Second term

As my second term (Hilary term, as they call it in Oxford) slowly draws to a close, I stop to reflect on the state of things. While all our lives are affected by the pandemic by varying amounts, it is safe to say that somehow, Covid-19 is still fundamentally shaping our present and the near future. To avoid how gloomy this situation can seem, I will try (from now on) not to mention the virus any more than is absolutely necessary in this post, because I do not believe my current experiences are too different from anybody else in this regard.

This term, I needed to remain at home in Prague and continue online learning. To focus on the positives, I am finding myself to be less stressed than last term – this may be due to a combination of simply getting more used to the workload, spending a bit more time doing my hobbies (such as playing piano and guitar), and currently studying some of my favourite topics within physics and mathematics.

In physics, the focus of my course shifted from classical mechanics to electromagnetism; we are now studying electric currents, magnets and the close relationship between them. As if magnets were not fascinating enough on their own, they interact with electricity. For instance, if you place a compass next to a live wire, its needle will deflect. Why? The answer turns out to be quite intricate.

I also gained some experience in scientific writing and error analysis from producing lab reports in LaTeX, and I am learning programming in Python and Matlab, all of which are essential skills for a scientist.

In mathematics, we are covering vector calculus, coupled systems and waves. For example, these could be applied to fluid motion, vibrations of molecules or sound propagation, respectively. Vector calculus in particular touches on curved spaces, which are essential to general relativity, our current explanation of gravity. That is why I am finding this term’s content to be quite exciting.

Overall, I believe I am making good progress and that is reflected in my results. At the moment, I hope to return to Oxford for next term (and maybe even before then), at the end of which I will be taking my first University exams.

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