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Ask HN: Expository/Succinct Books on Modern Physics

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Ask HN: Expository/Succinct Books on Modern Physics

#1

Post by rramadass »

What are some good books which give an overview of all of Modern Physics (or even better, all of Physics)? Mathematical rigour is fine as long as they are clear and starting from undergrad level. Books for each of the quadrants mentioned here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_physics

I have my eye on John Dirk Walecka's (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dirk_Walecka) books which seem pretty good particularly the ones published by World Scientific Publishing. Three vols on Introduction, Advanced, Topics on Modern Physics and Introduction vols on Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics, Electricity & Magnetism, General Relativity. - https://www.worldscientific.com/author/Walecka%2C+John+Dirk?...

Dover has Robert Sproull's Modern Physics which seems a bit old. - https://store.doverpublications.com/products/9780486783260

Springer has S.H.Patil's Elements of Modern Physics which seems up to date. - https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-70143-7

Does anybody have experience with these books both studying and teaching from? I would appreciate it if the knowledgeable folks here can shed some light on this.

What other books provide similar overview of the domain?

Also suggestions on books which provide the needed background Mathematics.

PS: I am finding the the old Soviet era book Fundamentals of Physics by Ivanov quite useful to get an overview - https://mirtitles.org/2018/04/21/fundamentals-of-physics-iva...

Re: Ask HN: Expository/Succinct Books on Modern Physics

#2

Post by OgsyedIE »

Most topics develop into advanced rabbitholes that takes years of learning in just that one topic to assume proficiency, but for somebody looking to get a detailed overview Young and Freedman's University Physics with Modern Physics is the best introduction to a little bit of everything.

The mathematical prerequisites are essentially algebra, precalculus and basic calculus, all of which are excellently covered by the OpenStax series of free textbooks published by Rice University.

Re: Ask HN: Expository/Succinct Books on Modern Physics

#3

Post by rramadass »

OgsyedIE wrote: post #2

Most topics develop into advanced rabbitholes that takes years of learning in just that one topic to assume proficiency, but for somebody looking to get a detailed overview Young and Freedman's University Physics with Modern Physics is the best introduction to a little bit of everything. The mathematical prerequisites are essentially algebra, precalculus and basic calculus, all of which are excellently covered by the…

I have heard good things about this book but it seems its coverage of Modern Physics might be a bit too short? What do you think?

Have you looked at Walecka's books? They seem to have sufficient detail/depth but am not sure as to their mathematical rigour. Maybe too much for undergrad level?

Re: Ask HN: Expository/Succinct Books on Modern Physics

#4

Post by OgsyedIE »

rramadass wrote: post #3
OgsyedIE wrote: post #2

Most topics develop into advanced rabbitholes that takes years of learning in just that one topic to assume proficiency, but for somebody looking to get a detailed overview Young and Freedman's University Physics with Modern Physics is the best introduction to a little bit of everything. The mathematical prerequisites are essentially algebra, precalculus and basic calculus, all of which are excellently covered by the…

I have heard good things about this book but it seems its coverage of Modern Physics might be a bit too short? What do you think? Have you looked at Walecka's books? They seem to have sufficient detail/depth but am not sure as to their mathematical rigour. Maybe too much for undergrad level?

I've skimmed Walecka's Topics and it seems like an excellent resource on intermediate modern physics for somebody who is separately studying undergraduate mathematics, particularly the undergraduate content of real analysis, linear algebra, differential equations and group theory, but tough for somebody who is taking much less mathematics than physics.

If you can commit to the two fields of study in parallel Walecka should be perfectly suitable but if not then there may be eventual problems with keeping up.

Re: Ask HN: Expository/Succinct Books on Modern Physics

#5

Post by rramadass »

OgsyedIE wrote: post #4
rramadass wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have heard good things about this book but it seems its coverage of Modern Physics might be a bit too short? What do you think? Have you looked at Walecka's books? They seem to have sufficient detail/depth but am not sure as to their mathematical rigour. Maybe too much for undergrad level?

I've skimmed Walecka's Topics and it seems like an excellent resource on intermediate modern physics for somebody who is separately studying undergraduate mathematics, particularly the undergraduate content of real analysis, linear algebra, differential equations and group theory, but tough for somebody who is taking much less mathematics than physics. If you can commit to the two fields of study in parallel Walecka…

Yeah, Walecka's books seem to be more mathematically rigorous than most others. Because of that it also seems to be more succinct. That is something i am looking for so maybe i need to get that while boning up on the requisite mathematics.

Have you looked at the Sproull/Patil books?

Re: Ask HN: Expository/Succinct Books on Modern Physics

#6

Post by QuadmasterXLII »

Roger Penrose’s (Yes that Penrose) Road to Reality is excellent. Be warned the first 382 pages are just building the mathematical foundation he needs for the second half. But if you don’t do this, you can’t really write a book about modern physics targeting undergrad math.

Re: Ask HN: Expository/Succinct Books on Modern Physics

#8

Post by senorcrab »

Freshman university textbooks have what you need. Two of the most popular are:

- University Physics by Young and Freedman

- Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday, Resnick, Walker

- Modern Physics by Krane

You might guess that real physics is not actually in freshman textbooks, and you are right. Modern physics requires rigorous mathematics.

For a nonrigorous introduction/overview:

- The Road to Reality by Roger Penrose

If you want to actually learn almost all of physics at a high level:

- Course of Theoretical Physics by Landau

Note that Landau is extremely difficult.

If you want to learn the math needed for modern physics (topology) in the context of physics, nonrigorously:

- Geometry, Topology, and Physics by Nakahara

Re: Ask HN: Expository/Succinct Books on Modern Physics

#9

Post by senorcrab »

QuadmasterXLII wrote: post #6

Roger Penrose’s (Yes that Penrose) Road to Reality is excellent. Be warned the first 382 pages are just building the mathematical foundation he needs for the second half. But if you don’t do this, you can’t really write a book about modern physics targeting undergrad math.

Road to Reality is good to get a general overview of *everything* but I dont think you can actually learn the things he talks about. For example, the jump from calculus in R^2 to Riemannian surfaces is insane and leaves a ton out

Re: Ask HN: Expository/Succinct Books on Modern Physics

#10

Post by QuadmasterXLII »

senorcrab wrote: post #9
QuadmasterXLII wrote: post #6

Roger Penrose’s (Yes that Penrose) Road to Reality is excellent. Be warned the first 382 pages are just building the mathematical foundation he needs for the second half. But if you don’t do this, you can’t really write a book about modern physics targeting undergrad math.

Road to Reality is good to get a general overview of *everything* but I dont think you can actually learn the things he talks about. For example, the jump from calculus in R^2 to Riemannian surfaces is insane and leaves a ton out

It’s very plausible that it’s in the same category as Wikipedia where it’s only useful if you’ve already learned it once and forgotten it
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