- #1
Flumpster
- 32
- 0
A while back I read that, roughly speaking, these are the main topics that make up the backbone of a physicist's education: classical mechanics, electromagnetism, statistical mechanics/thermodynamics, special relativity, quantum mechanics, and general relativity.
(If that's incorrect, please tell me. I know there's a lot more to physics, I'm just ignoring specialist fields for now.)
If I wanted to learn quantum mechanics, and was less interested in other topics on this list (I like physics, but I'm much more enthusiastic about chemistry, and quantum mechanics appeals to me a lot because of it's relationship to chemistry) would I have to learn all of these topics? If I don't need to learn all of them, which ones do I need? I mean, I assume GR isn't necessary, don't know if the electromagnetism is important or irrelevant..) I'd really appreciate help on this, because right now I'm just guessing.
Thanks! :)
(If that's incorrect, please tell me. I know there's a lot more to physics, I'm just ignoring specialist fields for now.)
If I wanted to learn quantum mechanics, and was less interested in other topics on this list (I like physics, but I'm much more enthusiastic about chemistry, and quantum mechanics appeals to me a lot because of it's relationship to chemistry) would I have to learn all of these topics? If I don't need to learn all of them, which ones do I need? I mean, I assume GR isn't necessary, don't know if the electromagnetism is important or irrelevant..) I'd really appreciate help on this, because right now I'm just guessing.
Thanks! :)