Find the Best Physics Books - Special Thanks to Micromass

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for physics textbooks suitable for various levels of understanding, particularly focusing on classical and modern physics. Participants share personal experiences with different books and express their preferences based on mathematical prerequisites and teaching styles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest specific textbooks, such as Giancoli's 4th edition and various others, for their depth and detail.
  • Others emphasize the importance of calculus knowledge before tackling certain physics texts, arguing that understanding calculus is crucial for a solid foundation in physics.
  • Several participants mention their high school textbooks and express mixed feelings about their effectiveness, noting the balance between mathematical rigor and readability.
  • There are repeated requests for recommendations on textbooks that do not require calculus or use minimal calculus, indicating a concern for accessibility among learners.
  • Some participants share links to books available on Amazon, highlighting their personal experiences with these texts.
  • One participant expresses frustration with teaching physics concepts without calculus, underscoring the challenges of explaining fundamental ideas without mathematical tools.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on which textbooks are best, as opinions vary widely based on individual experiences and preferences regarding the use of calculus in physics education. Some advocate for learning calculus first, while others seek resources that accommodate those without calculus knowledge.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions about participants' prior knowledge of calculus and the varying definitions of what constitutes a "good" physics textbook. The discussion reflects a range of personal experiences and educational backgrounds.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students seeking physics textbooks, educators looking for teaching resources, and anyone interested in understanding the relationship between mathematics and physics learning.

Emmanuel_Euler
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(special thanks to micromass and everyone who helped me or answered my questions about calculus books).

now i need a book or books about Classical or modern or general physics.

any help??
 
Physics news on Phys.org
is there another books??
i want textbooks
 
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lonely_nucleus said:
this was my physics textbook in high school, it has a lot of math but there is no calculus involved. The book includes many applications and is not the funnest to read but it teaches well.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0028267214/?tag=pfamazon01-20
thanks.
 
Hello, I've already got the Douglas C. Giancoli 4th edition physics book, but I'm looking for something I can use for a reference that has more detail and goes more in-depth. If you know anything I'd be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
 
Bullington said:
Hello, I've already got the Douglas C. Giancoli 4th edition physics book, but I'm looking for something I can use for a reference that has more detail and goes more in-depth. If you know anything I'd be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
merrill physics principles and problems goes into a lot of detail
 
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Emmanuel_Euler said:
thanks.
friend if you really want to thank the replier you can like his reply.
 
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  • #10
can you tell me about this textbook (physics for scientists and engineers 8th edition).
 
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  • #11
You can find these on the used market for a handful of dollars.

Intro to physics in general: French, "Newtonian Mechanics"
Mechanics: Kleppner & Kolenkov, "Introduction to Mechanics"
EM: Kip, "Fundamentals of electricity and magnetism"
Waves: French, "Vibrations and Waves"
All-in-one tome: Ohanian, "Physics", 2nd edition
 
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  • #12
SredniVashtar said:
You can find these on the used market for a handful of dollars.

Intro to physics in general: French, "Newtonian Mechanics"
Mechanics: Kleppner & Kolenkov, "Introduction to Mechanics"
EM: Kip, "Fundamentals of electricity and magnetism"
Waves: French, "Vibrations and Waves"
All-in-one tome: Ohanian, "Physics", 2nd edition
thank you srednivashtar.
please can you tell me about this textbook (physics for scientists and engineers 8th edition)?
i want to find a good physics textbook for My cousin is is in college studying Physics.
 
  • #13
SredniVashtar said:
You can find these on the used market for a handful of dollars.

Intro to physics in general: French, "Newtonian Mechanics"
Mechanics: Kleppner & Kolenkov, "Introduction to Mechanics"
EM: Kip, "Fundamentals of electricity and magnetism"
Waves: French, "Vibrations and Waves"
All-in-one tome: Ohanian, "Physics", 2nd edition

The problem is the OP does not yet know Calculus. Kleppner is requires at least calculus 2. Solid books I may add. My friends favorite book is French and Purcell tw.
 
  • #14
I would suggest trying to learn calculus before you begin to do anything else.
 
  • #15
PLEASE can anyone tell me which textbook is good? PLEASE. PLEASE .PLEASE
 
  • #18
thank all of you for help.
 
  • #20
MidgetDwarf said:
The problem is the OP does not yet know Calculus. Kleppner is requires at least calculus 2. Solid books I may add. My friends favorite book is French and Purcell tw.

I was misled by the fact the the OP thanked other posters for their help with calculus books.
Physics without calculus? Ugh!
Well, French uses the minimum amount possible of calculus. Really, the bare minimum.

But in general, I believe it's simpler and more fruitful to learn calculus and then physics than trying to study physics without calculus. There's too much hoop jumping there.

BTW, I do like Purcell, but Kip has a more traditional approach, better suited IMHO for a beginner (also, you can buy it for less than ten bucks). Purcell can come after Kip (or equivalent text, even the EM part of Ohanian) and some basic introduction to special relativity.
But physics without calculus? Brrr... Makes my skin crawl.
 
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  • #21
  • #22
Emmanuel_Euler said:
PLEASE can anyone tell me which textbook is good? PLEASE. PLEASE .PLEASE
I love the Kleppner one. But IMHO none are good until you have a firm grasp on calculus. Personally when I started re-studying, I only concentrated on math. Otherwise it's like building a beautiful castle on a weak foundation. I'm not sure your motivation but if it's a future in physics concentrate on the calculus first.

On a side note my son did steal my book and I had to get another from Amazon because I'm OCD and that book had a spot on my shelf! I paid less than $20 with shipping. And despite him not having mastered calculus (he's 13) he seems to be enjoying my book.
 
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  • #23
momof4 said:
I love the Kleppner one. But IMHO none are good until you have a firm grasp on calculus. Personally when I started re-studying, I only concentrated on math. Otherwise it's like building a beautiful castle on a weak foundation. I'm not sure your motivation but if it's a future in physics concentrate on the calculus first.

On a side note my son did steal my book and I had to get another from Amazon because I'm OCD and that book had a spot on my shelf! I paid less than $20 with shipping. And despite him not having mastered calculus (he's 13) he seems to be enjoying my book.
thank you for help.
 
  • #24
lonely_nucleus said:
this one is supposed to be very good but it uses some calculus, it is very commonly used at univeristies
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0321696867/?tag=pfamazon01-20
I bought that book:rolleyes:for myself.
really really helped me.again thank you my dear friend lonely nucleus,and all who helped me.
 
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  • #25
Can i find solution manual for university physics??
 
  • #26
The most difficult lecture, I had to give ever was a "non-calculus physics lecture". Fortunately it was not for a whole semester but just as a substitute for a colleague for 2 or 3 sessions. If you ever had to explain what velocity and acceleration is and you are not allowed to use derivatives, you really appreciate the math very, very, very much!
 

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