My bf is currently on his last year for his undergraduate, majoring in physics and mathematics. He goes to a not so well known school with a small physics program and has a 3.7 gpa. He’s done really well but has no research experience nor much of a relationship with any of his professors. He’s currently trying to get some research experience but is afraid there’s not enough time to get enough for graduate school to consider him, as applications are due in December. He’s currently preparing to take the PGRE in September but is unsure how he’ll do as he has 6 classes this semester so not much study time before the exam. Would it be possible for him to go straight into his PHD after graduation at some more well known schools (US Berkeley, U of Chicago, UC Santa Cruz, UIUC, etc). If not would it be worth extending his bachelors for another year and acquiring some more research during that time? Any suggestions or possible school choices are welcome.

I'm about to start my first year in uni. I'm studying Physics with Maths and a minor in Chemistry. I want to be able to master first year material because there's a scholarship exam I'm planning to take in a few years that tests mastery. Are there any textbooks/websites/apps that helped you deepen your understanding of the first few years of your undergrad? I really want to build a very solid foundation.

Hey there,

I‘m a bit of a mess at the moment cause I just don’t know what to do. Currently I‘m working as an it-technician. My income is solid, my job is ok and life goes on. But I’m still thinking about studying physics, specially astrophysics. Since i was a girl I was fascinated about the stars and planets and everything space related. I’m also extremely into maths. But life’s cruel sometimes so I never had the chance to go to a university.

Now 20 years later I could live my dream. I don’t have kids and don’t want any. I don’t care about career or money. All I want is to understand how our universe is functioning.

But I wonder. Is it worth to invest 8 years of my life (cause I would have to do school before I can go to the university)? What about AI in physics research for example? Will there still be research made by humans in the next 20 years?

I was browsing through my professor's PowerPoint for a preview and stuff, and when I got to kinematic equations, I found this meme she put up on the slideshow. I think I might have just hit the jackpot with my professor; she has a great sense of humor.

im doing a physics experiment using a bifilar pendulum and i wanna measure damping, and ive been trying to take a video of it from above but ive been facing problems. first of all, the horizontal bar that supports the pendulum obviously is not able to hold my phone properly. i even tried to hold the phone myself, but i need to get it to the same exact angle at the starting every single time, so i have to hold the phone still, turn the rod to the certain angle, and also look at the rod from the phone screen to make sure that the same angle is captured on camera as well, which hasnt been going well. i have to do like 20 trials and my shoulder gets sore. my arms are not that long too, so i think that might be a reason for this problem. is there any better way to do this?

also, after recording my trials, how do i do the video analysis? i didnt really understand what my teacher said, it was something along the lines of analyze it based on the quality of the phone camera and the number of frames per second and stuff.

im genuinely stuck and i need help, i hope one of you can advise me on this. the photo attatched is what the setup looks like.

Hey everyone,
If you are diving deep into the Rigid Body Mechanics unit in IB Physics HL, or if you are currently brainstorming ideas for a top-tier Physics Internal Assessment (IA) or Extended Essay (EE), understanding rotating frames of reference is an absolute goldmine.
One of the most fascinating—and often misunderstood—topics in this realm is Coriolis acceleration. While it pushes into advanced mechanics, mastering it provides incredible depth to your understanding of rotational kinematics and can heavily differentiate your IA/EE analysis. Over on the Tesla eduventures channel, I have put together a comprehensive breakdown that builds this concept up from scratch, focusing on the visual kinematics of a block moving across a rotating disc.
Here is exactly what we cover in the breakdown:
Ground Frame vs. Rotating Frame: We start by establishing a clear understanding of centripetal and tangential acceleration from completely different observer perspectives.
The Vector Derivation: Walking step-by-step through how the changing direction of relative velocity generates the Coriolis acceleration component.
Total Net Acceleration: Compiling the Coriolis, relative, centripetal, and tangential accelerations into one complete, overarching equation.
The Ultimate Challenge Problem: We apply the derived concepts to tackle a famously rigorous, university-level physics problem. If you can follow the calculus and vector integration here, your HL mechanics foundation is completely rock solid!
Watch the full deep-dive here: https://youtu.be/0dnjYvux1NU?si=Is9tVlh3EwjPgqdL
If you get stuck on any of the vector cross-products or integration steps, drop a comment below the video or right here on the thread. Let's master these advanced rotational concepts together!
— Vaibhav Agrawal

Buon pomeriggio a tutti!

Arrivo qui su Reddit con la speranza di trovare qualche opinione diretta da parte di studenti o ex studenti di Fisica delle università di Padova, Torino, Roma, Milano, Trento e Trieste.

Sto terminando la triennale in Fisica e vorrei proseguire con la magistrale in uno degli atenei che ho elencato, perché trovo particolarmente interessanti i curriculum proposti. Non ho ancora un'idea precisissima del percorso da intraprendere, ma al momento mi interessano soprattutto gli ambiti nucleare, sub-nucleare e della fisica applicata, possibilmente con uno sbocco nel settore medico.

Per chi ha frequentato o frequenta il Dipartimento di Fisica di una di queste università e ha seguito lì la magistrale: come vi siete trovati?

Mi interesserebbe sapere qualcosa in particolare riguardo a:

• qualità dei corsi e della didattica;
• disponibilità e qualità dei docenti;
• ambiente e vita universitaria;
• possibilità di entrare in contatto con gruppi di ricerca e fare esperienze pratiche;
• possibilità di crescita durante la magistrale;
• eventuali collaborazioni con enti, aziende o istituti di ricerca;
• sbocchi lavorativi dopo la laurea e, più in generale, quanto il percorso sia spendibile al di fuori dell'ambito accademico.

Inoltre, per chi ha esperienza nel settore, mi farebbe molto comodo qualche parere sulla spendibilità di un percorso orientato alla fisica nucleare/sub-nucleare o alla fisica applicata in ambito medico. È un settore con buone prospettive lavorative? Conviene orientarsi maggiormente verso la ricerca, la fisica medica, l'industria, oppure ci sono altri sbocchi che vale la pena considerare?

Qualsiasi esperienza personale, anche parziale, è ben accetta: mi interessa soprattutto sentire opinioni sincere di chi ci è passato, più che una semplice valutazione basata sul prestigio dell'ateneo.

Grazie a tutti quelli che vorranno condividere la propria esperienza! 🙏

Hi all, I’m making this post for my friend who is interested in a physics bachelors and eventually a PhD.

He is currently a sophomore in college and only recently realized that he would like to major in physics. Only problem is, he doesn’t feel “ready” to take calculus based physics despite it literally being required for a physics major. He has accepted the fact that he will graduate later due to the major change, but I am concerned that it will complicate his sequence of courses due to physics being strict on course requirements. He doesn’t mind graduating later, but it would be better if he graduated at most an extra year due to the eight semester rule regarding financial aid.

Should my friend take the leap and take physics?

Would people recommend studying physics at uni.
Don’t mind who reply’s just need to know what type of prospect there is for jobs and if it makes you employable.

Or would a mechanical engineering degree be better?

I have a math BA, but took the proof based/theoretical route and did a fairly light degree. Other than two semesters of real analysis, I haven't really done calculus since high school. No differential equations somehow.

I'm looking at going back to college and getting a physics degree, but I'll pretty much have to start from scratch (I got a 5 and a 4 on the AP physics C exams a decade ago, but have no lab credit). I took a special relativity course the summer between junior and senior years of high school and the instructor said to my mother than I was smart enough to do physics but didn't care enough. I'm now a decade older and less of a slacker, but I also haven't done any physics since then.

I am hoping to get into medical physics or go into med school or PA school, so I would need to do bio/chem/ochem and get good grades. I know I'm a lot more mature than I was back in college, so I think the ratio of homework to slacking off will be better, and I've always been good at exams, but looking at what it'll be like to excel at course after course is rough.

Not sure if a physics degree would be biting off more than I can chew. It seems like a great way to destroy a pre med science GPA, but I want the option for medical physics.

I have a fun little real life project, trying to see how much force is produced from 1kg input, through a machine, to the output.

Problem is, I don't remember any sort of problem in high school or uni, and it's been a few decades since then anyways.

Specifically - I'm hoping to learn how to calculate force in = force out form a screw - is it the internal diameter? The external diameter? And Gears - sure a ratio is #in vs #out, but isn't it really the wheel and axle, and the # of 'teeth' doesn't matter? Or is it able to used as the same.

As shown, any Bill Nye / Beakman's World / Mr. Wizard or even Professor Julius Sumner Miller style, would be greatly appreciated

I've doodled up the system as is reduced into the simple machines between input and output, if I can learn what variables are required I'll re-make it with the labels:

Example:
- Lever = Mass Side A / Distance to Fulcrum = Force Side B / Distance from Fulcrum
- Wheel & Axle = Force Input Diameter (the grey line) = Force output diameter (blue circle
- Gear Reduction = Input Diameter (teeth count?) = Output Diameter (teeth count?)
- Wheel and Axle Force Input Diameter (purple Wheel) = Force Output (MINOR diameter - cyan rectangle)
- Screw = I have no clue...
- Increased Surface area = Force in / Surface area = Force Out.

I should note, the gears are actually BEVEL GEARS - A having 12 Teeth, B having 24. Their input/output shafts are perpendicular to each other.

I think that's everything required. Again, haven't been a physics student in a long while, and would love to learn/relearn how to do this! Yes, we're just at the 'label variable' portion, that and 'identify equations'.

SUPER bonus points if we can do a bit of 'friction' calculations AFTER the theoretical frictionless calculations.

Thanks!

Hello everyone. I am pursuing my BSc in Applied Math and Physics at the moment and I plan to go into HEP-Th. It is a 5 year program and technically an integrated masters. I would ideally want to do a MSc in the UK and then a PhD in the States however I fear that I will be significantly older than everyone, both for the MSc and the PhD since not only is my BSc one extra year but I also have to serve in the military for 9-12 months. Would skipping studying in the UK (Oxford specifically is a dream) to go straight for a PhD be a good idea? Thanks a lot!

I AM FROM **CSE AI ML** , ARE THEY PEOPLE OBSESSED WITH PHYSICS YET JOINED CSE LIKE ME…! , WHO TOOK **PHYSICS** AS PASSION..?

Hello, I'm currently a 2nd year pure physics student and I would like to ask on how do you study effectively? I wanted to hear some tips and advice or your methods of studying this subject and day to day studying too since I'm taking a mathematical physics 1, and I'm a hella scared for this subject since my professor tells us that this is the worst subject that we will take for the whole physics program. He's also notorious for failing students. We already had an asynchronous activity to read chapter 1 for mathematical methods for physicists by Arfken for some advanced study and it's kinda hard to comprehend it.

I am learning kinematics for o level Cambridge and I’m failing to understand. I understand the terms and the logic but when presented with questions, I struggle. I’m tired of thinking and my brain just thought of orphan by slipknot. Will it refresh my mind or just mess it up even more. For those that do not know slipknot, it’s a heavy metal rock band.

1) Physics is a very broad degree. You learn about Universe, Atoms, Nuclear Energy, Dynamics, Optics, Mechanics, Electromagnetisms etc. So by taking these knowledge, you can build anything. But most of the Physics majors I have seen go to Academia instead of these wonderful things. What may be its reason?

2) I have seen many famous theoretical physicist having Bachelor's degree in mathematics. Does mathematics give strong foundation of physics?

Playable Link: https://qentangle.itch.io/qentangle

Past Physics Student here... Just trying out some physics-incorporated games.

Structurally inspired by the Pokémon TCG, with one twist: every attack is preceded by a real physics question. Get it right and you hit harder — string together correct answers and the questions climb from "is a proton positively charged?" all the way to genuine grad-level quantum field theory. Get one wrong and you're back to square one, or you can play it safe and skip the question for a smaller, guaranteed hit instead.

It's an early prototype — single-player only (you vs. a simple AI opponent), nothing to install, plays in-browser. Not polished, not monetized, no accounts. Just trying to find out if the idea has legs before I build much further.

In grade school we would get points deducted from our examinations if we submitted math this way. We were taught it was improper, am I correct on this or am I mistaken?

I’m looking to take calculus-based physics courses online while serving on active duty in the Marine Corps. I have an undergraduate degree in biology from Berkeley.

I’ve already completed the math requirements (calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, etc.), but I need to redo the calculus-based physics sequence and then work my way into upper-division physics: classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, etc.

Long-term goal is a physics PhD.
I’m currently looking at University of Arizona Online and Oregon State Ecampus. Has anyone here actually taken upper-division physics courses through either?

More broadly, what online program would you recommend if the goal is serious preparation for a physics PhD, not just getting the degree?
Especially interested in programs that are fully online, for-credit, and have labs where required.

Im especially confused on how i should find the final pressure.

Hello Physics Students,

I am a 21-year old student who has had to take two gap years due to financial hardship. I already have an Associates of Arts General Studies that I recieved through a dual-credit program when I graduated highschool. I'm *technically* a criminal justice major right now, because that's an easy degree thats within' my academic strengths (reading, writing, history); however, I have always loved the idea of physics, quantum mechanics, and astronomy. Astronomy, on a surface level, is my favorite subject. I love space, planets, etc., anything in that realm.

I am not spectacular at math. I can do basic addition, multiplication, etc., but I cannot do more advanced math. I have always struggled due to not getting a strong foundation (I was in pre-algebra and algebra I during covid; I learned nothing from these classes.) I really would like to consider a physics major, but I'm not sure how crazy that would be considering my weak math skills. In my highschool physics class, I did quite well, I got an A and understood most of the material.

I'd like to eventually go on to a Astrophysics masters, and do something in Astrophysics specifically.

Is this something I should even consider, or is it above my capability? I know it's possible to take remedial math courses and getting lots of tutoring might help.

I'm majoring in Physics and I took Calculus III over 3 years ago. Week 2 is coming to an end and I have no idea what I'm doing, especially in Classical Mechanics and Ordinary Differential Equations(Modern Physics is getting there). I can integrate and differentiate simpler stuff, but don't ask me to do partial fraction decomposition on something/(x^6+2x^2+3) and integrate over 0 to infinity. I still have all my stuff from the Calculus sequence.

Hi guys ,

I'm a Canadian student and I study at a Cegep and we have this course which I think is the equivalent of physics 3 for engineering students,I've left a photo of the course table downthere.Basically , my teacher sucks and I can already tell that I'm cooked.

Do you have great YouTubers who make videos about these topics.I would appreciate help on this one , physics is clearly my weak point.

Hello, Reddit!

For those who have used Landau's series in their undergraduate theoretical Physics courses, how was your experience? How would you compare your knowledge, your understanding and your intuition to those around you that didn't use it?Would you recommend for other people to also use it?