I have been studying electricity as a hobby, using a highschool textbook, partially documented here. I am trying to leave no stone unturned, meaning that I’m trying to understand any and all concepts and terminology that the book presents. I am now reading about generators and how they produce AC. The chapter also explains how the voltage can at any time/point in the cycle be calculated using sinus. While I understand the gist of it, I don’t understand the math behind it, because I simply suck at math. I almost failed math in highschool… I’m fairly confident I could go on without understanding the math behind why and how the voltage cycles between polarities, but my somewhat neurodiverse brain simply won’t let me. I want to, nay, I need to understand it.

So, should I:

  • grab a highschool math book and start from scratch until I reach the chapter on sinus?
  • only read up on sinus and whatever knowledge turns out to be a prerequisite to understand it (with a risk of cascading backwards…)?
  • other recommendations?

This is not a question about how generators work and I am not asking you to explain sinus to me here. I am asking for advise on how to (re)learn math at my age of 30+. I can invest about six hours per weekend. I am eager to learn! Please advise! 😊

  • DickFiasco@sh.itjust.works
    0·
    1 day ago

    I’ve personally had success by diversifying the learning process as much as possible. Read the book chapter on the subject you want to learn. Then find a few different YouTube videos on the subject. Then read a different book, or a Wikipedia article, or whatever media you can find. Don’t try to understand a complex topic in one shot, from one source. Let the understanding develop slowly and naturally.

    • printf("%s", name);@piefed.blahaj.zoneOPEnglish
      0·
      23 hours ago

      Then we have some things in common! 😊 I also try to diversify the input and output type/medium: reading (seeing), listening, speaking (here, talking about it) and writing. I’m going to try to incorporate math into my everyday life, starting with annoying the heck out of my colleagues who seem to have an aversion to the natural sciences. Pff. 🤣