Beginner's Guide to Quantum Mechanics

[engnr_arsalan]

hello every one,i m an engineering students..these days,after reading about Mr.Heisenberg,i m really intrusted in quantum mechanics and its physics..i want to start from very basics..can anyone please guide me..

 

[micromass]

It seems to me that you've just read some pop-sci book on quantum physics and that this interested you. You have to realize that actual physics is very different than pop-sci books. It requires a lot of work and a lot of people think it is boring. If you start learning physics, then you must realize that it is very plausible that you will just stop after a while because it is too boring or because it requires too much work. Although, maybe you will actually like the mathematics and the physics, who knows??

I'm sure many people here are willing to guide you. But first you'll need to tell us what knowledge you have of mathematics and physics?? Which formal physics classes did you take in HS or university? What kind of mathematics do you know?

 

[engnr_arsalan]

well..how should i put it..i m in final year of mechanical engineering..i have studied subjects like ordinary differential equations, advance calculus and linear algebra,advance mathematical techniques etc..and one knows that engineering without knowledge of physics is impossible..

 

[carlgrace]

Quantum physics *is* very interesting, but it is also very hard. You can go very far in mechanical engineering just knowing classical physics.

Even in my field, integrated circuits, classical physics is that I mostly use. For the quantum stuff, you generally just learn the results.

 

[gmax137]

When I was in school we used Foundations of Modern Physics by Paul Tipler, and I found it very enjoyable introduction to quantum mech. I don't know if it is still in print or what others think of it. But if you want to start at the beginning I think you need a book like that one.

 

[engnr_arsalan]

thanks gmax..

 

[JesseC]

You take a look at this:

http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/qmech/Quantum/Quantum.html