Physics GRE prep
Summary
TLDRIn this introductory vlog, Robert, a former biological systems engineering and mathematics student turned physics enthusiast, shares his study plan for a physics PhD journey starting in fall 2023. He outlines a weekly vlog series detailing his preparation for the physics GRE, covering topics from classical mechanics to quantum mechanics. Robert plans to use a mix of textbooks and GRE-specific materials, aiming for a 75th percentile score, and promises future content on physics humor, Nobel Prizes, and lesser-known physicists.
Takeaways
- đ Robert, the host, has an undergraduate degree in Biological Systems Engineering and Mathematics but has developed a passion for physics and plans to pursue a PhD in Physics in Fall 2023.
- đ The video is an introduction to a vlog series focused on Robert's study plan and accountability for his upcoming physics journey.
- đ The script outlines a physics theory test that assesses readiness for graduate school in physics, covering nine different sections of undergraduate physics coursework.
- đ Classical Mechanics is a major section of the test, accounting for about 20% of the exam, including topics like kinematics, energy, and oscillatory motion.
- đ§Č Electrodynamics is another significant section, covering electrostatics, currents, DC circuits, and magnetic fields, making up 9% of the test.
- đĄ Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, as well as Quantum Mechanics, Atomic Physics, and Special Relativity, are other sections with varying percentages of the exam content.
- đ Robert plans to study from textbooks and specific materials for the GRE Physics test, including 'Conquering the Physics GRE' and 'GRE Physics Practice Questions'.
- đ Robert's study approach is multi-faceted, involving textbooks, practice exams, and problem sets to build a strong foundation in physics.
- đ With 19 weeks until the exam, Robert has a structured plan that includes weekly practice exams, chapter studies, and continuous review of problem areas.
- đŻ His goal is to reach at least the 75th percentile, with an aspirational target of the 99th percentile on the physics GRE.
- đ After the exam preparation, Robert intends to continue making videos on his channel, including fun physics-related content and biographies of physicists.
Q & A
Who is the speaker of the video script?
-The speaker is Robert, a university individual with a background in biological systems engineering and mathematics who is passionate about physics and plans to become a PhD student in the field.
What is the purpose of the video?
-The purpose of the video is to introduce Robert's study plan and accountability plan for preparing for his physics journey as a PhD student, which includes a weekly vlog discussing his study materials and strategies.
What does Robert plan to study for his physics preparation?
-Robert plans to study various physics topics including classical mechanics, electromagnetism, geometric optics, thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, atomic physics, special relativity, and specialized topics.
What is the format of the physics theory test that Robert is preparing for?
-The physics theory test is designed to assess preparedness for graduate school in physics and consists of nine sections covering typical undergraduate physics coursework, with a total of 100 questions to be completed in approximately three hours.
What resources does Robert mention for studying physics theory?
-Robert mentions using textbooks, GRE Physics practice questions, and a book titled 'Conquering the Physics GRE' as his main study resources.
Which specific textbooks does Robert plan to use for his study?
-Robert plans to use 'Classical Mechanics' by Taylor, 'Introduction to Electrodynamics' by Griffiths, 'Introduction to Quantum Mechanics' by Griffiths, and a textbook by Tucker for statistical mechanics, as well as the Pedrotti cubed book for optics.
How does Robert intend to structure his study sessions?
-Robert intends to study from textbooks, take one practice exam every Sunday, work through a chapter of 'Conquering the Physics GRE' each week, and focus on areas of weakness by working through associated problems.
What is the timeframe for Robert's study plan?
-Robert has about 19 weeks to prepare for the exam at the time of recording the video, and he plans to continue studying and taking practice exams throughout this period.
What are Robert's goals for his performance on the physics GRE?
-Robert's goal is to reach at least the 75th percentile, but he is aiming for the 99th percentile on the physics GRE.
What content does Robert plan to create for his YouTube channel after his study period?
-After his study period, Robert plans to create videos with a different tone, including sillier videos using physics for humor, short bios of Nobel Prize-winning physicists, and brief bios of lesser-known physicists.
Outlines
đ Introduction to the Physics Study Vlog Series
Robert, a university-based science enthusiast with a background in biological systems engineering and mathematics, introduces his new YouTube channel dedicated to his journey towards becoming a physics PhD student. He outlines his plan for a weekly vlog series that will document his preparation for the physics GRE, a test designed to assess readiness for graduate school in physics. The GRE is divided into nine sections, with classical mechanics making up the largest portion at 20%. Robert plans to share materials, study plans, and progress, starting with an overview of the GRE's content and structure.
đ Detailed Study Plan for Physics GRE Preparation
In this paragraph, Robert elaborates on his multifaceted approach to studying for the physics GRE. He mentions using textbooks, GRE-specific materials, and practice exams to build a strong foundation in physics. He highlights two key resources: 'GRE Physics Practice Questions' for warming up and 'Conquering the Physics GRE' for in-depth understanding. Robert also lists the textbooks he plans to study from, emphasizing the importance of comprehension over completion. His study plan includes a 19-week schedule with weekly practice exams, chapter reviews from 'Conquering the Physics GRE,' and targeted improvement in weak areas. He aims for a realistic goal of reaching the 75th percentile, with an aspirational target of the 99th percentile.
đ Future Content and Closing Remarks
Robert concludes the script by discussing his future content plans for the channel, which include lighter, entertaining videos that apply physics concepts to humorous situations, as well as educational shorts on Nobel Prizes and lesser-known physicists. He expresses his passion for physics and the value he sees in the study process, regardless of exam outcomes. The channel will serve as a platform for sharing his love for physics and honoring the contributions of physicists, famous and obscure. He signs off with a peaceful farewell, looking forward to the next video in the series.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄPhysics PhD
đĄVlog Study Plan
đĄClassical Mechanics
đĄElectromagnetism
đĄThermodynamics
đĄQuantum Mechanics
đĄSpecial Relativity
đĄGRE Physics
đĄConquering the Physics GRE
đĄPercentile Ranking
đĄNobel Prizes
Highlights
Introduction to Robert, a university-based science enthusiast with a background in biological systems engineering and mathematics.
Robert's transition from research to a newfound passion for physics and his aspiration to become a physics PhD student in Fall 2023.
The channel's inaugural vlog study plan and accountability series aimed at preparing for a physics journey.
Description of the physics theory test, designed to assess readiness for graduate school in physics with a breakdown into nine sections.
Coverage of classical mechanics, including kinematics, work-energy principles, and oscillatory motion, constituting a significant portion of the exam.
Electromagnetism section overview, encompassing electrostatics, currents, and magnetic fields.
Introduction of geometric optics as part of the exam, with a brief mention of the music in the background.
Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, as well as quantum mechanics, atomic physics, and special relativity, each with specific exam weightage.
Availability of resources such as ISBNs for textbooks and Amazon links to study materials.
Robert's multi-faceted study approach involving textbooks and GRE physics practice questions.
Recommendation of 'Conquering the Physics GRE' as a valuable resource with challenging depth and sample exams.
List of textbooks Robert plans to study from, emphasizing understanding over rote memorization.
Study plan detailing a 19-week strategy leading up to the exam, including weekly practice exams and chapter reviews.
Robert's goal to reach at least the 75th percentile, with aspirations to achieve the 99th percentile on the exam.
Post-exam content plans for the channel, including lighter videos and educational content on Nobel Prizes and lesser-known physicists.
Closing remarks with a sign-off, expressing enthusiasm for the upcoming physics journey.
Transcripts
hello fellow science enthusiasts welcome
to my youtube channel i am robert i'm a
dude that does some science things for
university i did my undergraduate degree
in biological systems engineering and
mathematics but after doing research for
a while i fell in love with a new field
physics
thus i want to become a physics phd
student in the fall of 2023
this will be the first video i post and
it is a vlog
study plan slash accountability plan
uh
that i will be doing in preparation for
the physics journey
which i will be taking this fall
it will be coming out weekly and i will
discuss the things i am doing the
materials i'm studying the general plan
of attack and how i plan to improve
now without further ado
let's
jump into it
uh first let's break down the physics
theory the intent of this test is to
determine your preparedness for graduate
school in physics by testing your
knowledge about the typical
undergraduate physics coursework
this is broken down into
nine sections that i'll cover briefly
the first section will be
classical mechanics uh this will include
kinematics student's law work in energy
oscillatory motion rotational motion you
know all that fun stuff it gets into the
ground genes and hamiltonian formalisms
uh some stuff is not inertial reference
frames
and that's going to be make that's going
to make about 20 of the exam
so it's a big chunk but it's
just your classical stuff you know
the next is going to be electromagnetism
such as electrostatics currents dc
circuits magnetic fields and free space
uh
and the likes of that
objects and wave amount are gonna make
up nine percent
uh
this is going to be mostly geometric
optics um
[Music]
yeah there's then there's going to be
thermodynamics and statistical mechanics
which is going to make up ten percent
uh then you're going to have 12 percent
d
quantum mechanics 10 percent atomic
physics 6
special relativity nine percent
specialized topics which is going to be
just a bunch of assortments of different
things
and down in the link below you'll be
able to find the exact breakdown from
the ets website and i'll provide any of
the resources that i mentioned like
isbns for textbooks that i'm going to be
studying from or like amazon links to
the the books that i'm working through
and i'll keep you guys posted
on how how that goes so
uh
my approach to how i'm going to study
for the physics theory
is going to be
uh multi-faceted
i'm going to be studying from textbooks
and i'm going to be studying from
uh some material that was created
specifically for this uh
the specific material that i'm going to
be looking at for the physician areas
i'm going to be using
this gre physics practice questions it's
got uh six
sample exams
uh and it's got a bunch of
problems for each of the aforementioned
sections
uh it looks like it's going to be
slightly
easier but it's going to be like a good
way to warm up just get my
foundation laid right so i won't expect
this to be an exact replication of what
you're going to see on the exam but i
will be taking the exams and improving
in uh
the areas specified here and
work through the problem sets inside of
this
the next one this one is comes highly
recommended from anything that i've ever
seen you know there's a
plenty of uh
physics
majors phd students and that on the
likes that said that book has had really
helped them and if you go on to any
online forums a lot of them say yes
conquering the physics gre
is a lifesaver if you look at the
reviews on amazon
it looks like it it
it covers uh
things at a slightly
uh more challenging depth and it's got a
three sample exams that i will be going
through and inside of there there's
sections for each of these where they go
over the
the
basics
of
well not not just the basics they try to
give a
a high level overview
of each of the topics um and
so i'll be working through that uh you
know it has three sample exams in the
back and i'll be taking those sample
exams
as i go through it uh they also
recommend some textbooks to study from
themselves uh for each of the sections
and i will
not specifically mention those but i'll
put it down below and there are some
other links that uh could be helpful
this the textbook also or not this
textbook the practice material also has
a section on helpful tips
[Music]
and
special things that you can do
to
more quickly solve the problems because
this is going to be 100 questions in
three hours and that's going to be
a bit difficult you know
so you only have you have a very short
time but anyway
um
it's about three hours i think it's two
hours and 50 minutes
now
for
uh
the
textbooks i'll be working through i will
be working through classical mechanics
by
taylor and m
by uh her introduction to electro
dynamics by
uh griffiths i'm going to be using
introduction to quantum mechanics by
griffiths
uh
for my statistical mechanics i'll be
using a textbook by tucker
uh for optics i'll be using the pedrodi
cubed book although that one seems to be
significantly more comprehensive
than
what is required for the physics theory
but like these textbooks i'm just
studying through
uh
not just for the the
ability to pass this exam right the the
idea is that
uh the material should supplement my
understanding to the point where i could
get a decent grade on it but for the
textbooks i'm going to be working
through i really want to emphasize
uh
understanding i've already been studying
through classical mechanics and
introduction to electrodynamics says
that would make up the biggest portion
of the exam and i don't think that i'll
be able to by september
finish working through each of the
textbooks but that that doesn't matter
right the idea is that i just keep
working through them
so that i can get an understanding of
the material
and
uh understand physics hopefully because
that's that's the end goal you know
regardless of what happens
uh
none of this time will be wasted because
this time will be spent
understanding a subject that i love
here is
the plan
i'm about 19 weeks out
from the exam at the time of recording
this video which is still a far away but
it's
deceptive it's actually a lot closer
than you think you know 19 weeks can fly
by if you don't have a strategy and a
plan to attack it from that
and what i plan to do
just continue studying my textbooks
obviously um
keep working on those
uh
in addition
i will be taking one of the practice
exams
uh every sunday right so i'll start out
with the
easier exams for the exams that i think
might be easier
then i'll find there are a couple of
online
previous exams and there's a practice
exam from ets
uh and i'll also use in front of me the
the sample exams at the back of the
concrete and physics theory
[Music]
and
each week
i will also be working through
a chapter of the conquering physics
theory right so that means that i'll be
reading through the pages
doing the problems from each of the
sections
and
working through that
uh
and
then uh after each of my exams i'm going
to assess what areas i did well in and
which areas i did poorly in
and i will be working through
the associated problems inside
of
not the conquering physics theory but
the
physics theory practice problems because
they have different sections with like
100 problems for
each of the topics and i'll be working
through that and working through their
guided explanations as well
and then if i see significant
improvement
i will look at the next lowest thing on
the exams and
hopefully
i will trend upwards in all of these
exams that i'm taking and i'll continue
to do better and better uh and the goal
or the dream would be to
be able to eke my way into the 75th
percentile
but you know that is
i'll be shooting for
the 99th percentile but
75th is like
i think i can that's that's realistic i
think i could make that
um
and then
uh
you know continue working through the
textbooks like i said
uh at the end of all of these practice
exams i'll be about six weeks out
uh
and yeah so after all of this is done
after all this
large amount of studying is done what i
plan to do is continue making videos on
this channel
um
but
uh it's gonna be it's gonna be a
different tone right uh there's gonna be
sillier videos
uh
where i like i do use physics to come up
with some some funny stuff
uh
and i will also like to make short bios
for
each of the nobel prizes and the
associated physicists
and for certain times of the month or
not certain times certain times of the
year
i would like to make
uh very brief bios
on
uh lesser-known physicists uh you know
who have influenced and helped shape the
the landscape that are
lesser known and there might even be
some contemporary ones in there some
that are still out there practicing
uh but the idea is just to like
go through the history
learn about each of the nobel prizes and
what how they were won and all that kind
of fun stuff and also shed light onto
some great physicists that
don't get recognition for whatever
reason but uh
yeah uh and until next time
peace
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