Physics Looking for advice on EE and Physics learning

[newtech]

Hello All,

Lately I have been pushing myself to learn how to learn better, and more effectively. I have been reading books, and listening to audio for help on this. Some of the stuff is sticking and I am trying to put my learning's to work. I want to learn Electrical Engineering concepts and Physics. I am looking to self teach this stuff. I don't know if I still want to go to school for Engineering because of the things I have heard and read about lately. I love to learn, and crave knowledge. I don't want to be robbed of my passion by going to a school that takes something I think is amazing and turn it into something I dread. With that said, I am looking for advice on some good beginner books for both physics, and EE. I want something with a good overview of both subjects. I am real good at seeing the big picture, and it takes a good book for me to be able to do that. I have searched Google, Amazon, Barnes and noble, and other book sites. I looked at the reviews on a lot of the books, and i did not find anything that was rated real good for beginners. One that looked pretty good was the Electrical Engineering 101. With this knowledge I am looking to engage on my own projects, and possibly even start designing systems for company's when I get real good. Thanks for reading this and I look forward to your responses.

P.S if you have any good titles for self help learning books that you know of or have read, I would like to hear about them too. I am really trying to learn and get the best out of it.

 

[maverick280857]

What is your background? Do you know basic Newtonian physics, calculus, etc?

 

[newtech]

My background is in IT. I do computer repair and work as a junior network admin. I am not familiar with Newtonian physics or calculus. The most math I have done is Algebra, and Geometry. I am actually in a college Algebra class now. Even though I am not sure of those things yet, I can pick up real quick as long as the material I am learning from makes sense. I try my best to understand things. Also I like having a mental challange, because the reward is when you figure it out. To me that is the best thing about it.

 

[maverick280857]

My background is in IT. I do computer repair and work as a junior network admin. I am not familiar with Newtonian physics or calculus. The most math I have done is Algebra, and Geometry. I am actually in a college Algebra class now. Even though I am not sure of those things yet, I can pick up real quick as long as the material I am learning from makes sense. I try my best to understand things. Also I like having a mental challange, because the reward is when you figure it out. To me that is the best thing about it.

That's great. After you've studied a bit of college calculus and algebra, you will be in a position to understand circuits and electronics in a deeper way (although nothing beats being able to do it by hand, something I reckon you have some experience with already). Most areas of electrical engineering other than circuits involve some upper level math (calculus mostly, but sometimes probability).

You could have a look at books like The Art of Electronics, and of course, do read the Feynman Lectures..if you carefully and slowly follow them from vol 1 chapter 1, you won't have a problem (esp if you're concurrently reading calculus). And if you're eager to advance on your own, pick up Schaum's College Algebra and Theory and Outline of Calculus textbooks. The Schaum calculus textbook was quite useful to me.

 

[newtech]

Thanks for the info. I am looking for those books as I type. Its always good to add more to my bookshelf. Also I have been having problems with algebra. Not that it is hard, just the fact that it is so much to do in some problems and I do not see any real world usages for those problems. You seem to be very knowledgeable in this area. Have you or anybody ever struggled learning something, and if so what was the way you overcame the mental block? I really want to get past a lot of bad habits and discover my full potential for learning. Some days I am very inspired and get a lot done, and other days the worldly problems tend to get me unfocused.