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
593 views
Recommendations for time-line and road map in graduate school towards specializing in Maldacena's conjecture
This question was asked on Theoretical Physics Stackexchange and was grossly misread and closed.
I am again posting the question here hoping to get some valuable insights.
Also some people were ...
9
votes
2answers
216 views
Motivation for Potentials
This is a hypothetical question about "pedagogy". Let's say I am trying to take someone who has just a very small amount of knowledge about Newtonian mechanics and convince them that the Lagrangian ...
5
votes
2answers
214 views
Is mid-water bouyancy a classic example of a balanced but unstable system?
I came to this thought experiment as I was pondering good teaching examples of stable and unstable systems. It occurred to me that stable systems are really quite abundant. For a shoot-from-the-hip ...
2
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1answer
167 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 ...
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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 ...
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 ...
3
votes
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
votes
2answers
472 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 ...
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3answers
6k views
Uses of Vectors In Real Life
I always wonder how vectors are used in real life.Vectors and decomposition of vectors,dot and cross products are taught in the early stage in every undergraduate physics course and in every ...
3
votes
1answer
384 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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0answers
88 views
Knowledge needed to study and understand general and special relativity theory [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What are the prerequisites to studying general relativity?
I'am 27 now and i have a burning desire to study math and physics from the ground up and I strongly prefer ...
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 ...
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2answers
2k views
Comparing scales of atomic level objects to scales of everyday size objects
I am trying to come up with everyday size objects comparisions of atomic scales items, e.g. if a proton probability cloud was of size basketball how far would the next atoms to it be?
reason being is ...
2
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2answers
152 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 ...
2
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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 ...
4
votes
4answers
285 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 ...
3
votes
5answers
630 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"?
...
8
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6answers
2k views
What is the simplest way to prove that the Earth orbits the Sun?
Assume you're talking to someone ignorant of the basic facts of astronomy.
How would you prove to them that the Earth orbits the Sun? Similarly, how would you prove to them that the Moon orbits ...
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2answers
216 views
Physics Equivalent of Physical Chemistry (P-Chem) [closed]
Before I take P-Chem I would like to understand how physicists view the same material. What Physics course(s) should I take and/or books should I read to learn the same material from a physicist's ...
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 ...
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vote
5answers
855 views
Recommended progression with which to learn physics for fun
I enjoy reading up on new topics in physics and astronomy, and learning the concepts and ideas in the major theories, like relativity and quantum mechanics. Unfortunately, one thing that I lack ...
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 ...
1
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3answers
263 views
video documentaries about physics?
Does anyone know about good video documentaries about physics, possibly on youtube?
I've seen a couple of them about string theory, but I could not find many others.
Thanks
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2answers
203 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?
11
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6answers
556 views
What is an effective way to search for post-doc positions in physics?
I am a graduate student in experimental physics, currently writing up my dissertation and beginning to apply to post-doc positions. While it is very easy to find out about open positions in my ...
6
votes
3answers
382 views
Going Beyond Introductory Physics
Due to certain reasons, I don't have the chance for going to college for under-graduation, but that doesn't mean I can't choose to walk the hard path and learn. Over the past month or so a lot of ...
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0answers
202 views
Is there any reason to major in physics if you're certain you will never do a Ph.D? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What sort of jobs do physics graduates with B.Sc/M.Sc get?
I've been told over and over again..."I would not major in physics unless you are looking to get a Ph.D." What ...
0
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1answer
715 views
Conceptual problems in nuclear physics for students?
Is there any good reference for conceptual problems for students which learn nuclear physics first time? I am not searching problems that involve difficult calculations. Quite the converse, they ...
2
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0answers
264 views
Examples of incorrect physics education [closed]
Can you give me examples where the standard physics curriculum in high school or college is inaccurate? When did you realize you had been fed lies?
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8answers
2k views
Starting a physics Ph.D. at 60?
Decades ago I was in a physics Ph.D. program, made a hash of things, and quite rightly was dropped from the program. Since then I've had a very satisfying career as a computer programmer, and picked ...
0
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0answers
168 views
Basic intro to physics [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Beginner Physics Resources?
I've always wanted to learn physics and never really got around to it. What would you as a community recommend for an introduction to physics ...
2
votes
2answers
564 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 ...
5
votes
4answers
608 views
What do you think about teaching Standard Model in school? [closed]
Here is a scan from an old Soviet textbook for school children:
It shows the table of quarks and antiquarks of different generations, colours, spins.
The book also includes similar tables of gluons ...
12
votes
9answers
909 views
What are good mechanics experiments for 10 year olds?
I'm trying to explain elementary mechanics - without the benefits of calculus or even algebra - and struggling. I'd like to find reasonable ways to demonstrate Newton's laws, minimally, and possibly ...
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4answers
1k views
How can I measure the mass of the earth at home?
How can I measure the mass of the earth at home?
How was the mass of the earth first measured?
