Self Taught Physics Help

[Saida]

Hello!))

I am 19 and seeking help with self learning physics (and indirectly math) through to a theoretical level, and basically would like help in making a list of course material that I would need to go through to accomplish this. I do not want to go through a formal education route due to monetary concerns and would much rather just know this level of physics for the sake of knowing it and perhaps applying it to a few expirements. My current level of mathematical education is through Ordinary Diff Eq with light knowledge of PDE, I feel like it would be best to brush up on ODEs as I can be a bit hazy at times on it, I have taken a course in Statics, classical mechanics and electricity & magnetism (but similar to the math I can be a bit hazy). Finding a bit of material online can be somewhat convoluted and would not mind spending some money on text books. Any help would be significantly appreicated

[Mordred]

this site has a few manuals online reading

 

http://www.feynmanlectures.info/

 

David Griffith also has a good set of books,

https://www.google.com/search?q=David+griggith&gws_rd=ssl#q=David+griffith+books

 

Revolutions in 20th Century physics is excellent. So is his introductory to particle physics and quantum mechanics books.

Principles of Modern physics is also good, NEIL ASHBY STANLEY C. MILLER

 

http://books.google.ca/books/about/Principles_of_Modern_Physics.html?id=my4bAQAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y

my signature has numerous Cosmology related articles some of which is textbook style with one free textbook on cosmology and particle physics by Liddle. If there is a particular area of interest in physics let me know I can probably recommend other books or articles, (I have a huge collection of Cosmology related books, including various physics involved)

[Saida]

If there is a particular area of interest in physics let me know I can probably recommend other books or articles, (I have a huge collection of Cosmology related books, including various physics involved)

Thank you for the book advice. Given my basic understanding of physics, is there a particular logical order I should go about studying these materials?

 

In particular I am more interested in nuclear, optics, and electronics.

[Mordred]

I would start with the general physics books first, the Feyman link if you press read has 3 books I would go through them in order, QM I would wait till after in light of your field choices, The particle physics books I would step into prior to the QM subject. David Griffith's particle physics book is extremely well written to understand with a decent math ability and good general physics knowledge. (no QM is needed to understand this book). Electronics generally only requires electromagnetic theory. (Optics can be understood without QM though can also involve QM) Nuclear physics though requires both particle physics and QM, ) there is several separate fields related to particle physics that also require QM those being QED,QCD and QFD, these collectively form the basis for quantum field theory, study relativity before getting into QFT ) the Griffiths book doesn't require these skills for the introductory level, though he will discuss them a bit.

 

differential geometry,and calculus is a strong aspect to understanding any of the above. as well as statistical mechanics, (strong math skills is essential to understanding any physics beyond the basics)

Edited July 18, 2014 by Mordred

[ajb]

I suggest picking up a book at the aimed at first year university students. The book I like is Halliday, Resnick and Walker "Fundamental of Physics", it is now on the 10th edition. I have an older edition somewhere.

 

The book is a standard review of everything a beginning second year physics student should know. The book is colourful and has lots of examples and exersises.

 

From there we can suggest more advanced undergraduate texts and then graduate/resarch level texts depending on what you want to focus on.