How much math in order to start physics?

[Dory]

So I know trig, algebra, really all the pre-cal stuff and starting up on calculus (finished limits!)...and learning new math stuff everyday at demonic speed.

Should I go ahead and tackle physics?

[Ronja]

You need partial differential equations for some college level physics, so you'd better get a good grasp of ordinary differential equations, first. Do you have a (digi)book you like? In my school, most math lecturers swear by Kreyszig's Advanced Engineering Mathematics, which AFAIK exists only as a dead-tree edition. Personally, I've liked Greenberg's Advanced Engineering Mathematics (yup, the exact same title, just different author - and also a dead-tree edition), even though the order of presentation is more logical in Kreyszig's book, IMO.

I'm not sure if matrices are completely necessary, though (in Computer Science we need matrices for so many things that that course is compulsory for us). If you want to learn the basics of matrices well, and have some fun while doing it, I warmly recommend Strang's Introduction to Linear Algebra - at least the edition I have is much more fun that that other Strang Linear Algebra something book, which is more advanced and at least the edition I've seen was drearily dull. However, both Kreyszig and Greenberg cover the basics of linear algebra, too.

Your mileage will vary, of course.

[Dory]

Differential equations....check. Thanks.

[Random Mutant]

I found most of my physics, especially modern physics and wave mechanics involved a lot of calc, mainly differential equations. A lot of sine, tan and cos. A lot of e, j (i) and w (omega). All lots of fun. It's all about pattern recognition. Just wait until you do Fourier transformations. Turn your reality at a right angle into an imaginary world. Manipulate it and turn it back again to get your answer. Sooo cool.

[Ronja]

Oh, and have you done any complex analysis? If you are looking into the physics of electro-magnetic fields at all, even if it's only about alternating current, you must know this stuff: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_numbers

[Azathoth]

Just dive in. If you come up against some maths you dont understand then go and learn it

[Dory]

Just dive in. If you come up against some maths you dont understand then go and learn it

It's a good way of thinking, on the other hand I really wanna feel ready before I splurge on a textbook/course/whatever... there's money involved here.

Oh, and have you done any complex analysis? If you are looking into the physics of electro-magnetic fields at all, even if it's only about alternating current, you must know this stuff: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_numbers

I've met IN and RN before but never in a concrete topic manner.... hmm.... let me fix myself on that.

[Tero]

You can handle high school or first semester college with just algebra
force
acceleration
gravity
even special relativity

[Dory]

You can handle high school or first semester college with just algebra
force
acceleration
gravity
even special relativity

Oh yea-- Let me make myself perfectly clear!

I'm not going for a Bachelor in Physics or anything like that right now. The idea is to pass a single first semester right now.

[Coito ergo sum]

I took Calculus 1 while taking Physics 1 in freshman year. Calculus 2 and Physics 2 in second semester freshman year. Then Diffy-Q in sophmore year with a third semester of Physics. You can do them at the same time. First semester college physics doesn't require much calculus, if any at all.

[Ulven]

My advice to my own daughter, who's about your age, was "If you really want to be smart, study something very difficult."

She chose Physics. After three years of struggling, she knows a hell of a lot more than I did at 22.

[Dory]

Ulven-- that's exactly what I'm doing. I've actually lost interest in biology due to this I'm all about physics, hard-math, and the toughest shit in the world of science-- I wanna tackle it. Exponentially? Yes. But not by taking quantum leaps, because then I'll have gaps.

[RandomGuyOnCouch]

Physics is just applied mathematics. I say do it.

[Random Mutant]

Ulven-- that's exactly what I'm doing. I've actually lost interest in biology due to this I'm all about physics, hard-math, and the toughest shit in the world of science-- I wanna tackle it. Exponentially? Yes. But not by taking quantum leaps, because then I'll have gaps.

No you won't leave any gaps. Quantum leaps are the smallest possible jump there is to make. By definition, there are no gaps, you're only moving one quanta!

</pedant>

(For example, energised electrons in an atom, dropping down an energy (valence) shell and releasing a corresponding photon move a quanta, the size of which defines the wavelength of the light.)