Learning math and physics on my own???

[Hans de Vries]

Hi, let's say I want to learn mathematics and physics on my own, I want to learn from scratch and work my way up and at the end I want to have knowledge like a bachelor or master of science, is that possible??? There is no problem with getting academic textbooks in Netherlands.

[elfmotat]

Sure. If you're interested enough and have the discipline for it, it should be no problem. It will probably take a few years to build up all that knowledge, but I would definitely say it's worth it.

[ajb]

I think it would be difficult without direction and people to talk to. Of course you can get some guidance here for example.

 

Another option could be to study via distance learning. It does not suit everyone, but it would be more structured than just reading by oneself and it can give you qualifications.

 

If you are interested in distance learning online then send me a PM and I can give you more details about one possible route.

[Nicholas Kang]

Knowledge is power, but you need enthusiasm to learn. The keypoint here is the passion to learn. You must be enthusiastic in math and physics. Einstein was expelled by his gymnasium headmaster before he moved to Italy. He did not complete his high school education but still succed in applying for a position in ETH. Later, he suceed in relativity. I take one and a half year to learn physics from almost nothing to everything. My teacher didn`t teach me physics because it is not my level but I still involve in extensive self-study. I borrowed science magazines, books and bought encyclopedias from bookstores and study by my own. it is good to hear that getting academic books in Netherlands is easy. You should appreciate such a good opportunity and grab it. I don`t stand a chance because science education in Malaysia isn`t very welcomed and lack of infrastructures and supports from community.

[Hans de Vries]

ajb, post it here, other people should benefit too.

 

Nicholas Kang, Einstein always had passion for math & physics, he taught himself differential and integral calculus when he was 15 years old, his parents had to buy books for him because his school curriculum just felt too easy.

[Sato]

It's entirely possible, but more than just an interest or even passion for some particular topic in math and physics, you'll need discipline and motivation for whatever you're studying.

 

Around four years ago, I came on Scienceforums looking to learn theoretical physics. That is, the string theory and black hole physics and all that I'd been interested in and reading about at a layman level for some years. Before that, I'd love to read about it as much as I could, and write, summarizing what I'd read, heaps too. Then I starting speaking to someone here, a physics student, and declared that I wanted to build a "general relativity simulator". It was the start of summer, and he recommended that I learn calculus through multivariate. At this point I hadn't even completed Algebra 1 and had no motivations for the calculus besides that it was prerequisite to physics. The sources I studied from were great, and I was passionate about my goal, but because I at the time did not have any motivations for the topic or personal discipline, I wasn't able to do it, and it took a few years before I even got the proper mathematical motivations to learn calculus, and at that point my interests had moved on.

 

Again, you certainly can learn everything, but it will be difficult. There are certain topics, and further subtopics, like differentiation techniques and basic mechanics, that will seem mundane unless your learning source is extremely good at illustrating the motivations or you force yourself through them. That's one reason it is good to go to university though, because you will have the gained motivation of your peers and professors, and your intimacy with others studying (or teaching/researching) the topic will be much greater than if you're studying in isolation from your computer, possibly getting less out of the interactions. If you dedicate yourself to this, take everything here into account, make sure you're disciplined to get through much you might not particularly want to, and possibly reach out to your local college to see if any professors would be interested in helping/interacting with you.

[ajb]

ajb, post it here, other people should benefit too. Nicholas Kang, Einstein always had passion for math & physics, he taught himself differential and integral calculus when he was 15 years old, his parents had to buy books for him because his school curriculum just felt too easy.

I think it would break the no advertising rules. If anyone is interested, PM me.

[Tim the plumber]

Hans,

 

Go for it. We will do our best to help. I'll be the able to explain the bottom rungs and them pass you on to the more educated.

 

It's sometimes easier to get a slightly simplified explanation even if it's a bit wrong.

 

What is the hardest thing you can do at the moment and what is the next thing you want to have a go at?

[Nicholas Kang]

Around four years ago, I came on Scienceforums looking to learn theoretical physics. That is, the string theory and black hole physics and all that I'd been interested in and reading about at a layman level for some years. Before that, I'd love to read about it as much as I could, and write, summarizing what I'd read, heaps too. Then I starting speaking to someone here, a physics student, and declared that I wanted to build a "general relativity simulator". It was the start of summer, and he recommended that I learn calculus through multivariate. At this point I hadn't even completed Algebra 1 and had no motivations for the calculus besides that it was prerequisite to physics. The sources I studied from were great, and I was passionate about my goal, but because I at the time did not have any motivations for the topic or personal discipline, I wasn't able to do it, and it took a few years before I even got the proper mathematical motivations to learn calculus, and at that point my interests had moved on.

 

Congratulations! But this can never happen in Malaysia.

Nicholas Kang, Einstein always had passion for math & physics, he taught himself differential and integral calculus when he was 15 years old, his parents had to buy books for him because his school curriculum just felt too easy.

 

I am sorry for my ignorance. I thought he didn`t do well in his school exam, except maths and physics. He failed in French and Chemistry, sunjects he didn`t care to learn. His parent bought books for him? I just only know this now upon seeing your post. I think you mean school physics and maths curriculum, not all subjects.

[CharonY]

 

I thought he didn`t do well in his school exam, except maths and physics. He failed in French and Chemistry, sunjects he didn`t care to learn. His parent bought books for him? I just only know this now upon seeing your post. I think you mean school physics and maths curriculum, not all subjects.

 

 

Off-topic, but he was actually a good student and did not fail anything in highschool. His worst subject was French, were he got a passing grade (roughly a D). He got average grades in geography, technical drawing and artistic drawing. He got B equivalent in Italian, chemistry, natural history and German and As in history, algebra, geometry, descriptive geometry (not sure if I translated correctly) and physics. So, overall he is a well above average student with a somewhat broad skill set and actually never failed anything.

Edited October 27, 2014 by CharonY

[StringJunky]

Einstein was apparently about two years advanced, relative to his peers, in his education as a teenager. The idea that he was not so bright came because the education administrators reversed the grading system after he had done his thus making him look not so bright.

[CharonY]

I do not think that they reversed the scheme, Switzerland always had a scheme where 6 is excellent and 1 is poor (which, to my knowledge has not changed). Germany has the reverse, which could have led to the misconception. Or it was just a nice narrative.

[MigL]

Sure, but Minkowky, one of his math profs, did call him a 'lazy dog".

Probably sounds even worse in German.

Edited October 28, 2014 by MigL

[CharonY]

Doesn't actually sound as bad in German (and can even be used in a somewhat endearing way, though I doubt it was the case). Well, Einstein was young and at that time, from what I understand, used mathematics more than a tool than as a pure research discipline.

[Hans de Vries]

Hello again. Sorry for my absence.

 

You can provide me with materials and ajb mays end me what he wanted to.