More like EXTREMELY over priced now haha like at minimum for science textbook would be 250+jtbell said:Can you find out what books are being used in upper-division physics courses at your university? You could browse them at your campus bookstore. Or have campus bookstores become extinct? :(
jedishrfu said:Depending on the depth, you could start with susskinds theoretical minimum books. The first one on Classical Mechanics covers Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics and some EM theory. The second extends the readers understanding to Quantum Mechanics. Prof Suskind also has a video series on these and other physics topics under the banner of the theoretical minimum.
micromass said:The OP is an aerospace engineering student. Something like the Theoretical Minimum would very likely be way too easy for him, and not indepth enough.
I would like to hear from the OP what exactly from physics he knows and what he is trying to learn.
kith said:I like both the Feynman lectures and the theoretical minimum series, so let me add a comment on the difference between the two.
The Feynman lectures are extensive. They basically cover all topics of theoretical physics up to the level of a Bachelor's degree. The presentation focuses on physical phenomena and intuition. The theoretical minimum series on the other hand doesn't consider many concrete physical phenomena but focuses on very general ideas like how can we describe a physical system in general. It is also much shorter than the Feynman lectures.
After having read the theoretical minimum, you will understand the important ideas of modern theoretical physics but you won't be able to apply it much to the real world. After having worked through the Feynman lectures, you will have a more intuitive understanding of the physical phenomena around us.
/edit: I've just realized that this thread is old, so it probably won't help the OP anymore. Maybe it helps someone else.
I mentioned it too but no one seems to read anymore. Perhaps we should just close the thread.jasonRF said:The OP posted 8 months ago and was "last seen" in December. This is a stale question.
jedishrfu said:Perhaps we should just close the thread.
Some of the best books for self-learning physics include "The Feynman Lectures on Physics" by Richard Feynman, "University Physics" by Young and Freedman, "Concepts of Modern Physics" by Arthur Beiser, "Classical Mechanics" by Herbert Goldstein, and "Introduction to Electrodynamics" by David J. Griffiths.
Yes, there are several books specifically designed for beginners in physics. Some examples include "Physics for Scientists and Engineers" by Paul A. Tipler and Gene Mosca, "Understanding Physics" by Isaac Asimov, and "Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide" by Karl F. Kuhn.
Yes, there are plenty of online resources available for self-learning physics. Some popular options include Khan Academy, MIT OpenCourseWare, and Physics Classroom. However, a combination of books and online resources may be more beneficial as it provides a comprehensive understanding of the subject.
While it may be difficult to find a single book that covers all branches of physics, there are some comprehensive textbooks that cover a wide range of topics. Some examples include "Fundamentals of Physics" by Halliday, Resnick, and Walker, and "Theoretical Physics" by Georg Joos and Ira M. Freeman.
Yes, you can use textbooks from different authors for self-learning physics. In fact, it is recommended to use multiple sources to get a well-rounded understanding of the subject. However, make sure to choose textbooks that are well-regarded and used in reputable institutions.