Studying Physics at Age 14: Where to Start?

[Demoniac]

Hello. I want to study Physics. I'm 14(15 next month). I know Newton's Laws of Motion. I want to know in what order should I study Physics. I know 9th grade Algebra. No books please.

 

[snipez90]

Unless you plan on sorting through the relevant wikipedia pages yourself (or have someone help you do that), get a textbook. Giancoli's physics text is probably appropriate for your level.

 

[physics girl phd]

No books please.

Almost all texts are pretty much in the same order anyways. So if I were you, I'd start where I was interested... and I personally think that creating your own project designed around your interest is a great place to start.

This could take the form of a building project (like making your own robot.. say one that moves around on it's own, doing some simple task like a "Roomba"... or one that is stationary but perhaps throws a ball for your dog once you train your dog to place the ball in the right spot). b The fun with robots is that there's mechanical, electrical and programming aspects.

A project could also take the form of some programming task (there's tons of real data out there just waiting for someone to do something cool with it... I had a friend who took spelunking data from a geology site and wrote a program to create a 3-D model of cave systems from this data). Or if you're musical, maybe figure out how to digitally record your instrument and signal process the recording.

 

[colonelcrayon]

Hello. I want to study Physics. I'm 14(15 next month). I know Newton's Laws of Motion. I want to know in what order should I study Physics. I know 9th grade Algebra.

For what it's worth, I would recommend working ahead in math first.

No books please.

If this is because of price, I understand completely. If you just don't like books, I recommend learning to read. Look at the following site (this is for physics, regardless of whether you have the math background):

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Physics/8-01LFall-2005/LectureNotes/index.htm

 

[jtbell]

If this is because of price, I understand completely.

Note however that used textbooks are a lot cheaper than new ones, especially for old editions that are no longer currently sold and used in classes. The actual physics doesn't change from one edition to another. Publishers come out with new editions every few years because they want to keep on making money.

 

[flame_m13]

Note however that used textbooks are a lot cheaper than new ones, especially for old editions that are no longer currently sold and used in classes. The actual physics doesn't change from one edition to another. Publishers come out with new editions every few years because they want to keep on making money.

libraries also stock old textbooks you can check out...

 

[bjnartowt]

Why no books?

 

[LithiumHelios]

Check out what your school offers. Are there science or math societies? Do they do additional courses? Do they provide books and resources in the library?

And don't forget to just talk to some of the teachers. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to give some good advice on where you should be looking to go and at what level. It's what they're there for and all.

It's probably best to follow the general curricula at your school - introductory physics modules all build on the basic ideas and principles that everything else will work on and around.

 

[Pinu7]

Get a book. Ask a parent, I don't see why they won't want to buy it for you.
The first physics I ever read(which got me into physics ) was It is a book that you use while you are learning calculus.


Also, you should keep learning math, a physicist uses a lot of it. Try learning calculus, here are some great websites:
http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/classes/calcI/calcI.aspx"
http://rutherglen.ics.mq.edu.au/wchen/lnfycfolder/lnfyc.html"

 

[Demoniac]

No books is not because of the price and I love books. It's just that I don't want to have to keep turning pages >.>.

 

[Demoniac]

My school offers Living Environment which I finished. This year I'm taking Earth Science. If I do horrible in Mathematics this year I'll get Planetary Science,if I do O.K in Mathematics I'll get Chemistry and if I do excellent in Mathematics I'll get Physics.

 

[Demoniac]

My local library is currently closed for renovations.

 

[Demoniac]

Do any of you know any websitse I can go to so I can learn Physics because I came to this website looking for Physics Lessons. Turns out it's actually Physics help and discussions.

 

[Flat]

My school offers Living Environment which I finished. This year I'm taking Earth Science. If I do horrible in Mathematics this year I'll get Planetary Science,if I do O.K in Mathematics I'll get Chemistry and if I do excellent in Mathematics I'll get Physics.

Do you know what type of math you will be doing? I think I was doing Geometry in 9th grade, but it could have also been Algebra I or II.

Regardless, I would definitely focus on getting the most out of your math class. A decent foundation in math will make your life much happier now and later on.

EDIT:

MIT has a high school link in the OCW. I have no idea if it has actual content or just general guidlines and such.

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/home/home/index.htm

 

[Pinu7]

No books is not because of the price and I love books. It's just that I don't want to have to keep turning pages >.>.

Turning pages will not be a problem when you get to higher material texts.On some pages it may take you over 10-15 minutes before turning the next page. Reading a math/physics book is different than reading a novel; you have to think much more and is much slower.

Example: Most kids can read a Harry Potter book in a week. In a mathematical text, using even twice as much work, you may be done with a chapter.

 

[Demoniac]

I will be doing Geometery since I took Algerba I and the Algebra Regents.

 

[colonelcrayon]

I would focus on your math class and work through some of the OpenCourseWare notes on the link I posted.

 

[Pinu7]

I will be doing Geometery since I took Algerba I and the Algebra Regents.

HS Geometry is not a very useful subject(in fact, is is almost useless).
Refresh on your Algebra and study Calculus on your own.

 

[bp_psy]

HS Geometry is not a very useful subject(in fact, is is almost useless).
Refresh on your Algebra and study Calculus on your own.

This is certainly not true.A good understanding of basic euclidean geometry is as essential as basic algebra. Both subject might appear to be useless when you have studied calculus and other more advanced mathematics, but this is because by this time you do them almost without thinking.

 

[Demoniac]

Thanks for all the help. Anyone know a good website to hone my Algebra?

 

[hearts_hacker]

http://www.khanacademy.org/

i think this site will be awesome for u... for honing ur algebra and much more

 

[colonelcrayon]

^^ Compete in contests (AMC, USAMTS, etc.). They are great for reviewing math concepts and are lots of fun too. You can find practice tests and more at the following sites:

http://www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/past_contests.html
http://www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/euclid_eWorkshop.html
http://www.unl.edu/amc/a-activities/a7-problems/problem81012archive.shtml
http://problemcorner.org:591/problemcorner.org/problemcorner.html

...and many more.

 

[Sankaku]

Another basic site for algebra:

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/index.htm

A few other useful sites:

http://infinity.cos.edu/algebra/index.html

http://www.clarku.edu/~djoyce/trig/

Even better is to get a well-written second-hand textbook you can read while laying in the sun.

I liked Blitzer's algebra books. You can pick up an older one for $4...
http://www.betterworldbooks.com/list.aspx?SearchTerm=blitzer+algebra

I am sure others will have good recommendations.

 

[Sankaku]

Looks like there are wikibooks for Algebra:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Intermediate_Algebra

Just found this as well - not sure how much use it is:
http://www.hstutorials.net/index.html

 

[Pinu7]

This is certainly not true.A good understanding of basic euclidean geometry is as essential as basic algebra. Both subject might appear to be useless when you have studied calculus and other more advanced mathematics, but this is because by this time you do them almost without thinking.

Somewhat true. However, it is only a few basic facts(e.g. on a circle, the radius line is perpendicular to the tangent line) that you get from experience. However, a formal geometry course is superfluous.

Knowledge of Geometry= Useful.
Geometry Course=Can be skipped.

EDIT: http://hk.geocities.com/mathphyweb/puremath.htm#1e

 

[symbolipoint]

Pinu7 (from post #25),
I mostly agree with you. I would say the same thing, or very close to it. In fact, Geometry, the college preparatory high school course, is good for a student's general mathematical development. It leads to many important and applicable facts and relations, and is a study of the reasons for their truth. Be aware, Euclidean College Preparatory Geometry is one of the "Foundation Level" courses.
As impractical a course as it may be, at least try to understand how it contributes to other more directly applicable Mathematics and how it may help students in their own knowledge and skill.

 

[Demoniac]

Thanks. I'll look at a couple of those websites tomorrow. This forum rocks :d.

 

[Sourabh N]

Thanks :P

 

[Demoniac]

Bump...?

 

[Demoniac]

Bumpity Bump Bump.

 

[Demoniac]

I want to thank whoever posted http://www.khanacademy.org/. It is a great site for learning many things. I learned the lesson on motion and level 1,2 and 3 linear equations.

 

[Demoniac]

Bump and thanks for all the advice and help.