Study Plan for Physics Students: What to Study After Calculus III?

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The discussion revolves around a university physics student recognizing the limited mathematics curriculum in their program, particularly noting that differential and integral calculus III is the last math course in the second year. The student plans to self-study linear algebra due to insufficient exposure in the previous semester and seeks advice on what to study next. Recommendations include focusing on differential equations, specifically ordinary and partial differential equations, which are crucial for physics. Additionally, functional analysis and differential geometry are suggested as advanced topics relevant to quantum physics and relativity, respectively. The conversation also touches on the importance of ensuring that foundational concepts, such as Fourier transforms, are adequately covered in their studies. The student expresses uncertainty about the depth of their previous learning and plans to verify the curriculum with peers.
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Hello, I'm studying Physics at the university, and I realized that the 1st semester of the 2nd year is the last semester that has a mathematics discipline (it's differential and integral calculus III).
I had linear algebra & analytic geometry and differential and integral calculus I on the 1st semester, and now on the 2nd semester I have differential and integral calculus II.

Obviously they don't teach all the necessary maths at the university (and 3rd year physics students complain about it)... So now I'm going to study linear algebra by myself because I didn't study it much last semester.
My question is what should I study next? I'm not rushing it, I know I'll still take a long time to study linear algebra, but I'd just like to know from the start what should be my plan.

Thanks :smile:
 
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You should study differential equations thoroughly, first ODE's and then PDE's. They are extremely important in physics.
 
Klockan3 said:
You should study differential equations thoroughly, first ODE's and then PDE's. They are extremely important in physics.

Ok but we study that at the university, so can you suggest another thing?
 
Functional analysis (for quantum physics) or differential geometry (for relativity) seem like good options...
 
Tosh5457 said:
Ok but we study that at the university, so can you suggest another thing?
Are you sure that you did it properly? If you did that just in your calculus courses and not in a proper one then it wasn't done properly. Do you know what Fourier transforms are for example?
 
Klockan3 said:
Are you sure that you did it properly? If you did that just in your calculus courses and not in a proper one then it wasn't done properly. Do you know what Fourier transforms are for example?

I haven't learned it yet, I think it's on the 2nd year. I don't know if it's done properly though, I'm going to ask someone on the 2nd year about it.
 
Last edited:
Tosh5457 said:
I haven't learned it yet, I think it's on the 2nd year. I don't know if it's done properly though, I'm going to ask someone on the 2nd year about it.
If you got a separate course for it then it is probably alright. But it is there most of the linear algebra is useful for example.
 

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