Como eu uso o Obsidian para estudar Física (e ler livros em PDF)

Summary

The presenter explains how he uses Obsidian to study physics, read PDFs, and keep track of other projects. His main principle is to keep the system simple: Obsidian should feel like a flexible “blackboard” for writing and experimenting, not a rigid organization system that gets in the way.

His most-used feature is the PDF++ plugin, which lets him read books inside Obsidian and copy passages into notes while preserving a link to the exact excerpt. He also uses Obsidian’s built-in LaTeX support for mathematical notes. Beyond physics, his vault holds reading lists, daily to-do lists, hobby notes, experimental data, and video scripts.

He emphasizes that these are personal preferences, not rules. The best setup is one that makes it easy to capture ideas and keep working without excessive templates or maintenance.

How He Uses Obsidian

Read and Annotate Physics Books with PDF++

• Open PDFs in Obsidian and browse them using the document’s index or chapter navigation, when available.
• Copy passages into notes. The pasted excerpt links back to the relevant section of the PDF and can reopen that fragment on hover.
• Adjust zoom, page layout, scrolling, and display options to suit the document.
• Set shortcuts for frequently used actions, such as zooming and fullscreen.
• Keep a book open alongside a note to work through problems or refer to solutions.

Keep the Folder Structure Lightweight

• Use an Inbox for quick or unsorted notes.
• Move notes that are no longer needed into an Archive folder.
• Set an attachments folder so images, such as screenshots from books, are saved in one place.
• Organize subject material, such as physics, into a few useful sections rather than imposing a detailed system on every note.

Make Study Notes That Support Active Work

• Keep interesting problems, personal re-derivations, and concepts in separate areas if useful.
• Record solutions and mistakes made while solving exercises.
• Add links to relevant study materials, such as course pages.
• Use templates only when they help; create notes directly when that is faster.
• Use Obsidian’s native LaTeX support for equations without needing an additional plugin.

Use the Same Vault for Other Activities

• Track current, completed, paused, and planned reading.
• Keep simple daily logs with a date, to-do list, and notes on what was or was not completed.
• Store hobby lists, university and laboratory data, experimental uncertainties, and video drafts or scripts.

Consider Backups

Obsidian notes are stored on the computer, so deleting a note can remove the local file. The presenter recommends backing up notes to the cloud through OneDrive and says that, as he understands it, automatic syncing between devices may require a paid feature.

Main Takeaway

Use Obsidian in the way that makes it easiest to think, read, and write. The presenter prefers quick capture and a small number of practical folders over elaborate templates, strict systems, or frequent linking between notes.

Speakers and Sources

• Presenter/narrator: Daniel Primata, identified from the channel context. The subtitles contain one continuous speaker.
• Named sources mentioned in the video: the PDF++ plugin; MIT course materials; the Griffiths and Shankar textbooks; and a book recommendation attributed to Reinaldo Lopes.