Quantum Physics- what is it?

[Kutan]

So apparently there's a book on Quantum Physics in my school's library. Last Friday, I figured I'd give it a quick look. It was like reading another language, I had to put it back, for the risk of head implosion was just too great. Is there anyone here that's a Quantum Physicist or interested deeply in Quantum Mechanics that can tell me about it? Or is there anyone that would like to give their thoughts on Quantum Mechanics? I'm just trying to start a discussion possibly. :P

[Jay-qu]

Hey Kutan,

Dont be discouraged if it looks like another language because, well it kinda is!

I have been studying quantum for a few years of it and I have bearly even scratched the surface, at the moment I think I need to improve my mathematical knowledge before I can delve any further.

What is it specifically that you want to know?

[Kutan]

Heh, well, I guess I want to know everything about it without being thrown off by technical mumbo-jumbo that I can't understand. My goal in life is to become a Quantum Physicist and I just want to learn all that I can.

[sanctus]

Well then reading that book would be a good direction...
I'm just curious how can you say you want to become a Quantum physicist without knowing much of it?

[Jay-qu]

Im guessing you mean you want to start without the technical mumbo jumbo - because without it your not going to get very far towards your life goal

I dont have time to give much of a description now, but I can recommend that you go read some books - one of my favorites was 'The Emperors New Mind' by Roger Penrose. It gives a great intro to quantum, among other things

[Kutan]

Originally Posted by sanctus

Well then reading that book would be a good direction...
I'm just curious how can you say you want to become a Quantum physicist without knowing much of it?

Well, it's not a good direction as of now... It's not really an intro to Quantum Physics, it assumes you know what the hell they're talking about when they express formulas and such. Also, I want to be a Quantum Physicist but I only realized that I wanted anything to do with Physics less than a year ago, so I haven't had much experience, and I can't even take a Physics class in High School... The prerequisite is Chemistry, and I couldn't take Chemistry in 10th or 11th due to certain complications... So.. Yeah, that's basically it.. It's just a whole mess.

All In All, I'm having a tough time learning any Physics on the side, instead of in a classroom.

[Jay-qu]

I dont know what its like where you are from but here you can study physics at university without having done any physics before. The main pre-req is that you know some math

[Erasmus00]

Originally Posted by Kutan

Well, it's not a good direction as of now... It's not really an intro to Quantum Physics

Here is the truth: to really understanding what quantum physics is getting at requires a fairly deep understanding of classical (non-quantum) physics. Because of this, the absolute best place to start is with a really good introduction to mechanics textbook. Kleppner and Kolenkow is the best intro book I know, though its very challenging (though the chapter on 4 vectors in relativity is very outdated.) The goal is to get comfortable expressing ideas with mathematics (particularly calculus). The more comfortable you get, the easier it gets to develop ideas mathematically.
-Will

[koantum]

Two places you may want to give a try:

This Quantum World (the web site)

This Quantum World (the incomplete wikibook)

[Kutan]

Originally Posted by Erasmus00

The goal is to get comfortable expressing ideas with mathematics (particularly calculus).

I think I can take Calculus next year, I guess that would be a good idea?