The best Applied Physics books: Reddit reviews

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Late to the party, but was also going to recommend Griffiths. Not difficult if you have the mathematical background (mainly just calculus and linear algebra). Covers vanilla quantum mechanics, no relativistic QM or quantum field theory.

>an effect of quantum physics called electron degeneracy.

quantum physics, all right then. For a moment I thought you are talking politics and politicians.

Barbara Ryden's 4-part lecture series Introduction to Cosmology, based on her undergrad level textbook. At that site, which is a summer school program, there are also many other good lecture series on cosmology.

This book is probably the simplest exposition on tensors that I've found. I think it should be tenable for your knowledge level.

"Sync" by Steven Strogatz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786887214/
It has no math or complicated subjects yet it is the most eye opening science book I have ever read. Your life will not be the same after reading it.

"Sync" by Steven Strogatz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786887214/

It has no math or complicated subjects yet it is the most eye opening science book I have ever read. Your life will not be the same after reading it.

The Feynman Lectures on Physics, boxed set: The New Millennium Edition
$129.04

https://www.amazon.com/Feynman-Lectures-Physics-boxed-set/dp/0465023827/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1AEZX8482CT7L&keywords=feynman+lectures+on+physics&qid=1638326397&sprefix=feynman+%2Caps%2C237&sr=8-1

I think the whole space is filled by the different quantum fields simultanously, ie there is the electromagnetic field and the electron fields, which have some values at each point of space-time (there is of course uncertainty, because even the fields have to obey the Heisenberg uncertainty relations). Each of these fields is controlled by a particular partial differential equation, so the electron/positron quantum field is controlled by the Dirac equation, and other fields are controlled by the Klein-Gordon equation. The quantum field theory of these free fields is realatively simple. The complicated stuff happens when these quantum fields interact, ie. when the electromagnetic fields starts interaction with the electron/positron field. This gives rise to the famous Feynman diagrams. I once even understood how to derive the Feynman diagrams using the Dyson series. If you want to learn more about it, then learn from the master himself

https://www.amazon.com/QED-Strange-Theory-Light-Matter/dp/0691024170

I had this book and it was great:

Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, 3rd Ed, David J. Griffiths

He uses useful analogies, explains step by step, uses language that is not overly complicated, and mixes the occasional joke in.

Prerequisite maths, like others said. I think calculus and linear algebra are the most important. You'll be lost without them. Pick up a book if you must.

Probability and statistics are useful for the interpretation. But you don't need a MSc degree in statistics, mainly some intuition about probability distributions and so on. Maybe you can look up these topics as you go along.

One, I'm not attacking anyone and particularly not the youngsters. I'm trying to speed their progress. I provided plenty of directions on what they should be reading. Go up to my initial comment here. I didn't dismiss Graham completely; instead I suggested people read Zhang first for some proper framework. In particular, his approach is compatible with efficient markets so the premiums are there to be earned by everyone. (More broadly I like to live with an abundance mindset. It's not always zero sum, mi amigo, especially since we are not talking about alpha here.)

You present yourself as a thinking man and professional, but sometimes I wonder if you have a reading comprehension problem or alternatively your reading ability is fine but you are so resistant to the viewpoints of others that you fail to understand them properly before you lash out. I'm no psychologist so I will leave that to your therapist.

Second, go knock yourself out with his lectures (https://www.amazon.com/Feynman-Lectures-Physics-boxed-set/dp/0465023827/) . Not a real test since you are smarter than the average /r/investing bear but give it an honest effort and report back in a month.

Gotcha.

There's a book called QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter written by Richard Feynman that gives a gentle introduction to some of these topics. It's written in a way that doesn't get overly mathy or complex, but still helps you build some intuition about the theory. I definitely recommend if you're interested in learning more.

My favorite short textbook on cosmology, which I might re-read, is:

​

Introduction to Cosmology by Barbara Ryden

>...It is aimed primarily at advanced undergraduate students in physics and astronomy, but is also useful as a supplementary text at higher levels. It explains modern cosmological concepts, such as dark energy, in the context of the Big Bang theory. Its clear, lucid writing style, with a wealth of useful everyday analogies, makes it exceptionally engaging. Emphasis is placed on the links between theoretical concepts of cosmology and the observable properties of the universe, building deeper physical insights in the reader...

​

Many people already know this one. It's quite light in math (in terms of proofs and derivations). Useful for those who want a sense of cosmology before taking a full graduate course on cosmology and/or relativity.

>it's a common misconception to think of the fundamental interactions as particles (say photons) being sent back and forth. That's taking feynman diagrams literally when they are mathematical aids to compute effects in qft.

Maybe people interpret photons as particles going back and forth because Feynman said: > > "I want to emphasize that light comes in this form - particles. It is very important to know that light behaves like particles, especially for those of you who have gone to school, where you were probably told something about light behaving like waves. I'm telling you the way it does behave - like particles. > >You might say that it's just the photomultiplier that detects light as particles, but no, every instrument that has been designed to be sensitive enough to detect weak light has always ended up discovering the same thing: light is made of particles." - Richard Feynman, UCLA 1984

Feynman's UCLA lecture was later published as a book: https://www.amazon.com/QED-Strange-Theory-Light-Matter/dp/0691024170

In that lecture, he unequivocally developed the idea that light is delivered as particles that interact with electrons which he treats as particles. He attributes the wavelike nature of light and electrons to their probability distributions. He shows why glass is transparent, why it bends light, why rainbows form and a few other ideas all based on a particle theory of light.

Has anyone checked out the recently released 3rd edition of Introduction to Quantum Mechanics by Griffiths? Also here

I felt like a "failure" too, until one day I was listening to the radio and someone started talking about the effect of not having a father has on a kid.

Then I started thinking about why a father has an effect - and I realized it must be the lessons a father teaches a kid.

So I decided to "adopt" a father. Like you would adopt a kid, except in reverse. And after I figured out who to adopt, I decided to try and get those "life lessons" that I had never gotten from my bio father.

Then life for me changed drastically for the better.

Here's the book that my "adoptive father" wrote all those life lessons in: https://www.amazon.com/Ideas-Opinions-Albert-Einstein/dp/0517884402

Hmm... it seems like you're trying to learn the meanings of technical terminology that doesn't really lend itself well to non-technical understanding. What I mean by that is the understanding of what a tensor is is completely opaque if you don't use it thoroughly in the mathematics. Likewise for a manifold.

There's no non-mathematical description I'd find satisfactory to tell you what a tensor is.

Luckily I found this book when I was an undergrad. This book is hands down the best I've ever seen for summarizing what a tensor is. I forget if he goes into manifolds, but I'm pretty sure he touches on them.

+ladybro:

> Thoughts & Ideas By Albert Einstein

I believe you mean "Ideas and Opinions" by Einstein :)

Link for anybody interested!

LA is independent of Calc/DE. But DE comes after calculus two/three. You can certainly pick up an LA book and start reading.

But my advice to you if you want to learn GR is to major in physics. It took me 3.5 years from my first calculus course to learn GR. It wasn't my focus or anything, so it could have been expedited. But learning GR would be a good goal for "once I'm done with college" and not "things to do this summer."

But a rundown would be:

• Calc 1, 2 & 3
• Differential Equations
• Linear Algrebra
• Mathematical Physics
• Physics 1 & 2
• Special Relativity
• Classical Mechanics

On top of that, any curriculum you'd be in that would offer those classes would also have you taking many other courses in the meantime such as EM 1&2, QM 1&2, Stat and Thermo, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Students-Guide-Vectors-Tensors/dp/0521171903

This book would be the utmost lowest level I can think of for touching on some topics of GR. Hopefully it can whet your appetite.

The book itself is here: https://smile.amazon.com/Physics-Scientists-Engineers-Paul-Tipler/dp/0716789647/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477193665&sr=8-1&keywords=tipler+6th

But there is no solutions manual, just a document produced in house by Chegg.

http://www.amazon.com/A-Students-Guide-Vectors-Tensors/dp/0521171903

Get that book and go through it thoroughly first. The physics of GR is quite simple to be honest. It's just the curvature tensor equals the stress energy tensor. That's all there is to it and rest is just solving problems.

However, learning the math of curvature requires learning the math of tensors. The book I linked is by far the best coverage of the topics I've found at the undergraduate level.

After that Schutz or Carroll for actual GR. Wald once you've done Shutz/Carroll.

I'd ask /r/askscience if I were you. You might enjoy Michio Kaku's <em>Physics of the Impossible</em>.

Hello,

I am a chemistry undergrad currently in Physics I. The book my school uses for this class is very poorly written I feel and hard to follow. This is the book.

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for better books to resources to help me with this class that will enhance this book or my experience.

Thanks

I recommend the Feynman Lectures on Physics, they are very clear and reaches up to quantum theory. If you feel that you don't know enough mathematics then you can read Schaum's Outline series on Calculus, and whatever other topic you feel is stopping you.

I can't tell if you're looking for a textbook or a pop-science book.

I found Richard Feynman's Quantum ElectroDynamics - The Strange Theory of Light and Matter to be a good read, it's his ~1988 attempt to explain QED to a layperson. Meaning it talks about overview and basic principles and what's happening with light and matter regarding reflections and mirages and so on, but no math or exercises, no space vacuum, no subatomic particles, etc.

It's by Feynman so it's well written and engaging, but it might not be what you're after at all.

Loved your book Physics of the Impossible. I am currently in my second year as a Materials Engineering student. In your opinion what is the most interesting new material being developed right now?

Light is particles. The place light goes follows some of the same math as waves follow, so it's confusing until you figure it out scientifically what's going on. The more massive the particle, the smaller the size of the "wave" that would follow the same mathematics.

If you actually want to learn the layman version, try this: http://www.amazon.com/QED-Strange-Theory-Light-Matter/dp/0691024170

I found it on Amazon. Can't imagine why Borders is shutting down. :I

You might want to read this book, unless you already have.

The simplest introduction which gives you the picture without the details is probably Feynman's QED. Everything else is a generalization of that concept, but the math gets unbelievably, terrifyingly complicated, and I don't say that lightly. Thank God for Feynman.

I would disagree with the idea that chaos is a dead field. There is much work being done on synchronization and control of chaotic systems. These two topics combined with network theory are becoming huge now. Check out Sync by Steven Strogatz for an idea of some new stuff with chaos and networks. It's nontechnical, but illuminating.