My advice for physics majors | Q&A part 1
TLDRIn this Q&A session, the speaker addresses various questions about studying physics and computer science, the challenges of understanding advanced math concepts, and the social perception of physics as a difficult subject. She shares personal experiences, offers advice on learning strategies, and discusses her academic journey, including her specialization in physics and achievements. The video also touches on the underrepresentation of women in physics and provides recommendations for summer study materials for incoming physics undergraduates.
Takeaways
- 🤔 The speaker finds it challenging to advise on specific studies like physics or computer science due to individual aptitudes but suggests computer science might require less advanced math.
- 📚 Physics is perceived as difficult, partly because of the complex notation and jargon that can seem isolating to outsiders.
- 🌟 The speaker regrets not slowing down to understand concepts deeply during their degree, emphasizing the importance of grasping fundamental ideas.
- 📈 College-level physics and math problems are inherently time-consuming, distinguishing them from high school-level work.
- 🎓 The speaker's undergraduate degree in New Zealand was a double major in physics and maths without a specific specialization.
- 👩🎓 The representation of females in physics is low, which the speaker finds regrettable and isolating.
- 📚 For summer study before college physics, the speaker recommends familiarizing oneself with the textbooks that will be used in the first semester.
- 🏆 The speaker's proudest academic achievement was earning first-class honours in Australia, which enabled direct entry into a PhD program.
- 🧠 The speaker's learning process involved cramming, but they later recognized the value of explaining concepts to others for better understanding.
- 🌌 Physics has changed the speaker's perception of the world, making them more inclined to question and understand natural phenomena.
- 🔍 The speaker is interested in physics due to the desire to understand why things are the way they are and appreciates the analytical approach it fosters.
Q & A
Should someone who is bad at math study physics or computer science?
-While both subjects involve math, computer science might be more accessible without advanced calculus or differential equations, which are often found in physics. However, both fields require a certain level of mathematical understanding.
Is physics inherently difficult or is it just perceived that way?
-Physics can be challenging, especially for those without a strong math background. The difficulty arises from the specialized notation and concepts that may seem inaccessible to outsiders. It requires a foundational understanding to grasp the subject matter effectively.
How can one improve their learning rate for complex college-level math and physics?
-It's important to work through concepts slowly and thoroughly. Understanding new ideas takes time, and it's beneficial to focus on common trends and problem-solving strategies rather than trying to master every single problem or concept.
What was the speaker's specialization during their undergraduate studies?
-The speaker double majored in physics and maths without a specific specialization, though they took courses in astrophysics and mathematical physics.
How many females study physics and does the gender disparity affect them?
-The number of females in physics is relatively low, with the speaker estimating about 10% in their undergraduate class. This lack of representation can make it harder for women in physics, as there are fewer like-minded peers for support and encouragement.
What resources can be used to prepare for college physics?
-It's recommended to look up the textbooks that will be used in the first semester of the undergraduate course and familiarize oneself with the content. This can help ease the transition from high school to college and provide a solid foundation for the new material.
What academic achievement is the speaker most proud of?
-The speaker is most proud of achieving first-class honours in their honours course in Australia, which allowed them to proceed directly to a PhD program with a scholarship, bypassing the need for a master's degree.
How does the speaker manage to understand abstract and difficult ideas?
-The speaker initially used a less effective method of cramming information into short-term memory. However, they later found value in the Feynman technique, which involves learning by teaching others and explaining concepts to friends or peers.
How has studying physics changed the speaker's perception of the world?
-Studying physics has enhanced the speaker's curiosity and ability to view natural phenomena rationally, seeking to understand the underlying physics of everyday occurrences and breaking down complex phenomena into their fundamental components.
Is there a common trend in the types of questions the speaker receives?
-The speaker often receives thoughtful and insightful questions, particularly about their experiences and advice related to studying physics and navigating the challenges of college-level math and physics.
How does the speaker plan to address the remaining questions?
-The speaker intends to split the Q&A into two parts, with the second part to be uploaded later, ensuring that each question is given the attention it deserves and that the answers are comprehensive and informative.
Outlines
🤔 Discussing Academic Choices and Misconceptions in Physics
The speaker begins by addressing questions from social media about academic choices, specifically whether one should study physics or computer science if they are not proficient in math. They share their personal experience and suggest that while both fields involve math, computer science might be more accessible without advanced calculus. The speaker also touches on the common misconception that physics is inherently difficult, attributing it to the complex language and notation of the field, which can seem isolating to outsiders.
📚 Tips for Learning College-Level Math and Physics
The speaker offers advice on tackling challenging subjects like real analysis, electromagnetism, and quantum chemistry at the college level. They acknowledge that these subjects require time and patience to understand complex concepts. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing when to move on from a concept and the need to balance depth of understanding with the practicalities of academic progress. They also discuss their own regrets about not slowing down to better understand concepts during their studies.
🎓 Specialization and Achievements in Physics
The speaker talks about their academic background, having double majored in physics and maths without a specific specialization. They mention their pride in achieving first-class honours, which allowed them to pursue a PhD directly. The speaker also addresses the underrepresentation of women in physics and shares their personal experience of being one of the few female students in their undergraduate program. They provide advice on preparing for college physics by familiarizing oneself with the textbooks that will be used in the first semester of college.
🌟 Moments of Pride and Learning Difficult Ideas
The speaker reflects on their proudest academic moment, which was completing their honours course with first-class honours. They describe the intense pressure and the endurance required to succeed in such a competitive environment. The speaker also discusses their learning process, which involved explaining concepts to others as a way to reinforce their own understanding. They mention that physics has changed their perception of the world, enabling them to view natural phenomena through a more analytical lens and appreciate the complexity of the physical world.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Physics
💡Computer Science
💡Math
💡Study Tips
💡Specialization
💡Female Representation
💡Direct Notation
💡Undergraduate Textbooks
💡Academic Achievement
💡Learning Process
💡Perception of the World
Highlights
The speaker discusses the difficulty of choosing what to study, especially when it comes to subjects like physics and computer science.
Math is a common element in both physics and computer science, but the level of complexity can vary between the two fields.
Physics is often perceived as difficult, partly due to the specialized notation and concepts that can seem isolating to outsiders.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of starting at the basic building blocks when learning a new subject like physics.
Studying physics and math at a college level involves a significant time investment and a slow, methodical approach to understanding concepts.
The speaker regrets not taking the time to understand concepts more deeply during their degree and advises on effective learning strategies.
The speaker's undergraduate degree did not have a specific specialization within physics, but they took a variety of courses including astrophysics and mathematical physics.
There is a lack of female representation in physics, which the speaker finds disappointing and isolating for women in the field.
For those preparing for college-level physics, the speaker suggests familiarizing themselves with the textbooks that will be used in their courses.
The speaker's proudest academic achievement was achieving first-class honours, which allowed them to pursue a PhD directly without needing a master's degree.
The speaker describes their learning process as initially being more about short-term memory cramming than effective long-term understanding.
Explaining concepts to others was a valuable learning technique for the speaker, as it helped them understand what they truly grasped.
Physics has changed the speaker's perception of the world, making them more inclined to question and understand the underlying principles of everyday phenomena.
The speaker's interest in physics stems from a curiosity about the world and a desire to understand why things are the way they are.
Despite the complexity and vastness of the world, the speaker believes that studying physics enhances one's ability to find answers to why things work.
The speaker plans to split the Q&A into two parts due to the high volume of questions received, with a second part to be uploaded later.
The speaker expresses gratitude for the engagement and questions from the audience, promising to address more in the upcoming part two of the Q&A.
Transcripts
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