Self-study Definition and 206 Threads

I am in the 8th grade. I have a new found interest in physics, and would love to learn physics from the lowest level to the highest . However I do not know any good textbooks to start with. Can anyone maybe suggest some detailed algebra-based physics book for me? Thank you!

micromass submitted a new PF Insights post How to self-study analysis. Part II: intermediate analysis Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.

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How to self-study mathematics https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/how-to-study-mathematics/ How to self-study basic high school mathematics https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/self-study-basic-high-school-mathematics/ How to self-study calculus...

My goal is to develop an intuitive understanding of the math underlying general relativity and ultimately be able to take a book like Wald or Carroll and, as someone on these forums commented once, “be able to casually read it while sipping my morning coffee and listening to the news.” :) So...

When searching for a nice introductory physics textbook for self-study, I have found a few books that others have claimed to cover the majority of physics - from classical mechanics to quantum mechanics - albeit in a manner only intended to base a more intensive study of the individual topics...

Hi, I'm embarking on a mission to self-study math, and would like some recommendations on any missing books or ones that should be replaced in my repertoire. The goal is to build a strong mathematical foundation. My naive idea of what that means is something like an undergraduate math major, so...

Whole my life I have been interested in Quantum Physics. I have a bachelor degree in IT. I did not finish my studies. I have always been quite sloppy in studying in school. As a result, my mathematics skills are terrible. I often get pointed out on this forum that I better start with the...

micromass submitted a new PF Insights post How to Self-Study Basic High School Mathematics Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.

micromass submitted a new PF Insights post How to Self-Study Calculus Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.

I am a current High School senior intending on majoring in Physics in college. Last year I took IB Physics SL and got a 4 on the test but kept my head above water on all the unit tests. I'm currently taking AP Calculus BC and am doing very well. I have exhausted all other science classes in my...

I am currently in my second year of a bachelor of science with a major in physics. The class I am taking is notorious for being hard and the professor is very hard to understand (understanding the material, not what she's saying). The class is all about oscillations and waves. The textbook is...

Hi, I'm looking for a good book to study multivariable calculus from that would fit a proof-based undergraduate math course. The emphasis should be on RIGOROUS proofs, theorems and presentation of concepts. I really need a book that would be approachable for self-study with clear and...

Could you recommend me a book or two treating the algorithms and their mathematical foundation, designs, and analysis? My main programming languages are C++ and Python.

I have a rudimentary background in physics and would like to do self-study for my own intellectual curiosity. If I wanted to try to get a grasp of something like M-Theory or inflationary cosmology, what physics subjects would I need to study first? Also what kinds of mathematics would I need...

I am pushing myself through an accelerated course of undergraduate physics (a number of reasons) and, if all goes well, it looks like I can complete the degree in two years. I have a 4.0 in physics up to this point, so I've seen no indication of my lack of work ethic/aptitude. After that, I...

Hello, from my experience, taking notes while self-studying is the most frustrating thing I ever faced. I am one of those people who doesn't want to miss any small detail! I started this summer self-studying "mathematical methods in the physical sciences - By Mary Boas" because I found it...

Dear Physics Forum friends, I am a rising college junior in US with a major in mathematics. I recently noticed a problem in my note-taking skill in the mathematics, both from the textbooks and lectures. When I was a microbiology major, I wrote extensive amount of notes from my books and...

Hello fellow science enthusiasts! I will start by describing my problem. I am majoring in Computer Science. More importantly, I am taking a course in Single Variable Calculus I. We are using the textbook written by Stewart: Calculus Early Transcendentals. And as I continue read through it...

I am applying to University in January 2016 for either maths or computer science. I have taken the Gr. 12 prerequisite courses and did alright in them (calculus 89, physics 96, etc), but I feel I still do not have a solid foundation in maths to really feel comfortable going into a degree...

I will be taking Chemistry 1 in the fall for undergrad science majors and am looking for a good study book to brush up on the basics. I took chemistry in high school two years ago and don't want to be re-learning basics that I was expected to know beforehand (sig figs, conversions, etc). Any...

I've just made it through my freshman physics year (covering introductory Linear algebra, Mechanics, Single- and multivariable calculus, Thermodynamics, Wave Theory, and Scientific computing). Due to some health issues, I am essentially unable to attend lectures, but I am, to be frank, a gifted...

I recently graduated from High School (or Sweden's equivalent). I am entering quite a difficult university program studying physics / math in a couple of months. I am interested in self-studying this summer simply because I find the subjects fascinating, especially the mathematical side of it...

Hi guys. I have just finished my first year as an undergrad and I still think I don't know enough E&M ( took half year course and I barely passed the final exam). Can you please recomand a good textbook to study over the summer?

So I'm trying to choose between 3 calculus books for self-study and would love some suggestions or comments on the books i posted: I really like when a book is clear and has relavant expamples (also for exercises) without skipping too many steps, however I do also like history or understanding...

Hello, I'm planning to spend my summer studying some physics and maths books. Physics books aren't my problem, math books are. I took " calculus 1/2 & differential equations " till now and a material of mathematical methods (vector analysis/general coordinates/complex/gamma-beta functions/...

I'm looking for a comprehensive mathematical physics book for self-study. My ideal book would have some of these qualities: - lots of applications, examples, problems and solutions (or available solutions) - not focused on rigor - interesting to read (maybe with some history too?) - ideally it...

What textbooks would you recommend for self studying Nonlinear Dynamics? I am a undergraduate junior who will be doing research on nonlinearity of spiking neurons. I have taken courses on ODE, vector calculus, probability, statistics, and linear algebra.

Hi, I'm currently waiting for admission into an engineering course at a local university,however,it has been a long time since I did any real math and most of the math was taught to us in a "plug & play" manner. I want to ensure that my mathematics fundamentals are strong enough so that it...

I am a 1st-year physics student and over the summer am planning on self-studying some extra maths courses. I was considering geometry, statistics, and algebra as these seem to not require too many prerequisites and are useful in physics. Could anyone recommend some good textbooks/online...

Hello science buddies, This is my first post in this forum. Ok let me get to the point directly, currently I self-study graduate level quantum theory and the main book I'm using is Sakurai's. But I think for self studying it's better to also have a look at lecture notes, first because it's much...

Are you self-studying mathematics? Do you have any questions on how to handle it? Anything you want to share? Do so here!

I've spent the last 4 years doing a chemistry degree, and before that I did maths, chemistry and biology at 6th form. (that's junior & senior year at high school if you're from across the Atlantic). So I've learned about a decent amount of science but with a distinct lack of physics, which I'm...

Hi, I have drop out school at high school. All the subjects taught in school were senseless to me, so I've decided to leave it. After that, I've decided to learn things by myself. Nowadays I'm working as software programmer developing computer vision programs, without any college degree. I...

Hi all! My name is Mike. I would like to new the recommended course of study for someone who wanted to know all there is to particle physics through self study. I've done the derivatives and beginning integration in calculus and have just begun the first year physics text. Could someone please...

I'm fascinated with math and regret I never really pursued it. I want to self study to bring myself up to the point of being able to understand differential and integral calculus. I was good at algebra but I want to review and study a step by step syllabus. So what are the areas of math...

So I'm taking AP-C: E&M for my last high school semester and wanted to take some time to read up with a rigorous special relativity book. I've already taken the equivalent of Calculus 1-3 at a university level and I've read Kleppner and Kolenkow's Mechanics book up to the chapters on Special...

I am taking AP Calculus BC and I want to self study math so that I can be good at it. The field of mathematics I want to study is applied mathematics. What methods are good for studying math by myself and becoming good at it? Which topics should I study sequentially after learning AP Calculus...

Hello. I'm John, and I'm 25. Until recently, I was a part-time college student, and now I'm not. The degree I was going for, Computer Technology with a programming emphasis, was something I seemed to be proficient at, but it was also something that I have pretty much zero passion about. I...

As the title implies, I am looking for a decent introductory modern physics text for self-study purposes. I'm a Biochemistry major, so this is partially for my own enjoyment and partially for preparation for Physical Chemistry II. I know that there are a lot of threads on this, but I always like...

Dear PF friends, I am a sophomore with double majors in microbiology and mathematics (just declared on last week) doing research on the computational/quantitative biology research in the field of virology. In future, I want to go to a graduate school in either virology or computational biology...

I currently have completed a two-semester course in physics where University Physics by Ronald Reece was used. This two-semester course was your basic introduction: the first semester comprised of Newton's laws and their extension to energy, momentum etc., and the final semester was a light...

A few months ago I asked for recommendations for textbooks on generalized linear models. (Nevermind that I seem not to have actually asked anything.) I'm still in the same boat but am considering a different approach. I mention in that I felt approaching practical (mostly work) and theoretical...

I am self-studying Physics in the second year of my undergrad(too late i know) as I never really understood many basic concepts in my high school as clearly as i now do. In my enthusiasm to teach myself Physics I bought a number of books but none seem on par with stuff described on many forums...

Hello everyone! I'm new here. I'm starting a self-study of more rigorous mathematics. My background is I have a B.S. in Mathematics(class of '14) and have had rigorous classes but they were, in my opinion, sub-par and not taught as rigorously as they should have been. Truth be told, I...

I am trying to self study linear algebra. This might seem like a very silly question but what does R subscript 3 mean in the context of linear algebra. I am NOT talking about R ^ 3 which is 3 dimensional vector space

Hi awesome people at physicsforum, I’m planning on doing some self-study in physics and math and I’d really appreciate some advice based on my skill -level and what I want to achieve, which I’ll describe for you. I’ve considered some books to buy further down, and would deeply appreciate...

Hello guys, I hope you all have happy holiday! This question crops up to my mind often when I read through threads in PF. One of the most common points for books recommendation is because of good and instructive problems in them. For specific example, WannabeNewton in this thread is very...

Hi, I'm a Junior in high school. I just finished Calculus 3 (and got an A) last semester and I'm taking Differential Equations next semester. Also (if I get into this free math program), I will be taking Linear Algebra and Number Theory with Cryptology this summer. Anyways my question is what...

Hello, This is my first post, so my backgrounds is basically that I've studied biochemistry and neuroscience in university, and I want to continue working in science in some capacity, although that's not my profession at the moment. I've come to the realization that the all of the cutting-edge...