Beginners to intermediate book on physics

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around recommendations for beginner to intermediate physics books that cover standard topics such as motion, kinematics, waves, and forces. The context involves a participant seeking resources to review physics concepts in English after previously studying in Dutch.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests recommendations for physics books that cover standard subjects, emphasizing the need for resources in English.
  • Another participant suggests that "standard" should be defined, proposing that classical physics, including mechanics, waves, and basic electromagnetism, fits this description.
  • A suggestion is made to refer to the Physics Napster post, which contains free resources and textbooks.
  • One participant recommends "Physics for Scientists and Engineers" by Serway as a suitable textbook, noting its availability on Amazon and in university libraries.
  • A later reply humorously comments on the potential unavailability of the recommended book in university libraries, suggesting a policy that prevents them from stocking the same books as local bookstores.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on what constitutes "standard" physics topics, and while several book recommendations are made, there is no consensus on a single preferred resource.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the subjective nature of what is considered "standard" in physics education and the potential limitations of library resources in accessing recommended texts.

Xyax
Hi,

Can someone recommend me a beginners to intermediate book on physics,
the book or books should cover the standard subjects: motion, kinematics ,the study of waves(full spectrum, light, forces,...).

I'm doing my first year of computer science and always had physics in dutch, now that we have physics in english at university I wanted a book to review my physics in english. I've searched @ amazon but just found a lot of "applied" physics books and not many books that covered the (standard) above subjects.

Thanx.
 
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At first it should be clear what you understand by "standard". All classical physics is standard. I suppose that it is about mechanics, waves, and basis electromagnetism. You seem to specify books in english. In this case I would recommend the Feynman physics lectures.
 
I would also recommend taking a look at the Physics Napster post, it has lots of free resources, and two textbooks, that I know of.
 
The book i learned physics with is called "Physics for Scientists and Engineers" by Serway. It's available on amazon, but if you want to take a look, university libraries probably have it.

Hope this will help
 
Originally posted by pi-70679
It's available on amazon, but if you want to take a look, university libraries probably have it.
Probably not at the library, I think the library at my school anyway has a secret policy not to have any of the same books that the book store has so that you can't try to find a way to get out of actually buying the books!
 

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