Self-Studying: Feedback Strategies for Students

[bacon]

I'm sure there are many like myself who are self studiers: read the book, do the problems.
Right now I'm working through Halliday, Resnick and Walker, Fundamentals of Physics, and doing all the odd problems because the answers are in the back of the book. I'm also watching the MIT OCW lectures in first year physics and doing their homework which has the answer key published on their website. My problem is with the next phase, upper division work. I bought the book, Introduction to Electrodynamics, by Griffiths, because it seems to have the best reputation. Unfortunately, the answers are not provided for any of the problems. I made the mistake a few days ago of posting a request for answers to the problems and earned myself a warning. I was wrong to do so even though it was done in the spirit described above.
My question is how do I get feedback on the problems that I work? I won't know if they are wrong (unless I can't do them at all).
I could post all the problems I do and have others check my work. Is this permitted? This would be very labor intensive and might not comply with the spirit of homework help, since I might not actually need help if I were to do the problems correctly. Also, over time it would constitute a de facto solutions manual and therefore clearly against the rules.
Could a moderator address this issue?, and/or how has any other self studier approached this?

 

[DivisionByZro]

For one thing, being able to say if your solution to a problem makes sense or not is a very valuable skill to have. In even more "upper-division" work (Think research), answers are not provided, you're supposed to find them. Similarly, if you're able to develop that skill, then more power to you.

But I do see your point, as you could work through the whole chapter but still miss the mark and get all of the problems wrong. Perhaps if you're enrolled at a university you could start a study group. Or you can, obviously, post your solution on here and plenty of people will comment on it.

You could also try looking around the web, but I doubt you'd find much for that type of book.

Good luck,

-D

 

[finnk]

there's a solution manual for griffith
try reading this recent thread :
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=76100
hope it's helpful