Recommendation's for beginners books on physics

[LouisCB]

Hi, I am 14 and am really interested in physics.

I've been drawn into the subject by shows on TV about the universe and by viewing objects in space with my telescope. However now that the brilliance of planets and black holes and super novas has worn off, i want to get into real physics. By this i mean academic theories and complicated ideas. I already understand the basics of physics (theory of relativity, the lives of stars and planets, big bang theory etc.) and my capabilities in maths and science are shown by the fact that I am in the higher sets for both these subjects. So i really need to find out the best books for beginners that aren't to easy, but still bearing in mind that my scientific and mathematic knowledge is still only GCSE level.

thanks and any recommendations would be appreciated.

:)

 

[finnk]

thinking physics by lewis carroll epstein is a good book for beginner..
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0935218084/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[LouisCB]

thanks, i'll look into it.

 

[mal4mac]

I never found reading physics books 'with a few simple equations' very satisfying. I was always left wanting the real equations...

So let your GCSE studies lead you. If you take all the physics and maths courses on offer you will eventually be able to tackle university textbooks, with 'real equations'. Your school textbooks should be fairly tough - so set yourself your task of knowing everything in them & doing all the problems.

Meanwhile, to keep your 'overall' interest going, keep reading the latest Stephen Hawking and Brian Greene books when they come out...

Brian Greene's previous book ("The fabric of the cosmos") has mathematical appendices that you might like to chew on for the moment.

Are you not taking a separate physics GCSE? If the school does not offer this you might be able to take it at the local technical college, or through distance learning.

 

[LouisCB]

No i am taking a separate GCSE course in physics (in all 3 science topics) but i found that I am more advanced than the majority of the students in physics class so i wanted to make up for time lost. Textbooks are alright but they tend to be more about the facts of physics, I am more interested in the theories and conceptual ideas.

I'll go down to my local library to look up the book, does Brian Greene have a few good books or is his latest just a one off?

Thanks a lot!

 

[romsofia]

No i am taking a separate GCSE course in physics (in all 3 science topics) but i found that I am more advanced than the majority of the students in physics class so i wanted to make up for time lost. Textbooks are alright but they tend to be more about the facts of physics, I am more interested in the theories and conceptual ideas.

I'll go down to my local library to look up the book, does Brian Greene have a few good books or is his latest just a one off?

Thanks a lot!

They aren't facts, the information in textbooks are theroies. If you know calculus, fundamentals of physics by walker halliday resnick is where I would start.

 

[LouisCB]

They aren't facts, the information in textbooks are theroies. If you know calculus, fundamentals of physics by walker halliday resnick is where I would start.

what i mean is they are usually like "the speed of light is x. some materials are superconductors at a a temperature of absolute 0" which i find interesting, but doesn't really quench my thirst for knowledge!

thanks for the reccomendation anyway!