Exercise book between underg and grad physics

[jamalkoiyess]

Hello,

I am in my last year of undergrad and wanted a good book of diverse exercises to serve both as a memory refresher on my physics and as a fun pass time for this summer. Altho my goal is something that can span most of undergrad physics, I am not looking for anything easy and would enjoy something that can be challenging and hopefully that bridges to some graduate topics.

 

[jedishrfu]

How about a GRE exam? Although most likely it will be limited to certain kinds of problems at the sophomore junior level.

There was a Dover publication book on solving physics problems across a range of fields by Moiseiwytsch on Applied Math With solutionw too.

Another would be to work through Arfken and Weber’s book on Mathematical Physics Or Wheelers Gravitation book which is a really cool book still.

 

[Vanadium 50]

My first summer of grad school, studying for the qual, I worked every single problem in Halliday and Resnick, until I got it right. Not "mostly right" or "just dropped a factor of 2" right or "just a sign error" right or "now I know how to finish it" right, but right. If you can do that, you know a lot of physics.

 

[jamalkoiyess]

How about a GRE exam?

Hated it enough when I did it, I know that it still is useful but the sheer disgust stops me

There was a Dover publication book on solving physics problems across a range of fields by Moiseiwytsch on Applied Math With solutionw too.

Upon checking it out it really seemed more of a physics book than applied math. Weird choice of title, but really up my alley. Thanks!

 

[jamalkoiyess]

My first summer of grad school, studying for the qual, I worked every single problem in Halliday and Resnick, until I got it right. Not "mostly right" or "just dropped a factor of 2" right or "just a sign error" right or "now I know how to finish it" right, but right. If you can do that, you know a lot of physics.

Nice reminder. I had it sitting in a corner for a good three years, its already here so might as well use it. Thanks for sharing.

 

[jedishrfu]

You missed the Arfken and Weber. The book by Wheeler which is really cool if not somewhat dated was recently republished with a forward by Kip Thorne outlining those last few chapters on detection which have not stood the test of time like the foundational chapters.

Wheeler's book will get you into Differential Forms and Differential Geometry.

 

[jamalkoiyess]

You missed the Arfken and Weber. The book by Wheeler which is really cool if not somewhat dated was recently republished with a forward by Kip Thorne outlining those last few chapters on detection which have not stood the test of time like the foundational chapters.

Wheeler's book will get you into Differential Forms and Differential Geometry.

I have Arfken's book, will probably use it too.

But isn't Wheeler's book the famous 1200 page tome on all things gravity? My intent was more of a refinement of my general skills in all physics sides rather than a deep dive into one. The book you mentioned by Moiseiwytsch was really spot on what I wanted. I wouldn't mind a few similar suggestions.

 

[Mondayman]

For more problems, try these:

Schaum's 3000 Solved Problems in Physics
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071763465/?tag=pfamazon01-20

1000 Solved Problems in Classical Physics
https://www.amazon.com/dp/3642119425/?tag=pfamazon01-20

1000 Solved Problems in Modern Physics
https://www.amazon.com/dp/3642043321/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Schaum's College Physics
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1259587398/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Some other texts:

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: At the same level as HRW, with a bit more interesting problems and better organization IMO.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1133947271/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Matter and Interactions: Another first-year physics text. Different style from HRW/Serway, but very good to learn physics from. Incorporates programming.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1118875869/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Also worthy is the Theoretical Physics series by Greiner. The first five volumes encompass almost all of undergrad physics, and contains lots of solved problems.

 

[robphy]

Possibly useful:

A Review of Undergraduate Physics
Benjamin F. Bayman, Morton Hamermesh
https://aapt.scitation.org/doi/abs/10.1119/1.15158?journalCode=ajp

University of California, Berkeley, physics problems, with solutions
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0139389024/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Princeton Problems in Physics with Solutions
Nathan Newbury, et al.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv3f8r5s

 

[Meir Achuz]

Try a 'solved problems book' like https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H6CYMCP/?tag=pfamazon01-20
There are also other 'problem' books.
EM is the make or break course in the first semester of grad physics.