Rigorous E&M and thermodynamics books with challenging problems

[UncertaintyAjay]

So, I am deeply unsatisfied with the way I've been taught E&M and thermodynamics in school. Despite having done AP Physics C: E & M and having got a 5 in it, I feel my understanding is lacking. Could you guys ( and girls) please recommend something rigorous for me to use to teach myself.Books and/or video lectures are good. Preferably something with CHALLENGING accompanying problems.

 

[vanhees71]

I don't know, what I mean by "rigoros" and what "AP Physics C" means, but a good starting point are for sure the "Feynman Lectures". They are not mathematically rigoros but focused on the physics.

 

[UncertaintyAjay]

Yep, I'm working my way through them. But they don't have any accompanying problems, so... But terrific fun. Feynman explains things beautifully.

 

[vanhees71]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465060714/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[UncertaintyAjay]

I did not know that existed. Thank you very much! I am now a very very happy man. I'm in India so it'll be at least a month before its delivered here. Any suggestions to tide me over till then?

 

[atyy]

In that month, you could try mastering the "physical" derivation of the Lamor formula. And also compare it with the mathematical derivation using the Lienard-Wiechert potentials.
http://blog.cupcakephysics.com/elec...homsons-derivation-of-the-larmor-formula.html (physical derivation)
http://fermi.la.asu.edu/PHY531/larmor/index.html (mathematical derivation)

You can also try the qualifying exams of various universities (some provide solutions).
https://www.princeton.edu/physics/graduate-program/prelims/
http://jonathanwhitmore.com/physics/physics-quals
http://physicsweb.phy.uic.edu/graduate/guidelines.php
http://physics.columbia.edu/qalifying-exam-quals
http://physics.uoregon.edu/grad_studies/phd_qualifier/

As for notes, Richard Fitzpatrick has a good sets at undergraduate and graduate levels.
http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/em/em.html
http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/jk1/jk1.html

David Tong also has good notes, and links to other good resources.
http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/tong/em.html

None of those are rigourous. For rigour, you could try https://www.amazon.com/dp/1461291135/?tag=pfamazon01-20 (I haven't read it).

 

[atyy]

As for thermodynamics, https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521873428/?tag=pfamazon01-20 has one chapter on the subject, and solutions to selected problems at the back.

A free version is available at http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/...chanics-of-particles-fall-2013/lecture-notes/ with video lectures at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUl4u3cNGP60gl3fdUTKRrt5t_GPx2sRg.

Once again, the approach is not rigourous.