Preparing to study for the Physics GRE
Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:29 pm
I am hoping to take the PGRE in a few months (not April). Although my bachelors is in physics (Maryland, College Park) I have a bit of an atypical background (I was an education track) so I need to learn some new things, as well are review the courses I took as an undergrad. Please help me put together a 'curriculum' of what to study and what resources would be best, given my needs. I already looked through many of the resources on this forum, so I have some ideas of books to get, or books to avoid.
My background:
- I graduated in 2007 so I'm obviously rusty (I got a masters in education in the meantime but that doesn't help much with this)
- As an undergrad I took the intro physics sequence (mechanics, e&m, oscillations), the intro physics lab sequence (three semesters), an intermediate theoretical methods course, upper level e&m, classical mechanics, and quantum mechanics 1
- I did not take statistical thermodynamics, quantum mechanics 2, or advanced laboratory due to my education track (I was busy with education courses and student teaching, etc)
- I did not take electives in modern physics or relativity (both were just barely touched upon in my other classes)
My thoughts on the PGRE:
Classical Mechanics (20%): I already started reviewing this from my intro textbook (tipler). I should be able to brush up on it using my classical mechanics textbook (Taylor)
Electromagnetism (18%): I already started reviewing from my intro textbook (tipler). I should be able to brush up on it using my intro to electrodynamics textbook (Griffiths)
Optics and Wave Phenomena (9%): Other than tipler I'm not sure what I should be studying for this; I may need to get another book/resource
Thermo and Statistical Mechanics (10%): I never studied this in college so I should probably get the textbook for an upper level undergraduate course. I have a list of 22 textbooks that graduate programs often use for this subject, so maybe I should choose one of them.
Quantum Mechanics (12%): I should be able to use my textbook from QM1 (Griffiths) to review this, and learn some QM2 material.
Atomic Physics (10%): I honestly don't know much atomic physics and am not sure how to best to learn/study this.
Special Relativity (6%): This is covered in both Tipler and Taylor so I should be able to study it from what I have.
Laboratory Methods (6%): From my undergrad lab classes I have "A Practical Guide to Data Analysis for Physical Science Students" by Lyons and "An Introduction to Error Analysis" by Taylor. Do I need another resource? I'm not really sure how to prepare for questions on lab methods since I haven't done college labs since approximately 2004-5. I suppose that's where practice test questions can come in handy.
Specialized Topics (9%): I have little familiarity with most of the material covered in this section, according to ETS. Are there any resources that specialize in this material?
Final Thoughts:
I have been teaching AP Physics B so my basic math and science skills should be intact (I do need to study undergraduate mathematical methods, though). In addition to books/resources to fill in the gaps in my knowledge (above) I also need general PGRE materials. Is there a particular book that stands about above the others? From what I've heard new books tend to come out late spring or early summer. Does it make sense to wait until then to get PGRE specific materials?
Thanks in advance. I'll happily answer any questions that make it easier to assist me.
My background:
- I graduated in 2007 so I'm obviously rusty (I got a masters in education in the meantime but that doesn't help much with this)
- As an undergrad I took the intro physics sequence (mechanics, e&m, oscillations), the intro physics lab sequence (three semesters), an intermediate theoretical methods course, upper level e&m, classical mechanics, and quantum mechanics 1
- I did not take statistical thermodynamics, quantum mechanics 2, or advanced laboratory due to my education track (I was busy with education courses and student teaching, etc)
- I did not take electives in modern physics or relativity (both were just barely touched upon in my other classes)
My thoughts on the PGRE:
Classical Mechanics (20%): I already started reviewing this from my intro textbook (tipler). I should be able to brush up on it using my classical mechanics textbook (Taylor)
Electromagnetism (18%): I already started reviewing from my intro textbook (tipler). I should be able to brush up on it using my intro to electrodynamics textbook (Griffiths)
Optics and Wave Phenomena (9%): Other than tipler I'm not sure what I should be studying for this; I may need to get another book/resource
Thermo and Statistical Mechanics (10%): I never studied this in college so I should probably get the textbook for an upper level undergraduate course. I have a list of 22 textbooks that graduate programs often use for this subject, so maybe I should choose one of them.
Quantum Mechanics (12%): I should be able to use my textbook from QM1 (Griffiths) to review this, and learn some QM2 material.
Atomic Physics (10%): I honestly don't know much atomic physics and am not sure how to best to learn/study this.
Special Relativity (6%): This is covered in both Tipler and Taylor so I should be able to study it from what I have.
Laboratory Methods (6%): From my undergrad lab classes I have "A Practical Guide to Data Analysis for Physical Science Students" by Lyons and "An Introduction to Error Analysis" by Taylor. Do I need another resource? I'm not really sure how to prepare for questions on lab methods since I haven't done college labs since approximately 2004-5. I suppose that's where practice test questions can come in handy.
Specialized Topics (9%): I have little familiarity with most of the material covered in this section, according to ETS. Are there any resources that specialize in this material?
Final Thoughts:
I have been teaching AP Physics B so my basic math and science skills should be intact (I do need to study undergraduate mathematical methods, though). In addition to books/resources to fill in the gaps in my knowledge (above) I also need general PGRE materials. Is there a particular book that stands about above the others? From what I've heard new books tend to come out late spring or early summer. Does it make sense to wait until then to get PGRE specific materials?
Thanks in advance. I'll happily answer any questions that make it easier to assist me.