What are the best physics and math books for high school?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying the best physics and math textbooks suitable for high school students, particularly those in grades 9 to 12. Participants explore the challenges of selecting appropriate materials given the variability in educational standards and curricula across different countries.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests recommendations for international physics and math books that cover all necessary information for high school.
  • Several participants note that the suitability of textbooks can vary significantly based on the educational system and final exams in different countries.
  • Some argue that there are no universally accepted "best" books, suggesting that the choice should depend on individual goals and current knowledge.
  • Others express skepticism about the quality of typical high school textbooks, suggesting that university-level textbooks might be more beneficial.
  • Participants emphasize the importance of detailing one's current knowledge in physics and math to receive tailored recommendations.
  • There is a discussion about the adequacy of the participant's current knowledge in physics and math, with some suggesting that they may not be putting in enough effort to seek appropriate resources.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the choice of textbooks is highly dependent on individual circumstances, such as educational goals and existing knowledge. However, there is no consensus on specific books or curricula that are universally applicable.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of consensus on what constitutes the "best" textbooks and the dependence on specific educational systems and final exams. The discussion also highlights the variability in educational quality across different countries.

ricky33
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What are the best physics and math books that countains all the information needed for high school I need internationals books that have the best curriculum from the grade 9 to 12 . The main thing is when I will learn physics in the university I don't want to stop on anything without knowing it .
 
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It's not an easy question, because every school system prepares the students for a specific final exam which can be very different from a country to another (graduation in the USA, gaokao in China, abitur in Germany, baccalaureat in France, etc ... ). It would not surprise me that an excellent student in one country fails miserably in another. So your choice should depend on the exam that you are passing.
 
geoffrey159 said:
It's not an easy question, because every school system prepares the students for a specific final exam which can be very different from a country to another (graduation in the USA, gaokao in China, abitur in Germany, baccalaureat in France, etc ... ). It would not surprise me that an excellent student in one country fails miserably in another. So your choice should depend on the exam that you are passing.
I am asking this to not fail in other countries I want the books that are confirmed from the international physics departement as the best books for high school grade 9-10-11-12
 
You really can't compare. Try to take these exams and you'll see that the expectations are very different. You should ask ' I'm chinese, what are the best books to prepare university in China ? '.
 
ricky33 said:
I am asking this to not fail in other countries I want the books that are confirmed from the international physics departement as the best books for high school grade 9-10-11-12

There are no such books. You're asking the wrong questions. You should tell us what your goal is. You should tell us your current knowledge. Then you should ask for the best books which would take you towards your goal given your current knowledge. You seem overly focused on some kind of "international system", which doesn't exist.
 
micromass said:
There are no such books. You're asking the wrong questions. You should tell us what your goal is. You should tell us your current knowledge. Then you should ask for the best books which would take you towards your goal given your current knowledge. You seem overly focused on some kind of "international system", which doesn't exist.
+1
 
micromass said:
There are no such books. You're asking the wrong questions. You should tell us what your goal is. You should tell us your current knowledge. Then you should ask for the best books which would take you towards your goal given your current knowledge. You seem overly focused on some kind of "international system", which doesn't exist.
I am in grade 11 when I will finish high school I am going to study physics at university in USA (I am not fro USA) all I need is the best physics textbooks for grade 9-10-11-12 and the best math textbooks for each of these grades because physics and math books in my country (middle east) are not good compared to USA so I will go to university with a lot of thing that I haven't seen them in my high school books . So I think USA has the best physics and math books curriculum in the world I want the books used in high school there and if its not USA then which country ? And what are the books used there ?
 
  • #10
ricky33 said:
So I think USA has the best physics and math books curriculum in the world

Think twice there. The usual US high schools are not very good. And the average US university is not good. There are many European or Asian universities which are definitely up to par or even better than US universities. Not to mention that they're a LOT cheaper. But ok, your dream is to go to US universities. Sure. I'm not going to answer your question because I don't know which books they use in the US high schools (they're probably very bad books), and because I don't think you're asking the right question.
 
  • #11
micromass said:
Think twice there. The usual US high schools are not very good. And the average US university is not good. There are many European or Asian universities which are definitely up to par or even better than US universities. Not to mention that they're a LOT cheaper. But ok, your dream is to go to US universities. Sure. I'm not going to answer your question because I don't know which books they use in the US high schools (they're probably very bad books), and because I don't think you're asking the right question.
I want the physics book for grade 9 that can contain all to let me be ready for higher . what's wrong with this question ? Forgot about USA . IT can be from any country
 
  • #12
You should tell us in detail what you know of physics and math.

I personally think all physics books from high school are crap. You're better off going with a university textbook.
 
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  • #13
micromass said:
You should tell us in detail what you know of physics and math.

I personally think all physics books from high school are crap. You're better off going with a university textbook.
so it's better to finish high school using books of my country (middle east) then get a university textbook ?
 
  • #14
ricky33 said:
so it's better to finish high school using books of my country (middle east) then get a university textbook ?

No, it's better to get a university textbook right now if you're ready to handle it.
 
  • #15
micromass said:
No, it's better to get a university textbook right now if you're ready to handle it.
and which one is good ?
 
  • #16
ricky33 said:
and which one is good ?

Sigh... That's where you tell us your current background in physics in math. And no, saying you're in grade 11 is not a detailed explanation. Actually list the topics you know of math and physics.
 
  • #17
micromass said:
Sigh... That's where you tell us your current background in physics in math. And no, saying you're in grade 11 is not a detailed explanation. Actually list the topics you know of math and physics.
I think that it's not a lot of things that's why I want a high school book . physics : Newton laws , motion , DC ,AC voltage , waves , optics
 
  • #18
And math?
 
  • #19
micromass said:
And math?
vectors , linear system , scalar product , absolute value , trigonometric functions , cartesian product
 
  • #20
ricky33 said:
vectors , linear system , scalar product , absolute value , trigonometric functions , cartesian product

You're really not putting in much effort in this, are you?

OK, so you know about trigonometry? Trig functions, trig identities, manipulation of trig identities, trig equations, applications to triangles and circles?
You know about analytic geometry? Equations of lines and planes? Dot product? Vectorial product?
Algebra? Solving polynomial equations? Solving inequalities? Roots, powers, logarithms? Parabolas and quadratic equations? Sketching functions? Systems of equations? Systems of inequalities?
Calculus? Limits? Derivatives? Integrals?
 
  • #21
micromass said:
You're really not putting in much effort in this, are you?

OK, so you know about trigonometry? Trig functions, trig identities, manipulation of trig identities, trig equations, applications to triangles and circles?
You know about analytic geometry? Equations of lines and planes? Dot product? Vectorial product?
Algebra? Solving polynomial equations? Solving inequalities? Roots, powers, logarithms? Parabolas and quadratic equations? Sketching functions? Systems of equations? Systems of inequalities?
Calculus? Limits? Derivatives? Integrals?
yes
 
  • #22
So you know all of what I listed?
 
  • #23
micromass said:
So you know all of what I listed?
yes
 
  • #24
Good! Then you should be able to handle a university physics book. You can either try Halliday & Resnick: https://www.amazon.com/dp/111823071X/?tag=pfamazon01-20 which gives a thorough introduction to all kinds of physics. This should cover all you see in high school and also the first few courses in university.

Or you can give yourself a challenge and try Kleppner and Kolenkow. This is the intro physics book at top universities. You seem to have the mathematical prerequisites already, so you can start the book! https://www.amazon.com/dp/0070350485/?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
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  • #25
micromass said:
Good! Then you should be able to handle a university physics book. You can either try Halliday & Resnick: https://www.amazon.com/dp/111823071X/?tag=pfamazon01-20 which gives a thorough introduction to all kinds of physics. This should cover all you see in high school and also the first few courses in university.

Or you can give yourself a challenge and try Kleppner and Kolenkow. This is the intro physics book at top universities. You seem to have the mathematical prerequisites already, so you can start the book! https://www.amazon.com/dp/0070350485/?tag=pfamazon01-20
okay thank you
 
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  • #26
I recommend "Fundamentals of Freshman Mathematics" by Oakley/Allendoerfer and "Basic Mathematics" by S. Lang to rigorously learn the algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
 
  • #27
Look at Randy Knight's textbook. It teaches a lot of the math that is needed along the way. It is easy to read. A used edition is not very expensive. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0805327363/?tag=pfamazon01-20

another option is https://www.amazon.com/dp/0300192207/?tag=pfamazon01-20

I have not read the book, but I have watched his lectures at https://campuspress.yale.edu/rshankar/selected-lectures-talks/

I do not have a degree in either math or physics and I can read and understand physics for scientists and engineers. This book may not be a popular as others, but it is a good place to start. and as I said it teaches you the math from the point of view of a physicist. Good luck.
 
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  • #28
There are many books you can refer, but why don't you check some best online content.
Like Physicsclassrom.com , best site for high school physics.
Books like Concept of physics(volume 1& 2)
This book will help you a lot.
 
  • #29
I have been doing some research. Please check the excel sheet attached. If you study UK English in your school, I would be partial to GCSE/IB textbooks and problem books. But then again..
 

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