Physics future?

What is the best choice a seventh grader can make if they want to be in a physics field? Interested as I am in this position.

Graduate high school.

stop negrosciencemanposting

MODS

I don't hang around Veeky Forums all that much

Are we at this level of shitposting now?

HOMESCHOOLING
but go to school in 11th or twelvth grade for chemistry

100% neil is a fucking retard.

Look kid, you want to study physics? Great. Apply yourself in you math and science classes. Set aside the proper time you need to give it your undivided attention so you can absorb the material properly. Don't cram. It takes time. With that said, don't forget to have fun and be young. You need to value that time too. School is a great source of learning, but it isn't the only one. So you got to learn how to manage your time.

Learn algebra I then geometry then algebra 2 then calculus then read the Veeky Forums sticky to pirate physic books then apply to Harvard because its not everyday a 12 year old has ambition. Don't go to khan academy because it is too slow if you are proficient go to Paul's online math notes; reading is the fastest way to get information. Learn programming because its a skill in demand for physicists.
Math book review listed by author saved this in middle school; titles unknown

All of those books have some problems.

>Courant
this is a very good book, but somewhat outdated. It was written in the WWII-era, and while it's rigorous and has good exposition it shows it's age in the way things are done.
>Keisler
Interesting book, but doing things via infinitesimals isn't a good first approach because it's not standard practice and will handicap you later. Do epsilon-delta first.

>Strang
One of the worst math texts I've ever read. Rambling, unfocused explanations, shallow examples, things are defined pages after they're used.
>Axler
A lot of people swear by this book for pure linear algebra, but I don't like it that much. Axler has a pathological hatred of matrices, determinants, and anything concrete; while those sorts of things can be abused, they're just as much a part of linear algebra as anything else. Axler is very much a "muh PURE math" sort of writer.

If you've finished a proof book you're probably mature enough to read Spivak or Apostol for Calc. Spivak if you like chattiness, Apostol if you want no-nonsense but dry.

For linear algebra Apostol's calc books have a good exposition of the useful theory, and Hoffman/Kunze has been the canonical theoretical text since the 70s. It's a tough read but after a proof book and a rigorous calc book you should be able to handle it.

>Calculus tip

Calculus tip: (OP)
If you are in Calc I...

Limits:
Look at the definition of a limit, both informal and epsilon delta.
From the definition of limits, derive the definition of the derivative.

Using the definition of the derivative, try to prove all the derivative laws. This is true for basically any math class. Looking at the proofs can do wonders in understanding the concept.

Everything else is just practice.

So in short. Look at proofs and practice a lot.


>Programming language

Matlab is the worst language and toolset you could possibly use. DO NOT LISTEN to this user, unless you are working with folks who already depend on Matlab.

ANY upfront savings in 'ease' or 'simplicity' is completely cashed in and paid back 10 fold as soon as you try to do anything non-trivial.

The matrix being the one-size-fits-all data structure is a huge mistake. Most of the time spent programming Matlab is how to program to take advantage of the matrix behavior. This ends up taking 10x more time, produces code that is barely readable and difficult to reason about, and at the end of the day you still have a slow piece of shit.

The Matlab language at it's core is fucked. The libraries have inconsistent behavior. The weakly typed system leads to hard to track down errors when you accidentally change a type or misspell an identifier. Interfacing with other languages is a nightmare. The execution model is retarded. etc. etc. etc. ET FUCKING CETERA.

Matlab is good for about 10 minutes. If you use it longer than that, you are digging a hole that is going to warp your sense of coding, produce rube-goldberg code that takes forever to run, and in general have a bad time.

Rant over. You want power? C/C++. Not everything will be ready for you at the start, but at least you will have control over your machine.

Learn Elementary Algebra, Trigonometry, Single Variable Calculus, Matrix Algebra. Multivariable and Vector Calculus, Probability, Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces, Ordinary Differential Equations, Complex Variables, Fourier Transforms, Partial Differential Equations, Numerical Analysis, Dynamical Systems, Proofs, Real Analysis Calculus of Variations, Special Functions, Integral Equations, Asymptotics Analysis, Perturbation Theory, Linear Algebra, Abstract Algebra, Point-set Topology, Algebraic Topology, Commutative Algebra, Analysis on Manifolds, Fourier Analysis, Complex Analysis, Measure and Integral Theory, Functional Analysis, Differential Topology, Smooth Manifolds, Riemann Geometry, Algebraic Geometry, Lie Theory, Representation Theory, .... then eventual get around to learning physics.

good summary here, kid you should listen to this guy

No matter what you pick, dont do the beginners mistake of using Word for reports and Excel for data analysis and plotting. LaTeX, Gnuplot, Python/R will save you a lot of time, Get Matlab [Don't get MATLAB] and Mathematica if your Uni offers free licenses
(OP)
For those new to latex I recommend Gummi. If you already use emacs then auctex. If you use KDE or windows TexStudio. If you use GNOME then LaTeXila
Find a way to get out of middle school if you are competent enough to self-learn.

Listen to this guy if you have a social life. I came here when I was 13 because I was an autistic sick kid who had no friends.

>and will handicap you later

No it wont because the standard practice is to skip proofs altogether. Keisler mentions epsilon-delta more than other shitty calculus books do.

>Matlab is the worst language and toolset you could possibly use

You're full of shit.

Be no.1 in your class.
Compete in local and national Physics olympiad.
Then qualify for IPhO.

This is bare minimum. If you couldn't do it, there's no reason to do physics.

There are no choices, public schools will do everything they can to impede you from learning more. Take the GED & SAT and start community college classes.

Even better than matlab is GNU octave. Almost all the same functions, has c-style syntax, and is completely free.

Practice math every day. Learn to love math.

Just take all the math you can. Take programming courses if offered at your high school. Also pay attention in English writing correctly is a lost on physics majors.

Stay off of Veeky Forums.

>You're full of shit.

No. The problem is that Matlab is purely academic and doesn't work anywhere other than in school.


No one uses it except professors.


The crux of why Matlab is garbage is because of licensing. End of story.

> seventh grader

Fun police here.

1. This isn't /adv/
2. You must be 18 to post on the Mongolian Claymation website

>free
>GPL

pick one.

Take as many Physics and Math courses as you can even try to do some over the Summer if your school allows or at a local community college for cheap. Starting undergrad in Calc III or Diff Eq helps a lot.

If you want to get into a good school for Physics, do well in your classes and take the SAT until you get a great score. Take subject tests if needed for the college. Also do well on the PSAT as being a national merit semi/finalist is nice. Do a few extracurriculars if you want, it is better to be more involved in 1 or 2 than being a pleb in 20.

Aim for Princeton/Harvard/MIT and even if you don't make it into those you could still get into great schools like UIUC/Berkeley/UMich

>axler
>too pure and abstract
KEK. Try grappling with Shilov as a first introduction to the subject. The theory is buried under mountains of technical manipulation and notation which obfuscate more than they make accessible. Axler is remarkably intuitive while equally rigorous.
Elementary computations with matrices and determinants are high school stuff either way. Your objection seems to be that it's not a Stewart-style cookbook. If you want to practice multiplying 5x5 matrices just print a worksheet or something