Are there advanced brain teaser books for physics beyond first-year principles?

  • Context: Classical 
  • Thread starter Thread starter RPinPA
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Books Physics
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the search for advanced brain teaser books in physics that go beyond first-year principles. Participants are exploring recommendations for books that present deceptively simple questions to challenge understanding in more complex areas such as relativity, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant recalls using Jearl Walker's "Flying Circus of Physics" as a powerful teaching tool for first-year physics and seeks recommendations for similar books that cover more advanced topics.
  • Another participant suggests "Thinking Physics" by Lewis Carroll Epstein as a suitable book that fits the criteria.
  • Keith Kendig's "Sink or Float" is mentioned as another recommendation.
  • Yakov Perelman's books published by Mir are also noted as being similar in nature.
  • A later reply indicates that the suggested books have been added to a wish list, showing interest in the recommendations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the value of the recommended books, but there is no consensus on a definitive list of advanced brain teaser books specifically addressing topics beyond first-year physics.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the question of whether there are sufficient advanced brain teaser books available, nor does it clarify the specific content or difficulty level of the suggested titles.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in physics education, particularly those looking for resources to challenge their understanding of advanced physics concepts.

RPinPA
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Messages
587
Reaction score
329
Many years ago in school, we used Jearl Walker's Flying Circus of Physics as a study tool. The physics principles covered are elementary, things you see in first-year physics. And yet he manages to ask questions that really test your understanding of those principles and your confidence in applying them. It's an incredibly powerful teaching tool.

I just checked Amazon and am glad to see this book is still in print. Are there other books in a similar vein that people recommend? That is, deceptively-simple physics questions?

Though this book, as I recall, requires only first-year physics as I said, I wonder if there are similar books of "brain teasers" for more advanced subjects such as relativity, E & M and QM.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Lord Jestocost and Demystifier
Physics news on Phys.org
"Thinking Physics" by Lewis Carroll Epstein is a great book in a similar vein.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Lord Jestocost, ibkev, Demystifier and 1 other person
Keith Kendig's Sink or Float.

Yakov Perelman's books published by Mir are also similar.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: kith
Thanks! Added to the wish list.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
5K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
17K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
26
Views
19K