proof intensive: discrete math and bridge to advance...

So I'm about to start my second year of college soon, I'm majoring in physics. I've noticed that some universities (places like Princeton, MIT, etc) don't have a course on modern physics, where a more superficial treatment is given to things like special relativity, quantum mechanics...

Hello, I was wondering if you could give me some advice on what master’s degree or which specific master courses I should take. I am a physics student and I am going to finish my bachelor in physics next year. I plan to do a master in theoretical physics or in mathematical physics. However I...

I'm a physics Ph.D student who just complete his first year of classes. I struggled a lot and found this year to be academically the hardest of my life. However in the end I did get excellent grades in all of my core classes. I would really like to take it easy next semester and only take 1...

Assume student has taken around 8 upper division math courses including abstract algebra 1 and abstract algebra 2.

So far in my reading of SR, we explore various consequences of c being a constant in a vacuum and frame invariant, etc. At what point in a physics education do you learn why a universal speed limit is necessary at all? Is that the sort of thing that is revealed in an intro to GR course? Or is...

Hello everyone ! I am going to be a physics student next September and I want to know what are the best textbooks that are well-written , well-explained with diagrams and examples ? Thank you !

Dear All, Just wanted to share this excellent free Special Relativity online course I came across by Brian Greene, which I believe is one of the best around. Not sure if it's been shared before here. Special Relativity — World Science U, by Brian Greene...

I found the Weinberg's book on General Relativity the most complete book on the fundamentals of the theory. I would like to know (apart from laboratory clases and having a professor to guide you) what is the difference of self-learning General Relativity from that book, compared to a 4-5 years...

Not necessarily for JAVA, but in any beginning computer programming course at a college or university: What will the school, or department, or the teacher require of the students? Need the student use their own personal computer for this? Can student do the work using JAVA without having an IDE...

At my community college, the first calculus based physics courses (the predecessor to modern physics) are split into 3 semesters: mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermodyamics/light. As long as you take the mechanics part first, you can choose which one to take next. This summer session is 8...

I have the choice of 6ECTS, and I will use it on either a Mechatronics course or a Materials Science course. My field is biomedical engineering, which course would you recommend, does either of the courses pre-requisites the other?

I teach a first year Physics course. The incoming students (grades 10-12) have little to no Physics background. We are making some modifications to our work and energy unit. One modification that has been discussed is what to do about kinetic friction. At present, we account for friction as a...

Additionally, what topics from that same course are relevant to probability? I ask because I'm afraid I might forget some of the topics from my calculus series after one semester of disuse. I mean, I know I should probably brush up on my calculus skills in preparation for any math class that...

I took my mechanics final yesterday and I got one out of five problems correct. I know this because I checked online and four of the five answers were available from my professor and the last problem I couldn't do due to lack of time. We (the class) needed to get a 40% on the final to pass and I...

I'm starting a chemistry course in a few months & I'm a little nervous as my math skills aren't that good. Could anyone tell me which type of maths I'll be using in the course based on the modules that I need to complete? I'll like to work on my math skills in advance. Thank you :). Here's a...

In a mathematical modeling course (intended for applied mathematics majors at my school) you apply math to real life situations. I am a physics major so I know what goes on there, but how is math modeling different?

Next fall I will be teaching an electronics class for the first time, for undergraduate physics majors (who have already taken introductory E&M and integral calculus, not necessarily PDEs). The catalog description is "An introduction to analog and digital electronics. Topics include DC and AC...

Hello! I'm a Mechanical Engineering major considering a minor in Applied Physics; however, there are so many choices and I like all of them. I was hoping someone could give me some feedback. Perhaps, what physics courses are most relevant for a Mechanical Engineer. In my university, New Jersey...

Hi, i would like to get someone's opinion on an iOS app I've been looking into. I already own Wolfram Alpha and am curious as I'm taking Calculus II should i get the Calculus Course assistant from Wolfram and what is the difference between it and the regular Alpha?

Hello, I am currently a High School Senior who has completed Multivariable Calc (up to stokes theorem), basic Linear Algebra ( up to eigenvalues/vectors) and non-theory based ODE (up to Laplace transforms) at my local University. (All with A's) I am hell bent on taking either one of the courses...

Here are the course contents of some software engineering degree programs. Please help me to decide which is the better program to follow. 1. BEng(Hons) Software Engineering Course Modules Year 1- Level 4 Computer Science Practice Computer Systems Fundamentals Programming Principles I Web...

A question for those who are computational physicist: Dear Computational physicist, I am struggling between computational physics course or numerical analysis. They are both in graduate level (so very intensive), one in physics department and another in math. Both are taught by leading experts...

Homework Statement helicopter is flying in air it goes A,B,C,D points which are distributed in square and helicopter goes one circle in 4 hours if wind is blowing in direction from A to D then the whole circle is flown in 3 hours question: how does it takes to fly from A to C if wind blows in...

Hello, I will be attending an undergraduate course called "Theoretical Physics" and I want to borrow some books from the library that cover the material of this course. I would appreciate any suggestions. The syllabus of the course is the following(I will be translating so I am sorry If...

Hello, I will take Classical Mechanics I (upper division) course fall of 2017. I have not seen Mechanics material since fall of 2014 and would like suggestions on how to review the concepts prior to taking the class. I was pretty good in that class and do not need to "re-learn" anything per...

Hey guys, I am teaching general physics (among other things) at an international school. The general physics course is designed as a introduction to all students to physics. These students could be interested in physics-career or not. My principal has given me a lot of leeway in designing my...

"a material to conduct an electrical current with zero resistance" ? Is this not ohm's law to a logical extreme?, or am I missing something?

Hello all! I am currently looking to take some online mathematics course from an accredited college, more accurately the Calculus series...Calc I,II, and III. I want my courses to transfer to a brick and mortar state school when I am capable of enrolling full time in school. I worry about...

I'm currently an applied math major. I'm creating a schedule for my next semester and I have the choice to take either complex variables or vector analysis with linear algebra and a college geometry course(elective of choice), but I don't know which pairing will be less stressful. I am currently...

Sorry I keep posting about this. I had settled on Probability (Probability in discrete and continuous sample spaces; conditional probability; counting techniques; probability functions; binomial, Poisson, normal distributions; and transformations of variables.) based off of previous answers to...

I'm a bachelor student in Physics and I would like to continue with a MSc in the field of Condensed Matter Physics. I have to choose between some courses at my university and, since I'm not already an expert in Condensed Matter I would like to have a suggestion. If you were in my situation and...

Hello, I have been reading through the forum recently and just made an account. This seems like a very helpful community of like-minded people! I'm interested in engineering, specifically aerospace thus far but of course I have not ruled out any field. I'm interested in a lot of things although...

It's called the "International Bachelor of Science". I almost got into the Advanced Bachelor of science honours (physics) but my marks dropped a lot in my last 2 terms due to personal family issues. I love philosophy, astronomy, physics (all of it but mostly space, special relativity and...

For those who have read Schutz' book A First Course in General Relativity. Can this book be considered as a deep approach on the subject? Edit --- Do you think I will become a "expert" in general relativity just by reading books like this one I mentioned above? What time it take for learning...

Hi, I am currently applying to university and am an aspiring Theoretical Physicist. I see many different courses but the two I am not sure on are Mathematical Physics and Theoretical Physics. I was wondering what would give me a better foundation to go on to be a Theoretical Physicist, thank...

Hello,I have a department elective course called "Differential equations theory" but I have no idea if it is going to be useful for me as a physicist (I'm interested in the theory/ minor math). The description of the course is as follows : The fundamental theorem of existence and autism, linear...

I'm in my 3rd year of a physics degree, with plans to study further in graduate school. I am currently enrolled in a group theory class, as I have heard it can be useful in many fields (particularly solid state physics, which I am interested in learning more about). However, so far all we have...

Hello, I'm studying for a physics bachelor degree in college. In order to graduate in time, i have to take several general ed courses, and I've chosen religious studie 100 course because i thought i know/like ancients myths that related to greek, roman, norse gods, and etc, and because of that...

Is Anybody Reading the Syllabus? To Find Out, Some Professors Bury Hidden Gems (Chronicle of Higher Education) I never used the Easter-egg trick myself, but if I had a nickel for every time I answered a question about something that was in the syllabus (e.g. "How much does this test count...

Last semester I took Physics 2, Calc 3, a lab course, and ODE. This was easy to do for me because I studied often. This semester I will take: 1. Chinese 1 (required) 2. Linear Algebra 3. Modern Physics 4. Physics problem solving (a drill of advanced multi-step calc-based physics problems from...

I am completely lost. I just started my O.D.E course this week and I'm already sinking. After the first lecture I was reading through the chapter (because that normally helps) and I became even more confused. I looked at the homework, and I didn't even know where to start. Then I realized (with...

Hello, If anyone could help me with the prerequitisetes for an undergraduate General Relativity and Cosmology course I will enroll into, It will be much appreciated. The syllabus is the following(sorry for the rough translation): -Review of Special Relativity -Spacetime in GR -Geodesics...

Hi All, I found a free online course Physics from Yale I thought that must be pretty good well after watching the lecture and starting with the first problem I think I found something that is incorrect. Is anybody willing to tell me that i do somehting wrong (most probably I would expect that...

Dear Physics Forum personnel, I will be taking my first graduate course (as an undergraduate) in mathematics starting on this Fall Semester. The course is about the algebraic topology (Hatcher, Spanier, Massey, etc.), which I am very excited to take as I love the topology. I am curious about...

Hello! I am currently searching for some alternative books I can use for the analysis course starting on this Fall Semester. The course will cover the compactness, contraction principles, approximation theory, and some applications like special functions and Fourier series. The required...

Greetings. I've come with yet another issue which is causing me some distress. So I took everyone's advice and started self-teaching calculus (or at least I started trying... Limits are still confusing). However, my problem doesn't stem there. I decided to review my algebra before year 10...