How can I self study for Engineering?? Suggest me textbooks PLEASE! (1 Viewer)

[shy9488]

Hi all,

I want to become an engineer.
I REALLY DO!! And its because I like!


And I did post this earlier on in another area. So if your are seeing this twice, i'm really sorry.


Anyway, because of the friends I made during the last couple of years (Don't worry I love my friends and I don't blame them for anything)
I got into bad studying habits and didn't study my physics well - AT ALL .

Luckily, my maths and english got me high enough grades to go to uni for an engineering degree. But I really don't want to be 'behind' from the first day since engineering is nearly all about PHYSICS and maths.

Im looking to go to UNSW or USYD. Tough, I know. That's why I want to get prepared before March comes along.

Please suggest me some good 'self-study' based physics textbooks.
I'm currently looking at "Physics for scientist and engineers with modern physics Eighth Edition" by Serway but its also 1440 pages long. I'm not going to be able to digest it! Or even go through it.

So PLEASE!!!!! PLEASE HELP ME!!! RECOMMEND ME SOME GOOD TEXTBOOKS!!!!!

BTW, i'm in canberra, so I can't do bridging courses or summer schools as such.

Thanks in advance for your time! THANKS!!

 

[Shadowdude]

what kind of engineer do you want to be

there's like 500 kinds



also you're not going to behind from day 1, because everyone's in the same boat. and if you start reading random textbooks, you risk learning irrelevant stuff.

you have enough time at uni to actually learn what you have to - so i'm not a big proponent of learning ahead anyway. but if you want to... then to each their own, i guess

 

[shy9488]

what kind of engineer do you want to be

there's like 500 kinds



also you're not going to behind from day 1, because everyone's in the same boat. and if you start reading random textbooks, you risk learning irrelevant stuff.

you have enough time at uni to actually learn what you have to - so i'm not a big proponent of learning ahead anyway. but if you want to... then to each their own, i guess

ok, so i'm interested in mechanical and mechatronics engineering. And i'm not really trying to learn ahead, its more like catching up the work from the last two years...
So nothing specialised that I want to learn, just what we learnt in years 11 and 12.

In that case, do you have any suggestions?

 

[Shadowdude]

Don't learn HSC Physics, it's not going to help you. Might do well to learn maths - relevant maths. Though it depends on what uni you get to - if your goal is to already be comfortable with the content in first year.

Besides, first year maths is just mostly the 3u and 4u courses - if you've done those, just look at that - except Conics, Mechanics, Circle Geometry, and those things. Focus on the algebra and calculus bits of 3u and 4u, I suppose.

 

[brent012]

Besides, first year maths is just mostly the 3u and 4u courses - if you've done those, just look at that - except Conics, Mechanics, Circle Geometry, and those things. Focus on the algebra and calculus bits of 3u and 4u, I suppose.

+1 and i also agree with not touching HSC physics. Btw, this in the wrong section but anyway I made a pretty comprehensive list somewhere but the thread has dissapeared unfortunately. In addition to all the math stuffs i'd suggest you learn Mecahnics (including Free Body Diagrams) as you will encounter them in Physics as well as in Mechanical Eng subjects early on.

 

[someth1ng]

HSC Physics is pretty much a history course through the ages and a teaspoon of physics.

 

[D94]

Please suggest me some good 'self-study' based physics textbooks.
I'm currently looking at "Physics for scientist and engineers with modern physics Eighth Edition" by Serway but its also 1440 pages long. I'm not going to be able to digest it! Or even go through it.

We don't cover every single topic in first year engineering at UNSW. Especially for mechanical engineering, the topics we covered were the mechanics topics, thermal physics and waves/oscillations.

Also, look at Engineering Mechanics: Statics (Meriam and Kraige) and Engineering Mechanics Dynamics (Meriam and Kraige).

 

[shy9488]

We don't cover every single topic in first year engineering at UNSW. Especially for mechanical engineering, the topics we covered were the mechanics topics, thermal physics and waves/oscillations.

Also, look at Engineering Mechanics: Statics (Meriam and Kraige) and Engineering Mechanics Dynamics (Meriam and Kraige).

Thats great thanks I'll look into them

 

[shy9488]

+1 and i also agree with not touching HSC physics. Btw, this in the wrong section but anyway I made a pretty comprehensive list somewhere but the thread has dissapeared unfortunately. In addition to all the math stuffs i'd suggest you learn Mecahnics (including Free Body Diagrams) as you will encounter them in Physics as well as in Mechanical Eng subjects early on.

So for now, I shouldn't worry about catching up on Light or Nuclear and atomic physics yeah?

 

[D94]

So for now, I shouldn't worry about catching up on Light or Nuclear and atomic physics yeah?

Yes, don't cover those topics. In fact, if you're intending on doing mech, then I doubt you'll ever cover those topics. The textbook is for scientists and physicists for almost every main field, so whilst there are 1440 pages in it, you may only ever use 150 pages.

 

[shy9488]

Yes, don't cover those topics. In fact, if you're intending on doing mech, then I doubt you'll ever cover those topics. The textbook is for scientists and physicists for almost every main field, so whilst there are 1440 pages in it, you may only ever use 150 pages.

Oh god, I really needed someone to support me through the idea of not studying EVERYTHING in the book. Great! Then I'll just look at the Newtonian and mechanics physics.