Want to do something meaningful in life

[DREAMWALKER]

Dark Side:

I am a 28 year old advertising professional. I am extremely upset with the course my profession has taken. I feel unwanted in my office. I hate what I am doing for a living. On the other hand, I am extremely bad with numbers and math in particular.

Bright Side:

I love physics. And philosophy. I'm writing a Sci-fi novel. I want to do something meaningful in life.

Any suggestions, on how to go about starting my course to this beautiful world of Quantum Physics.

 

[Rocket50]

Go back to university?

 

[DREAMWALKER]

That's rather a scary scenario. I have a wife and my retired parents to take care of. Is there any way I can achieve my goals while on a job(I don't like one bit)?

 

[Rocket50]

You might be able to study in a university (or community college) and do a job, but it might be too difficult. Honestly if your objective is to simply learn and enjoy physics, you can do that on your own. However, it seems like you want to learn physics and get a job in it. You probably won't get one without a degree.

 

[DREAMWALKER]

You might be able to study in a university (or community college) and do a job, but it might be too difficult. Honestly if your objective is to simply learn and enjoy physics, you can do that on your own. However, it seems like you want to learn physics and get a job in it. You probably won't get one without a degree.

Ah..this job bit is a little troubling. As of now, I just want to learn and enjoy it yes. Honestly the amount of math in it is giving me nightmares even if I were to give up everything for it ..

So where do we begin?

 

[Rocket50]

OK, learning on your own isn't too difficult if you have enough motivation. What is your current level in mathematics and physics?

 

[DREAMWALKER]

OK, learning on your own isn't too difficult if you have enough motivation. What is your current level in mathematics and physics?

Mathematics -Knowledge - 4/10. Interest - 2/10

Physics - Knowledge - 3/10. Interest - 11/10.

 

[Rocket50]

:) Math isn't that bad...

What I meant by level is:

math - algebra, calculus etc
physics - classical mechanics, general physics etc

 

[DREAMWALKER]

:) Math isn't that bad...

What I meant by level is:

math - algebra, calculus etc
physics - classical mechanics, general physics etc

My bad.

Math- Algebra was my favorite I remember. I loved it. Don't know what's Calculus. May be in India it's called something else.

Physics - General Physics. Don't know what's classical mechanics..

PS: Did someone change my thread name or merged it with someone else's..?

 

[Rocket50]

My bad.

Math- Algebra was my favorite I remember. I loved it. Don't know what's Calculus. May be in India it's called something else.

Physics - General Physics. Don't know what's classical mechanics..

PS: Did someone change my thread name or merged it with someone else's..?

OK, so it looks like you have completed math and physics until about the high school level (although they do cover Calculus in grade 11 and 12 in India). If you need a refresher in mathematics, try "Basic Mathematics" by Serge Lang. Calculus is the next logical step in your math journey. An excellent book to use is Spivak's Calculus.

For physics, you can try a general physics book like Giancoli, Halliday or "University Physics".

Your post hasn't been changed as far as I know.

 

[sabq]

You can take online courses offered by
coursera.org
edx.org
udacity.com (try their intro to physics and the college algebra course)

All are free massive open online courses (MOOCs).

 

[DREAMWALKER]

OK, so it looks like you have completed math and physics until about the high school level (although they do cover Calculus in grade 11 and 12 in India). If you need a refresher in mathematics, try "Basic Mathematics" by Serge Lang. Calculus is the next logical step in your math journey. An excellent book to use is Spivak's Calculus.

For physics, you can try a general physics book like Giancoli, Halliday or "University Physics".

Your post hasn't been changed as far as I know.

Awesome...but can't I start with physics first and pick up maths on the way?

I am currently reading The Age of Spiritual Machines by Ray Kurzweil.
I think it's is superb!
Also, Dr Brian Cox's program on BBC was mind blowing. One of the reasons I'm so serious about it..
And..I had named my thread 'Crossroads' see it now as..something else...

 

[DREAMWALKER]

You can take online courses offered by
coursera.org
edx.org
udacity.com (try their intro to physics and the college algebra course)

All are free massive open online courses (MOOCs).

Thank you sabq. I will see it tonight..

 

[Rocket50]

For better or worse, after high school level physics, you need a lot of mathematics. For the first year books you need calculus and the list of math keeps on piling up. Don't think of this as discouraging though!

 

[DREAMWALKER]

For better or worse, after high school level physics, you need a lot of mathematics. For the first year books you need calculus and the list of math keeps on piling up. Don't think of this as discouraging though!

It's a sacrifice I will have to make for the love of physics I guess..

Haha.

 

[Evo]

If you are serious, stay away from those books like "The Age of Spiritual Machines" and tv shows and follow the advice you've been given here.

 

[DREAMWALKER]

If you are serious, stay away from those books like "The Age of Spiritual Machines" and tv shows and follow the advice you've been given here.

Oh ok. It's an interesting book if you ask me. But yes, I'm serious about my love of physics and that's why I've come here.

How about Biocentrism and The Ascent of Man?

 

[Evo]

You can toss biocentrism. Ascent of man is a nice tv series and also book of the tv series by Jacob Bronowski, but you said you are interested in physics.

 

[DREAMWALKER]

You can toss biocentrism. Ascent of man is a nice tv series, but you said you are interested in physics.

Physics AND Philosophy. But I love anything that's a mix of both. I like to keep my mind open when it comes to books written by notable names in technology.

 

[Evo]

Some notable names aren't worth reading. Also, please be aware that we don't allow discussions of philosophy, just FYI.

 

[DREAMWALKER]

Some notable names aren't worth reading. Also, please be aware that we don't allow discussions of philosophy, just FYI.

Note taken. Thanks once again..would u suggest some good authors and books?

 

[PeroK]

Dark Side:

I am a 28 year old advertising professional. I am extremely upset with the course my profession has taken. I feel unwanted in my office. I hate what I am doing for a living. On the other hand, I am extremely bad with numbers and math in particular.

Bright Side:

I love physics. And philosophy. I'm writing a Sci-fi novel. I want to do something meaningful in life.

Any suggestions, on how to go about starting my course to this beautiful world of Quantum Physics.

Do you know this quotation?

"Chess is as elaborate a waste of human intelligence as you can find outside an advertising agency."

Raymond Chandler

 

[Medicol]

Note taken. Thanks once again..would u suggest some good authors and books?

I've been here a couple of months and learned great news and useful information. Search the forums with any keywords for your interested physics related topics. People beat questions like yours to almost death and we are still beating (because they're immortal).

 

[DREAMWALKER]

Do you know this quotation?

"Chess is as elaborate a waste of human intelligence as you can find outside an advertising agency."

Raymond Chandler

Haha. No but my learning begins... Thanks for the quote!

 

[DREAMWALKER]

I've been here a couple of months and learned great news and useful information. Search the forums with any keywords for your interested physics related topics. People beat questions like yours to almost death and we are still beating (because they're immortal).

I shall do that my friend..Thanks and cheers!

 

[gmax137]

good authors and books

Well, there are books "about physics" and there are "physics books." These are not the same thing. Most of the people who post on this forum are more interested in the latter - but these books are more difficult and they do require you to learn the mathematics.

As far as the "about physics" books, I like the biographies. But you must be careful, there are lots of bad ones. Abraham Pais' book on Niels Bohr is very good IMO. (Niels Bohr's Times, In Physics, Philosophy, and Polity) But then, Pais is a physicist and an excellent writer. Other bio's are written by less informed authors so they concentrate on the personality rather than the physics, and I like those much less.

 

[Rocket50]

I agree with gmax137 and Evo, but from what I see popular science books are a good way to maintain one's interest in physics (or so I've heard), even though it gives a lot of false ideas.

 

[Moneer81]

Start by going through Khan Academy's physics videos

 

[NATURE.M]

The suggestion was made earlier that you should possibly read Spivaks Calculus. I strongly advise against that.
It will be a immense waste of your time. You don't seem interested in math beyond its applications to physics. And to be frank the added rigour won't do much for you in the context of physics. That being said you should definitely consider less rigorous sources.

 

[elkement]

You could try Richard Feynman's Physics Lectures that are now also available online for free:
http://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/

Feynman explains math as he goes, and you are introduced to the essence of 'physics thinking' in my opinion.

The books are also entertaining but not a very easy read perhaps as Feynman uses an unusual perspective not typical for introductory books.

There are also great Videos of Feynman's lectures targeted to a lay audience online, I guess this one might also appeal to the philosopher in you:

http://www.cosmolearning.com/course...r-lectures-the-character-of-physical-law-472/

But use such videos only to complement the books - there is no shortcut to understand the math.

 

[DREAMWALKER]

Also, why can't I simply start here: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=240792

Our very own guide?

 

[Rocket50]

The suggestion was made earlier that you should possibly read Spivaks Calculus. I strongly advise against that.
It will be a immense waste of your time. You don't seem interested in math beyond its applications to physics. And to be frank the added rigour won't do much for you in the context of physics. That being said you should definitely consider less rigorous sources.

A lot of physics majors are required to take a calculus course at the level of Spivak.

You could try Richard Feynman's Physics Lectures that are now also available online for free:
http://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/

The Feynman lectures in Physics are way too difficult for an introductory course and don't have any problems. They are pretty good though after you take an introductory course in classical mechanics and electricity & magnetism.

Also, why can't I simply start here: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=240792

Our very own guide?

That's more about the journey of a physics student through undergrad and grad school. It doesn't really have many book recommendations for self-study.

 

[ModusPwnd]

I think its very, very weird to like physics and dislike math as much as you claim... Thats like loving cars but hating engines. As you move forward those will probably come together in the like or dislike category. Math is the language of physics. Without it you are just collecting tidbits and facts.

If you really want to dive into the "beautiful world of Quantum Physics" then you need to spend a few years studying math.

 

[DREAMWALKER]

I think its very, very weird to like physics and dislike math as much as you claim... Thats like loving cars but hating engines. As you move forward those will probably come together in the like or dislike category. Math is the language of physics. Without it you are just collecting tidbits and facts.

If you really want to dive into the "beautiful world of Quantum Physics" then you need to spend a few years studying math.

Ouch! Ok...guess there is no other alternative but to do that...hmm.

 

[ModusPwnd]

Undergraduates who are taking their first course in quantum mechanics have generally studied algebra and trigonometry, three semesters of calculus, one semester of differential equations and one semester of linear algebra. This is just to scratch the surface, but with those fundamentals under your belt you can develop more math along the way while studying quantum. The subjects above are a pre-requisite with more math later as you progress.

 

[SilverSlash]

https://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy/playlists

This needs to be your best friend for the next year or so. Start with Algebra I, then Pre-Calculus and then Calculus. Once you start with the Calculus playlist, you can also concurrently start watching the Physics playlist.

This is the best resource available at your level. Do it religiously and you can learn physics. Personally I haven't read it but I have heard a lot of praise about the book 'For the Love of Physics' by Walter Lewin. You could read this book at this level. Once you know enough calculus and some basic physics, you will have to do courses in Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism(in that order) from:

edx.org

ocw.mit.edu

coursera.org

For electromagnetism, you will also need to know what is called multi-variable calculus. It won't mean much right now but you will know what it is then. You can learn that from ocw.mit.edu or from the Calculus playlist.
While you're at this level, books will now be your best friends from here onward's.

After you've finished this second stage, the third stage is to learn more advanced mathematics like Differential Equations from MIT's OCW Scholar course for example.

Concurrent with the differential equations, you will need to learn Vibrations, Oscillations and Waves.
This is Physics 8.03 http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-03sc-physics-iii-vibrations-and-waves-fall-2012/ at MIT.

At this point you should also start reading a mathematical methods book like Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences by Mary L. Boas and also start learning Linear Algebra either from the aforementioned book or MIT or some other source.

Once all this is over, you are ready for Quantum Mechanics.
Then you can post again for resources on learning that.

Good Luck,
SilverSlash

 

[DREAMWALKER]

https://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy/playlists

This needs to be your best friend for the next year or so. Start with Algebra I, then Pre-Calculus and then Calculus. Once you start with the Calculus playlist, you can also concurrently start watching the Physics playlist.

This is the best resource available at your level. Do it religiously and you can learn physics. Personally I haven't read it but I have heard a lot of praise about the book 'For the Love of Physics' by Walter Lewin. You could read this book at this level. Once you know enough calculus and some basic physics, you will have to do courses in Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism(in that order) from:

edx.org

ocw.mit.edu

coursera.org

For electromagnetism, you will also need to know what is called multi-variable calculus. It won't mean much right now but you will know what it is then. You can learn that from ocw.mit.edu or from the Calculus playlist.
While you're at this level, books will now be your best friends from here onward's.

After you've finished this second stage, the third stage is to learn more advanced mathematics like Differential Equations from MIT's OCW Scholar course for example.

Concurrent with the differential equations, you will need to learn Vibrations, Oscillations and Waves.
This is Physics 8.03 http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-03sc-physics-iii-vibrations-and-waves-fall-2012/ at MIT.

At this point you should also start reading a mathematical methods book like Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences by Mary L. Boas and also start learning Linear Algebra either from the aforementioned book or MIT or some other source.

Once all this is over, you are ready for Quantum Mechanics.
Then you can post again for resources on learning that.

Good Luck,
SilverSlash

Thanks thanks thanks SilverSlash!

 

[KL7AJ]

Dark Side:

I am a 28 year old advertising professional. I am extremely upset with the course my profession has taken. I feel unwanted in my office. I hate what I am doing for a living. On the other hand, I am extremely bad with numbers and math in particular.

Bright Side:

I love physics. And philosophy. I'm writing a Sci-fi novel. I want to do something meaningful in life.

Any suggestions, on how to go about starting my course to this beautiful world of Quantum Physics.

I wrote a book called The Spirit of the Craftsman that speaks directly to your situation. It just went up on Kindle a few weeks ago. I encourage you to check it out. (Besides it will help make me rich) :)

eric

 

[Rocket50]

https://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy/playlists

This needs to be your best friend for the next year or so. Start with Algebra I, then Pre-Calculus and then Calculus. Once you start with the Calculus playlist, you can also concurrently start watching the Physics playlist.

This is the best resource available at your level. Do it religiously and you can learn physics. Personally I haven't read it but I have heard a lot of praise about the book 'For the Love of Physics' by Walter Lewin. You could read this book at this level. Once you know enough calculus and some basic physics, you will have to do courses in Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism(in that order) from:

edx.org

ocw.mit.edu

coursera.org

For electromagnetism, you will also need to know what is called multi-variable calculus. It won't mean much right now but you will know what it is then. You can learn that from ocw.mit.edu or from the Calculus playlist.
While you're at this level, books will now be your best friends from here onward's.

After you've finished this second stage, the third stage is to learn more advanced mathematics like Differential Equations from MIT's OCW Scholar course for example.

Concurrent with the differential equations, you will need to learn Vibrations, Oscillations and Waves.
This is Physics 8.03 http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-03sc-physics-iii-vibrations-and-waves-fall-2012/ at MIT.

At this point you should also start reading a mathematical methods book like Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences by Mary L. Boas and also start learning Linear Algebra either from the aforementioned book or MIT or some other source.

Once all this is over, you are ready for Quantum Mechanics.
Then you can post again for resources on learning that.

Good Luck,
SilverSlash

Its OK if you learn general physics and all the math up to calculus from Khan Academy, but learning calculus only from Khan Academy is a terrible idea.

 

[DREAMWALKER]

I wrote a book called The Spirit of the Craftsman that speaks directly to your situation. It just went up on Kindle a few weeks ago. I encourage you to check it out. (Besides it will help make me rich) :)

eric

Thanks...will surely buy it..

 

[DREAMWALKER]

Its OK if you learn general physics and all the math up to calculus from Khan Academy, but learning calculus only from Khan Academy is a terrible idea.

I tried S.O.S math for calculus...kinda fainted twice...

 

[SilverSlash]

Its OK if you learn general physics and all the math up to calculus from Khan Academy, but learning calculus only from Khan Academy is a terrible idea.

He doesn't know what Calculus is. Let him at least get a feel for it first, which Khan Academy will do and then he can start using textbooks dedicated to the subject or MIT's courses.

 

[Rocket50]

He doesn't know what Calculus is. Let him at least get a feel for it first, which Khan Academy will do and then he can start using textbooks dedicated to the subject or MIT's courses.

I thought you said to do calculus from KA and then just move on to multivariable calculus. But yes, Khan Academy is good as a supplement with some other book.

 

[Pythagorean]

What do you do in advertising?

 

[DREAMWALKER]

update time: I am reading Physics for Dummies. I am also going through Khan Academy videos everywhere I don't understand anything. I think all i need is a basic brush up of math. I am, thankfully, picking things up quite past. I can make calculations faster than I think I could...Thanks a lot guys.

 

[mal4mac]

If you are serious, stay away from... tv shows...

What's wrong with Brian Cox's TV shows? He's a serious physicist. Surely he's OK to watch for initial motivation. Just as long as the OP realizes that University physics is more like a continuation of school maths & physics classes, rather than watching flashy documentaries and dreaming. Think of Brian Cox as being an advertiser for physics - he only shows the wonder and hides the grind! And, to paraphrase Edison, in reality, it's 1% wonder and 99% grind.

 

[BHL 20]

If you are serious, stay away from those books like "The Age of Spiritual Machines" and tv shows and follow the advice you've been given here.

I don't get this attitude. Physics is not a religion, and speculative physics is not heresy. If people believe something dubious from a TV show it's not because it was presented to them as true but because they think it would be cool if it was.

Popular science gave most people their initial interest in physics, and for some, like me, it's a good way of keeping one's interest. I've watched many pop science documentaries over the past few months, and I find they really help remind you of the big picture and show you the relevance of physics. They gave me motivation and I think I've started the college year better for it.

OP, if you like pop science, keep with it. Be careful not to waste too much time on it, but reading a pop science book after studying some very dry math topic can sometimes prevent the onset of depression.

I think its very, very weird to like physics and dislike math as much as you claim... Thats like loving cars but hating engines. As you move forward those will probably come together in the like or dislike category. Math is the language of physics. Without it you are just collecting tidbits and facts.

If you really want to dive into the "beautiful world of Quantum Physics" then you need to spend a few years studying math.

I'm sure no one in physics hates using math. I think if a physics student says they dislike it, they're referring more to the theoretical/proofy parts of the subject rather than to the more practical parts like solving differential equations.

 

[ModusPwnd]

Have you read his posts? He is not doing proofs. He's talking about algebra.

 

[BHL 20]

Have you read his posts? He is not doing proofs. He's talking about algebra.

Math- Algebra was my favorite I remember. I loved it.

Judging from this post, I can only assume that when he says he dislikes maths, it isn't algebra he's talking about.

 

[ModusPwnd]

What do you think he is talking about then? Long division? He lists his math interest at 2/10 which is certainly a contradiction with the other thing he says in your quote. He's not even "in physics" yet... He's not a physics student.

It would be nice to get an elaboration of why math interest is so low when he apparently "loved" algebra.