What is the best book for learning python for physics applications?

[TheQQ]

Hello,

I would like to self learn python for my physics degree, but I don't really have an idea where to start. Could anyone recommend a good book out there for beginners (zero experience with programming)?

I don't want anything too comprehensive; that's for comp sci majors. I'm really just looking for a book with a focus on the application of python for physical simulations, solving equations, etc.

thanks

 

[KCC2]

I don't know of any books on the subject. If you have zero experience, you should start with learning to program. You can do stuff like code academy to learn the syntax (http://www.codecademy.com/, you won't learn how to code with these tutorials). Then you probably should work through some proper python tutorial or take a course on it if possible. When I was getting into python, I did this tutorial http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/.
I didn't like it that much, but many people are saying it's great so you can look into it I guess. It requires you to learn basics of command line interface too.

When you know how to code, you can start looking into numpy/scipy library http://www.scipy.org/
It's probably the biggest and most widely used scientific library for python. For learning scipy you can google some material (like http://scipy-lectures.github.io/intro/index.html).

Then of course there are libraries like pygame which are nice for making little physics simulations/games (collisions, planetary systems) with some (2D) graphics.

But you really need to learn some programming first (not theory, just how to build a program), and the fastest way to learn that is writing programs.

 

[SredniVashtar]

I have not read it, but maybe this will give you a title to look up
https://www.amazon.com/dp/3642302920/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[Daverz]

I have not read it, but maybe this will give you a title to look up
https://www.amazon.com/dp/3642302920/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Here's a similar text:



However, I'd suggest just working through the online tutorials for Python and numpy.

https://docs.python.org/2/tutorial/
http://wiki.scipy.org/Tentative_NumPy_Tutorial

 

[TheQQ]

Thanks for the suggestions,

The book by Langtangen looks fairly interesting with good reviews on amazon so I think I'll try to start with that.

 

[serllus reuel]

I highly recommend "Computational Physics" by Mark Newman. It is an introduction to python designed for physics students

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1480145513/?tag=pfamazon01-20

The first five chapters are available for free on the author's website: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/computational-physics/

 

[TheQQ]

I highly recommend "Computational Physics" by Mark Newman. It is an introduction to python designed for physics students

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1480145513/?tag=pfamazon01-20

The first five chapters are available for free on the author's website: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/computational-physics/

Ah, looked over the sample chapters and this seems to suit my needs even better because it includes modelling, animations, etc. I think I'll stick to this one.