Finding the Right Physics Books for College: A Guide for Students

[wolly]

Hi,I m studying for college and I need to receive some info from you guys. Which books should I use to study mechanics,thermodynamics,electricity and magnetism?
I have no idea what books I should study because my own physics teacher has some pdfs in her USB and I can t borrow the USB because that would be cheating.
I would like to learn from books with animated drawings!

 

[Vanadium 50]

What text does your instructor recommend?

 

[phinds]

I would like to learn from books with animated drawings!

On-line videos may have animated drawings, but text books certainly will not.

Oh, and I do not recommend on-line videos. If you are serious about physics, use an actual text book.

 

[wolly]

What text does your instructor recommend?

She didn t recommend me anything!

[Mentor Note: post edited to remove an inappropriate comment]

 

[wolly]

On-line videos may have animated drawings, but text books certainly will not.

Oh, and I do not recommend on-line videos. If you are serious about physics, use an actual text book.

In a book which I downloaded they showed me something with drawings. I don t remember the book but I remember there were some formulas explained!

 

[phinds]

In a book which I downloaded they showed me something with drawings. I don t remember the book but I remember there were some formulas explained!

I don't understand what this has to do with animated videos.

 

[PhDeezNutz]

In a book which I downloaded they showed me something with drawings. I don t remember the book but I remember there were some formulas explained!

You’ve described almost every text book ever. I’m starting to think this is a troll thread.

 

[PhDeezNutz]

Alright if you’re looking for a general textbook that covers an introductory broad range of topics. Young and Friedman University Physics.

 

[Vanadium 50]

She didn t recommend me anything!

[Mentor Note: post edited to remove an inappropriate comment]

Right back atcha!

But let me see if I understand. You asked "What textbook should I use?" and she was completely silent? That's.....highly unusual.

 

[Mark44]

my own physics teacher has some pdfs in her USB and I can t borrow the USB because that would be cheating.

What do you mean by "USB"? The usual expansion of this acronym is Universal Serial Bus. Do you mean USB drive AKA "thumb drive" or "zip drive" etc.?

 

[wolly]

What do you mean by "USB"? The usual expansion of this acronym is Universal Serial Bus. Do you mean USB drive AKA "thumb drive" or "zip drive" etc.?

Yes an USB drive. She won t let me borrow it and she told me that I can find some of the courses online and that was the reason why I had to use piracy. I m sorry if I bothered you but my teacher is very selfish!
There is a campus on my University but the courses are just a bunch of formulas with no explication!

 

[wolly]

Right back atcha!

But let me see if I understand. You asked "What textbook should I use?" and she was completely silent? That's.....highly unusual.

Well she won t listen to me and she told me that if I try to receive help from her courses I would be expelled from the University and I won t be able to graduate!

 

[wolly]

I'll be completely honest,the physics courses belong to some pdfs which the teacher owns.There are no books in this course. I tried to negociate with her to send me some courses but she refused me!

 

[Mark44]

Yes an USB drive. She won t let me borrow it and she told me that I can find some of the courses online and that was the reason why I had to use piracy.

Maybe she has good reasons for not letting you borrow her USB drive, such as that it might have exams and solutions as well as personal information. She has given you an alternate source -- the online courses.

I m sorry if I bothered you but my teacher is very selfish!

Like I said, maybe there are legitimate reasons for her to not lend the USB drive to you.

There is a campus on my University but the courses are just a bunch of formulas with no explication!

I find that very hard to believe.

 

[berkeman]

she told me that if I try to receive help from her courses I would be expelled from the University and I won t be able to graduate!

Do you mean like posting on PF?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Well she won t listen to me and she told me that if I try to receive help from her courses I would be expelled from the University

Do you mean like posting on PF?

Good golly, @wolly.

I think we shouldn't risk that.

 

[Drakkith]

Can't go wrong with an old edition of University Physics by Young and Freedman.

 

[Muu9]

Here are some standard texts:

University Physics by Young and Freedman
Fundamentals/principles of Physics by Halliday Resnick Walker
Physics by Halliday Resnick Krane
Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Serway and Jewett

Most of these should be available for cheap in international editions

 

[Vanadium 50]

We don't know if this is calculus-based, algebra-based or conceptual, so we may be recommending the wrong books. Also, because the teacher is allegedly playing "I've got a a secret" we cannot suggest a book that is a good complement or addition.

 

[PhDeezNutz]

We don't know if this is calculus-based, algebra-based or conceptual, so we may be recommending the wrong books. Also, because the teacher is allegedly playing "I've got a a secret" we cannot suggest a book that is a good complement or addition.

Yeah this whole situation is very weird. Personally I wouldn’t consider it cheating to ask for a book recommendation on PF but if the Prof does…..

If the OP isn’t scheming (or trolling) I wish them the best.

But my head hurts trying to make sense of any of this……I’m gonna bow out.