What Free Physics and Astronomy Books Can Enhance Your Cosmic Exploration?

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on a comprehensive list of free physics and astronomy books that enhance cosmic exploration. Key titles include "A Brief Introduction to Particle Physics," "Introduction to General Relativity," and "Quantum Mechanics: A Graduate Course." Participants actively shared links, noted broken URLs, and discussed copyright issues regarding certain texts. The conversation emphasizes the importance of accessible educational resources for students and educators in the fields of physics and astronomy.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of physics concepts such as thermodynamics and quantum mechanics.
  • Familiarity with general relativity and particle physics.
  • Knowledge of copyright laws related to educational materials.
  • Ability to navigate online resources and academic databases.
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics with Applications to Chemistry."
  • Research "Quantum Field Theory" for advanced theoretical insights.
  • Investigate "Elementary Particle Physics in a Nutshell" for a concise overview.
  • Review "Open Textbooks from Rice University" for additional free educational resources.
USEFUL FOR

Students, educators, and enthusiasts in physics and astronomy seeking free educational materials to enhance their understanding and teaching of complex concepts.

  • #31
Landau Lifshitzs Online

<<Mentor's note: Links removed, as these books are still under copyright.>>
 
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  • #32
Please add the perspective of modern physics by Arther Bieser book and solid state physics by M.A.Omer.
 
  • #33
Muhammad Imran said:
Please add the perspective of modern physics by Arther Bieser book and solid state physics by M.A.Omer.
You don't seem to understand. These are just links to books that are already free for everyone. Nobody is violating copyright laws and uploading books.
 
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  • #34
Are you sure that the links to LL are legal? I have my doubts... Copyright is a very complicated issue, I'm unable to understand with a poor physicist's mind. It's way more complicated than quantum field theory ;-))).
 
  • #35
I was only responding to his request to 'upload' a book. I didn't perform a validation check on the existing links. :oldsmile:
 
  • #37
I did not realize or thought that the links to the LL books may be violation of copyright. Mods, would you please remove them?
 
  • #38
Thank you so much it worked!
 
  • #39
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  • #40
I think the link for Computational Physics with Python is broken too. Can I get ther link? will be a great help. Thanks
 
  • #41
  • #42
Thanks for the books..
 
  • #43
The US Navy's Navy Electricity and Electronics Training Series (NEETS) are training books, designed to aid in training Navy personnel with learning about electrical and electronic fundamentals. They have been approved for public release, and are available as PDF files. If you are getting started, learning about electricity and electronics (or just refreshing your memory), they are worth a look.

I have found them in various places across the Internet, but I like the way that Davidson College has a web page index of all 24 NEETS training courses, with descriptions and links to download each PDF file.NOTE. It seems that Davidson College is no longer hosting these. I found them at the Internet Archive:

https://ia600608.us.archive.org/35/items/NEETSModules/
 
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  • #44
Is it legal to download these books?
 
  • #45
Thanks! downloaded the QFT one.
 
  • #46
R_Sarav said:
Is it legal to download these books?
Anything that has been put up here adheres to copyright policies. PF moderation is very strict about that. So, everything posted in this thread is legal.
 
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  • #47
Wrichik Basu said:
Anything that has been put up here adheres to copyright policies. PF moderation is very strict about that. So, everything posted in this thread is legal.
That great news for everyone, especially for young/unexperienced beginners like me.
 
  • #48
Due to the fact that I just realized wave-particle duality is outdated for 50 years this morning on this forum so i just want to make sure:

Are all the books here up-to-date? just trying not to waste my time again on out-dated concepts.
 
  • #49
Well, if you'd through away all textbooks, even newer ones, on quantum theory that start with the usual introductory historical tale, there'd be no textbook left anymore. The reason is that it is very hard to find another way than the historical approach to start teaching quantum theory. Of course, one should always emphasize that the old quantum theory leads to wrong (and even qualitatively wrong!) pictures in students' minds, but on the other hand there's no way to understand quantum theory as a physical theory without a minimum knowledge about how the quite abstract formalism of QM came into being.

Of course there are attempts to avoid this didactical dilemma by not using the historical approach. One I love very much is

J. Schwinger, Quantum Mechanics - Symbolism for atomic measurements, Springer Verlag

The problem with this book, however, is that it is far beyond the beginner level. I don't think that one can understand quantum mechanics from using this book as the first textbook on the subject. However, if you have some familiarity with quantum mechanics, the epilogue chapter of this book is a must to be read. It's very clear about the physical meaning of the quantum formalism.
 
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  • #50
vanhees71 said:
Well, if you'd through away all textbooks, even newer ones, on quantum theory that start with the usual introductory historical tale, there'd be no textbook left anymore. The reason is that it is very hard to find another way than the historical approach to start teaching quantum theory.
I AM WELL AWARED OF THAT.
I was actually asking more of a "do the have the knowledge up to date" rather than "do that not have the knowledge out dated) but since your post answered my question so this is just a small notification:smile:

Nice book for me 3 years later though.
 
  • #52
Young physicist said:
That one is broken
somebody put it up on https://www.calvin.edu/~pribeiro/courses/engr315/EMFT_Book.pdf.
 
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  • #53
Wrichik Basu said:
everything posted in this thread is legal.
Except stuff that we haven't noticed yet, or that nobody has reported to us as being suspicious. We don't "pre-approve" posts here, so it's possible something inappropriate might slip past us temporarily.
 
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  • #54
jtbell said:
Except stuff that we haven't noticed yet, or that nobody has reported to us as being suspicious. We don't "pre-approve" posts here, so it's possible something inappropriate might slip past us temporarily.
Well, I believe in you
 
  • #55
vanhees71 said:
J. Schwinger, Quantum Mechanics - Symbolism for atomic measurements, Springer Verlag

However, if you have some familiarity with quantum mechanics, the epilogue chapter of this book is a must to be read. It's very clear about the physical meaning of the quantum formalism.
What epilogue chapter? The version of the book I have ends with chapter 12. Electromagnetic Radiation.
 
  • #56
jtbell said:
Except stuff that we haven't noticed yet, or that nobody has reported to us as being suspicious. We don't "pre-approve" posts here, so it's possible something inappropriate might slip past us temporarily.
Such chances are really less. Speaking from my experience here. Thanks to the hard work by the moderators here.
 
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  • #57
Demystifier said:
What epilogue chapter? The version of the book I have ends with chapter 12. Electromagnetic Radiation.
Argh. Of cose I meant Prologue Chapter ;-(.
 
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  • #58
Great post this thanks.
 

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