The discussion revolves around recommendations for books suitable for self-learning physics, particularly for a second-year Aerospace Engineering student seeking to expand beyond introductory physics and engineering-focused materials. The conversation includes various suggestions across different areas of physics, including classical mechanics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics.
Participants express a variety of opinions on the best resources for learning physics, with no clear consensus on a single recommended text. Some agree on the value of both the Feynman Lectures and Susskind's series, while others debate their respective merits and suitability for the OP's background.
Participants note the importance of a solid mathematical foundation for understanding the recommended texts, and there is an acknowledgment of the high cost of textbooks, which may limit access to some resources.
This discussion may be useful for students in engineering or physics looking for self-study resources, particularly those interested in expanding their knowledge beyond introductory materials.
More like EXTREMELY over priced now haha like at minimum for science textbook would be 250+jtbell said:Can you find out what books are being used in upper-division physics courses at your university? You could browse them at your campus bookstore. Or have campus bookstores become extinct? :(
jedishrfu said:Depending on the depth, you could start with susskinds theoretical minimum books. The first one on Classical Mechanics covers Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics and some EM theory. The second extends the readers understanding to Quantum Mechanics. Prof Suskind also has a video series on these and other physics topics under the banner of the theoretical minimum.
micromass said:The OP is an aerospace engineering student. Something like the Theoretical Minimum would very likely be way too easy for him, and not indepth enough.
I would like to hear from the OP what exactly from physics he knows and what he is trying to learn.
kith said:I like both the Feynman lectures and the theoretical minimum series, so let me add a comment on the difference between the two.
The Feynman lectures are extensive. They basically cover all topics of theoretical physics up to the level of a Bachelor's degree. The presentation focuses on physical phenomena and intuition. The theoretical minimum series on the other hand doesn't consider many concrete physical phenomena but focuses on very general ideas like how can we describe a physical system in general. It is also much shorter than the Feynman lectures.
After having read the theoretical minimum, you will understand the important ideas of modern theoretical physics but you won't be able to apply it much to the real world. After having worked through the Feynman lectures, you will have a more intuitive understanding of the physical phenomena around us.
/edit: I've just realized that this thread is old, so it probably won't help the OP anymore. Maybe it helps someone else.
I mentioned it too but no one seems to read anymore. Perhaps we should just close the thread.jasonRF said:The OP posted 8 months ago and was "last seen" in December. This is a stale question.
jedishrfu said:Perhaps we should just close the thread.