Intro Physics How useful is the "with Modern Physics" section of Tipler's Physics?

[NovaeSci]

I originally owned Tipler's Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics; however, after several house moves, it needed a replacement.

So, I bought it again, not realising that the version I bought doesn't have the "Modern Physics" chapters (34-41).

How useful are these sections of the textbook? Is it more like a brief afterthought into the topics you will most likely delve into with much more focused textbooks as part of a Physics degree?

Just to add: I'm an undergraduate, studying an MPhys (Hons) in Physics, who is only just starting to cover the topics in the textbook, so I'm not that far into the degree just yet.

I'm just wondering if these extra sections are really all that useful - as in, when I get to study those topics, specific textbooks catering to those topics might be better suited. The person I bought it off listed it as having Modern Physics; however, for £13, I'm wondering if it's worth the hassle to send back from not having those sections.

But...I would rather get the opinions of people who know much more about this than I, just in case Tipler's textbook does a good treatment which will definitrly be worth having.

Thanks for taking the time to read and any thanks for any help you can give.

Best wishes,

Michael

 

[Vanadium 50]

A PhD takes many courses in what would be called "Modern Physics" (I think I took 14) and an elementary-level textbook covers this all in a chapter, perhaps two. So of course it's superficial.

 

[hutchphd]

My best course in Modern Physics was taught from a new (in 1972) book by Paul A Tipler called Elementary Modern Physics.. The book and the course were just right...book probably really cheap now.
Thanks to professor Robert Pohl at Cornell and prof Tipler.

 

[NovaeSci]

My best course in Modern Physics was taught from a new (in 1972) book by Paul A Tipler called Elementary Modern Physics.. The book and the course were just right...book probably really cheap now.
Thanks to professor Robert Pohl at Cornell and prof Tipler.

It's funny you mention that, as I was also going to ask if it was worth getting Tipler's Modern Physics (link below). I've just googled Elementary Modern Physics, and it seems that Modern Physics is its successor.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/142925078X/

Would it definitely be worth getting this book in that case? I'm assuming that it's a more comprehensive overview of the topics in Physics for Scientists and Engineer?

 

[NovaeSci]

A PhD takes many courses in what would be called "Modern Physics" (I think I took 14) and an elementary-level textbook covers this all in a chapter, perhaps two. So of course it's superficial.

Well, it's an extra 8 chapters, but it only spans a couple hundred pages. But, as you said, I guess it probably isn't worth it, compared to learning it from a much more complete source?

 

[vanhees71]

My best course in Modern Physics was taught from a new (in 1972) book by Paul A Tipler called Elementary Modern Physics.. The book and the course were just right...book probably really cheap now.
Thanks to professor Robert Pohl at Cornell and prof Tipler.

Well, I'd not buy a textbook on modern physics, which usually covers elementary-particle physics in addition to the introduction to special relativity and quantum mechanics, which predates the complete discovery of the Standard Model.

 

[hutchphd]

There were updates I would suppose, probably also cheap. Whats this standard model stuff? (just kidding ! although I am woefully ignorant)

 

[dextercioby]

I somewhat suspect that the missing "modern physics" chapters may contain a bit of outdated material, especially in the quantum section, which you'd have to unlearn anyway. Only to give an example: inclusion of Bohr's model of the atom.