I have a strong interest in maths, and I feel that advanced physics is cool too (although I've only studied classical mechanics at high school, which is kind of boring). So I'm not sure about which path follow for further studies at university: I think that maths can become very abstract, and therefore be somewhat less interesting than experimental (or even theorical) physics; on the other hand, I've no basis whatsoever to judge if I will like university physics.
So I have two questions:
Do you feel that you miss something doing mathematics: that is, don't you want to do something more connected to the real word and to practical experiments? If not, why is even abstract math interesting to you?
Are there any books/websites/handouts which can help me grasp the beauty of physics (NB I'm not looking for pop-science on the universe or something, but for interesting books about real university physics)?
Thank you. I hope this question is not too broad or opinion based (at least, if it is, please don't close it soon, so that I can get some answers).
Mathematics has a pure side that can be very abstract, as you say, but there is also applied mathematics, which, as the name suggests, is more relevant to the "real world" and areas like physics. Analysis and algebra (pure) can be too theoretical and boring for some people. Personally, I find analysis (functional analysis, operator theory, measure theory, etc.) very interesting. It can involve a lot of theorems and proofs, which I enjoy. The applied side, however, has many applications in physics and other sciences. Fluid dynamics, dynamical systems and mechanics are some examples. If you choose to study mathematics, the applied route is likely to suit you if you like physics.