Books recommendation on electrodynamics

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around recommendations for books on electrodynamics, particularly in relation to the difficulty of Jackson's text compared to Griffiths' introduction. Participants explore various alternatives and express confusion regarding different editions of Jackson's book.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty with Jackson's electrodynamics after completing Griffiths and seeks advice on whether to revisit Griffiths or choose another book.
  • Some participants recommend Schwartz's Principles of Electrodynamics as an easier alternative to Jackson.
  • Another participant mentions hearing positive feedback about Melia's Electrodynamics book.
  • A participant shares confusion regarding the differences between old and new editions of Jackson's book, noting that the new edition seems less rigorous than the older version.
  • Another participant comments on the mixing of SI and Gaussian units in the new edition of Jackson's book and shares their experience of acquiring an older edition.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best approach to studying electrodynamics or the characteristics of different editions of Jackson's book. Multiple competing views regarding book recommendations and the nature of Jackson's editions remain.

Contextual Notes

There is uncertainty regarding the perceived rigor and content changes between the old and new editions of Jackson's book, as well as the appropriateness of various recommended texts for different learning levels.

jasum
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
I just finished Griffths intro. to electrodynamics and works half of the problems Griffths provided. Now,I attempt to read Jackson's electrodynamics and found it is very hard for me...
Indeed, should I need to go back to Griffths's electrodynamics and learn those concepts again? or I should try another book?any suggestions for a good E&M books? Thank you ~!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Jackson's EM book

Hello everyone,
I have some confusion about Jackson's electrodynamics book.
Once upon a time, my lecturer showed me his Jackson's EM book. I think it was an old edition. It has red cover.
He admires it a lot and so do I and he always stresses that it's probably one of the best EM books, a standard EM book with rigorous math formulations and difficult practice questions too.
But when I went to book store and found a Jackson's EM book, which is certainly a new edition one, I did not find such characteristics. I think the level is about the same as Griffith's. I just get confused why the new (dark blue cover) edition of Jackson's seems to be different from the old edition. I guess the common trend is that new books tend to be 'more pragmatic' than the older versions, removing 'assumedly-excessive and unnecessary mathematical rigors', though they may include new developments, which may not be novel from basic science principle perspective, but may be more relevant and of more practical values for real and recent world applications. Does indeed this really happen to Jackson's EM book, the new version? Or did I just get the wrong impression because I hadn't even gone thru the new version book thoroughly?
Any comment would be much appreciated

regards
 
Maybe not many people have had a chance to compare the red and blue editions of Jackson. I do know that the blue edition mixes SI and Gaussian units. I recently got a good (but musty smelling ) used copy of the red edition from alibris.com.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
6K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
7K
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
10K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
6K