1st year Undergraduate Grad Physics books

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A mathematics student transitioning to their second year seeks summer study materials for first-year physics prerequisites, including topics like Astronomy, Quantum Phenomena, and Classical Mechanics. The recommended textbook is Young & Freedman's University Physics, but additional suggestions include the Feynman Lectures, Griffith's Electrodynamics, Taylor's Mechanics, and Schroeder's Thermal Physics. These resources are noted for being suitable for advanced undergraduates and provide a deeper understanding of introductory topics, with a variety of practice problems available. The Feynman Lectures are particularly challenging, aimed at top students, while the other texts cover foundational concepts at a more mature level. Overall, these recommendations will effectively prepare the student for their upcoming physics modules.
ltjrpliskin
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Hey guys, I am a maths student going onto second year. I wanted to take some physics modules but I'd need some 1st year physics pre-requisites. The topics I need to learn over the summer are:

Astronomy
Quantum Phenomena
Particle Physics
Waves
Electricity and Magnetism
Classical Mechanics and Relativity

The recommended book by the university is Young & Freedman's University Physics (covers all the above topics), but I was wondering if you could give me other suggestions? I am really into physics so something that would go deeper than a 1st year course would also be fine.

Thank you in advance! :)
 
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Feynman Lectures on Physics

Griffith's book on electrodynamics

Taylor, Mechanics

Schroeder, Thermal Physics
 
Jorriss said:
Feynman Lectures on Physics

Griffith's book on electrodynamics

Taylor, Mechanics

Schroeder, Thermal Physics

Thank you! Would these go beyond the first year since they are dedicated to a specific topic? And do they have lots of questions to practice on too? :)
 
ltjrpliskin said:
Thank you! Would these go beyond the first year since they are dedicated to a specific topic? And do they have lots of questions to practice on too? :)
They all go beyond a first year.

The feynman lectures are lectures for an intro course aimed at the very best at Caltech. That means they are freshman topics at a very high level.

Taylor, Griffiths and Schroeder are all designed for UD sequences but they cover intro topics too but at a mature level so, if you pick and choose what to read, it's approachable if you know some calculus and such.

They have tons of problems ranging from plug-n-chug to very, very challenging.
 
Jorriss said:
They all go beyond a first year.

The feynman lectures are lectures for an intro course aimed at the very best at Caltech. That means they are freshman topics at a very high level.

Taylor, Griffiths and Schroeder are all designed for UD sequences but they cover intro topics too but at a mature level so, if you pick and choose what to read, it's approachable if you know some calculus and such.

They have tons of problems ranging from plug-n-chug to very, very challenging.

I just checked the contents page on Taylor's Classical Mechanics... it has special relativity in it which is awesome! :)
 
This thread only works as a summary from the original source: List of STEM Masterworks in Physics, Mechanics, Electrodynamics... The original thread got very long and somewhat hard to read so I have compiled the recommendations from that thread in an online (Google Drive) spreadsheet. SUMMARY Permits are granted so you can make comments on the spreadsheet but I'll initially be the only one capable of edition. This is to avoid the possibility of someone deleting everything either by mistake...

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