So you want to learn physics (second edition, 2021)

Discussion (7 Comments)Read Original on HackerNews

potbelly83•24 minutes ago

I have no idea why these sorts of posts are popular. Past college you're not going to learn physics by trying to self-study an entire university course. The best way to learn is just to pick a small part of physics you'd like to learn (preferably related to your job), i.e. how GPS work or some fluid mechanics etc... Then learn the physics you need for that. Knowledge accumulation can't be organized in a straight line, it happens non-linearly and generally builds upon small wins that are useful for you.

xpct•8 minutes ago

I think it's useful for learning about unknown unknowns. If you don't have a clear direction, it's entirely fine to start with a university course then stop when you get a feeling for what you really need.

gnabgib•5 days ago

Popular in 2023 (528 points, 165 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37200615

inigyou•about 2 hours ago

> the vacuum (if it is a vacuum)

Here is a five-hour video essay explaining that we actually live inside a superconductor: https://youtu.be/DkH1citHtgs

That is, the reason the weak nuclear force has limited range in our "vacuum" seems identical to the reason the electromagnetic force has limited range in an electric superconductor. Therefore we live in a weak nuclear superconductor. Whatever that means.

(Furthermore and even weirder, the electromagnetic force is a shadow of the weak nuclear force, the one-dimensional projection of it that retains an unlimited range even inside the superconductor, which happens because of reasons)

xqb64•about 4 hours ago

Is there a math edition?

AlexeyBrin•about 3 hours ago

https://www.susanrigetti.com/math

tptacek•about 3 hours ago

Yep. Linked in the header. It's very good.

So you want to learn physics (second edition, 2021)

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Discussion (7 Comments)Read Original on HackerNews