basics of theoretical physics
Welcome! I'm excited to explore the deep, beautiful world of theoretical physics with you. Before we dive into the fundamental laws of the cosmos, I'd love to know a little more about what brings you here so I can tailor our journey perfectly to you.
What is your goal with learning theoretical physics, and what is your current math and physics background?
I'm a beginner looking for an intuitive, conceptual overview without heavy math.
That is wonderful to hear! We're going to keep things completely conceptual, using intuitive analogies, mental models, and real-world examples to unlock these big ideas.
Your path
Classical Mechanics and Field Theory
Electromagnetism and Special Relativity
Quantum Mechanics Foundations
General Relativity and Cosmology
To kick off our journey, let's start with a simple question: what actually is ?
Imagine you are trying to understand a highly complex board game, but you've lost the rulebook. You can't see the rules directly. All you can do is sit back, watch people play, and try to deduce the underlying logic behind their moves.
That's exactly what theoretical physicists do. The board game is our universe, the moves are physical phenomena like falling apples or shining stars, and the missing rulebook is the set of fundamental laws of nature. We build simplified mental maps—or models—to make sense of this complexity.