1st lesson free
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Thorfinn
- Rate R880
- Response 1h
R880/h
Contact
1st lesson free
- Maths
- Algebra
- Physics
- Geometry
- Quantum physics
Nomadic physicist and mathematician imparting deep understanding to interested individuals. Through a first-principled, geometric, and engaging approach, I provide a thorough route to comprahension.
- Maths
- Algebra
- Physics
- Geometry
- Quantum physics
Lesson location
About Thorfinn
At heart, I’m an adventurer. My strong yearning to venture off the beaten track has led me to both a nomadic lifestyle, and an unusual academic pathway.
I studied physics and maths in school receiving an A and an A* in Scottish Highers respectively. But my study of physics really kicked off with a bikepacking trip from Scotland to Senegal, when strapped to my pannier bags were the The Feynman Lectures on Physics, a textbook series based on the undergraduate degree Richard Feynman taught at Caltech. I became captivated by the lectures, bringing them out whenever I could; over lunch in a café, on the side of a dirt track, or in an old wooden pirogue as I waited for a passage to Cape Verde. All those formulae that I’d learnt at school, suddenly began taking to life; F=ma, t^'=t/√(1-v^2/c^2 ), integration, trigonometry, E=mc^2… And there was so much more, a whole universe to explore! At night, when my eyes began closing to the well-worn pages, I slipped my textbook under my head and dreamt about equations. My curiosity had become an obsession.
Since then, I have focussed on the construction of theories, formulae, geometries, and conceptual frameworks, rather than the use of them. I picked my core textbooks and resources accordingly, which have included, Euclid’s The Elements, Einstein’s Princeton lectures (The Meaning of Relativity), and Dirac’s The Principles of Quantum Mechanics, amongst much else.
I have also completed a physics internship at ISTA (Institute of Science and Technology Austria) on an acoustic levitation project, where my tasks included making microparticles, analysing data, and designing an optical imaging system. I will be an author on the acoustic levitation project's upcoming paper. Additionally, I have an independently written paper under review at the Edinburgh Mathematical Society entitled "A Spectral Proof of the Platonic [Solid] Classification", following another interest of mine.
Alongside tutoring, I continue to pursue independent research in both mathematics and physics. Wherever I am, Tajikistan to Timbuctoo, I’ve always got a riddle on my mind and a pencil behind my ear.
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About the lesson
- Primary
- Secondary
- Matric/GCSE
- +9
levels :
Primary
Secondary
Matric/GCSE
AS Level
A Level
BTech
Adult education
Undergraduate
Masters
Diploma
Doctorate
MBA
- English
Languages in which the lesson is available :
English
I realised that my unique education has equipped me with powerful tools for tutoring. My background allows me to break material down into a first-principled framework, an approach which encourages engagement; brings overarching frameworks to house knowledge; and enables you to tackle unfamiliar problems and grasp new ideas more readily. My sessions promise to provide a deep level of understanding and instil meaning into those equations.
Moreover, my sessions will train participants in their own reasoning, ingenuity, and problem-solving ability. Through riddles, puzzles and conversation, sessions become a sort of mental playground where we discuss, think, draw, question and ponder. You may try one way; then another; then a third. You may get stuck, only, after some thought, to land on a Eurika moment! Besides being fun, this playful environment primes minds, through neuroplasticity, for the comprehension and retention of challenging material.
To these ends, I employ geometry as a principle means. Since you, I, and the universe live in spacetime, geometry is inseparable from physics and comes naturally to us. In a strange way, the abstract world of mathematics is also a geometric one. While formulae, laws, inputs, outputs, and processes can all be expressed in purely algebraic form, geometry is usually the best way to develop precise conceptual frameworks. It’s quite remarkable how much of physics and mathematics can be understood through drawing lines on paper.
While geometry is the master of conceptual understanding, algebra is the master of stepwise reasoning. Algebra allows us to abstract our ideas, manipulate them in a logically sound manner, and arrive at new architecture. So, whether you are studying physics or mathematics, algebra is indispensable. But don’t worry, this isn’t the dry, dead subject it all too often comes across as. Rather, it is an algebra full of meaning and life.
The first-principled and geometric foundations of my understanding are perfect for conveying complex ideas in an accessible way, so that’s what I do. Through a marriage of imagination and logic, I teach my students about the endlessly fascinating abstract and physical worlds. Above all, my tutoring is driven by a wish to share the spirit of adventure, and to witness my students’ solving problems with their own minds.
If this sounds appealing, come join!
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Rates
Rate
- R880
Package rates
- 5h: R4400
- 10h: R8800
free lesson
The free first lesson with Thorfinn allows you to get to know the tutor and discuss your needs and expectations.
- 1h
online
- R880/h
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