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My first book on physics
vanity | 07/10/2008 | Free Me

Posted on 07/10/2008 6:51:50 PM PDT by free me

My wife just took up an interest in physics. What would be a good book for her to start with?

I've never posted a vanity thread before, but I'm sure there is no better people to ask than my fine freeper friends.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Education; Science
KEYWORDS: physics
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To: free me
Isaac Asimov (deceased), Had a series of paperback books called, Understanding Physics....a very good set of books.
21 posted on 07/10/2008 7:12:00 PM PDT by skinkinthegrass (If you aren't "advancing" your arguments,your losing "the battle of Ideas"...libs,hates the facts 8^)
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To: free me

Physics is so huge and broad. But if I wanted to take a first step I would go to a “Dummie” book first:

http://www.amazon.com/Physics-Dummies-Math-Science/dp/0764554336/ref=pd_sim_b_2


22 posted on 07/10/2008 7:13:54 PM PDT by LiberConservative ("Typical" white guy)
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To: Dark Knight

It’s a personal persuit.


23 posted on 07/10/2008 7:14:20 PM PDT by free me
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To: LeGrande

Ok, that’s good to know. I will study relative motion.

Thank you!


24 posted on 07/10/2008 7:14:30 PM PDT by autumnraine
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To: chaos_5

“pop physics”

Could I have substituted that for Physics 101?


25 posted on 07/10/2008 7:15:21 PM PDT by Rebelbase (Black dogs and bacon bombs.)
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To: Farmer Dean

The “Feynman Lectures on Physics” is the all-time classic. Caltec owns rights to his books, probably available through Amazon, but much can be found on-line through a search on the quotes. Einstein’s books require too much knowledge in mathematics like the Taylor Series Transform for most to begin to understand. The Feynmann Lectures were more of a classical physics for the non-physics PHD.


26 posted on 07/10/2008 7:16:18 PM PDT by MtnClimber (http://www.jeffhead.com/obama/nobamanation-sticker.jpg)
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To: free me

Buy low, sell high.

Whoops, wrong thread, but it’s still good advice.


27 posted on 07/10/2008 7:16:24 PM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: free me

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Physics/index.htm

It’s free but OMG it’s hard.


28 posted on 07/10/2008 7:18:52 PM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: free me
Physics for Dummies

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Physics

This my sound silly, but they provide a good overview of the topics, and are at the beginner's level

29 posted on 07/10/2008 7:19:39 PM PDT by LiteKeeper (Beware the secularization of America; the Islamization of Eurabia)
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To: free me
I personally like Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe. You can read the book or watch the DVD series. He talk about the theories of general relativity, quantum mechanics and the unified field theory. If your looking for something that involves no math.
30 posted on 07/10/2008 7:19:54 PM PDT by wallace144
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To: All

Thanks everyone. I knew I would get the best and most exhaustive advice here.

I now must read about 15 books to keep ahead of the MRS.


31 posted on 07/10/2008 7:20:34 PM PDT by free me
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To: free me

After almost ten years on Free Republic and just posting your first vanity post, I’d say you’ve overcome the law of inertia.:-0


32 posted on 07/10/2008 7:22:11 PM PDT by Paul Heinzman (OMG, can we please stop being so judgmental and assigning blame here?)
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To: kc8ukw
LOL, so we did!

Yeah, they do require some math skills. =o)

I think someone who is at least good at algebra would be OK with Newtonian physics, and classical mechanics. Electricity and Magnetism are going to need some calculus, especially when dealing with flux thorough a curved surfaces in 3D space. After that, Quantum Mechanics needs strong math skills. The wave equations deal with complex numbers, and the math gets very difficult.

33 posted on 07/10/2008 7:22:47 PM PDT by chaos_5
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To: Paul Heinzman

Great, now I have to look up the “law of intertia”!!

JK/thanks!


34 posted on 07/10/2008 7:23:49 PM PDT by free me
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To: kc8ukw

I agree with the Feynman lectures.


35 posted on 07/10/2008 7:23:51 PM PDT by Kirkwood
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To: free me

How about “Physics in a Male Patriarchal Society from a Feminine Perspective in a Modernistic Sustainable Environment”?


36 posted on 07/10/2008 7:24:21 PM PDT by windsorknot
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To: free me

Find a good book on Newtonian mechanics. If one starts any higher it’s like trying to run a marathon before you can run a mile.


37 posted on 07/10/2008 7:24:26 PM PDT by oldleft
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To: free me

Find a good book on Newtonian mechanics. If one starts any higher it’s like trying to run a marathon before you can run a mile.


38 posted on 07/10/2008 7:24:27 PM PDT by oldleft
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To: Rebelbase
LOL, maybe.

I was referring to books like “The Universe in a Nutshell” and others like that.

39 posted on 07/10/2008 7:24:37 PM PDT by chaos_5
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To: windsorknot

Oh MY!


40 posted on 07/10/2008 7:25:34 PM PDT by free me
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