What's the math/science sequence up to astrophysics?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I'm in Geometry/Honors Chemistry now. I want to teach this stuff to myself, so I need the math/science sequence.</p>

<p>I think it goes something like..</p>

<p>For math: Trig --> Calculus --> Multi-variable Calculus --> Linear Algebra ... then what? </p>

<p>I'll be in Honors Physics next year and AP Chem. by senior year. </p>

<p>Since I'm teaching this to myself, what math sequence should I go in? I want to learn astrophysics. </p>

<p>PS: Don't tell me to wait or anything! I just want to know the sequence.</p>

2

<p>Probably less math and more physics. You’ll probably just need calculus and differential equations.</p>

<p>Mechanics => Electricity and Magnetism => Quantum Mechanics => Quantum Field Theory, Fluid Dynamics, Optics, etc. </p>

<p>I’m not sure exactly what astrophysics would entail, but most likely just focus on the physics and theories.</p>

3

<p>What about conic sections though…with the hyperbolas, parabolas, etc.?</p>

<p>[eScholarship:</a> Inverse Hyperbolic Problems and Optical Black Holes](<a href=“Inverse Hyperbolic Problems and Optical Black Holes”>Inverse Hyperbolic Problems and Optical Black Holes)</p>

4

<p>Older son, college junior physics major math minor, was told by several current physics and nanotech grad school professors that you can’t take enough math as an undergrad. He is even contemplating double majoring in Math and Physics to improve his grad school apps for physics and to make grad school easier. So, look at the requirements for the physics majors at the schools you are interested in and take as much math as you can in addition to your Physics courses.</p>

5

<p>I’d imagine that astrophysics is less about the calculations, and more about the theory. </p>

<p>However, all the advanced mathematics you may need can be derived from calculus and differential equations (fundamentals). I would say the harder part that requires more thinking and knowledge is the physics.</p>

<p>You would probably need 4 semesters of Calculus, Differential Equations and Partial Differentials, Linear Algebra, and possibly an additional Analysis course.</p>

6

<p>I agree. You need to know Physics. Try taking AP Physics. I read somewhere that you need to take high level math AND science classes in school first before you teach yourself anything. Be realistic here, there’s probably no chance you can really learn ALL this material by yourself. But, here’s what I found: </p>

<p>Math:
Algebra I -> Geometry -> Algebra II/Trig -> 3 years of Calculus (Calculus Single Variable, Multivariable etc.) -> Analytic Geometry -> Linear Algebra -> Ordinary Differential Equations -> Partial Differential Equations -> Methods of Approximation -> Statistics and Probability. </p>

<p>I know, some might be harder than the other, they might not be in complete order.</p>

<p>Science: Intro to Chem/Physics (this varies from school to school it could, this shouldn’t be hard to self study.) -> Chemistry -> AP Chemistry curriculum -> AP Physics cirriculum -> Astronomy (may be easy but it’s essential.) -> Electricity & Mag. in detail -> Waves and Optics in detail -> Quantum Physics.</p>

<p>This is all I have. There are TONS of physics you should look at. To tell you the truth, this can take a long time to master and understand. I hope I helped. PM me for any questions.</p>

7

<p>My school doesn’t offer AP Physics. This is the advanced science sequence at my school:</p>

<p>Honors Biology → Honors Chemistry → Honors Physics/AP Bio → AP Chem/Honors Anatomy and Physiology</p>

<p>Well do any of you know any good resources for learning the physics required for astrophysics? </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

8

<p>Two good resources are Khan Academy and PhysicsClassroom</p>

9

<p>You don’t need Anatomy and Physiology (just saying).</p>

<p>As for your high school, I would recommend just learning Mechanics and Electricity/Magnetism. That’s enough to get you going. It might sound like your Honors Physics may cover it, but not enough of it. I would recommend googling MIT courseware, and trying to see what you can make of their physics (taught by Walter Lewin; Physics 8.01 and 8.02).</p>

<p>As for math, if you can finish Cal I and II, you are on the right track.</p>

10

<p>The highest math I’ll graduate with is Honors Pre-Calculus… how unfortunate…I know. My school offers math up to AP Calc AB. </p>

<p>They won’t let me skip ahead or test out or anything like that. the only option I have is self-studying Calc+.</p>

11

<p>Maybe I could buy Princeton Review’s AP Physics B/C and learn all that?</p>

12

<p>You could do that, but wouldn’t you need to know the math first?</p>

13

<p>Or is this is enough to get me started for the science part?</p>

<p>[MIT</a> OpenCourseWare | Physics | 8.02SC Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Fall 2010 | Home](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-02sc-physics-ii-electricity-and-magnetism-fall-2010/index.htm]MIT”>http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-02sc-physics-ii-electricity-and-magnetism-fall-2010/index.htm)</p>

14

<p>Physics (in order):</p>

<p>[MIT</a> OpenCourseWare | Physics | 8.01SC Physics I: Classical Mechanics, Fall 2010 | Home](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-01sc-physics-i-classical-mechanics-fall-2010/]MIT”>http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-01sc-physics-i-classical-mechanics-fall-2010/)</p>

<p>[MIT</a> OpenCourseWare | Physics | 8.02SC Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Fall 2010 | Home](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-02sc-physics-ii-electricity-and-magnetism-fall-2010/]MIT”>http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-02sc-physics-ii-electricity-and-magnetism-fall-2010/)</p>

<p>Math:</p>

<p>You can self-study Calculus I for sure, though I do not know how reliable Princeton Books are. I would suggest checking out a textbook from the library, or buying a used textbook online.</p>

15

<p>Thanks, lol I just saw the part I. </p>

<p>So Calculus is divided into three parts… </p>

<p>Calculus I: Is this equivalent to AP Calculus AB/BC? (singular-variable calculus)?
Calculus II: Multivariable Calculus?
Calculus III: ?? What is this one called?</p>

16

<p>@Fantasy - Well I’m on chapter 7 (maxima and minima) and I’m not really having any trouble with it.</p>

17

<p>Calc 3 is vector calculus. Calc AB is Calc 1 (single variable calc). Calc BC is Calc 2 (multivariable).</p>

18

<p>Ohh all right so if I self study AP Calculus AB/BC and pass the exam, when I get into college I’ll start with Calc III. </p>

<p>Differential Equations is part of Calc II?</p>

19

<p>From where I’m from, there are four Calculus courses:</p>

<p>Cal I - Single Variable Calculus
Cal II - Integral Calculus
Cal III - Multivariable Calculus
Cal IV - Vector Calculus</p>

<p>and differential equations is a separate course. I don’t know how AP/IB credits work.</p>

20

<p>Ah, I see. That’s cool. </p>

<p>So these are the materials that I have:</p>

<ul>
<li>Princeton Review AP Calculus AB & BC </li>
<li>MIT Courseware: Physics I & II</li>
</ul>

<p>In what sequence should I learn all of this? Like, as of today, what should I start with? Should I put the Calculus aside for now and just focus on the MIT Physics I and II?</p>

<p>When do Polar Curves come into the picture?</p>