Jackson's Electrodynamics: 1st edition vs 3rd edition

[hgandh]

Hello all. I am currently using Jackson's Electrodynamics book to study the subject and was wondering how different is the 1st edition from the 3rd. So far, I have read the first chapter and have done most of the problems from the first edition. My question is, how much will I miss out on if I use the first edition over the 3rd for the remainder of the book? (I found the 1st edition for free so I don't really want to spend money on the 3rd if it's not completely necessary).
Thanks.

 

[kreil]

The preface for the third edition outlines the changes in detail. I think you can make your own determination based on that info. Probably the biggest difference is that the third edition uses SI units, which might make things easier.

 

[phyzguy]

I used the first edition in a course when the instructor was using the third edition. I didn't have any problems with the content, but some of the problems had changed. When this happened, I just photocopied the updated problem from one of the other students.

 

[KiggenPig]

Would Griffiths' Intro to Electrodynamics be sufficient background for starting Jackson's text?

 

[mpresic]

Griffith might give the electrodynamic background, but Jackson would probably need some Mathematical Physics prerequisite like from Arfken, or Byron and Fuller, Seshadri, or the comprehensive Morse and Feshbach.

 

[vanhees71]

I'd prefer the 1st or 2nd edition over the 3rd, because the former two are written entirely in the 2nd-best choice of units (the Gaussian units; the best choice are rationlized Heaviside-Lorentz units). SCNR ;-).