Newbie help - Passion for physics

[the_force]

Newbie help - Passion for physics :)

Hi everyone.

I am a investment/finance/technical market specialist, so basically I deal with technical analysis in certain markets. Far from anything related to physics (although I deal with allot of math), but I have a GREAT passion for physics, and there lays my problem.

Ever since I was 15 I studied nuclear history, and things related to the struggle to create it, and the struggle to understand the reason behind it. More recently I have been trying to educate my self with nuclear physics, elements, and the characteristics associated with them. I also used to be a race car driver, and from that I started a passion for aerodynamics.

Basically i want to learn more about physics...Nuclear, energy, whatever. I don't have the time nor the money to get a formal degree in physics as I stand now (I am 21) but i want to learn for my own benefit. Is there a site, tutorial, that can teach me basic physics?

I know this sounds pretty strange, but i want to learn about physics. I want to learn as much as i can without having to go to school as of now. (Too busy with current schooling)

Any help, guidance would be great! Thank you, and look forward to learning from this site!
-The_force

 

[franznietzsche]

Hi everyone.
I am a investment/finance/technical market specialist, so basically I deal with technical analysis in certain markets. Far from anything related to physics (although I deal with allot of math), but I have a GREAT passion for physics, and there lays my problem.
Ever since I was 15 I studied nuclear history, and things related to the struggle to create it, and the struggle to understand the reason behind it. More recently I have been trying to educate my self with nuclear physics, elements, and the characteristics associated with them. I also used to be a race car driver, and from that I started a passion for aerodynamics.
Basically i want to learn more about physics...Nuclear, energy, whatever. I don't have the time nor the money to get a formal degree in physics as I stand now (I am 21) but i want to learn for my own benefit. Is there a site, tutorial, that can teach me basic physics?

There's always time, we have a guy who is 26 and not finished his BS yet because he started so late. And he's still planning on grad school. The money problem is probably a more real issue.

I know this sounds pretty strange, but i want to learn about physics. I want to learn as much as i can without having to go to school as of now. (Too busy with current schooling)
Any help, guidance would be great! Thank you, and look forward to learning from this site!
-The_force

It doesn't sound all that strange, that's why most of the people here are here. However if you want to learn real modern physics its hard to without formal schooling, if only because of the time investment necessary to study it. Depending on your level of interest, this is a good site if you want to learn conceptual things. If you're just interested in know physics from a non-mathematical standpoint i.e. what is known, what is current research, sites like this will do you fine. If you're interested in actually doing physics, you'll have to start cracking textbooks, there is pretty much no way around it.

 

[the_force]

Hey

Thank you very much for the reply!

Quick question to start off: If I wanted to go back to school, and start physics, is there a choice of what type of physics or is it generally the same when starting in school?

Do you, or does anyone know of any school's that offer physics through correspondence, or online classroom's? I want to start off from scratch...the periodic table, weights and such.

Anyways, if anyone has any info about online classes (I live in Canada, not really important though), please let me know, and thank you in advance!
-The force

 

[Erzeon]

Do you, or does anyone know of any school's that offer physics through correspondence, or online classroom's? I want to start off from scratch...the periodic table, weights and such.

-The force

This is a bit off-topic but I don't you study the periodic table in physics, it's more of a chemistry thing.

 

[franznietzsche]

Thank you very much for the reply!
Quick question to start off: If I wanted to go back to school, and start physics, is there a choice of what type of physics or is it generally the same when starting in school?

Generally an undergrad degree (bachelor's) is not specialised into any particular field. A few universities offer undergrad degrees specifically in astrophysics or biophysics, but the vast majority are just general physics degrees.

Do you, or does anyone know of any school's that offer physics through correspondence, or online classroom's? I want to start off from scratch...the periodic table, weights and such.

Generally those aren't the sorts of things covered in physics classes, as the other poster pointed out that's more chemistry. I don't know of any correspondence style classes for university level physics. The best thing to do would be start at what is called a junior college in the US (no idea if its called the same thing, or even exists in Canada). These are two year colleges that only go up to an Associate's degree generally. They are much cheaper, and allow you to transfer to a 4-year university to finish the last 2 years worth of work.

Anyways, if anyone has any info about online classes (I live in Canada, not really important though), please let me know, and thank you in advance!
-The force

 

[the_force]

Hey guy's

Thanks again for the reply!

Yes I understand the periodic table is mainly chemistry, but is it physics that deals with the separation of different elements and what not?

We have community colleges here, which are pretty much the same thing as what you are talking about. Everybody I talk to about this thinks I am crazy for trying to get some schooling in physics for the benefit of my own lol, but I just love it so damm much :tongue2:

Quick question: Let's say i started my degree in physics, what would be the first 2 classes i would most likely take? Basic physics? And what would be involved? Sorry for the vague question guys

 

[franznietzsche]

Thanks again for the reply!
Yes I understand the periodic table is mainly chemistry, but is it physics that deals with the separation of different elements and what not?
We have community colleges here, which are pretty much the same thing as what you are talking about. Everybody I talk to about this thinks I am crazy for trying to get some schooling in physics for the benefit of my own lol, but I just love it so damm much :tongue2:
Quick question: Let's say i started my degree in physics, what would be the first 2 classes i would most likely take? Basic physics? And what would be involved? Sorry for the vague question guys

The first year would be calculus(single/multivariable probably) and intro physics, essentially physics up to what was known circa 1880. Newtonian gravity, laws of motion, harmonic motion, electricity, magnetism. Second year gets into basic relativity and q&m, basically physics up to about 1940. Third and 4th years (which would ahve to be at the major 4-year uni) would cover the same material at a much higher mathematical level, as well as some more recent material in elective courses, like nonlinear dynamics or solid state physics.