Can anyone recommend or advise against a book?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for books on motion, specifically focusing on Newtonian mechanics and practical applications rather than quantum mechanics or special relativity. Participants also touch on the relevance of Euclid's Elements of Geometry.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses interest in finding a good book on motion, particularly Newtonian mechanics, and questions whether Newton's Principia would be a suitable starting point given their background in physics.
  • Another participant argues against the suitability of Newton's Principia, suggesting Feynman's Lectures as a better alternative for someone with a calculus background.
  • A different participant views the Principia as primarily of historical interest and recommends a specific book link instead.
  • One participant comments on the general lack of readership for the Principia and suggests that it is not aimed at laypeople, implying it is complex and not accessible.
  • Concerns are raised about Euclid's Elements, with one participant advising against it as a textbook due to its assumption of prior knowledge and the difficulty of its translations, which may hinder understanding.
  • Another participant reiterates the view that Newton's writing style was not intended for the general public, emphasizing that it was designed for those with strong mathematical skills.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the suitability of Newton's Principia or Euclid's Elements, with participants expressing differing opinions on both texts. Some recommend alternatives while others critique the original works.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of familiarity with the texts discussed, and there are concerns about the accessibility and pedagogical value of both Newton's and Euclid's works. The discussion reflects differing perspectives on the intended audience and complexity of these historical texts.

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I can't seem to find a good book on motion. I know it's a broad subject, but I'm interested in Newtonian mechanics, full trajectories (with lift, drag, etc.), and basically anything that's not quantum mechanics or special relativity. I'm more concerned with principles that are applicable to everyday motion that I see (golf balls, car crashes, etc.).

Any good recommendations? Would Newton's Principia be a good starter? I have taken physics two years so far in school, so I have a decent background. Any help?


PS - Is Euclid's Elements of Geometry worth reading? I know it's not related, but it seems interesting. Any thoughts?
 
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No, Newton's Principia is not suitable. I suggest Feynman Vol I if you've taken calculus.
 
Oh my. Not many people read Principia (especially not Russell-Whitehead but Newton!). I never read it because no one else seems to read it.

I don't think I am qualified to recommend a good book in physics (others can) but I can comment on Euclid's book. Elements - yes there are some people who read it today but I think that is bound to be something very inefficient and rare.

If you want a good grip on Euclidean Geometry, I suggest reading this list here.

I found this helpful. The books I particularly want to recommend are one by Kiselev, Coxeter's "Geometry Revisited", and if you want to go further Coexeter's "Introduction to Geometry." If you have good grip of high school mathematics I would just start with "Geometry Revisited" right away.
 
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Newton was kind of an arrogant prick, in the sense that he wrote his book in such a way that only good mathematicians would be able to read it. It was definitely not aimed to explain the concept of motion it to the "layman".
 
Regarding Elements, I would recommend staying away from it, its not meant to be a textbook. It doesn't explain things at all, it just assumes you understand proofs and dives right in. Furthermore, most translations make the math much harder to learn, eg:
Since each of the angles BAC and BAG is right, it follows that with a straight line BA, and at the point A on it, the two straight lines AC and AG not lying on the same side make the adjacent angles equal to two right angles, therefore CA is in a straight line with AG.
sounds like gibberish even after learning what the proof is trying to say. You're not going to use language to communicate with any 21st century human.
 
xepma said:
Newton was kind of an arrogant prick, in the sense that he wrote his book in such a way that only good mathematicians would be able to read it. It was definitely not aimed to explain the concept of motion it to the "layman".

Layman is an euphemism. Newton used to word "vulgar".
 

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