Building My Physics Intuition: Seeking Good Simulations

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the importance of simulations in understanding classical mechanics, particularly in the context of studying vibrations and waves. The individual is self-studying from a 1971 textbook and feels confident in grasping core concepts but recognizes a gap in practical intuition that simulations could fill. Recommendations include exploring free simulations from the University of Colorado and open-source physics simulations available through Compadre, which require Java. Additionally, accessing MIT's introductory courses on YouTube and specific physics classroom demonstration videos is suggested as a way to enhance learning through visual and interactive content.
normalmode25
Messages
1
Reaction score
2
TL;DR Summary: Seeking good simulations to build my intuition

Hi everyone,

I am currently teaching myself classical mechanics, and am 3/4 of the way through "Vibrations and Waves," a textbook from 1971 which was used in the MIT course.

It's going okay - I feel like I have a decent grasp of the core concepts, and I've been doing a decent number of the problems, so that helps. I feel like I can get a good understanding of university level physics even though I am not studying it formally.

One thing, however, that I do believe I am missing out on through my informal study is simulations. I know that University of Colorado produces a few good free ones. Can anyone recommend other good simulations which are relevant for an introductory, university-level waves course?

Thanks!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Try the open source physics simulations in Compadre. You must be able to run Java.
 
I’ve been looking through the curricula of several European theoretical/mathematical physics MSc programs (ETH, Oxford, Cambridge, LMU, ENS Paris, etc), and I’m struck by how little emphasis they place on advanced fundamental courses. Nearly everything seems to be research-adjacent: string theory, quantum field theory, quantum optics, cosmology, soft matter physics, black hole radiation, etc. What I don’t see are the kinds of “second-pass fundamentals” I was hoping for, things like...
I graduated with a BSc in Physics in 2020. Since there were limited opportunities in my country (mostly teaching), I decided to improve my programming skills and began working in IT, first as a software engineer and later as a quality assurance engineer, where I’ve now spent about 3 years. While this career path has provided financial stability, I’ve realized that my excitement and passion aren’t really there, unlike what I felt when studying or doing research in physics. Working in IT...
Back
Top