Astrophysics Cosmology and Astrophysics through problems: Padmanabhan

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The discussion highlights challenges faced while using Padmanabhan's problem book on cosmology and astrophysics, particularly regarding the difficulty and time-consuming nature of some questions. Users express frustration with the astrophysics sections compared to the more familiar general relativity content. The author emphasizes that the book is intended as a supplement to conventional learning, suggesting that it may not be suitable for those without prior knowledge of the subjects. It is recommended to use this book alongside a more introductory textbook for better understanding. Overall, the book's design aims to facilitate learning through problem-solving rather than standalone mastery.
ergospherical
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I’ve really been struggling with this book since I started it a couple of days ago. It’s essentially a problem book designed to teach you about astrophysics, structure formation, radiation, fluid dynamics, etc. through a curated set of questions.

Some of the questions take a ridiculously long time, and others I’d have no clue how to attempt without generous hand-holding from the (admittedly very well-written) solutions. This is more of an issue for the astrophysics-based sections than the more familiar GR-based sections.

Any thoughts? Am I using this book incorrectly? Presumably Padmanabhan’s other (conventional) textbook on structure formation would serve as an ideal companion, but I feel that’d sort of defeat the entire point of this book (which is to learn through direct exposure).
 
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I suspect you are using it incorrectly.

The author makes it plain in the Preface that the book is intended to be a supplement to 'the conventional modes of learning' (p. xvi) and in the section entitled 'How to use this book' that 'If you know nothing about a subject, I am not certain whether this book - by itself - can help you to master it. In such a situation, it is best to use this book as a supplement to a more introductory conventional textbook.' (p. xxi).
 
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By looking around, it seems like Dr. Hassani's books are great for studying "mathematical methods for the physicist/engineer." One is for the beginner physicist [Mathematical Methods: For Students of Physics and Related Fields] and the other is [Mathematical Physics: A Modern Introduction to Its Foundations] for the advanced undergraduate / grad student. I'm a sophomore undergrad and I have taken up the standard calculus sequence (~3sems) and ODEs. I want to self study ahead in mathematics...
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