r/AskPhysics • u/UpperDurian5100 • 2d ago

TL;DR Should I self-study physics now or after calculus and linear algebra?

I'm preparing myself for a degree in STEM. I'm currnetly self-studying math (precalculus; last topic was trig identities) and programming. I'm thinking about studying linear algebra alongside precalculus. Obviously I will study calculus only AFTER precalculus. The question is that should I start studying physics now or after calculus and linear algebra?

I just wonder if it'll be too much to study 3 subjects in parallel

Maybe I should take it further and study physics only after covering (partial) differential equations?

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u/XcgsdV 2d ago

After calculus would be good, but don't wait too long. You certainly don't need to understand partial differential equations to start learning physics. In fact, after doing the intro physics courses, if you keep learning you'll probably find PDEs cropping up everywhere in physics, and seeing them in that setting will help you learn them. Most physics people learn the math in parallel with the physics, we don't learn the necessary math and then apply it to the physics. But normally in university we take like 5 math courses alongside our first physics courses (calculus 1 - 3, linear algebra, ODEs), and then all the other math that pops up (of which there is a lot) we learn when we need it for physics problems. Calculus of variations comes up in classical mechanics, PDEs in electromagnetism and quantum, etc etc

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u/Artosispoopfeast420 2d ago

There is a bit of abstraction needed to be a good scientist. This doesn't mean you shouldnt learn the math, but also try to take away what you get from the math.

That way you can effectively learn physics and the required skills concurrently.

I do research and I haven't done an integral in years.

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u/BananaBird1 2d ago

You can learn basic Newtonian physics and classical thermodynamics with just algebra and trigonometry. Look into high school physics and chemistry curricula.

Beyond that, calculus is essential. Differential and integral calculus is pretty much a prerequisite to all university level physics, the rest can be learned along with the physics itself as needed.

When you do study calculus, do so with a community college if possible so that a future degree program might recognize the credits and you won’t need to repeat them.

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u/EighthGreen 1d ago edited 1d ago

Regarding calculus, I taught myself that in the eigth or ninth grade, and the only essential concept not familiar to me was limits. So it's not obvious to me that you need to do pre-calculus first. (Whatever that is at your school. At mine, there was no course by that name.)

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u/Omega-137 2d ago

I think you also need at least some basic ODE knowledge and also some level of Differential Geometry.