Research paper reading suggestions

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the challenges faced by 11th-grade students transitioning from solving Olympiad problems to reading research papers. Participants recommend starting with historical papers by renowned physicists such as Noether, Einstein, and Planck, rather than attempting to tackle complex works like Newton's "Principia." The consensus is that introductory textbooks are essential for understanding research papers, as they are typically written for experts. The discussion emphasizes the importance of foundational knowledge before engaging with advanced research literature.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts
  • Familiarity with mathematical proofs and theorems
  • Knowledge of scientific research methodologies
  • Ability to read and comprehend academic texts
NEXT STEPS
  • Read introductory textbooks on physics and mathematics
  • Explore historical research papers by Noether, Einstein, and Planck
  • Study the structure and purpose of academic research papers
  • Investigate accessible summaries or analyses of complex works like "Principia"
USEFUL FOR

High school students, aspiring physicists, and anyone interested in transitioning from problem-solving to understanding research methodologies in science.

Physicistpropeller
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Hey guys, I am currently in 11th grade.
I am just used to solving Olympiad problems and proving some random theorems. I think i should start studying some reasearch papers for ny own benefit..any suggestions for where to start with?
Suggest from intro to intermediate level...will be fine! Thankyou!Also i believe I can work on some intro level research projects...if anyy pls!
 
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Research papers are usually at the front of research activities, which is far away from any introducing character. Quite the contrary of what you are asking for: you need to read a lot of introductory textbooks in order to understand research papers.

My suggestion is to read some historical papers instead, e.g. Noether, Einstein, Planck.
 
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fresh_42 said:
Research papers are usually at the front of research activities, which is far away from any introducing character. Quite the contrary of what you are asking for: you need to read a lot of introductory textbooks in order to understand research papers.

My suggestion is to read some historical papers instead, e.g. Noether, Einstein, Planck.
yea! I was thinking to start with principia as a starting thesis... which historical papers u suggest by the way and thanks
 
The Principia is a bit mighty, and possibly too old-fashioned. I think Einstein is doable.
 
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fine gotcha... thankyou

fresh_42 said:
The Principia is a bit mighty, and possibly too old-fashioned. I think Einstein is doable.
 
The Principia is impenetrable. Especially in the original Latin.

I'm not a big fan of original papers for this purpse. They are intended for experts to explain theories in an early stage of development to other experts. Not to teach theories that have been around for a while to non-experts.
 
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Vanadium 50 said:
The Principia is impenetrable. Especially in the original Latin.

I'm not a big fan of original papers for this purpse. They are intended for experts to explain theories in an early stage of development to other experts. Not to teach theories that have been around for a while to non-experts.
i got you...the thing is i was just intending to know how they reached to this that conclusion... how they verified this And all through papers/thesis so yeah
 
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