More Money or Interest?

Received an email a while back and now I'm posting this. 

Good evening,

How are you doing? Alvin Poh Leong Ann here... My apology for the late reply and for all the trouble caused. Yes, I do have a rough idea of it now. Recently I was away very often. I had attended several orientations organized by the Engineering Faculty and the NUS MSL. I’m glad I have read your blog. It gave a better insight of the Physics programme in NUS.

As mentioned earlier, I intended to further my studies in Physics however I’m offered to study Electrical Engineering instead. I would like to inquire, are there many differences between them? Are there more research and academic enhancement programmes such as the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme in Science (UROPS) and Special Programme in Science (SPS) for students who opt to do a Science degree? I have read about the SPS. Is it a recommended programme for research students? Engineering students wouldn’t be able to join, right?  I come to realize the Summer Programmes for NUS Science Students include many research orientated places in the prestigious university around the world, isn’t it?

I’m offered to do EE with a scholarship. I’m uncertain whether the switching of courses is allowed. I do understand that taking a double major is different. However, do you think is advisable? I inquired about it through a senior during my orientation. He did mention in such cases, students will have to overload each semester with more modules.

My main interest lies in the field of energy, particle and nuclear physics. When I was young, I aspire to be part of CERN research team despite the fact that it is quite farfetched. Anyhow, I’m uncertain of how to even get there. Being in EE, do I lack a lot academically? Will it be a disadvantage for me? It is most appealing to me that the Centre of Quantum Technology is affiliated to NUS. However, does it only involve Physics students in NUS?

Besides, are you graduating soon? Will you be doing your graduate studies? Will you be around in NUS?

I’m glad to meet you. Recent years not many students from Malacca High School are studying in NUS. You have been very helpful. Thank you very much!

Have a nice day! =)

My reply:

 Cool. Good that you've known MSL.

First off I would like to say that even Engineering Science studies nothing close to what we pure science students do, much less Electrical Engineering. From what limited experiences I had in USP about EE is that it mainly focuses on manipulation of electrical fields, wiring, etc...go google it. It's a bit boring to me. And nowhere close to the field of energy, particle and nuclear physics. So a double major is not a replacement for a pure major in Physics.

Only thing that you might get closer to Physics is to do the France Double Degree Program. It's extremely prestigious and hard. Full of pure maths and then physics and you'll have to learn them in France. It's open to Physics, Maths and Engin students. You'll spend your Saturdays studying with these people, and mainly become a study machine. For 1 and a half year from sem 2 onwards. Then 2 years in France and back for masters. But I'm not sure if you're going to study the same thing as a pure Physics student over there.

Secondly, SPS is not something to overlook here. It's only for Science students, it's tough, it's designed for research students and although I haven't described it fully in my blog yet, it's the main thing in Uni that I am glad to have and never regretted. In fact, I'm in SPS room writing to you right now. Summer Programmes, ya, lots of cool places to go to. See my Imperial experiences. I do believe there's a similar programme for Engin students, focusing on Engin stuffs. Go find out.

Third, Scholarship. Now the money factor comes in.
If you're an idealist, you'll switch to Science, no matter what it cost and will follow your passion to the end.
If you're a realist, then here's the deal: if you're so desperate for Physics as to want to turn down this Scholarship, you'll have to have loans. Assuming you'll already have Tuition Grant, so locked in Singapore for 3 year after graduating. Tuition Fee Loan, Study Loan, Student Assistant Loan. Amongst the 3 of them, you'll cover the tuition fees, Accommodation and might need a bit of money for food and others. (I don't buy books or printer, so I save from there.) The occasional Summer trips, Global Programmes, Summer Programmes, you'll either have to find the ones that gives you net money (i.e. you work there), or you'll have to ask from your parents. (about $900 for most of them, once a year.) Or you can just do a part time job. It's not that hard to work and study at the same time. There's demo lab, and SPS Mentor (year 3 and 4 only), and Physics lab (year 4 only), and others. Or summer internship etc....
And most of all, after graduating, the interest will start to count and you'll have to pay all the loans back. To make it comfortable, you'll have to pay more than 3 years. That's what I'm in now. But it's ok for me, I'll just continue paying it using my PhD. Scholarship, when I get it. You'll be poorer than most of your peers, but if you're pursuing further studies... then there's not much difference anyway, you'll stay poor until you graduate from PhD.
Overall, this is not a small factor to discount. It's your life: compromise your passion for money, or money for passion. Your choice. Your parents and family will prefer if you chose the first one. My style is the second one.
Fourth, there's no way in NUS, even in Engineering Science that you'll get a good exposure to the field of energy, particle and nuclear physics if you choose Engin. Ok you can always self study or take the France thing. Ok, just ask my friends over there. You can take mostly Physics over there, including things like energy, mostly about nuclear, environment friendly energy and management stuff. But it's not guaranteed that you'll get into a School. It's hard to get in and it's harder than SPS. And you've to be super intelligent with good CAP in your first sem to get invited to the programme. And super hardworking for the next 1 and a half years.

Fifth, to get to CERN, they need technicians and physicists too. So as an EE you can go there too! Just visit their website, build up your profile, etc, apply there....Just that you might have to do maintenance stuffs more than the real Science. But there's no guarantee that you'll make a better Physicists too, cause research is not really as cool as in Iron Man 2. To do what Tony Stark can do, go Engin. Research in CERN mostly involves analyzing whole chunks of data, not as exciting as they show in the movies. In EE, you know you can't do theoretical Physics then (see the unless above). But if you do theoretical Physics, you don't need to go to CERN, you can do it anywhere. CQT works with people from Computer Science too, to get a different perspective. If you go for Physics major, you'll most likely end up here, at least for a short while. I'm going to be here for 3 years.

That's about all. I really can't decide for you, so I hope I made this email not too bias either way. You'll have to decide for yourself and try not to get influenced by the tone of the email but rather consider the facts and make the choice that your heart tells you to make. Or your logical mind. You see, I'm still mixing up the tones here.

I later found out that his Scholarship allows him to change the faculty if he wants, but he prefers Engin, and not a fan of too many maths he sees in Physics. So he's doing Engin now. 

But anyway, food for thought. What's your choice? More Money or Interest?

NUS Module Review: PC4245 Particle Physics

Description:	This is an introductory course on the fundamental constituents of matter and their basic interactions; important concepts and principles, recent important experiments, underlying theoretical tools and calculation techniques in elementary particles physics will be expounded. The topics covered are: basic properties of elementary particles and the standard model, relativistic kinematics; symmetries: isospin and SU(3), quark model; parity and CP violation; Feynman diagrams and rules; quantum electrodynamics; cross sections and lifetimes: deep inelastic scattering; and introductory gauge theories and unified models. This module is mainly targeted at physics majors.
Credits:	4
Workload:	3 lecture hours per week 1 tutorial hours per week 0 lab hours per week 1 hours for projects, assignments, fieldwork etc per week 5 hours for preparatory work by a student per week 10 Total

Personal Experience:
I feel like catching up finally to the frontier of physics 30 years back, but to catch up those 30 years requires really speciallisation in this area. I like the way Feymann make his rules about how QED works... And you don't need QED to know this module.... it's not too applied Physics either, you need to apply the theory to get to deduce from new theories+ experimental facts to find out the Standard Model..... A very cool module I say! A must take for anyone serious in Theorectical Physics (and in uniting the quantum and the gravity).

Teaching Staff:
A very nice and patient Prof. Dr. Teo Kian Boon is. You might get lost in his speed but be sure to catch him and tell him to go slow if that happens and you are lost. But to be able to cover so much in one module is just plain amazing!

Workload:
Same as almost all level 4 Physics Theory modules, it covers the tutorials in class and have 2 term test each 15% and a 70% final term test. It's bearable but beware of the heavy tutorials, and make sure you do it to get good grades in the term tests. Just read, understand, and do then you should get an A.

Content:
Quite heavy in Maths and Problem solving, but also essential for any good foundation in Particle Physics, after this course, you can read the graduate Particle Physics and Electroweak theory, Higgs Mechanism etc.......(which was covered briefly)....

Physics in NUS part 2

Today I got an email like this:

I was wandering on the Internet and found your blog. I see you're a physics major at NUS, so I guess maybe you can help me with these questions as I'm pretty baffled about physics at NUS. Would you, please?

- What is the forte of NUS Physics department? (Quantum I guess, because I see a lot of researches done in this field)
- What about the research opportunity available in those fields?
- And how about the physics professors at NUS and the learning environment?

I would appreciate it very much if you help me with those questions. Thank you.


And I replied:

Hi,

Sorry but before giving my opinion, can you please give me some relevant info about yourself? This is for me to create some more personalized advice instead of the generic ones you can find in my blog.

1. Are you planning to come to NUS for undergrad study or grad study?
2. Which country are you from?
3. What's your interest in Physics? Theory? Applied? Which field? Comology? Quantum? or just not yet decided? (it's ok to be undecided yet)
4. What other University are you considering other than NUS?
5. When are you coming in NUS if you decide to come? This coming academic year 2010/11 or the next?
   
6. Have you read this page? http://ngxinzhaomonk.blogspot.com/2010/02/physics-at-nus.html

Thanks for reading my blog.

And I got back the reply:

1 - I'm coming to NUS this year for undergrad study. Actually I was accepted to Electrical Engi. (because it's my first choice when I applied), but it's just a pragmatic choice and unsuitable to me (I know it for sure, but it's still a practical choice), so I'm considering to switch my major to physics. At least, I know I love physics. Besides I got a scholarship from NUS so there won't be anything distracting me. I'm quite sure that NUS will consider my request to change course, as my interviewer in the scholarship interview told me so.
2 - I'm from Vietnam. Vietnamese physics major at NUS is quite rare, right?
3 - Undecided I guess. But not applied physics certainly as I tend to like pure physics things. The 2 things most appealing to me right now are Quantum Physics and Cosmology.
4 - The other one is NTU. Actually there were more, but I gave up on them due to my financial need.
5 - Yes, AY 2010/2011, starting in August 2010, which means I have 2 months to decide.
6 - Yes. But (sorry for saying this) I found it quite generic. I mean, most info can be found on the website.

And then I replied again:


Xin Chao,

Haha, thanks for telling me that, I do enjoy studying physics here.

1. I'm glad you choose physics over engin (me too!)
2. You can say so, about 2% or less of the people in Physics is from Vietnam.
3. Me too!
4. I don't know much about physics NTU, so can't say much on that, but I still think (bias due to me being in NUS) that NUS physics is better!
5. Ok, hope to see you as a junior.
6. Yes, it's ok, I refered to the website while making it. At least it brought you to email me.
   

- What is the forte of NUS Physics department? (Quantum I guess, because I see a lot of researches done in this field)

Yes, there's also a lot of other directions in applied physics, in cosmology it is not strong here, but things are getting brighter as they just introduced a new module "Cosmology" last semester (I'm taking it next year)

- What about the research opportunity available in those fields?

All fields, so far that I see (quantum, applied, cosmo) have some students doing research in it. Even theorectical black holes! (by Prof. Edward Teo, student of Stephen Hawkings, was my group's supervisor) It's just that sometimes people tell you it's weak or strong in it only reflects the number of students (and profs) that are doing research in this field. Let that not bother you, more people in one field means more help you can find, less means less competition you'll face.
Besides, you're only here for undergrad study, so relax on the research part first. Did you know about SPS? I highly recommend it to you. Oh and undergrad here doesn't mean grad study here, although the 3 year bond is kinda tricky and hard to go around.

- And how about the physics professors at NUS and the learning environment?

I don't know about other Universities, sorry can't compare. But there are a few very good lecturers here, this doesn't mean that the rest are bad, some are good some are bad, it's the same in all Uni I believe. The learning environment? I'm not so sure, I heard the others around me say that NUS is very stressful...... I'm playing games most of the time.....lol. Anyway, it'll likely be tougher than your high school, so don't be cocky if you're good at physics, you still need to work hard. Anyway I'm in SPS room most of the time, and the people there are like my family away from home, so I can destress there.

Year 1 physics is boring here, you can go read year 2 stuffs then, or have more time to enjoy other aspects of Uni life (CCA).
Year 2 physics really need understanding to score.
Year 3 physics is nice and challenging, lots of maths and concepts.
Year 4 physics is like upgraded year 3 physics, challenging and fun.

Anyway for me, doing physics is understanding. The practical way I know of to do the exam is to do past year papers to prepare oneself. Nothing disappointing there I think. Cheatsheet is a good bonus that some of the lecturer let us bring during exam. Maybe that's another practical way.

Oh and to introduce myself, I'm a year 2 physics major from Malaysia in SPS, USP and double major in Maths. And unless you're like me or better that takes so many modules in a semester, there's definately enough time to understand Physics.

There's a Research Centre of Excellence just for Physics,
http://www.quantumlah.org/
And it's expensive, so I don't think that Singapore doesn't care about physics!


Lastly can I publish some of the advices here to my blog? I haven't updated it for so long now. Thanks!

Physics At NUS!

The Department of Physics in NUS http://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/

After going through the website, perhaps you'll like to have some insider information. Starting with the diversity of the modules here, from Relativity, to Biophysics, you can find many physics modules over at NUS Physics Department. There's Particle Physics, Cosmology, Solid State, Remote Sensing, Thin Film Techonology, Photonics, Nanophysics, and various others. Just look at the map below.

And not to mention there's the Centre of Quantum Technology over here! CQT is a very highly funded department concentrating on quantum research. So the undergraduates can do their UROPs (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Programme) under one of the Profs there, like what I'm doing now. This means that you can do 2 research in your 4 years of undergraduate life! The other research being your Honours Project that you'll take up for 1 year in your final year here. If you don't want a Honours Degree, then you can just study for 3 years here.

If however you're the research, destined to be a graduate student guy..... then you should join in the SPS (Special Programme in Science) where you'll get a chance to do one more research topic compared to your peers. And there's always a high concentration of Physics Majors in SPS, so you can enjoy each other's company and (some cool seniors) over here in this multidisiplinary-student-run-research-programme.

If you're more multi-disiplinary than just being in Science, then you can join in the University Scholars Programme where fewer physicist are present but many other people from all over the university are. Being in both SPS and USP also serves to double or triple count some of the modules. Oh, and being in USP means you can be the fully study type, no CCAs and get to stay in PGP for 4 years! Only set back is that you'll have to take some arts module that you can't S/U.

Anyway, back to physics, there's the Physics Society that is composed of very nice people and very nice activities. Just be one of the Management Committee and you can stay in the Physoc room and do your homework there! (for me it's SPS room, and for only USP people it's Chatterbox)

It's really convinent having a secure place to study in between lectures. Other than these, you can study at the Physics Lounge at the Year 1 lab, where the Physics library is located. Yes! a library just full of physics books, (SPS got all sorts of Science books, and so does NUS libraries). And then you can get a part time job at the demo lab where you'll inspire the younger generations towards science. And also there're various labs over here, graphene lab, advanced battery lab, Quantum Optics Lab, just check the website.

Last but not least, there's a lot of Science lunch time talks and Physics Departmental Teas (every friday at 4p.m.). There's also the CHIP and Germany Immersion Trip, where the trip to China or German is subsidised by the Physics Department. I'm going for CHIP. That all for now Thank you. Leave a comment for any questions.

P.S. Ok I just thought of other programmes that can interest you. There's a minor in Nanotechnology, minor in biophysics, and Physics major can second major in Mathematics, or Biology, or Chemistry, or something else, or you can even use your free modules (if you don't wanna minor or second major, or SPS or USP....) for level 5 physics graduate modules!

Other than that, there's the SEP, Student Exchange Programme, where one goes to another University to study for 1 or 2 semesters, the Summer Programme, where one makes use of the 12 weeks or 5 weeks holiday to study overseas (or in NUS), and Caltech SURF, where one uses the 12 weeks holidays to go to Caltech (there's one for MIT, and other Universities too) to do a research internship.

Well you can try to take up as many of the above as possible to make your stay in NUS more fulfilling. There're some headway like
For me I'm in SPS, USP, double major, Physics and Mathematics.
There's also 2 more people that take SPS and French Double Degree Programme.

Talking about Double Degree Programmes, there's plenty of them, the most prestigious one is French Double Degree Programme in engineering diploma (=masters) and masters in Science, where you study 2 years in NUS, learning French along the way, and then 2 years at French Ecole Polytechniqe, then 1 year masters in NUS. Next comes the NUS-ANU double degree, one has to join in USP and SPS and then study 1.5 year in NUS, 1.5 year in

Australian National University

, and then final year in NUS to get double degree in Philosophy and Science. And then there's the

Physics and Materials Science & Engineering Double Degree Programme

Where one can study for 5 years in NUS to get 2 degrees!

Ok, the double degrees Programmes are ussually very time consuming, and therefore it is only possible to take either one of them only and they ussually can't go for SEP, Summer Programme, etc......(for the ones that go to Australia and French)

So take your pick and whatever you do, do it well!

Make War or Make Love with Exams? (18SX) Bewarned

I've just realized, after watching Universal Soldier: Regeneration, how violent I am......... towards my academics that is.

I was imagining me beating up Physics, my modules one by one and other commitments like how the Universal Soldier is. Just unmercifully, ruthlessly, and using brute force. I think it somehow kinda linked with how some people say exam warfare. That we, as students have many wars to go, the biggest ones are the Final exams! And that we'll survive through the war, just as a hero or as a wounded soldier, it all depends on our preparations. And as a hero will receive a good reward: high pay, and a wounded soldier has to live his life dealing with his deformations.

It started since we were in UPSR, PMR, SPM, STPM.... and Uni life and so on....there's only so many wars one can go through in one's life without getting disinterested in it, disliking it, and even hate it! No wonder there are some people want to go work early, and no wonder the majority of the people regard graduate students as insane people. And no wonder PhD=permanent head damage. The problem of calling exams as wars is that that will cause people to take up the attitude of a soldier, we don't have to like what we study, as long as we master the enemy (study) , we know the battle field (exam techniques), and keep a cool head (calm), we'll ace this thing.

And thereafter the society clamors for straight As student, feed-backing to them that exam is everything in a student's life. "You don't have to love the subject, just be good in the subject. You can hate it, you can make your life miserable, just get me As in the exams." That's what students in general got from their parents, teachers, friends.......

All these I denounce!

There's a better way! To make love with the things that you're studying with, whether you choose the subject for yourself or not. Imagine this: you're given a wive and many mistress to sleep with (sorry male domination here, if you're female please imagine the opposite like having many husbands etc... and if you're uncomfortable with this kinda topic, pick something you like, for example: video games) . You naturally wanted to know more about everyone of them, if possible everything about them. How to court them, how to make them happy, what they look like, what's in their wardrobe? What kind of clothes they like to wear? How to think like them?

You want to love them, to care for them, and finally when the Finals comes, you're going to have sleep with them. So that's when you know what to say during the intercourse, what to do and what not to do, what to think of and how to relate to them. Because you know them before hand (Study), and you practiced with them a few times (Exam techniques), and you keep a cool head because you know what to do.

I'm sure it's easy to translate the above to video games, or comic readings, or paintings or just about any other skills. I just choose the making love thingy to attract more readers. Please note that I'm in no way promoting sexual activities or sleeping with more than one person at a time literally. You got to read it beyond the meanings and see the connections towards changing your feelings towards studying.

And now that you get the idea, you can start to change your attitude towards the subject your studying now. Love them, by liking them first. Like them, by not disliking them. Not dislike them by not hating them. Not hating them by using the technique I highlighted above.

And so I finally know why my wive, Physics, been ignoring me for so long, and why I don't get the passion of learning physics that much anymore. I got to start to care for her, love her, look at her in the eye and fall in love once again, and not strike her anymore. So whenever you think of your work, job, studies, and you feel like another sigh coming through, and another burst of energy to go through it, Stop. Stop and spread loving-kindness to the job, work, subject at hand then. Stop and see it in a different light, stop disliking them, start liking them, start loving them. And see the change.

P.S. Opps, just realized that I may have introduced to many a young students the world of 18SX...... but I think it is still healthy to them. In fact it can be said as the most healthy of them all!

Time management 2

And here's a tip on how I do my flexible time table to help me cut down on the time spend slacking. Since I hear you guys keep on asking how do I do 7 and a half modules and be active in CCA? I take a diary (NUS diary works just fine) with the dates and divide them up into 4 sections, (you can vary if you want to) the 4 sessions in my current version are: CCAs or Spirituality(like writing this email), Relationship or talking to people non-CCA related, Things to do to survive (Sleeping, eating, bathing,travelling, going to the toilet), and working (studying!, lecture, lab, tutorials, projects, programming, report rushing, etc...). You can put in a special session on the activity that you find is most time consuming and you want to consciously reduce. (I used to divide up the Things to do to survive into sleeping, travelling, and the eating, toilet part). I put a stroke of 15 minutes into one of the things that I've done every few hours. So if I studied for 2 hours, it's 5+3 strokes. And to time yourself, you can set a maximum strokes in one of the sessions there. Say you sleep for too long (10 hours) and you then aim to put in only 8 hours of sleep, so you plan everything in a day carefully and see to it that you sleep less than 8 hours to ensure that study time is not reduced. Or you keep on talking to friends after lunch, so that a 15 minute lunch becomes 1 hour. Or that you keep on looking in the mirror, and a 15 minute bathing becomes 1 hour...... Save all this time to aim for at least 8-9 hours of studying per day, (56-63 hours per week, just nice) and reward yourself everytime you finished a 2 hour lecture by putting in the 8 strokes. Motivate yourself to do better today than yesterday, root out anytime you find you want to slack by saying to yourself that can fill in today's quota and then at night I can go for CCA activities! Anyway, whether your quota is filled or not come to CCA activities, then mug after the activity with a refreshed mind. And if you plan on going out in the weekends, make sure that you shift the jobs to more study per weekday. At the end of one week , you can proudly show your friends that you've studyied for 50-70 hours per week, and still have time for CCA activities! (One week is 168 hours.)

A levels Student to get to represent Malaysia

Darren

hi!

22:05Ng

i

hi

22:05Darren

chat here la

erm

i not sure whther to do engineering or physics

take form six or go private college

22:06Ng

you going to take SPM?

22:06Darren

yes

http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/~ipho/SecondaryIndividual2009.htm

i wonder how only can represent malaysia

need take form 6 a?

private college can?

22:10Ng

I don't think they will source for private ones, btw, one of the conditions to join International Olympiad is that you're not a college student

22:12Darren

what?

means let say workshop for physics is on april

jan i start college

then cannot represent malaysia?

22:13Ng

ya

I think they mean college in the sense of University

but it's safer to go to form 6

If you want to represent Malaysia

22:16Ng

and you'll have to bug your physics teacher/ principle/ state ministry of education officer to see if the "Malaysian Physics Society?" will want to source for any outstanding physics student to select for training

in short, it's hard to get in there.

lol

but have no fear, I believe you've read my blog, just try out some form 6 physics now and test yourself, see if you will like it

22:17Darren

izit?

i not even finish spm

22:17Ng

or are you interested in bio olympiad, or math, or chem

22:17Darren

no

only physics

22:17Ng

if you want to be regarded as extraordinary, be extraordinart

22:20Darren

meaning?

no la, if have to do form 6 to represent malaysia then i may give up on it

to me get into a good university in US more important

22:21Ng

Ok

if you're extraordinary it doesn't matter where you go

22:22Darren

lol

i like us system

22:22Ng

if you want to be good, you'll have to take extra initiative

I'm not saying that A levels student can't represent Malaysia

take initiative to ask the people who are responsible to sent the teams

and argue with them etc....

I mean reason with them

Anyway you'll only have to take the National Physics competition to know your standard

if you're the first in the nation, then you're qualified enough to go to an Ivy League Uni, but it is not a sufficient condition.

Hey do you mind if I put this in my blog? I never talked about a levels student getting to IPhO before.

22:27Darren

i sure wont mind

22:27Ng

Thanks

Darren

then how only sufficient to get into ivy league

phya

i may need some funds

jpa got for cornell harvard and princeton

those tghat aregood for engineering la

but mitt is best

so i dunno which to go

22:29Ng

CCA good, good english, and good essay

22:29Darren

all i average lor, depends on how they look at it

22:30Ng

optional but good are job experiences, research, inventing, etc...

be a president for one club is better than a member for 10

22:30Darren

i got vice president only

22:31Ng

you don't pretend to be humble with me lah

lol

you must show all your stuffs in the applications

well, good luck in applying to US anyway, it's the toughest application ever!

22:37Darren

haha

i got one fren in cornell

do physics

he got gold medal two years ago

ok thank you

22:38Ng

ok welceome

22:38Darren

can i ask you bout physics question lol

22:38Ng

don't expect a good answer

but ok

22:39Darren

1st is why use plastic container then the food keep warm longer than metal

how has this got to do with specific heat capacity

22:39Ng

Plastic compared with?

22:40Darren

metal

22:40Ng

it's conductivity

metal conducts heat faster than plastic, so food get cooler faster

for equations you better add me in msn

22:46Darren

added u d

has conductivity have antything to do with specific heat capacity

22:49Ng

You cqan find in thermodynamics in gooodle

google

it's all in the structure of the material

what type is it?

etc

a lot of solid state physics, thermodynamics, and material science

22:59Darren

so nth to do with specific heat capacity

?

that's one of my exam questions

ask us explain why curry in clay pot better than metal

supose to talk bout keep warm longer lol

23:02Ng

cause metal conducts heat faster than clay pots.

23:04Ng

and clay pots have high heat capacity, meaning that if the temperature outside is very cold, it takes a longer time for the average temperature of the clay to drop since the amount of heat required to dissipitate for temperature drop is very high

big

23:06Darren

nono

23:06Ng

you should just ask the question straight, so that I know what the situation is all about. Instead of turning one full round

23:06Darren

that wan maybe the question

23:06Ng

no what?

23:07Darren

but i wan compare if both the clay pot and metal pot at room temprature

if u cook with it then ok i accept clay pot keep warm longer

but if u put it in clay pot after u cook it

will it still longer?

23:08Ng

it takes lots of heat to heat up the clay and a longer time. But I'm not sure about the heat capacity of the metal

the immediate effect i think is more on the conductivity rather than heat capacity

23:15Darren

oo

Books for QM?

Hi there, my name is Alvin. I'm a 17 year old student from Ampang, Selangor, Malaysia. I have a great deal of interest in physics especially concerning Quantum Mechanics. I had been reading many physics books like Richard Feynman's the character of physical law, Fabric Of the Cosmos by Brian Greene, A brief history of time and so on. But I can only dream about all this without knowing all of the stuffs like QM and Relativity. So I would want to take the initiative to learn. I would like to ask if you have any suggestions of textbooks on the most basic and fundamentals of QM ? And afterwards the kind of books proceding from that ? And also what are the preparation on the knowledge that I must have before learning QM ? Something like Pre-QM. (form 5 work ?)

Thank you.


http://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/~phyebg/index.php?page=LQM

Here I believe the three books in this website are useful. After you finished them off, you'll be as knowledgable in QM as most physics undergrad in their 4th year. Well to tell the truth, you'll find them boring and totally unrelated to what you read on those popular books. The maths will be unfamilar to you and hard too unless you learn linear algebra.

And for your Pre-QM stuffs, I would recommend "30 years that shook physics" by George Gamov as a begining popular text (since you're fond of them) to get you familar with the history of QM. Then I can only say, read form 6 text book, the part that you'll know is important from your QM history background. Then read a University Physics Textbook. These kind of text books are thick and only usable for 1st years. However, to save some money, don't buy the thick University textbook, go for modern physics, the front few pages describes relativity and the rest are QM and it's implications.

So now I have provided some guidelines and key words. To show your initiative to learn, it's up to you to be resourceful enough to google them and find those books. And I think there are ebooks too, so try looking for the free books online before spending most of your savings buying a book.

And don't give up too soon if you find that you're stuck. Go slower and give yourself time to learn. Hope to see you in this field in the future. Meanwhile keep me posted if you got any difficulty.

How to score full As in STPM

I had been asked this kind of questions quite often. Now other than the material available in the labels of Helpful advice on academic stuffs, I think I shall make up some more on STPM, straight As stuff. But be warned, most of the stuffs here you should already know, so don't expect a secret formula here. This is kinda like kung fu panda if you know what I mean. It's a bit sarcastic here, I hope you don't mind.
Disclaimer: even if you somehow managed to follow all these advices, there is no guarantee of 4 flat. More importantly is you do your best, then whatever results you get, be contented.

1. If you don't mind having only 4 subjects, don't take 5. It's a risk. But if you're as hard headed as me or already taken it, then do your best. But don't worry anyway, even if you miss out on 1 subject out of 5, you still can get 4 flat, unless the subject is PA. Like what I missed.
2. Don't take Further Maths. It's a hard to score subject, and too little people in Malaysia take it, mostly the ones who consider themselves the smartest in their school or one of the smartest. So I need not say more, but if this is your 5th subject, then concentrate on the other subjects(to get 4 flat) if you find that you won't get A in this, but at least make some effort not to fail it. However if you're also one of those who consider yourself a maths genius, be my guest, take it. Here's the blog to read if you do take it:  http://furthermathematicst.blogspot.com/
3. Don't play the fool. Yes you can be active in CCA(co-curicular activities), but don't spend all day not studying. Ya, the most basic way of scoring, study more hours per day! Do your homework in school, during recess, whenever you can, do extra exersices, ask your teacher things you don't understand..... do I need to continue? Of course, if you're like me, who thinks that homework is a waste of time and don't do the extra self exercise, and going online everyday, then...umm.... make sure you score in your monthly tests.
4. Don't spend all day looking for job/uni/doing extra stuffs for your uni applications. Ya, devote your life to studying. If you think form 6 is a store house for studying, you aint seen Uni yet. But of course this is a unreasonable thing to ask of you.
   What for you want to get 4 flat? to get into uni of course. But if you aim for local uni, just do your CCA, if you aim for MIT, just do your essay now, if you aim for NUS, then....umm..... get good result. If you aim for outer univer, Ivy leagues, then find a job, do extra stuff, join competition in thing you are good in until the highest level you can. National, International..... train hard. Get king scout, get black belt........ all these....
5. Don't spend unnessary time having a boyfriend/girlfriend. Most likely you two are not going to the same Uni or same course. ( If you are, then congrats, you're an ideal pair) However if you already got one.... then manage your time well. Oh and be prepared for break ups, especially around the time of exams. So one way to avoid this is to agree to break up now and reunite after exam (warning: possible passion reduction after long time no see each other.)....... Ok perhaps it's not nice to tell people to break up. But anyway, you're lucky to have one.
6. Don't make an enemy in classes. you're going to spend around 30 hours per week in class, studying. So make sure you don't have someone you dislike in class. It's bad for your mental balance. and you might not absorb what the teacher is saying. However if you already have one, agree to make peace. And see a psychologist if you still can't stand his sight. Don't be too alarmed to do that, I did it too believe it or not.
7. Go for some International Olympiads. Search the net for them and go through my blog for them. The contacts should be within your reach if you're serious enough to google it. Oh no.... this has nothing to do with scoring full As. Ok so don't go (to get more study time). But be aware that you're missing a very beautiful experience.
8. On study places, if you're in Malacca, go to Tzu Chi, at RM5, you can sit there all day doing your work and enjoying your tea. No food there through, so be prepared. Or more popularly, study at your home, you room or anywhere you can sit for hours on end and keep on having the mood to study.
9. On studying with whom.... I'll say your friends of course. Go for some group study. That is a bunch of friends studying at a certain place where everyone is comfortable and can study continously for at least 5 hours. But if you're not with your friends, then study alone.
   It's not a crime, unlike shopping alone, which I don't think is a crime too. Oh ya, choose your friends properly, those who talk non-stop when in a group are to be avoided. Ideally it should be everyone doing their own work and anyone got a question can rise it up and the whole group or whoever's listening can think can contribute to the discussion. 10 minutes later, it should be back to individual studies.
10. Read some books on how to study. It's plentiful and contains all the nessary and basics skills on studying. I'm getting lazy here trying to explain the basics to you, but just that if you don't know them, then you shouldn't be here(taking STPM that is).
11. Don't waste time, do some reading in your car, bus, train...etc. And ok Now I can't take it........ Just use common sense and study. Ok, good luck!

For those living in Petaling Jaya/ KL/ Selangor nearby Petaling Jaya area, and wishes to have me as your Physics tuition teacher for STPM/ A levels/ any English Pre-U course, you can email me at ngxinzhaomonk@gmail.com to get my whatsapp and we can discuss further. My rates are RM 100 per hour, minimum 2 hours per session per week for individual visits. For group tuition at my home, the rate is RM 50 per hour, time wise is the same, minimum class size: 5. So spread the word if you wish to have enough to set up a class. Available from Aug 2018-Dec 2018. Thanks! 

Time Management

For the last few analysis of what I did during the last few weeks, I paste here the methods that I used to achieve it. I hope every one can benifit from this.

living which includes eating, drinking, toilet, bathing in another section

The situation is that I studied for 73 hours last week and it impressed J, so she asked me how I did it. I told her that I keep a notebook to put some strokes everytime I do something for 15 minutes per stroke. There are 6 sections in my timetable and the first one was sleeping, the second, living, that is eating, bathing, toilet, brushing teeth. and the third is:

03:56Ng

travelling, that means walking to class, anytime you're in a car or bus, or simply exercising in a third one

03:58Ng

Lectures including studying, homework anything that you do in academic, including studying with friends, doing report, project, lab, online assignment, tutorial, you get the idea

then CCA, for co-curicular activities, that means the time you need to commit to do CCA

J:

WAT IS CCA?

OOO..

co curricular activities

04:00Ng

and Playing at last, which includes everything else, watching anime, waste time talking to friends, go shopping, colour your hair, lol, and party!

lol

put whatever you need to reduce in playing

then divide your time into stokes, last time I used 24 minutes as 1 stroke

and then 1 day got 60 stroke to do

J

BUT.. I SERIOUSLY WONDER Y U CAN SLEEP ONI 4HOURS A DAY?? IF U R SLEEPY N TIRED, U HAVE NO MOOD TO STUDY OSO

HMMM..

HMMM..

04:02Ng

well, I did had a few 6 hours, and one 17 hours sleep during last weekend

J

OOO..

04:03Ng

oh ya, divide the number of strokes accordingly

then bring along the note book and a pencil whenever you go

and record them as often as you can remember what you did.

I'm using 15 minutes per stroke now

J

OOO..

OK

04:04Ng

and devoting 55 strokes to lectures

per day

J

I WIL TRY TO USE UR METHOD

04:04Ng

ok yu

ty

tell me if it works

J

HAHA

04:05Ng

oh ya the main thing is to be flexible

J

OK SURE

=)

THC A LOT

04:05Ng

start small then slowly increase the number of lecture hours

welcome

and do some analysis every week

see what is obtructing you from your goal

J

OK

=)

I WILL TRY TO DO TAT.. =)

04:07Ng

ty

lol

I developed this system for PMR

and used it for STPM too.

The thing about it is that I managed to watch movies, animes, play games, go to buddhist activity and learn martial arts despite studying 73 hours per week, so she wanted to learn it. And I hope this helps for those desparate ones out there.

Realised, Awaken, and Understood.

8 months ago I meet Prof. Edward to ask for special seating of a test to skip the first year modules. However, I was rejected. The reason given then is that IPhO only train me to solve problems. However, physics is about understanding. And I should take the time to understand the concepts of physics.

Then I've gone through the 2 Physics and scapegoated the maths together, not giving my best in them, but doing good in the exams. And so I only got 3 As for them and no A+. Moreover, I don't think I can recall what they taught me very well now. My additude was terrible in the sense that I didn't took much of anything in Sem 1 seriously. I was more of a bitter guy for missing out on a lot of oppotunities (scholarship, MIT, advanced placement, gold medal) before coming here. And so I didn't really think I accomplished anything significant during sem1.

Come sem2, I realised I don't wanna repeat my mistakes and I should do something more than just study or else I'll regret it as one sem loss. However, almost the same additude on the 2 physics and one maths carried themselves over here. In addition, I had one English module that carries no MC! But I planned properly and didn't take too heavy a module from USP this time. In the course of time, I made a timetable for sem 2 to make sure that I catch up to the others in my weekly homework and performance. And I noticed that I actually spend a lot of time in the 2 level 1 physics modules, due to Lab and Mastering physics mostly. So they are quite heavy modules. So I did had some more bitterness on having to take them. I did my Mastering during lectures and take my liberty to skip them to do other modules and attend other talks.

All this lasted until Prof. Yeo Yi had pointed out at the end of the module that "there are a lot of smart people, but it is the smart people that has the additude will make it." Humility is the key. He said that Asian people going to the US had some advantage towards their peers in the first year. However, at 3rd year, the very same people who were behind them caught up and was better than them now. What happened was that the things taught too early will fix the taught of the students. But then their peers learned the basics of physics with an open mind, so they think deeper, and ask more questions. And what happened in year 2 is that the physics students cannot see the physics in the maths, so basic understanding of physics is important. He told us to try to see physics with an open mind, try to understand the structure of it.

I was quite sure that this partly if not mostly is directed to me. It got me thinking, should I take 8 and a half module next sem? How can I have the right additude while doing that much things? I tried to listen to maths class, but got asleep soon after. It was a pattern, a habit born of the first impression that the module is nothing to me. So I was quite depressed on Thursday, on the subject of taking more modules or having the right additude. The friends I have consulted told me that what's the point of taking that many module if what I gain from it is nothing? or I don't fully immerse in the module.

Just now, talking to Hariom, I commended him as having a dissatisfaction on understanding and wants to understand as much as he can on each physics modules. And so after that I realised that's what I lack. the urge to understand deeper, the dissatisfaction with what is presented and asking for more. I knew then what Prof. Edward wanted me to learn: to throw off the mental mechnical way I do physics by questioning why, why whY down to the last why. I realised that the IPhO is nothing really to be proud of, there's no understanding there, we are nothing compared to the physicists. And so this lesson is learnt. And it is definately worth all those hours of the 4 physics modules for me to realise it. At least at this point in time. But I am quite afraid that I need the mental tool for IPhO yet to serve me in the coming exam. No worries, I know now how to procede. And I thank all the Profs and friends that helped me realised this.

Advice to Future and Potential IPhO students

One week ago I got this. I just replied it.

Hi,
i am Abhimanyu from India.Being an IPhO silver medalist i would first congratulate you for your achievement.I too am preparing for the 2010 IPhO.Colud me please share your experiences and give me suggestions.
I would be very greatful



Hi, sorry for the late reply, I am very busy in University. First of all, thank you for congratulating me.
I assumed that you know me through my blog, http://ngxinzhaomonk.blogspot.com/ in the below, I'll assume basic knowledge of Olympiad and you can find the relevant materials for it there too.

And now the main thing. Well, I went for the IPhO for 2 times, first in Iran in 2007 where I got an Honourable Mention, second in Vietnam, where I got a Silver Medal. So you can say that I prepared for the 2008 IPhO for 1 and a half years, but not continously. After I can back from Iran, I prepared for my High School Exam and didn't practiced physics much for half a year.

Ok let's do this in chronological order, In December 2006, I first knew of the International Olympiads when I joined the Chemistry training camp. In April 2008, I went for my 1st training camp for the Physics one. I was lucky for I get high marks in my school exam and got selected by my teacher to participate in the camp. After that it was 4 days of lectures on 1st year physics and 3 hour exam on the last day. I can still remember the thrill and excitement of getting into the next training camp, one after another. Until finally I'm in the top 5. So from the last training camp on, just one month before the Competition (I'm sure India's system is better than Malaysia's last minute one), I began doing the past year papers of the Olympiads, even during school hours, I persisted on every question until I can get the solution. At that time it was like walking in the dark, I don't know which road to take to get to the solution, especially since the effort of trying out a solution is so tremendous. But with courage and patience, I managed to break the mystery one by one. The more I do the past year papers, the better I get. But one thing I managed to overlook. I didn't trained to do the 3 questions in 5 hours. So I found that I haven't got enough time to finish up the theoretical part of the olympiad (only 1 question fully answered, 1 more I wrote what I can based on imcomplete understanding and the last one is mostly blank!)

So pausing at this part, I would advice you to train yourself to understand the question as soon as possible and in the correct way. Reading and doing lots of example from 1st year physics text books (althought the level of Olympiad is higher than 1st years) and at other books like "Major American Universities Ph. D Qualifying Questions and Solutions" on the topics based on the sylabus (I assume you know the syllabus) may help too. That said, relax on the exam day, calm down and just treat it like any other practice of past years you have done. This needs to be done because IPhO and other International Olympiads are the most unique exams in the world, stepping into the hall, you're stepping into the most prestigious exam EVER! So get used to the idea and relax and "fight" fast, correct and accurate during the 5 hours exam.

There are ussually some snacks and drinks provided at your desk and you can go to the toilet at anytime during the exam. You might like to simulate the environment a bit to see how many time can you spare for toilet, and how good can you think while eating.

Ok continuing the story, I didn't do very well on the experimental exam either, mainly because I'm not used to the time limit and also took too long to understand the questions. You'll have to learn to think during the 2 minute interval for each measurements for 60 measurements! So the best training maybe to train in a Year 2 lab at a nearby University (if you can) and try to complete the year 2 experiments as fast as possible. You can also read up on the experimental past year papers too and try to see when is error analysis required (I assume you know the importance of error analysis).

Once you reached the venue it is like a heavenly place, totally unsuitable for (last minute) studying, but if you still want to burden you baggage with the books, you are welcome to. Cause there're bound to be a lot of people doing the same thing. And Remember to bring enough souvenirs to give to the new friends you make there!

Ok. So I felt bad at getting only Honourable Mention, and started planning for the next year. I aimed for the Absolute Winner!
After not studying and releasing my stress due to the High School Exam, I was invited to go to the University Kebangsaan Malaysia to attend year 1 and 2 physics lectures. I am regretful to say that I didn't make full use of that time to study as hard as I can. (Don't tell anyone but I also skipped a lot of lectures and played lots of Computer games there.) It's my first time living on campus and I didn't got used to it, most probably because I was alone, so it's hard to get motivated to study. But overall it's a nice experience. Staying there from mid- February to mid-April, I went through the training camps again and got into the top 5.

After that, the semester at the University ended and I also went back to my home to do some "personal studying" there. In truth, I was busy with my University preparation stuffs and otherwise did a minimum effort on IPhO. So here's the advice, if you ever find that you have no motivation to study, find your friends and study together. Spend at least a few hours on Physics, reading and more impartantly doing the 1st year physics stuffs and PhD qualifiying exam stuffs and around 1 past years per week (for you it is possible).

I didn't think I did well on the Theoretical Exam too. The first question was a killer, the rice pounder (do the past year and you'll know).
But I think I must have done quite well on it too to get a Silver Medal right? lol, sorry didn't bothered to remember. I just felt very bad that I lost my Absolute Winner and gold, perhaps... even silver or Bronze here. So I accepted the reality and calmed myself for the Experimental 2 days later.
The Theoretical was hard.
I think I was lucky that the experimental turned out to be very easy! (I'm sure you'll agree with me) I just lost 3 marks out of 20 out of insufficient time. Ok, quite a serious mistake if you aim for a gold, but I'm grateful. After that, I forgot all about grades and enjoyed myself in Vietnam. Except that I got sick after the Experimental and missed out on some fun! lol.

Well, I was surprised that I got a Silver (quite high) for it. But I'm disappointed that I didn't do better looking at the time given for me to prepare. But the past is past.

Lastly most IMPORTANT advice is that DO lots of practice, it's all practice for olympiad. Understanding can be minimal, or perhaps just what 1st years student know. The most important thing is to know how to apply rather that to verify or prove a physical law.

Hope this all helps and I'll publish this in my blog too.

FAQ for Future and Potential NUS students

The programme here is that we ussually take 5 or the better ones, 6 modules per sem
one module is 4 MC
we need 160 MC to graduate with honours
ussually in 4 years
you can speed up by taking insanely a lot of modules like 7 and a half like what I'm doing now
and you'll like that we can take double major here
Q:
so then u will finish earlier ?
A:
maths
Q:
*ooo
A:
so with the double major I can manage 4 years
Q:
so in that case u can take a double major
A:
but must work hard
Q:
double major = double degree ?
A:
no
just one degree
but you can also join up the French double degree
it's pretigeous, hard, enginneering degree, with lots of emphatisis on maths
Q:
yeah i applied for the DD programme
in NUS
A:
and 5 years, graduating with double degree, and masters
good, so your CAP must be high in the 1st sem
to get invited
Q:
oh how high is high ?
A:
I got 4.4 and got invited
but I don't want 5 years
lol
max is 5(CAP) btw
Q:
u are taking science and was invited by the enginerinng faculty ?
A:
don't worry much about NUS, just join the MSL UFO
Q:
wat is MSL UFO ?
A:
they invite the maths, physics, computing and engin people to join only
Malaysia Student League University Freshman Orientation
free
compared to other camps that are not
just attend the Welcome tea in Penang
around May
and did you registered for the Advanced Placement?
Q:
*wa zat again ?
A:
*skip year one module
*just having exam
*here in NUS
Q:
*they dont have that in the application form ?
A:
*check the website
*dig deep
Q:
*kk
A:
*go to physics website
*they don't advertise this much
*and what scholarship you applied so far?
Q:
*Application period is from 1 May to 20 June 2008.
*Advanced placement
*anyway applied for the singapore scholarship (the best scholarship for Singapore studies, no bond, others require the MOE 3 years bond, deadline 31 march, I think)
A:
*ya remember to apply
*good
Q:
*but that one damn troublesome
A:
*ya
Q:
*application process worse ever
*US apps oso not that bad
*singapore scholarship apps.
A:
*terrorlah you
*essay not so bad....
Q:
*i dont mean the essay
*essays are erm.. about the same
*it's just that singapore scholarship gives u extremely vague instructions
*so it makes it mroe difficult
*hah
A:
*oh
*oh ya SPS
*Special Program in Science
*must come and apply after coming to our welcome tea
Q:
*wait wait
A:
*in early august, just before school starts
Q:
*the welcome tea is for propective NUS students ?
A:
*no(actually yes, spoke too fast), you come around July, to take QET and settle the stuffs, then stay round till 1st week of August only start school
*so we'll be having a welcome tea then
*http://sps.nus.edu.sg/
*we expose you to the world of research very early on
*and it's student run programme
*small classes, 40 over in your 1st sem, and you stay with them for more than 5 sems
*if you want to
Q:
*the SPS programme ?
A:
*ya
*better than USP according to my experience
Q:
*wat is USP again?
A:
*University Scholars Programme
*you'll get the package soon enough
Q:
*what is that programme about ?
A:
*just limiting your scope of choices on elective modules
*and lots of oppotunity to travel overseas
*for various reasons subsidised
Q:
*these programmes seem to be rather confusing
*@_@

A:
*garenteed stay atr PGP up to to 4 years
*you'll get used to it
*there's no centralised one unlike in school
*so each department offer each styles, each organisation too
*so be alert and umm,,,, hard working looking up at them
Q:
*oh yeah i will
A:
*and don't be fooled by USP website
*it's a CAP dropper
*you know why I didn't get CAP 5?
*it because of USP
*so just to see how much you value you CAP (sorry my personal view, for some other people it's a CAP puller, do visit their website and read through
Q:
*thnx for all the info
*will look up on all the SPS UPS and MSL UFO
A:
*welcome
Q:
*stuff right now
*haha
A:
*ask in the forum,
Q:
*so many abbreiations
A:
*of MSL
*lol
Q:
*abbreviations
A:
*lots of malaysian like to help
*and don't be shocked that you'll find close to 100 malaysian in your batch
Q:
*lots of msians go to NUS ?
A:
*ya
*I
*I'm publishing these info, is it ok? I changed your name to Q and mine to A
Q:
*haha
*anything is fine
*in fact
*i am extremely grateful for the info
*LOL
A:
*welcome
*and scroll through the website for MSL forum, NUS and SPS
*I haven't done so myself
*but since you're so free.....
*lol
*start thinking what research you wanna do and prepare for the advance placement
*really save lots of time if you want the double major/degree or some extra stuffs
Q:
*oh yeah

A:
*btw the SPS only accept 1st years
Q:
*will look through the stuff
A:
*so come and apply at the time
*remember!!!!!!!!
*lol
*I spend most of my time in the SPS room
*it's a room so big that it's bigger than most singaporean houses (flats)
*doing homework, play around, socialise, ask seniors that are perpetually there
*and a place to put your stuff in between lessons
Q:
*hmm.. sounds like u are enjoying the SPS programme
A:
*ya
*lots of time involved too
*a great place to make good friends because of that too
*just come and try for 1 sem, if you can take it, then go on to the second sem
Q:
*okok
*will consider if i get into NUS
*IF
*a very big IF
*haha
A:
*you'll get in, your result good enough, you think that 100 over people (inculding chinese independant) can get it only if they got full As?
*lol
*btw are you the CCA type?
*or study type
*or balance?
Q:
*i would say a balanced type
*i like both
*it has been that way all along
*lol
A:
*good
*then no problem for you
Q:
*why ?
A:
*dunno, may be more problem for you to find the right balance
*lol
Q:
*haha
*you are the studious type i assume ?
A:
*trying to find my balance
*lol

Q:
*haha
*then i hope to see u soon
*in NUS
A:
*ya same here
Q:
*anyway i am off to cont. with my scholarship apps again
A:
*it's cool to have juniors that you know here lol
Q:
*thank u for the info
*haha
A:
*welcome
Q:
*nice talking to u again !

How did I study Physics!?!?!?!?!??!?!?

I will relate here how I studied Physics in Form 6. Disclaimer of the disclaimer: I may sound arrogant. Disclaimer: Don't expect to learn something from immitating my study style cause I believe study styles are individual dependant. Well, you'll see how I am arrogant later.

I didn't understand physics at all at first, why the complicated, unintuitive formula for the gravitational potential? So I went back to consult my secondary physics teacher on the formula. Ussually, when she explains physics in Form 4 and 5 I completely (or I think I completely) understand physics. But this time, it's different. I see that salvation is not gained by consulting teachers. I would have to get it somewhere else. Besides, it's too late to register for tuition for physics, it's packed full.

So I read the text book before the classes and paid half attention in classes, didn't do my homeworks (in physics). However, I always make sure that I can do those questions that my classmates can do.

I do remember always asking my teacher questions that he keeps on saying, "You'll know it later."And So I keep on looking for popular physics books in the library. "Popular" as in no equations and the physicist keep on downgrading the concepts so that the average layman can understand them. But to me, it's like an extra knowledge, an edge to higher (I think of them as advanced) concepts in physics, since no one else in my class does that, they are just contented with doing exercises and whatever the teacher teaches.

One reason I feel very elated when I got the chance to go for the International Physics Olympiad traning (now you see the reason for my disclaimers), is that I knew that I can learn more about physics (from previous experience when going for the chem one) , the stuff that they teach in Uni first and second year (only first year for NUS). So the trill of getting lots of physics concepts stuff into you and the small related maths in 4 days and nights worth of lectures kept me from giving up during the extremely (it seems so at that time) tough qualification test. Cause I wanna go for the next stage! And the rest is history, ok fine it's somewhere else in my blog, just read it.

And so I got a new light on the physics I'm studying is that sometimes you need to know more advanced concepts to know why things are like that in more elementary physics. Just that if the teacher is going to go through to the higest level of physics for you just to understand one little thing, you'll be looking at a University, no Graduate (that means masters) level of study. So in conclusion, physics in form 6 is not meant for you to understand as much as for you to memorise, work, and know how to solve problems.

Ok sorry for the disappointment, but as I see it, since I did understand physics back then, it's really possible for you too. Just that you need to be passionate towards physics and really read the popular books, they are helpful for understanding and getting your interest piped up. I mean all you guys learn about modern physics is some little thing on old quantum mechanics and its applications (atomic and nuclear physics). The rest are all Classical and it's so interesting to see how did the 400 years of physics (Maths is even worst, we learn much less about it's 1000 years of development) developed to such an elegant set of mathematical rules that practically explains every physical thing (non-biological) you see.

This is a response to the typical question of, "hey how's your life? Hope u do well in sg.. Hmmm.. I now in upper 6 delta.. may i kno how u study physics? do u do a lot of exercises? do u think a lot? or do u remember the concepts? I lik phy but dint get the result i wanted in the final exam last year.. i got a 66.. hope u can help me.. tq"

Instead of giving a typical answer that would exceed the character limit on friendster, I gave this. By the way the typical answer is, "You need to understand the concepts, that's all, no need to remember even after you understand. Cause you understand you know already. Done."

So for the majority of you guys that can't mimic my way, just do what my classmates do, exercises all day. Ok sorry classmates, if you do more I didn't know, that my impression on you guys......

Advice continued

Remember the last post, well, this is the same questioner, so it's continued....

Q: Well, don't you ever worry about your future, since there is a limited jobs in that field?

A: Hmm.. how do you know it's limited without coming in to see it first? Althought it's an advantage to get a degree in what you want to do, your future job is not limited by what you're studying now. No one can predict the future with 100% accuracy, so relax, live in the present and remember that having many choices that doesn't interest you is not as good as having one one that you like to do.

Q: I believe that you will like to involve in research. However, are you confident that you can a job in overseas university?

A: Why does research has to be done in overseas? Ya, I kinda like research, but for me, I got 3 years to build up my resume to get a job anywhere I like and the effort to do it gives me confidence.

Advice for post STPM Malaysians

I know that this period is one of the peak period where everybody seeks out for advice from dunno who. So I'll provide some here, althought I think I did put a lot of them some where near the front of this blog, so ok here's them....

Question: If you were not enrolled in NUS, would you study Phy and MAth in local university? Or you would take engineering? Which university would you prfer?

I will choose university soon, hopefully can get some idea from you...thanks


Answer: Oh, lol, I thought you're aiming for MIT? Oh well it's good to think about backups. Local... I applied for UM physics, USM physics, UKM physics..... you get the idea.... I doubt if I could double major in Local, so I'm kinda glad I'm in NUS.
Well to tell you more, my parents and a lot of people tell me that with my intellect I should choose Engin for Local (since Science are generally for people who can't get engin) or I can even aim for Actuarial Science... for real money.... But I personally want a good enjoyable 4 years of Uni life, so I choose to take my interest: Physics.

One more word of advice, when you apply to NUS (which I think you will most certainly do), apply it seriously and not being exhausted after MIT application that you are doing now (or are you an early bird?) and apply for Singapore Scholarship which you get everything for free and no 3 year bond, any other financial means includes the 3 year bond. Yes, the exact words are "Singapore Scholarship" search for it!!!!!!


Oh well, and one more thing, apply for the Advance Placement and sit for it!!!!!!!!!!! it's important to skip some modules that you know already!!!!!!! so these are just the advice I want to give and umm.... the other advice will be posted if asked and I think it is generally available elsewhere. Since I learned these the hard way..... I hope you'll learn it the easy way.....

A fan!

Hi! I read your blog and thought that it is very interesting..
just curious..
HOW DID YOU STUDY FOR YOUR SAT?
ops. sorry. I didn't mean to shout but scoring 800 and 790 sounds freaky.
and by the way, when did you take your sat?
I am considering doing form 6 and foundation at mmu or uniten. Which one do u think is better?
Yours truly,
kai xin

I replied:
Ha ha nice to see that I have a fan, thanks for viewing my blog, and I wish to add you in facebook and friendster hope you accept. umm, If you hadn't taken SAT before, it's really easy to get perfect marks in the subject test. The level is just a bit above form 5 definitely below form 6. So if you take it at the middle of your upper 6 (like I did, 2nd June 2007, my birthday) chances are, you'll get 800 without any studying (as I did too). Be sure to take Maths Level 2 as it is easier to get 800 in it than level 1, the cut off mark is lower for 2.

I just went and hunt for my statement of my SAT results and surprisingly I found it way back in the archive. So once again I would like to thank you for your patience and make me feel that my blog is not just read by me lol.

If you want to try your luck like me and represent Malaysia in International Science Olympiads, go form 6, but other than this advice, I'll have to leave the choice to you. You'll decide your future. Personally I think form 6 rocks, and it's the best time of my secondary life. One more information you should know, STPM is recognized in Commonwealth counties. So you'll have a very wide choice of which Uni you're going to later. Ok hope to hear from you soon.

She replied:
Hello!
Ya i added you as a friend already! ^_^
Thanks for your reply! I don't think it's long enough but it's very informative!! Really appreciate the time and effort you put into replying me!

To be honest, I don't think my spm result is great, but overall I guess it's still satisfactory.. we are the first batch to learn science and maths in english, so presumably they would lower the graph a little.. just look at the number of straight 1As scorer and straight As scorer and you will know.. so I was very down for a few weeks for the 2 B3s cause I can't get a scholarship for that.. but I am ok now.. :)

Just curious, you didn't take biology right? Is pengajian am hard? I don't really enjoy learning BM at all.. haiz..

So did you take both SAT 1 & 2 at one go? Anyway, you made it sounded like it's easy to get 800 for SAT..

After all, you scored A for further maths, so maths should be like kacang putih for you.. haha..

To participate in that olympiads competition I must get very very high marks for my sciences right?
I am also considering taking further maths but I doubt if I can find any teacher in muar.. and the school normally wouldn't approve student taking 5 subjects.

I have been doing some serious research on STPM. Is it rare for people to get a 4.0 for their stpm? Kokurikulum plays the 10% part as well isn't it...

Another question... why did you put the word "monk" behind of your name? haha..

that's all for this time.. in case you are busy.. ^_____^

what course do you intend to do?
which university do you intend to go?
Did you apply for harvard and stanford and the other ivy leagues?
If you did apply for stanford, did you request for financial aids?
Did you get a scholarship?

looking forward for your reply!

Yours truly,
kai xin

So I chatted with her just now and answered all of her questions there.
And since I didn't ask just now, kai xin, can I post this here?
And I think it's a nice opportunity for the guys and gals of Kai Xin's batch to obtain information about their future like this so that they can make an informative choice of their future paths. So cheers for Kai Xin for her resourcefulness.

My Further Maths

I put in this post for 2 reasons: 1. someone wants to know more about how I scored an A in Further maths and 2. it's the essay for NTU scholarship application.

I was determined the master Further Mathematics T, and I had a tuition for that purpose. People heard that the subject is difficult, but it's not until they had a few glimpse into number theory that one by one, the size of the class reduced from a dozen to 6. I persisted. Studying 4 hours per week on it for one and a half year, I thought that I had mastered the subject, but in a simple trial exam, I had gotten only 76 marks(the highest amongst us) for paper 2 and a pitiful 28 marks(and the lowest) for paper 1. I really put in a lot of effort into it, revising the 3 inch thick notes, and timing myself on the limited past years papers.(about 5)

During the Examination period, the 6 of us gathered to revise each paper with me leading the discussion. I heard that there was only 40 students(the real figure is 57) taking Further Maths that year. And only the top 7%(3 people or so we thought) will be awarded A! That was dispiriting, but I said, I'll just have to be the top 3 person in the country!

As I sat for the first paper, I had to rush one question for 5 minutes during the last hour in the 3 hour, 12 question exam as I solved the harder ones first. After that, I felt like having sat for the longest, scariest roller coaster ride ever! And I was still shaking! Paper 2 however was quite easy, relative to paper 1.

So you'll agree that after tearing the envelope that contained my results open, I was, no still am, the proudest person alive. I had obtained an A for Further mathematics T!

P.S. Here's the materials to study if you do take the subject: http://furthermathematicst.blogspot.com/


For those living in Petaling Jaya/ KL/ Selangor nearby Petaling Jaya area, and wishes to have me as your Physics tuition teacher for STPM/ A levels/ any English Pre-U course, you can email me at ngxinzhaomonk@gmail.com to get my whatsapp and we can discuss further. My rates are RM 100 per hour, minimum 2 hours per session per week for individual visits. For group tuition at my home, the rate is RM 50 per hour, time wise is the same, minimum class size: 5. So spread the word if you wish to have enough to set up a class. Available from Aug 2018-Dec 2018. Thanks!