Looking for introductory level physics textbook

[TGV320]

Hello,

I am currently preparing to learn the 8.01 course "Physics I" via the MIT OCW and I am trying to find an adequate textbook for that purpose. In the three courses that I have found, the first two use:

Young, H. D., and R. A. Freedman. University Physics.

which is quite expensive in my country and the third course:

Kleppner, Daniel, and Robert J. Kolenkow. An Introduction to Mechanics. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1973. ISBN: 9780070350489.

which I heard is very good but also very thorough and difficult (I'm careful not to do too much at a time）.
I also bought Goldstein but it seems far too advanced for me.

What textbook should I use?

Thanks

 

[MidgetDwarf]

The majority of introductory physics books used are the same. There are exceptions, like Kleppner and Kolenkow and Irodov, but Serway, Giancolli, Resnik and Holliday etc are essentially the same. The small difference appears in the ordering of topics. I would be hesitant to recommend Irodov.

My favorite is a combination of one of the above books with Alonso and Finn : Fundamental University Physics. However, Alonso and Finn is a 3 volume book, which has been out of print for some time, and is a bit expensive. Particularly book 2, and especially book 3. You can use the search feature to read about Alonso and Finn. Check to see if it available in the language of your country for cheap.

Anyhow, to save on cost. You can always get the older edition of Introductory physics books. I prefer the 4th edition of Serway over the newer and flashier editions. People also seem to like the 3rd edition of Resnik and Holliday, but I never bothered to look at it.

 

[TGV320]

Hello,

Thanks, I shall use the Serway book, seems to be a good one, there is an English edition of it in my country. I'll switch to Kleepner only if truly required.

Thanks a lot for your help

 

[malawi_glenn]

Check out openstax
https://openstax.org/subjects

 

[MidgetDwarf]

Hello,

Thanks, I shall use the Serway book, seems to be a good one, there is an English edition of it in my country. I'll switch to Kleepner only if truly required.

Thanks a lot for your help

If I may ask, what is the language in which you study? There may be affordable soviet era books available in your language for cheap. Which you can use for supplement, or for a more advance look.

 

[TGV320]

Hello,
I study in English, I have an accpetable command of it.

 

[MidgetDwarf]

Hello,
I study in English, I have an accpetable command of it.

Perfect. I mentioned this, because sometimes books can be expensive in one language, but cheaper in another.

Ie., there was a book I wanted to purchase in English, but it was too expensive. But noticed they had an edition in another language I know for about $15. So I tend to choose the cheaper price lol. I know three languages, give or take, at the same level.

 

[TGV320]

Hello,
You're right, some textbooks made in USA cost a magnitude less in my country, because the editors lower down the price to make it affordable for people here. The only difference is that they are usually smaller and thicker than the huge original ones.

 

[robphy]

Kleppner is a more sophisticated text on introductory mechanics.
In some colleges and universities, it is used in the "honors" level introductory physics course, followed by Purcell for electromagnetism.

Goldstein is used for intermediate-undergraduate mechanics or graduate-level mechanics.

 

[vela]

People also seem to like the 3rd edition of Resnik and Holliday, but I never bothered to look at it.

Is that a cheap knockoff of Halliday and Resnick?

 

[robphy]

People also seem to like the 3rd edition of Resnik and Holliday, but I never bothered to look at it.

Is that a cheap knockoff of Halliday and Resnick?

Here is some info on Part 1 of the 3rd edition. It appears that Resnick is listed as the first author.
(This is the edition I am most familiar with.)

https://archive.org/details/physicsr01resn/mode/2up

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Here is info on Part 2 of the 2nd edition.
https://archive.org/details/physicsforstuden00resn/mode/2up