Books for learning physics

[Marshalscienceguy]

If you wanted to learn physics and not going to school for it what are some good books to get?

[ajb]

If you wanted to learn physics and not going to school for it what are some good books to get?

What level of physics do you already have and what level do you want to get to?

[studiot]

 

Today, 09:00 AM

If you wanted to learn physics and not going to school for it what are some good books to get?

 

Well, difficult to suggest specific titles without knowing what level, as ajb says.

 

However on a more general note, although you are not studying a formal course at school (and presumably not going for an exam) school textbooks offer a balanced presentation of the subject at a common level so are better than targeted or single subject books. Popsci books in particular are designed to push a particular message. You often require combined input from several differnt parts of the subject to understand a point. For example to properly understand the working of your electric fire you need input from the mechanics and heat (thermodymics) branches of physics as well.

 

Since you are not following a formal course, you do not need the latest textbook, so you can pick up older editions or older books for very little from second hand sources. these will be perfectly adequate for your needs.

 

In a school environment you would also learn associated subjects (mathematics and perhaps chemistry) in parallel with physics, most physics books will assume this so will be deficient in this area.

If you looked at what tech colleges call "engineering science" you might find more useful material.

Engineering science is basically less mathematical physics with a smattering of chemistry and is more down to earth so easier to digest on one's own.

 

Good luck in your personal studies.

[Fetus]

I would recommend David Bohm's books.

[Marshalscienceguy]

What level of physics do you already have and what level do you want to get to?

 

 

Well, difficult to suggest specific titles without knowing what level, as ajb says.

 

However on a more general note, although you are not studying a formal course at school (and presumably not going for an exam) school textbooks offer a balanced presentation of the subject at a common level so are better than targeted or single subject books. Popsci books in particular are designed to push a particular message. You often require combined input from several differnt parts of the subject to understand a point. For example to properly understand the working of your electric fire you need input from the mechanics and heat (thermodymics) branches of physics as well.

 

Since you are not following a formal course, you do not need the latest textbook, so you can pick up older editions or older books for very little from second hand sources. these will be perfectly adequate for your needs.

 

In a school environment you would also learn associated subjects (mathematics and perhaps chemistry) in parallel with physics, most physics books will assume this so will be deficient in this area.

If you looked at what tech colleges call "engineering science" you might find more useful material.

Engineering science is basically less mathematical physics with a smattering of chemistry and is more down to earth so easier to digest on one's own.

 

Good luck in your personal studies.

 

Not sure what level I am at. I learned most of the stuff I did researching it on my own. I know theory's, how matter and anti matter react to each other, what black holes and worm holes do, and how you get black holes and how this is all connected to stars and dieing stars and entanglement and how that is connected to the multi verse theory, Quantum leap, the different ideas about dimensions that either its 3 and the 4th being time or that planets and objects are simply bending the fabric of space around it and that is what gives the planets an orbit. I know the brain in the vat theory that we are brains in a jar and just hooked up to a computer. I am not sure what level that makes me.

Edited April 10, 2014 by Marshalscienceguy

[ydoaPs]

Not sure what level I am at. I learned most of the stuff I did researching it on my own. I know theory's, how matter and anti matter react to each other, what black holes and worm holes do, and how you get black holes and how this is all connected to stars and dieing stars and entanglement and how that is connected to the multi verse theory, Quantum leap, the different ideas about dimensions that either its 3 and the 4th being time or that planets and objects are simply bending the fabric of space around it and that is what gives the planets an orbit. I know the brain in the vat theory that we are brains in a jar and just hooked up to a computer. I am not sure what level that makes me.

You should start simple. It sounds like you've been reading a lot of popsci that's not exactly conducive to actually learning the science. As a first go around, I'd highly suggest Leonard Susskind's series "The Theoretical Minimum". There is classical mechanics and QM. Reading textbooks yourself is dry and sometimes you need to already have an idea of what you're looking at. Read the Susskind books and then you're ready to pick up a Lagrangian Mechanics textbook and a QM textbook (assuming you can at least follow calculus and linear algebra).

[ajb]

Okay, did you physics at school till 16 or 18?

 

One idea could be to start at the beginning as such, get hold of textbooks aimed at 16-18 year olds at school. Here in the UK that would be AS and A2 level. Another option, if you want to get a qualification would be to study these online and then sit written exams. If this interests you, then I can suggest a place you can do that.

 

If you are past that level, then something aimed at first year undergraduate students could be an idea. I used Fundamentals of Physics (Extended Edition), Halliday, Resnick, Walker, but I forget what exact edition that was.