I'm 16 and need/want a life in Physics.

  • Thread starter Thread starter An Open Mind
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Life Physics
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around a young individual's aspirations to pursue a career in theoretical physics, exploring their interests, learning methods, and the challenges they face in mathematics and scientific understanding. The conversation includes reflections on educational resources, particularly the use of YouTube for learning, and the importance of foundational knowledge in calculus and physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses enthusiasm for learning about the universe through personal essays and YouTube, indicating a desire to understand complex concepts like black holes and singularities.
  • Another participant challenges the effectiveness of learning through YouTube, suggesting that serious study of calculus and physics is essential for becoming a scientist.
  • Some participants emphasize the need for proficiency in mathematics, noting that it is crucial for success in theoretical physics.
  • There is a discussion about the potential pitfalls of relying on personal ideas without grounding them in established scientific knowledge.
  • One participant acknowledges the value of YouTube in sparking interest in physics but also suggests that books may provide higher quality information.
  • Concerns are raised about the participant's understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry, particularly the distinction between "why" and "how" questions in science.
  • Some participants encourage the individual to keep an open mind and explore various resources for learning, including books and structured study.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the value of YouTube as a learning tool, with some advocating for its use while others recommend more traditional study methods. There is no consensus on the best approach to learning physics or the importance of personal theories versus established scientific knowledge.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the need for foundational knowledge in mathematics and physics, but there are varying opinions on how to best acquire this knowledge. Some express concern about the participant's reliance on personal ideas without sufficient grounding in established science.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in pursuing a career in theoretical physics, particularly those in high school or early college stages, may find the discussion relevant for understanding the challenges and resources available for their educational journey.

  • #91
I agree, I think Khan Academy is the most appropriate here; PatrickJMT has some great stuff too, but doesn't start at as low a level as Khan Academy does. I think Dr Chris Tisdell's videos are great; he has one of the best YouTube series on Fourier series I've ever seen. Once you get to the calculus level, you should check out his videos (that may be in a years time, possibly a little more, depending on how fast you work).
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #92
Also as far as what you should watch - Mythbusters and makezine

The other thing is that you shouldn't try to theorize about black holes since you don't have a black hole handy. What you *should* theorize about is stuff that you can do actual experiments on.

For example, come up with a theory about bowling. Take a bowling ball, toss it against the pins, and then come up with a physics theory that explains how to get a higher score in bowling. Once you start analyzing a bowling ball, you can easily spend a year or two working out the physics of bowling balls, and there is a decent chance that you'll come up with something that no one else has ever figured out. Also, this is the type of stuff that you can enter into science fairs and Intel STS, which will help you with college applications.

If you really get into it, then think about what types of stuff you can attach to a bowling ball to do physics experiments.

If you don't like bowling, then do it for something that you do like to do...
 
  • #93
I read all these comments and they all make perfect sense your all right I shouldn't clutter my mind with crazy ideas since I don't know any math behind it. I made a thread yestorday called "My theory on black holes/Big Bang", I got a warning and it was locked. I had thought of an idea about a month ago and I was just trying to express what my mind thinks about and what everyone on the forum would think of it. I don't believe any theories I think of I just find it neat if it were true. No more rediculous things like that I'm concentrating on my algebra now.
 
  • #94
http://www.algebasics.com/3way1.html I use this site to learn the basic first steps of algebra and I'm understanding it, I learn't all of this is grade 8 but never payed any attention because I hated school. If anyone else has a better site please tell me.

Everyone who posts on my thread are my mentors, my guidence.
 
  • #95
twofish-quant said:
Also as far as what you should watch - Mythbusters and makezine

The other thing is that you shouldn't try to theorize about black holes since you don't have a black hole handy. What you *should* theorize about is stuff that you can do actual experiments on.

For example, come up with a theory about bowling. Take a bowling ball, toss it against the pins, and then come up with a physics theory that explains how to get a higher score in bowling. Once you start analyzing a bowling ball, you can easily spend a year or two working out the physics of bowling balls, and there is a decent chance that you'll come up with something that no one else has ever figured out. Also, this is the type of stuff that you can enter into science fairs and Intel STS, which will help you with college applications.

If you really get into it, then think about what types of stuff you can attach to a bowling ball to do physics experiments.

If you don't like bowling, then do it for something that you do like to do...

That's a fantasic idea, but I like using my brain more then my hands and my homelife isn't really the place I can experiment in unfortunately.
 
  • #96
I read the title of the OP, and the first thing that popped into my head:" I want to get a life... in physics"
There's life in physics?

"Getting a life" and "physics" rarely mingle.
D-:
 
  • #97
MathematicalPhysicist said:
I read the title of the OP, and the first thing that popped into my head:" I want to get a life... in physics"
There's life in physics?

"Getting a life" and "physics" rarely mingle.
D-:

Unless you're Barney Stinson and manage to use physics to your advantage :wink:
 
  • #98
An Open Mind said:
That's a fantasic idea, but I like using my brain more then my hands and my homelife isn't really the place I can experiment in unfortunately.

You'll be using your brain on things in real life.

And I'll bet your parents will bend over backwards to make you a space to study it. (OK, maybe start off with something smaller than a bowling alley).
 
  • #99
MathematicalPhysicist said:
I read the title of the OP, and the first thing that popped into my head:" I want to get a life... in physics"
There's life in physics?

"Getting a life" and "physics" rarely mingle.
D-:

Question mark.
 
  • #100
DaveC426913 said:
You'll be using your brain on things in real life.

And I'll bet your parents will bend over backwards to make you a space to study it. (OK, maybe start off with something smaller than a bowling alley).

What could I experiment with?
 
  • #101
An Open Mind said:
What could I experiment with?

How about a spinning top? I could probably spend hours analyzing the motion of a top - it may seem simple at first, but it is actually quite complex.
 
  • #102
What sports do you play? If it involves the motion of any sort of ball or something, that might be interesting to experiment with.
 
  • #103
kcajrenreb said:
What sports do you play? If it involves the motion of any sort of ball or something, that might be interesting to experiment with.

I don't play sports :rolleyes: but I like playing basket ball :o
 
  • #104
I'm wondering if the OP is a troll. Even if he's a troll, I could laugh quite heartily, several times as well as gain a few sources of good information and some good advice from the seasoned physicists. Thank you everyone.
 
  • #105
joshmadakor said:
I'm wondering if the OP is a troll.
It is certainly a possibility. The range of knowledge versus lack thereof is skirts implausibility.
 
  • #106
An Open Mind said:
I don't play sports :rolleyes: but I like playing basket ball :o

[QUOTE="Wikipedia]Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules. Basketball is one of the world's most popular and widely viewed sports.[/QUOTE]
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball)

Emphasis mine.
 
  • #107
  • #109
Wow! Sorry to butt in but, holy motherload of resources! Thank you to all who posted. even if the OP doesn't use this information, it will not go to waste. Thank you.
 
  • #110
What is the OP? I'd research it my self but meh you guy's are my google now :D.
 
  • #111
OP means opening poster AKA you Open mind
 
  • #112
Alright everyone thanks for everything you done for me, I've got all these links saved. You've given me a big boost because now I know what I have to learn :). I think I'm about finished with this thread but I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions about other things. Peace ;p
 
  • #113
xdrgnh said:
OP means opening poster AKA you Open mind

Wait whattt so when joshmadakor said this:

I'm wondering if the OP is a troll. Even if he's a troll, I could laugh quite heartily, several times as well as gain a few sources of good information and some good advice from the seasoned physicists. Thank you everyone.

Was he saying I was a troll or what it's hard to follow what you guys say some times I've never seen well spoken people write/speak like that.
 
  • #114
Yes, he is suggesting the possibility of you being a troll. I personally don't think you are though. But heck, I could be wrong.
 
  • #115
kcajrenreb said:
Yes, he is suggesting the possibility of you being a troll. I personally don't think you are though. But heck, I could be wrong.

For the record, I think it's the 6600 word thesis that's bringing on the heat.
 
  • #116
Yeah, very true. But then again, there are people who do that kind of stuff!
 
  • #117
kcajrenreb said:
Yeah, very true. But then again, there are people who do that kind of stuff!

I guess 6600 words isn't much at all (30 pages perhaps) especially if you're typing notes and musings in a single file.

I've been working on transhumanism primer that is easily that length, and several papers I've written up for class or simply to lay out some musings have easily been a few thousand words.
 
  • #118
Eh, I'm not judging anyone, no matter how many damn musings they write down. Personally, I'd never do something like that, but again, everyone's different.
 
  • #119
kcajrenreb said:
Eh, I'm not judging anyone, no matter how many damn musings they write down. Personally, I'd never do something like that, but again, everyone's different.

I've actually found it helpful to keep a sort of "intellectual" journal (http://foucault.info/documents/foucault.hypoMnemata.en.html"); it allows me to gather my thoughts and recap on things recently learned. I might also play with some vague ideas in order to help them fall into a broader framework of more concrete ideas and become more precise.

Of course, I'm one of those people who has a certain appreciation for certain types of philosophical meta-analysis (mostly philosophy of mathematics and logic, some piddling around with cognitive science and free will and the ethical implications of neuroeconomics -which is the neuroscience of human motivation/preference-; of course no new knowledge is gained by this sort of musing, but it can help to draw connections between pieces of scientific/mathematical knowledge that have been acquired on different occasions).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #120
Guys! What the heck! I'm not a troll I'm here to learn and I just wanted to ask the forum what things they think I should be studying. This thread is finished I have what I came for. This is off the topic now, enough please.
 

Similar threads

Other Can I Study Physics? A-Levels, GCSEs & University
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Need some advice on my future career
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
458
Getting Back on Track with Physics Help
  • · Replies 39 ·
2
Replies
39
Views
5K
Courses Changing my life from Engineering to Theoretical Physics
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Courses What are the best A-Level options for someone wanting to do Physics?
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
2K
Finding a PhD program which is compatible with GPA 3.485
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Self Learning Math/Physics
  • · Replies 71 ·
3
Replies
71
Views
3K
Programs What subject is better for an aspiring experimental physicist?
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K
Considering Switching from Physics to Computer Engineering
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Programs Questions About Referrals for Physics REUs (for Undergrads)
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K