In addition to the books listed below you should also consult the
Web-links and Supplementary Notes for this course.
I will have the following placed on reserve in the Swain Library:
The
Feynman Lectures on Physics Vols 1 and 2 by Feynman, Leighton and
Sands
Addison-Wesley, 1963. ISBN
0-201-51003-0.
These volumes (along with volume 3) are classics. Most physicists I know used these to get ready for their Ph. D. qualifiers and refer to them time and time again.
Newtonian
Mechanics (The M. I. T. Series) by A. P.
French
W. W. Norton, 1971. ISBN
0-393-09970-9.
Vibration and
Waves (The M. I. T. Series) by A. P.
French
W. W. Norton, 1971. ISBN
0-393-09936-9.
Mechanics (Vol 1
of the Berkeley Physics Course) by Kittel, Knight and
Ruderman
McGraw-Hill,
1968.
Waves (Vol 3 of
the Berkeley Physics Course) by Frank Crawford,
Jr.
McGraw-Hill,
1968.
During the 60's, there was a revolution in the way introductory physics was taught. There were attempts to make the subject more lively and relevant. The above books, along with the Feynman Lecture, are superb.
Used Math
(2nd ed) by Clifford Swartz
American Association of
Physics Teachers, 1993. ISBN 0-917853-50-4.
This is great for the student who needs a quick explanation of the mathematics you need in introductory physics. It is also great for the instructor.
The
Cosmological Milkshake by Robert
Ehrlich
Rutgers University Press,
1995 (second printing) ISBN 0-8135-2045-2.
Turning the World
Inside Out and 174 Other Simple Physics Demonstrations by Robert
Ehrlich
Princeton Paperbacks,
1990. ISBN 0-691-02395-6.
These are fun books, written in the spirit of the Fermi problems. There are 135 questions answered, each in about one to two pages. Here are two examples: What is the smallest suction cup you could use to walk on the ceiling ? How fast can chemical rockets travel ? This book describes lots of neat demonstrations, most of which you can do with things found in your home (or a cluttered dorm room).
Numerical
Methods for Physics by Alejandro L.
Garcia
Prentice Hall, 1994. ISBN
0-13-151986-7.
This book shows you how to apply numerical techniques, starting with problems in elementary physics and going on to more advance problems.
A
Practical Guide to Data Analysis for Physical Science Students by
Louis Lyons
Cambridge University
Press, ISBN 9-780521-424639.
This is a succinct, compact book with a good discussion of measurement errors and how to handle them.