Is learning physics helpful for undergrad math students?

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
3 replies · 1K views
A.MHF
Messages
26
Reaction score
1
A few months back I bought Spacetime Physics by Taylor and Wheeler, I haven't read it, but I was planning to. Generally, I do love physics especially the math part. I'm also self-learning some courses in mathematics and I was wondering if it would be helpful to me to also start learning some advanced physics for fun.
Any ideas?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes! A lot of physics should be mandatory to math students. A lot of math concepts make WAY more sense with a solid knowledge of physics. Calculus can be understood only fully by knowing some (basic) classical mechanics. Differential geometry really shines when applied to classical mechanics and GR. Functional analysis gains a whole new depth with a solid knowledge of QM. And so on, and so on.

http://pauli.uni-muenster.de/~munsteg/arnold.html
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Ravi Mohan, A.MHF and Thewindyfan
Thanks, these were my thoughts at the beginning but I wanted to make I'm investing my time in something useful.
My background is wide, I have deep knowledge of calculus, discrete mathematics, matrices, some knowledge in Set Theory, and a bit of real analysis and number theory. I'm sure I have more knowledge in other areas but they're not that deep. As for my knowledge in physics it's not that much. I have basic understanding of Classical Mechanics, E&M, and optics.