self-studying physics... recommend me books

[deicruxified]

nuff zed :)

[thod]

Find various university course books lists on the net, find common ones, read them.

Be aware real physics is not popular science physics. Its applied mathmatics you have to enjoy lines of sqiggles and greek letters. Unlike most subjects you wont be able to even read a physics book without first studying the maths that apply to the area.

[Xenolar]

I have two rather nice physics books. They are "hardcore" in the sense that they are not really meant for the general populace. Both are by the same author, A.P. French.

One is called An Introduction to Quantum Physics, the M.I.T. Introductory Series
Another is simply Special Relativity of the same series.
There are also two other books of the same author and of the same college series. One is about Newtonian Mechanics and the other about Waves.

Be warned; they are RATHER expensive.

[yondyr]

Halliday and Resnick..or anything by Richard Feynmann..

[AJ]

College Physics by Serway (No need for calculus, but its not physics imo as you assume things to be frictionless and massless in some parts of the text.
Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Serway and Jewitt is the best recommendation to learn true physics but you need to know Calculus.
If you do not know Calculus, self-teach that first. I did and don't regret it, gives you an edge when you take the classes whether A.P. or in college. And from my experience self-teaching Calculus helps broaden your ways of thinking, as you have to come up with the answers with no help. I remember I would spend hours a day on problems, and if I couldn't get anything I'll finally look at the solutions manual and understand the procedure exactly as it was used.
My suggested book for Calculus is Calculus by Stewart. But in high school I actually used the AP Princeton Review for Calculus AB/BC, simplifies things which is amazing when you don't have an instructor, but then go to a textbook to get the true meaning behind everything.

I also read a book called "Great Ideas in Physics" by Alan Lightman, really good introduction to Physics, not based on mathematics but on the concepts and meanings behind the major areas in Physics. It's written for the general public/students entering Physics, so it would do you well. But as stated above, true physics is applied mathematics.
Best of luck in self-teaching yourself the subjects, it will be a great experience.

[bubbles]

University Physics, by Young and Freedman. I've used this book for introductory Newtonian mechanics and it was pretty good. I think MIT also uses this book for their Physics I course. You might want to look at the lecture notes and watch the lectures at ocw.mit.edu. Make sure you do practice problems and derive some of the equations so you understand what's going on.

As for single variable calculus, I've used Calculus, by Larson, Hostetler, and Edwards and I thought it was a good book.

Edit: If you're not taking a course that requires the newest edition, the older editions are probably a LOT cheaper. Basic physics and calculus probably hasn't changed much in the past decade...

[errrzarrr]

College Physics by Serway (No need for calculus, but its not physics imo as you assume things to be frictionless and massless in some parts of the text.
Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Serway and Jewitt is the best

NUFF SAID!!! You name it. Serway books are the best. Believe me. Very Pedagogic-wise books (plus examples on a CD and on the web). There's a whole series of them, find one for your level or area of interest and squeeze it to the end, you are going to enjoy it.

[thod]

"No need for calculus"

This is physics we are talking about. If you cant even do something taught to 15 year old schoolkids (ouside the US) then you will have no chance at the harder stuff. Learn how to do the maths. If you cant do the maths you are reading popular science. Physics is maths, not pretty pictures of nebula.
Its liek saying you want to be an artist but do not want to learn drawing or painting.

[deicruxified]

Find various university course books lists on the net, find common ones, read them.

Be aware real physics is not popular science physics. Its applied mathmatics you have to enjoy lines of sqiggles and greek letters. Unlike most subjects you wont be able to even read a physics book without first studying the maths that apply to the area.

that's exactly what i wanted... i forgot to mention though... more math... :)

thanks for the others who gave suggestions. i'll scout for some books next week

[errrzarrr]

I have to say you need math/calculus. Studing calculus improves you in Physics and viceversa. Somehow Physics is Calculus.

[1OFMANY]

WHat Einstein told his Barber. Great book :)

[INTJgal]

When self-studying anything always check out MIT's Open Course Ware. Free education is the best type:)

[deicruxified]

many thanks guys!!

[Daniel]

If you do not know Calculus, self-teach that first. I did and don't regret it, gives you an edge when you take the classes whether A.P. or in college. And from my experience self-teaching Calculus helps broaden your ways of thinking, as you have to come up with the answers with no help. I remember I would spend hours a day on problems, and if I couldn't get anything I'll finally look at the solutions manual and understand the procedure exactly as it was used.
My suggested book for Calculus is Calculus by Stewart. But in high school I actually used the AP Princeton Review for Calculus AB/BC, simplifies things which is amazing when you don't have an instructor, but then go to a textbook to get the true meaning behind everything.


I love INTJ's . Self learning interesting things about the world. I' m self learning to program (C/JAVA)and about artificial intelligence.

[deicruxified]

College Physics by Serway (No need for calculus, but its not physics imo as you assume things to be frictionless and massless in some parts of the text.
Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Serway and Jewitt is the best recommendation to learn true physics but you need to know Calculus.
If you do not know Calculus, self-teach that first. I did and don't regret it, gives you an edge when you take the classes whether A.P. or in college. And from my experience self-teaching Calculus helps broaden your ways of thinking, as you have to come up with the answers with no help. I remember I would spend hours a day on problems, and if I couldn't get anything I'll finally look at the solutions manual and understand the procedure exactly as it was used.
My suggested book for Calculus is Calculus by Stewart. But in high school I actually used the AP Princeton Review for Calculus AB/BC, simplifies things which is amazing when you don't have an instructor, but then go to a textbook to get the true meaning behind everything.

I also read a book called "Great Ideas in Physics" by Alan Lightman, really good introduction to Physics, not based on mathematics but on the concepts and meanings behind the major areas in Physics. It's written for the general public/students entering Physics, so it would do you well. But as stated above, true physics is applied mathematics.
Best of luck in self-teaching yourself the subjects, it will be a great experience.

many many many thanks :)

[Colette]

All I know about physics is contained in Bill Bryson's 'A Short history of nearly everything' (oh, and high school physics class, where I had certain basic principles drummed into me by being on the receiving end of a duster thrown by the unskilful teacher, at times of great stress and plummeting classroom control) ;)