How is physics taught and learned. Teaching strategies, class examples and demonstrations; learning resources, career advice, etc. For explicit problems, use the 'homework' tag instead.
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2answers
320 views
How can some-one independently do research in particle physics?
I'm not affiliated with a physics department and I want to do independent research. I'm working my way through Peskin et. al. QFT now. Let's say that I've finished Peskin et. al. and Weinberg QFT ...
4
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2answers
202 views
Is the proper interpretation of temperature missing in this book?
In Randall T. Knight’s textbook “Physics for Scientists and Engineers” in the first chapter on thermodynamics (Ch. 16: A Macroscopic Description of Matter) one of the first conceptual questions is ...
4
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4answers
225 views
Applications of recoil principle in classical physics
Are there any interesting, important or (for the non physicist) astonishing examples where the recoil principle (as special case of conservation of linear momentum) is applied beside rockets and guns?
...
4
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3answers
286 views
Is the historical method of teaching physics a “legitimate, sure and fruitful method of preparing a student to receive a physical hypothesis”? [closed]
The French physicist, historian, and philosopher of physics, Pierre Duhem, wrote:The legitimate, sure and fruitful method of preparing a student to receive a physical hypothesis is the historical ...
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4answers
283 views
'Getting in' to research physics?
I'm going to be choosing a university course soon, and I want to go into a branch of physics. A dream job for me would be to work in research, however, I do realise that this isn't for everyone and is ...
4
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3answers
426 views
Virtual images in (plane) mirrors?
The following image is taken from teaching physics lecture Was man aus virtuellen Bildern lernen kann (in German):
Now the cited paper claims that the left hand side is the correct picture to ...
4
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2answers
344 views
Undergraduate-friendly reading material on the multiverse?
I'll be teaching a seminar for first-year undergraduates next year. The idea of my university's first-year seminar program is to expose students to exciting ideas and important texts in a somewhat ...
4
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1answer
181 views
How deep can my knowledge of particle physics go without the maths?
Successfully just got my first question answered on here, and now time for the second.
So I recently gained interest in particle physics and was wondering.
By no means do I have the mathematical ...
4
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2answers
529 views
How to choose a suitable topic for PhD in Physics? [closed]
After completion of graduate courses when a student is supposed to start real research in Physics, (to be more specific, suppose in high energy physics), how does one select the problem to work on? ...
4
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2answers
344 views
Prerequisites to start the study of noncommutative geometry in physics
What are prerequisites (in mathematics and physics), that one should know about for getting into use of ideas from noncommutative geometry in physics?
4
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2answers
68 views
Why distinguish between row and column vectors?
Mathematically, a vector is an element of a vector space. Sometimes, it's just an n-tuple $(a,b,c)$. In physics, one often demands that the tuple has certain transformation properties to be called a ...
4
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2answers
127 views
How to learn celestial mechanics?
I'm a PhD student in math and am really excited about celestial mechanics.
I was wondering if anyone could give me a roadmap for learning this subject. The amount of information about it on the ...
4
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2answers
173 views
Physics talk with an emphasis on Mathematics [closed]
I have to give a 10 minute physics talk that have to involve a fair bit of mathematics -- i.e. not just qualitative/handwaving material to some undergrads. I have wasted the last 3 hours looking for ...
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7answers
525 views
For a theoretical (not mathematical) physicist, is there a need to learn pure mathematics?
For a theoretical physicist (not a mathematical physicist), is there a need to learn pure mathematics ?
3
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7answers
2k views
Beginner Physics Resources?
I'm interested in learning physics. I do realize that the subject is large and that it would be easier if I had a specific area of interest. However, I do not. I suppose I want to learn about the ...
3
votes
2answers
205 views
Quantum Fluctuations as a model for the Big Bang?
I have quite often heard (and even used) the idea that quantum fluctuations are a way to explain the whole "something from nothing" intuitive leap. I am about to give a talk at a local school on ...
3
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4answers
211 views
List of Physical Toys [closed]
There should be a list of toys considered "physical", which demonstrate or make you think over certain physical principles/phenomena. And of course which could just amaze.
Related question at MSE is ...
3
votes
4answers
616 views
Advantage of doing research in theoretical high energy over other fields?
I am undecided about the field I want to do my PhD in, in graduate school. I am asking because the applications that I am filling ask me to write the intended field of study.
I found the people who ...
3
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3answers
160 views
What are some creative illustrations of the nature of dissipative forces?
I'm teaching a conceptual introduction to physics for American 13-15 year old students this summer.
One of the main ideas I want to hit on is the relationship between energy conservation, ...
3
votes
1answer
382 views
Phenomena which are incorrectly declared as resonance phenomena?
In standard college physics text books, high-school books and popular level physics books, the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge is often taken as an example of resonance. However a more detailed ...
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5answers
221 views
Usefullness of an only qualitative understanding of momentum?
A few days ago I had a discussion with a friend who wants to become a physics teacher (in Germany). He told me that from a pedagogical/didactial point of view it seems to be a good idea to introduce ...
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3answers
1k views
Does conservation of momentum really imply Newton's third law?
I often heard that conservation of momentum is nothing else than Newton's third law.
Ok, If you have only two interacting particles in the universe, this seems to be quite obvious.
However if you ...
3
votes
2answers
947 views
What is 2 $\theta$ in X-ray powder diffraction (XRD)?
Why are we taking 2$\theta$ instead of $\theta$ in X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). I have found the forum post 2 theta in X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), but there is no answer. What is the ...
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5answers
628 views
Doppler effect of sound waves
I am looking for interesting ways to introduce the Doppler effect to students. I want some situations in nature or every day life, where a student is possibly surprised and may ask "how could it be"?
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3
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3answers
368 views
What should a physics undergrad aspiring to be a string theorist learn before grad school?
The question I guess is pretty clear. I am a physics undergrad wishing to pursue research in quantum gravity(string theory?). What are the subjects I should learn other than the usual compulsory ...
3
votes
1answer
52 views
Phases of the moon video
I am an educator, and I am looking for a specific video. In the video, they ask some middle school students and some college graduates about why the moon has phases. Most of the students in both the ...
3
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1answer
196 views
A loop quantum gravity toy inspired by an Aharonov-Bohm ring
Comparing my question to Give a description of Loop Quantum Gravity your grandmother could understand what I'm looking for here is a toy for a toddler ($\approx$ a pre-QFT graduate student).
I seek ...
3
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1answer
187 views
Some questions about the logics of the principles of independence of motion and composition of motion
In high-school level textbooks* one encounters often the principles of independence of motion and that of composition (or superpositions) of motions. In this context this is used as "independence of ...
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2answers
468 views
References for real life applications on advanced EM
For EM (freshman level physics) and advanced EM (Junior/Senior level) to help students appreciate the material, I am looking for books/websites that contain:
1-applications of electricity and ...
3
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1answer
293 views
Substance like quanties and conserved quantities, Karlsruhe physics course
In the Karlsruhe physics course one defines the term "substance-like" quantity:
Let my cite the definition from a paper by Falk, Herrmann and Schmid:
"There is a class of physical quantities whose ...
3
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0answers
253 views
What are the mathematical prerequisites to understand this paper? [closed]
What are the mathematical prerequisites to understand this paper?
Blumenhagen et al. Four-dimensional String Compactifications with D-Branes, Orientifolds and Fluxes. Phys. Rept. 445 no. 1-6, pp. ...
3
votes
0answers
109 views
Course advice for someone interested in strings and mathematical physics [closed]
I'll be doing Introductory General Relativity and Graduate Quantum Mechanics II next semester. I still need to choose 2 (or maybe 3, but I don't want to overload too much) from the following:
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3
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0answers
101 views
Dirac action and conventions
I have a (possibly) fundamental question, which is driving me crazy.
Notation
When considering the Dirac action (say reading Peskin's book), one have
$\int ...
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1answer
396 views
How do I learn higher level physics? [closed]
I'm a chemical engineering student (just completed BS and am started the PhD program), but I'm very interested in particle physics as a hobby. I'm dismayed though with the sheer amount of information ...
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6answers
1k views
How does one build up intuition in physics? [closed]
How does one build up an intuitive gut feeling for physics that some people naturally have? Physics seems to be a hodgepodge of random facts.
Is that a sign to quit physics and take up something ...
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3answers
2k views
What is the math knowledge necessary for starting Quantum Mechanics?
Could someone experienced in the field tell me what the minimal math knowledge one must obtain in order to grasp the introductory Quantum Mechanics book/course?
I do have math knowledge but I must ...
2
votes
4answers
268 views
How are we able to view an object in a room with bulb..?
This is a very basic question on optics. How are we able to view an object kept in a room with a bulb?
From what I understand, light rays from bulb will hit the object and some colour will be ...
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8answers
1k views
Real world examples for projectile thrown upwards or downwards
I am preparing a physics course for high school about projectile motions. If a projectile moves with initial velocity $v_0$ in the gravitational field of the earth, the equation
$$
s(t) = 1/2 g t^2 ...
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votes
2answers
491 views
Is it safe to study from MIT and Berkeley course series, or they contain wrong information?
After surveying most of the universities introductory physics courses, I found none is using Berkeley physics books or MIT physics books as textbooks. All are using Halliday, or Serway and the like.
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5answers
3k views
Mathematical background for Quantum Mechanics
What are some good sources to learn the mathematical background of Quantum Mechanics?
I am talking functional analysis, operator theory etc etc...
2
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1answer
155 views
Is it possible to take a QFT class knowing only basic quantum mechanics?
I'm in grad school and notice there are no prerequisites required for QFT in the physics department. In fact, the system allows me to sign up for the course just fine as a technical elective.
But... ...
2
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2answers
3k views
Difference between momentum and kinetic energy
From a mathematical point of view it seems to be clear what's the difference between momentum and $mv$ and kinetic energy $\frac{1}{2} m v^2$. Now my problem is the following: Suppose you want to ...
2
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2answers
202 views
German book on introductory quantum mechanics
I'm looking for an originally German introduction to quantum mechanics. Is there such a canonical book used in German QM undergraduate courses?
2
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1answer
166 views
Extra help in Optics
I am in an optics class, and we are using the text "Introduction to Optics" third edition by Pedrotti. The book is completely useless in the course. The questions in the review section of the chapter ...
2
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2answers
527 views
Please recommend a good book about physics for young child (elementary school aged)
I'm looking for a book that would be appropriate for an advanced elementary school aged kids (say, 6-11 YO) describing the basics of physics (or sciences in general) in entertaining way.
The ...
2
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2answers
562 views
Studying electrodynamics problems
Suppose an advanced undergraduate student has reached a moderate level of understanding on electrodynamics.
Where should he focus on, to sharpen his problem-solving skills?
Practicing integrals ...
2
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2answers
144 views
Applying $\nabla\times\mathbf{B} = \mu_0\mathbf{J}$ in the presence of magnetic shielding
2012-06-13 - Revised question in experimental format
(This is a thought experiment for which RF experts may have an immediate answer.)
I'll assume (I could be wrong) the possibility of creating a ...
2
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1answer
289 views
How to set up a very simple experiment in optics?
This might come across as a very rudimentary question.
My fundamentals of Optics are weak. In the optics chapter of my physics text book I saw diagrams each depicting an object on the left and a lens ...
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2answers
150 views
Introducing emf of a chemical cell as a hint towards quantum mechanics
Today I had a discussion with a colleague who teaches electricity and magnetism to 2nd year undergraduate physics students. He is seeking the best way to explain how is the emf generated inside a ...
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2answers
428 views
What math is needed to understand the Schrödinger equation?
If I now see the Schrödinger equation, I just see a bunch of weird symbols, but I want to know what it actually means. So I'm taking a course of Linear Algebra and I'm planning on starting with PDE's ...
