Best book on Modern Physics? 5 choices, suggestions?

[christian0710]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for an introductury book (or several books) on modern physics that explains the history
and experiments the led to the understanding of the atom, the electron, avogadros number, Plancks constant, rutherford, quantum mechanics etc.

I want an idea of how all the theories were developped (the history) and then a book on how the experiments were preformed.

Books I've considered
Modern Physics from a to Z - James William
Principles of Modern Physics - Robert Leighton
Introduction To Modern Physics: Theoretical Foundations - John Dirk
Modern Physics - Taylor John R
Atomic Physics - Max Born.

 

[deskswirl]

Another book you might consider would be Serway, Moses and Moyer or the book by Tipler. If I remember correctly Tipler has the best diagrams of the original experiments. Serway, Moses and Moyer is an overview of everything. There is also the well-known book of Eisberg and Resnick's, Quantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Solids, Nuclei, and Particles, which starts with Planck in 1900.

 

[Kyle Kabasares]

I took my Modern Physics course in the Fall of 2014 and we used the Tipler and Llewellyn Modern Physics book (5th ed.) I found diagrams and explanations of certain phenomena such as particle in the box quite helpful. Here's the 5th ed: pdf : http://web.pdx.edu/~pmoeck/books/Tipler_Llewellyn.pdf

 

[QuantumCurt]

Physics for Scientists and Engineers, by Tipler does a pretty good job of discussing the classical experiments that led to some of the bigger discoveries in physics. The discussion of the earliest measurements of the speed of light were very interesting. Early experiments looking for the charge of an electron and various other findings are discussed as well. Here's a link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/142920124X/?tag=pfamazon01-20This isn't a textbook, but if you're interested in a more 'popular science' account of many of these same experiments, the book 'The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments' by George Johnson is a really interesting read. https://www.amazon.com/dp/140003423X/?tag=pfamazon01-20