Book Description

Solved Problem Series

These books help readers review and master what they've learned by showing them how to solve thousands of relevant problems. Perfect for preparing for graduate or professional exams, these detailed reminders of problem-solving techniques show readers the best strategies for answering even the toughest questions, including the types that appear on typical tests.

Reviews (13)

Awesome book for surviving Physics!!!
When I took College Physics last year I knew from the start I was in big trouble. An "A" student, I was suddenly getting D's! I understood the concepts, but the problems were completely intimidating! This book was just perfect, taking the student from the simpliest problem, to very advanced ones on every single physics topic imaginable. Plus, they give you MANY examples of each type of problem. I had no trouble finding one just like a homework or exam problem, and learned how to do them fairly easily.

This took took me through every area of Physics, despite having NO math backround, and I got an A in the course! Highly recommended!

Best way I've found to learn physics
I use this book instead of my textbook. The problems start out easy and become more difficult as you progress. This approach works for me. You must learn how to do the easy problems first. Once you've mastered those, then move on to the harder problems.

A great learning tool
This book is targeted for introductory physics courses. In particular, it will help those students lacking the ability to "play" with mathematics. Much of the "insight" that others speak of is first acquired through countless hours of doing routine problems; after all, a complicated problem that requires insight is usually just a combination of routine problems rolled into one. The people that usually have a beef with this book are the physics and engineering geeks--they think that the problems in this book are dumbed down; and that their brilliant techniques cannot be learned, but are instead acquired at birth, and developed by remaining virgins locked up in their rooms reading Feynman and Dirac.
Anyways, this book is meant to help those who lack the ambition to become unemployed high energy physicists. This book will not only help you survive your first physics course, it well help you perform quite well.

This is not physics problem solving.
It is amazing to see good reviews for this worthless book. The method of teaching how to solve physics problems presented here is contrary to what physics problem solving is all about. The book is called 3000 solved physics problems, and indeed it presents 3000 different methods of solution. The idea of understanding physics is that a few well understood concepts leads to insight; it is that insight which enables a student to solve many problems. This book presents no insight; it presents no underlying concepts; it is essentially a formula plug in type manual for a set of dull plug in type problems. If you are looking to comprehend physics and get insight into solving problems, please look elsewhere.

I made a great investment buying this book.
I took a General Physics I class last semester in College (I never took it in high school) and I was very lost for a while. If you've never done a Physics problem and then see all these new concepts and see how much mathematical thought is required -- well, let's just say it's very intimidating. As my instructor said, the only way to get good at solving physics problems is to do physics problems. He advised us not to give up in attempting problems and to "sleep on some" and have a go at it again the next day(Great advice, by the way!). With this book, and the abundant number of problems in it, ranging from easy to challenging, I was able to get an A in the class. The author included in this book a "Skeletons" outline in the very beginning in order for the student with minimal time to get the maximum benefit: mock homework, exams, and final exams. Awesome book, I'm so glad I bought it... and I will be taking Physics II! ... Read more

Book Description

The debate between Bohr and Einstein, which raged in the 1920s and 1930s, is still highly relevant today. It involved the two greatest physicists of the twentieth century and played a large part in Einstein's going into an effective scientific exile. The debate concerned the quantum theory, probably the most successful physical theory of all time. This book explores the details of the conflict, as well as its significance for contemporary views on the foundations of quantum theory. The author gives sympathetic accounts of the views of both Bohr and Einstein, and a thorough study of the argument between them.The book also includes nontechnical and nonmathematical accounts of the development of quantum theory and relativity, as well as the work of David Bohm and John Bell in the 1950s and 1960s that restored interest in Einstein's views.The author also includes a full account of the many current experimental and theoretical developments in quantum theory. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A truly excellent book
I have found this to be an extremely helpful book due to my interests in physics.It is an interesting philosophical taint on a subject matter which is mostly fought in obscure mathematics.I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in quantum physics philosophies.

Dillema is spelt "dilemma"
This book is an excellent introduction, summary of and history of the debate on interpretation of quantum theory, a subject which demands careful reading. As such, it may be read to profit by those interested in some ofthe twists and turns of "received opinion". It is not for thosewho might like their pages covered in equations (- the text discusses J SBell's elucidation of Von Neumann's errors on the subject of hiddenvariable theories- a clear case where the mathematics concealed ratherthan revealed). The book is widely referenced which should have enoughrange of material to satisfy and extend readers at all levels. In my topten on the subject area.

Dillema is spelt "dilemma"
This book is an excellent introduction, summary of and history of the debate on interpretation of quantum theory, a subject which demands careful reading. As such, it may be read to profit by those interested in some ofthe twists and turns of "received opinion". It is not for thosewho might like their pages covered in equations (- the text discusses J SBell's elucidation of Von Neumann's errors on the subject of hiddenvariable theories- a clear case where the mathematics concealed ratherthan revealed). The book is widely referenced which should have enoughrange of material to satisfy and extend readers at all levels. In my topten on the subject area.

Real dillema is how to get refund.
This book is not for scientists or laypeople interested in science. It falls into that field of science history where only the other 3 historians in the field will be forced to read. The most informative part of the bookare the figures. (i.e, the data is not tarnished by trite, and insightlessgarble). Perhaps better entitled "Writing Quantum Foam." ... Read more

Book Description

Edited by Daniel Goroff, Harvard University This English-language edition of Poincare's landmark work is of interest not only to historians of science, but also to mathematicians. Beginning from an investigation of the three-body problem of Newtonian mechanics, Poincare lays the foundations of the qualitative solutions of differential equations. To investigate the long-unsolved problem of the stability of the Solar System, Poincare invented a number of new techniques including canonical transformations, asymptotic series expansions, and integral invariants. These "new methods" are even now finding applications in chaos and other contemporary disciplines. Contents: Volume I: Periodic and asymptotic solutions: Introduction by Daniel Goroff. Generalities and the Jacobi method. Series integration. Periodic solutions. Characteristic exponents. Nonexistence of uniform integrals. Approximate development of the perturbative function. Asymptotic solutions. Volume II: Approximations by series: Formal calculus. Methods of Newcomb and Lindstedt. Application to the study of secular variations. Application to the three-body problem. Application to orbits. Divergence of the Lindstedt series. Direct calculation of the series. Other methods of direct calculation. Gylden methods. Case of linear equations. Bohlin methods. Bohlin series. Extension of the Bohlin method. Volume III: Integral invariants and asymptotic properties of certain solutions: Integral invariants. Formation of invariants. Use of integral invariants. Integral invariants and asymptotic solutions. Poisson stability. Theory of consequents. Periodic solutions of the second kind. Different forms of the principle of least action. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

great book--exceptional editing
Goroff should be commended on this important publication ... Read more

Book Description

* Unlike most books on the topic, this one utilizes a "top down" approach--general concepts are presented first and details follow
* For the most user-friendly and clear style possible, formulas and equations are used when necessary, but mathematics does not overwhelm the presentation ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Excellent home-schooling text
My two sons both used this book to help them understand their high school physics. It fills in some of the gaps that other books leave. The approach is unique, especially because the author lets the reader know that study is necessary in order to learn any subject. The text questions are helpful.

Good basic overview
Good basic overview of basic physics concepts (and the math behind them). Practice problems are useful as well.

Not a self teaching guide.
This book has a lot of material that makes it worthy to be called a reference book, but as a self teaching guide it really comes up short. There is quite a bit of math (which is good in a physics book), but too little in the way of helping someone new to physics really understand the concepts. I considered returning this book for a refund, but decided to hang on to it for future reference. I think it will be useful to me after I've used some other book(s) to help be learn the fundamentals.

Lots of math, too little physics
I bought this book to help me cram for a physics final and was disappointed by the book's content. The author devotes a large portion to many basic math concepts which can be helpful if you need to brush up. However, once I got to the real physics, it was just a brief overview of the simple topics. Most of the concepts are there but he does not go into them in more detail. For example, he does not go into at all 2D kinematics which I was looking for. Also, concepts like torque and springs are ignored. Overall, this book is best for those who want an introduction into physics.

Good quizzes and tests
This book is unique because of its "Part Zero" section on mathematics. I already knew this stuff (I learned it in high school) but the author says "Take what you can use and skip the rest." The quizzes and tests are in-depth and cover the subject well. I like this book. It does not assume I am stupid and it does not talk down. ... Read more

Book Description

Electromagnetic surface modes are present at all surfaces and interfaces between material of different dielectric properties. These modes have very important effects on numerous physical quantities: adhesion, capillary force, step formation and crystal growth, the Casimir effect etc. They cause surface tension and wetting and they give rise to forces which are important e.g. for the stability of colloids.
This book is a useful and elegant approach to the topic, showing how the concept of electromagnetic modes can be developed as a unifying theme for a range of condensed matter physics. The author concentrates in finding out the basic origin of the force and how they are developed from the collective excitations of the solids. Different materials are treated, e.g. metals, semiconductors, plasmas, liquids and gases all with different collective modes. In close relation to the theoretical background, the reader is served with a broad field of applications. The book servesreaders who are concerned with applications to real world problems with a deep knowledge on surface modes, and inspires new developments of the field.
... Read more

Book Description

Accessible and flexible, MODERN PHYSICS, Third Edition has been specifically designed to provide simple, clear, and mathematically uncomplicated explanations of physical concepts and theories of modern physics. The authors clarify and show support for these theories through a broad range of current applications and examplesattempting to answer questions such as: What holds molecules together? How do electrons tunnel through barriers? How do electrons move through solids? How can currents persist indefinitely in superconductors? To pique student interest, brief sketches of the historical development of twentieth-century physics such as anecdotes and quotations from key figures as well as interesting photographs of noted scientists and original apparatus are integrated throughout.The Third Edition has been extensively revised to clarify difficult concepts and thoroughly updated to include rapidly developing technical applications in quantum physics. To complement the analytical solutions in the text and to help students visualize abstract concepts, the new edition also features free online access to QMTools, new platform-independent simulation software created by co-author, Curt Moyer, and developed with support from the National Science Foundation. Icons in the text indicate the problems designed for use with the software. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Adequate in some ways, dreadful in others
This Modern Physics textbook has a bit of an identity crisis. One the one hand, you have a complete textbook, covering the basics of modern physics ideas such as: Special Relativity and Introductory Quantum Theory, plus chapters on the various specializations in physics, such as nuclear physics, particle physics, Statistical Mechanics, Condensed Matter, etc.

On the other hand, this textbook is terribly boring! It is a wonder to me how authors can make some of the most exciting subject matter in the scientific world seem so drab and benign. Part of the problem is the lack of depth in some of the chapters, another is just a very dry writing style.

The exercises are okay, though can be a bit on the easy side. As a reference, it is fairly complete and useful for looking up important facts and equations. It can be integrated well within a modern physics course sequence. The examples are clear and decent as well... however, its bundled "Physics visualization software" does not even work in windows, and is completely useless anyway... (To imagine... it only works on old DOS based machines!)

Although not a terrible book by any means, it is pretty unspectacular. I would reccomend Tipler's Modern Physics book, although a bit more difficult, it definitely the better book.

Incomplete
I had this book for Modern Physics and after two semesters with it, I can tell you this book makes the class much harder than necessary. I was beginning to think I was an idiot, but I scraped up enough money to buy the Eisberg book from Amazon and as soon as I got it, it was readily apparent that the Serway book was incomplete, leaving out necessary concepts and leaving it to the student to fill in some big holes.
The Eisberg book and the Serway book are complete opposites; Eisberg giving you more information than you need and the Serway book glossing over what you need to know. With these two choices, I'll take (and did take) too much information any day. If your professor uses this book, do yourself a favor and look for help elsewhere, unless you're one of those people who can read Cliff Notes and wing it, because with the Serway book, that's exactly what you'll be doing.

Complicated
This book assumes you've had more physics in the past then perhaps you have. The examples in the book skip major steps and assume that you can follow. It focuses way too much on the people who came up with the theories than on the theories and mathematics themselves.

Has room for improvement, but a good book
I used this text for two semesters. I am an A student and learn most of the material for my classes from my books, so their qualitiy is important to me. I found that overall that book did a solid job of covering special relativity and introducing quantum mechanics/wave particle theory(I have to admit I did not read all of the material on quantum mechanics.) I dislike several things about the text. First, it is a text intended for early stage physics majors, and in being so, I thought that it all too often skipped mathematical derivations, saying"it is left to the reader to confirm," or similar. I feel that such methods severely hinder the flow of the text. They cause readers to either skip ahead or stop and plug through the math. Secondly, the chapter introducing the basic ideas behind statistical mechanics is horribly written. I have since taken a senior level stat mech course and understood the material fairly well. However, I still don't think that Serway's chapter on stat mech is an easy read. To reiterate, the two stat mech chapters are horrible, but the rest of the book is fairly good.

Another must have!
It is true that this book has its weak points, but I have taken a modern physics course using this book, and I was enlightened and fascinated with the material this book is composed of. In fact, this book was an invaluable reference for a later course I took in physics, so it is surely a must have for reference. If you're a student preparing to continue with physics, this is a must have book. It'll help send you on your way. ... Read more

Book Description

Ever since Copernicus, scientists have continually adjusted their view of human nature, moving it further and further from its ancient position at the center of Creation. But in recent years, a startling new concept has evolved that places it more firmly than ever in a special position. Known as the Anthropic Cosmological Principle, this collection of ideas holds that the existence of intelligent observers determines the fundamental structure of the Universe. In its most radical version, the Anthropic Principle asserts that "intelligent information-processing must come into existence in the Universe, and once it comes into existence, it will never die out."

This wide-ranging and detailed book explores the many ramifications of the Anthropic Cosmological Principle, covering the whole spectrum of human inquiry from Aristotle to Z bosons.Bringing a unique combination of skills and knowledge to the subject, John D. Barrow and Frank J. Tipler--two of the world's leading cosmologists--cover the definition and nature of life, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and the interpretation of the quantum theory in relation to the existence of observers. The book will be of vital interest to philosophers, theologians, mathematicians, scientists, and historians, as well as to anyone concerned with the connection between the vastness of the universe of stars and galaxies and the existence of life within it on a small planet out in the suburbs of the Milky Way. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

This Book Should be Famous but Isn't.
This book is a revolutionary treatise on cosmology and the fate of the human species. It is frankly the most breathtaking book I have ever read.

While quite technical in parts, other parts are definitely within the grasp of anyone who learned high school science well and is comfortable with algebra. For instance, it argues that we are probably the only intelligent species in the Milky Way, and that it is our fate to colonise our home galaxy. That, and other arguments in this book should have led to a cover story in Time and Newsweek. It did not, presumably because the astrophysics community views Tipler as being beyond the pale. This book also contains a superb and lengthy discussion of many fascinating topics in the history and philosophy of science. This discussion remains valuable regardless of the future evolution of our understanding of the universe.

I should grant that if it is the case that the expansion of the universe is accelerating and that there is not enough mass in the universe to reverse the process, as astrophysics now suspects, then parts of Barrow and Tipler's argument are in trouble. Also, the other great visionary among modern physicists, Freeman Dyson, has been known to disagrees with Tipler. But I still agree with the authors that the stars are our destiny.

Great.
I thought this book was one of the best, I have ever read. The first part is pretty slow but later as you keep going you realise how the argument is progressing. I went over his calculations and I could not fault the writers conclusions.

If you think how much effect mankind has just been civilised on the world in just 6000 years and then that in a relative short period in cosmological terms, measured in millions of years, he will colonise the whole galaxy. This brings up two questions. The first is why has no other SETI race done it and two what effects will mankind have in the future development of the cosmos.

Its definately a book to make you think.

An Encyclopaedia of the human philosophical knowledge
I would easily give five stars to this book, wouldn't it be a bit too dense to read.
The book is a mountain of erudition, and the knowledge it contains is impressive. In a certain way it can be regarded as an historical summum of all the human philosophical knowledge from the times of Socrates in Greece till today. For me, it was a difficult book to read, without stopping, from the first page till the last, but I found it better and easier to read as a consulting reference book, digesting slowly the different chapters. The work and research involved are immense, and you can see the size of it by the size of the references at the end of each chapter. A book to keep, and consult, when in need.

A Monumental Achievement
We have just passed the 15th Anniversary of the original
publication date of this unparallelled scholarly tour de force. More and more cosmologists have now accepted the anthropic principle, including Weinberg and Hawking, and have incorporated it into their thinking. Yes, this book should be famous, and
someday soon it will be. In the meantime, read it and stretch your brain.

my previous review
i would've edited it but i don't see how. basically after i got the book again and read it another time, either i was thinking of another book before or this one has been revised so much i don't even recognize it anymore. it's certainly hard to read, and reads like a research paper and not a book. it still has some nice ideas but way too many annotations; but i coudn't even find the chapter on the von neumann probe. im pretty sure it's the same book and they just revised it too far and lost it's original simplicity. ... Read more

Book Description

This classic text offers the most complete coverage of superconductivity and serves as an important text and reliable reference in the physics community. This text is well-known for its accessibility to graduate students and experimental physicists because it emphasizes physical arguments and minimizes theoretical formalism. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A basic reference in the field
This book provides an excellent comprehensive review of most of the aspects relevant to superconductivity. A strong basis in physics is required to follow it all the way. Otherwise, it is possible to read most of the chapters separately without loosing continuity, so the more complex ones can be put aside if the reader is not interested in deep physics. Many references to relevant authors are given all along the text. It should be a reference available to all the people seriously involved in superconductivity. The only bad point is that it uses CGS unit rather than SI units. ... Read more

Book Description

This new edition of Schaum's Outline of Electric Circuits give readers a thorough foundation in the theory and operation of electric circuits. This bestselling outline combines brief descriptions of theory with illustrative examples, solved problems, and supplement problems to provide a direct and effective tool and methodology for learning.

Reviews (7)

so-so
This book's high marks comes from the chapter on circuit analysis techniques, and the chapter on op amps. The section on circuit analysis techniques like Mesh Currents, super position, and particularly the Node Voltage technique is will get you through a 1st semester Circuit Analysis course.

Op Amps were always slippery to me, however, this book made them a lot clearer.

I used it as a means of dusting off the cob webs that began building up a few years back. The Section on Thevenin's and Norton's Theorems cut to the chase and were effective.

There are some sections however, that are weak. Like on mutual inductance, and transformers. The author just fires these formulae at you, and draws conclusions at the end of the section. There's no derivation at all. I would've liked seeing a shorter and better explained derivation of whats in the text book. Something at least to qualify the formulas.

I don't know... looking through the book, it covers a lot of material i've long forgotten about like phasors, and locus diagrams, and reactance. yet somehow, I still seem not to be satisfied when i search for or read something in this book.
That's why 3 stars and a so-so rating.

Excellent supplement
This book is a Schaum's series book. So we can assume that it is accessible and straightforward. This is a wonderful text especially for a quick round-up of the concepts before a test or an exam. The worked examples are quite representative and mastery of the text can be gained quite easily. An excellent read.

I used this as a supplement to 'Engineering Circuit Analysis' by Hayt & Kemmerly.

Good supplement
This is book is a very good supplement for a class in introductory circuit analysis. The techniques are explained in a clear and concise manner. The examples and exercises provided are very appropriate and serve to provide a good understanding in the subject matter. My only complaints about the book are that some areas are not covered as thoroughly as I would have liked (for example, the section on Thevenin and Norton Equivalents) and that some techniques of circuit analysis were left out. However, many other things that were not clearly explained in textbooks were made comprehensible with the help of this book.

Excellent as Textbook
I have thoroughly read a few introductory textbooks on electrical engineering, but none of them really comes close to Schaums Electric Circuits in terms of helpfulness or clarity. This book can be used as an independent textbook because of the clarity of the presentation and the completeness of the material. Great attention has been paid to signs and polarities in the circuits, unlike some other textbooks which are sometimes frustratingly vague about polarities in their circuit explanations. As a result, some subtle things have been clarified for me, e.g. about transformers. The solved problems are especially helpful because some of them develop the theory further. The attention to precision, as well as its helpful intuitive explanations and a good selection of problems, makes this book a best buy. After buying this book, I no longer need one or two other bestselling textbooks, whose titles I would prefer not to mention. Even now, as a full-time electrical engineer, I keep on referring to this most helpful book.

As clear as crystal.
This book utilizes the Schaum's method, wich i personally think is one of the best: read the thory in two pages, take a look at a thousand examples, and go ahead and solve a thousand more problems... Excelent for beginers. ... Read more

Book Description

This third edition contains many new pedagogical features-most notably, a contextual approach to enhance motivation, an increased emphasis on avoiding misconceptions through the inclusion of Pitfall Preventions, and a problem-solving strategy that uses a modeling approach. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Garbage
Totally garbage....

The author jumps around a lot, and doesn't show enough thoery before giving u formulas.Some explanations are too wordy.. some are not wordy enough...

the person who wrote the first review was obviously linked to the book in some way..

pls stop putting up reviews if you have something to gain from the book's popularity... ur just fooling students...

A remarkable first step in changing physics pedagogy
Serway and Jewett have made a remarkable first step in changing physics pedagogy for the better:

1) They cover all topics of physics (including modern physics) in 31 chapters, more easily coverable in 2 semesters.To accomplish this, they removed some utlitarian aspects found in more traditional texts.I think Einstein would have liked this.Some utilitarian aspects are best left for (and in fact better covered by) engineering courses anyway.
2) They combined Newtonian relativity and special relativity into a single chapter and moved it to chapter 9, to be covered in first semester.
3) They introduce ALL fundamental forces in chapter 5 and apply a global approach to energy conservation in chapter 6.This allows them to implement a recommendation by the American Physical Society to present the first law of thermo as delta E = Q + W.Finally!Thermodynamics convention is in line with classical mechanics convention.

True, many staunch physics professors may not like the "prettiness" of the book, but I think this is a "walked ten miles to school in the snow" response.The following features make calc-based general physics more learnable for the first year college student:

1) Context overlay: the book is divided into 8 context sections that are associated with current challenges in our society.Chapters 2 through 11 are placed within the context of a mission to mars.This layout does not force the instructor to follow the context, but provides the student with things to think about while studying the material.
2) Pitfall prevention: marginal notes that tell the student what NOT to think or do with a concept or equation.
3) Modeling explained: THIS IS A BIG DEAL.In chapter 1, the authors explain how physicists use models to represent reality.They then reveal throughout the text the models that are used in the development of subject matter.This helps the student to actually learn about the philosophy of physics, and not just how to solve problems.But make no mistake.This approach actually helps the student learn how to solve problems.This is very important to the physics major, but also helps the engineering major understand the origin of the fundamental equations they use.
4) Mathematical level: Calculus is introduced gradually, since most students are taking first year calculus and physics concurrently.Most steps are shown when basic equations are developed, and references are made to mathematical appendices at the back of the text.Vector and scalar addition is introduced in chapter 1 to support kinematics in chapters 2 and 3, but the dot product is introduced in chapter 6 with work and energy andthe cross product is introduced in chapter 10 with rotational dynamics.

There is more that can be done to improve the state of our general physics textbooks, but this is a great start.So I rated them "5 stars."

Remarkable encyclopedia of Physics
This book is a true mine of information. It is absolutely well made. Nothing of "Elementary Physics" is left in the shadow for the public for which it's designed. All topics of physics are supervised. I learnt what was yocto unit and even yotta unit, p.8. A incredible quantity of ancillaries accompanies this treatise to facilite understanding. Who can buy all this in the world ? and who can beneficy of all this material in the great world?. And who would have the courage to learn all of this in one or several sessions ? Someone had to do this work ; that's done and extremely well done. Blessed the ones who could benefit of this excellent and cooperative work (entirely made in USA). Please, could you pardon me if I am unjust.

A Very Pretty Book
I have only recently started studying Physics and this book is my first exposure to college text-level Physics.As an interested student whoappreciates seeing how equations are derived/solved etc., I believe Serwayshould have included an appendix in which he shows the algebraic orCalculus that goes into some formulas he merely lays out in a pretty boxwith colorful fonts.It is a very pretty book... but I don't know howgenuinely useful I would evaluate it...

Physics was never this dull
I am a physics major at Wyoming State University and have studied physics for the past 10 years of my life.Raymond A. Serway makes another attempt at physics but once again falls horribly short.This book is awful and Iwould not reccomend it to anyone ... Read more

Book Description

'An excellent text....The postulates of quantum mechanics and the mathematical underpinnings are discussed in a clear, succint manner.'--American Scientist, from a review of the First Edition The author introduces major additions and updates key presentations in the long-awaited new edition of this classic text. New features of the Second Edition include an entirely rewritten mathematical introduction, a discussion of Time-reversal invariance, and extensive coverage of a variety of path integrals and their applications. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Pure delight!
Shankar's text is a true marvel. I could never expect to come across such a clear and thrilling expose of quantum mechanics for undergraduates. This book deserves much appraisal because it is extremely self-contained, reasonably rigorous, and the tour is but wholly satisfying. The book starts with a good chapter on the algebra used in QM, the mathematical principles. This is followed by a review of classical mechanics, which reminds us of the limitations of classical physics and where and when QM comes into play. Then, Feynman's path integral formulation follows immediately, and further chapters deal with perturbation theory (time dependent and independent), and scattering theory. The last chapter, which is the most exciting, covers more material of path integrals. This book is well-suited for those who want to learn quantum mechanics the modern way, without sacrificing relevant details and harmony. I started with Messiah's QM text, itself a classic, but after having read the first 3 chapters in Shankar's, I couldn't but put Messiah's aside and give myself to the pleasure of studying this beautiful book. But with Shankar's, Messiah's and Feynman's (Lectures on Physics vol3) texts, one can easily master quantum mechanics in a most delightful way.

A very thorough and readable introduction to QM.
Dr. Shankar's book on Quantum Mechanics is the best introduction to QM I've ever read (and I've tried to read several!). Although the book contains a very thorough first chapter introducing the mathematical machinery of QM, it doesn't get bogged down in mathematical details that mystify the beginner. As a second year master's student in physics, I was delighted to discover a book that I could read on my own so as to fill in the (unfortunately many!) gaps in my understanding of QM. I recommend it to anyone trying to learn QM on their own and encourage any professor teaching an advanced undergraduate course on the subject to seriously consider using this book as the course text. I only wish that I had seen it as an undergrad!

Excellent
This is a great book, one of the two best science books I read (the other is Willard's "General Topology"). Shankar delivers the correct combination of mathematical rigor and physical intuition. Also, the book covers a great deal of material.

Some specific suggestions, especially for someone new to QM:

1) Pay special attention to Chapters 5 and 7. They are somewhat more difficult than the other chapters in the first part of the book, but are VERY important.

2) One of the book's many advantages is that it's self-contained. But if you're looking for a complement, or rather a different approach, I suggest to also look at the Feynman Lecture Notes, Vol. 3.

Remarkably clear and self-contained
One major complaint I have about many textbooks is that they are not particularly self-contained: often times the texts simply don't develop the subjects you need to know to read the book, instead depending on other texts to do so. To some extent I understand this, you can't teach somebody everything they need to know about differential equations in the first chapter of a classical mechanics book and still leave space for classical mechanics.

This text addresses that issue perfectly. The introductory section on linear algebra stands by itself very well, and in my opinion is at least as good as the opening sections of Sakurai on linear algebra. It also provides a section on Hamiltonian and Lagrangian mechanics, which the reader can either skip and refer to later or read through, without really disrupting the continuity of the book.

All well and good, it sets up the background for quantum mechanics very well, but the key point is how it addresses quantum mechanics itself. And I have to say that it addresses the subject elegantly. It provides well-written sections that are actually entertaining to read, and presents each problem with the brevity it deserves. With the free particle, Shankar simply gives the propagator and procedes to the next section, which is about all that can be done for the free particle, since the energy eigenstates are not normalizeable. The treatment of the quantum harmonic oscillator is among the most complete I've ever seen, approaching it from every possible angle and devoting an entire chapter to the varied solutions.

And all this is done with a great deal of clarity. If the text comes across something you might not understand, Shankar stops and discusses it for a page, going into the physical implications of various solutions and theorems, making you feel comfortable that you actually understand the results and are not merely quoting them.

In some areas it seems like Shankar holds back on things, and if you want a little group theory in your quantum you'll have to go to another source to supplement, Sakurai comes to mind. But the Shankar can stand alone as the best overall quantum mechanics textbook I have ever read.

best quantum mechanics book
Quite simply this is the best quantum mechanics textbook yet written. The clarity in this book is astounding. Things that had previously seemed completely obscure and difficult are explained here perfectly. Nice layout puts all mathematical background first so you can tackle the physics more efficiently later. Excellent review of lagrangian and hamiltonian mechanics before diving into QM. Again, that part of the book is clearer than any other I've read. Personally, I don't understand why this book isn't being used to teach QM everywhere. Its simply heads and shoulders above all other books. Sakuri, Griffiths, Cohen-Tannoudji, Liboff, they all seem like haphazard messy books compared to this one in my view. If you are a grad student, get it as a supplementary self-study book. For an undergrad its a must. Well actually I'd say its a must for grad students too. Would be nice if the author wrote more textbooks on other areas of physics, because clearly he is gifted in this area, and writing and explaining well is something sorely lacking among most physicists. ... Read more

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This completely revised, updated and well-illustrated text is designed for graduate level courses in physics departments. ... Read more

Book Description

From basic principles of luminescence to innovative technical applications, Phosphor Handbook will serve as the definitive resource on phosphors. Considering all the major changes in the field of phosphors, the editors have produced the most current and comprehensive reference available today.Contributed by noted worldwide scientists and engineers, the handbook serves a ready audience among researchers in the field of luminescence.This book completely describes:opowder phosphors, including information on solid state laser materials and organic ELoproperties and technical applications of phosphors, including the principal classes of phosphors, procedures to synthesize and manufacture these phosphors, manner of deployment, and materials that emit light under various kinds of excitationocurrent developments of phosphor materials required in advanced display technologies, such as UV Plasma Display and Field Emission Display (FED)oexperimental techniques characterizing materials in their initial and final formsOther provisos include:otutorials of fundamental physical and chemical properties of phosphor materialsodescriptions of optical properties of phosphor materialsoprofiles on methods of synthesis and manufacture of all practical phosphorsoanalysis of experimental procedures for the optical characterization of raw phosphors and the creation of display devices or lampsospecification of physical and optical requirements for all applications of phosphors in lighting and display technologiesJapanese industry has and will continue to play a key role in developing these applications, and many contributors to this volume acted as principals in the progress discussed.Display technologies will increase in importance, and no cohesive or comprehensive treatise exists - from basic to applied - on the nature, properties, synthesis, characterization, manufacture, and handling of phosphor materials in lighting and display technologies and applications. This exceptional handbook rectifies this deficiency, serving as the defining resource for all those engaged in research or in the application of phosphor materials - regardless of whether they are newcomers or veterans in this endeavor. ... Read more

Book Description

Protein NMR Spectroscopy: Principles and Practice combines a comprehensive theoretical treatment of high resolution NMR spectroscopy with an extensive exposition of the experimental techniques applicable to proteins and other biological macromolecules. Beginning with simple theoretical models and experimental techniques, Protein NMR Spectroscopy: Principles and Practice develops the complete repertoire of theoretical principals and experimental practices necessary for understanding and implementing the most sophisticated NMR experiments. Protein NMR Spectroscopy: Principles and Practice is written as a graduate-level textbook and will be of particular interest to biochemists, chemists, biophysicists, and structural biologists who utilize NMR spectroscopy as a research tool or who wish to remain abreast of the latest developments in this increasingly important area.

* Special Features:
* First book to combine detailed NMR theory discussions with experimental applications to biomolecules.
* All the theory required to understand these experiments and others.
* Easy to follow progression from a fundamental level to an advanced level.
* Theory of NMR and practical applications for biomolecular investigations presented.
* Theory applied to very practical situations.
* Comprehensive treatment of different "levels" of theory from simple ideas to density matrix analysis and operator practices.
* Comprehensive description of multi dimensional NMR experiments as applied to unlabeled, 15N-labeled and doubly (13C/15N) labeled proteins. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Useful Handbook for Protein NMR study
The book is very complete, covers most of the field in protein NMR studies. The book is well organised, with plenty of figures to facilitate easy understanding of the subject. Overall, I find it is very helpful for anyone who will be interested in protein NMR research. I have actually seen quite a number of copies in a few NMR laboratories and I would recommand this book to all those who are looking for an complete introductory book in NMR and protein study. ... Read more

Book Description

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are devices that are used in a myriad of applications, such as indicator lights in instruments, signage, illuminations, and communication. This graduate textbook covers all aspects of the technology and physics of infrared, visible-spectrum, and white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) made from III-V semiconductors. It reviews elementary properties of LEDs such as the electrical and optical characteristics. Exercises and illustrative examples reinforce the topics discussed. ... Read more

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This book provides a broad coverage and has acessible style of exposition.Emphasis is on physical concepts and useful results, rather than rigorous mathematical proofs. Completeing this volume is free and user-friendly software. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Clear and comprehensive
I had heard about this book from a friend with an interest in nonlinear dynamics; this is surprising in itself, since the book has been out for less than a year and already seems to be getting a positive reputation. The book more than lived up to my friend's recommendation. It is encyclopedic and remarkably clear. For anyone who is interested in linking nonlinear dynamical theory with empirical methodology, this is the best place that I know of to start.

Best book on chaos/complexity theory & data analysis
For those wishing to upgrade their grasp of chaos theory, dynamics, nonlinear data analysis, with an introduction to related aspects of complexity including fractals and complex systems, this is the best book I have yet seen, and supplements the excellet visual dynamics books by Ralph Abraham. It arose from the upper level course taught by Sprott at the University of Wisconsin. The book is well supported by his website, which will always keep the book updated. It is nicely hands-on with lots of exercises and a programming project with each chapter. For those impatient to write programs, having a program like Berkeley Madonna to solve systems equations is handy for exploring some of the example systems. It has three excellent appendices, one a catalog of 62 dynamical systems, another useful mathematical formulas, and the last a compilation of useful journals. I found it incredibly comprehensive covering all aspects of the many subjects. And exceptionally clear, updating any necessary mathematics with clear explanations... ... Read more

Book Description

This is a comprehensive, applications-oriented introduction to geometrical optics, wave optics, and modern optics.Contains new chapters on laser beam characteristics and nonlinear optics; expanded coverage of fiber optics; new sections on ray tracing, thick lens, the Doppler effect, and evanescent waves; and valuable coverage of matrix treatment of polarization, Fraunhofer diffraction, Fourier optics, and more.An ideal introductory guide for the physics instructor, specifically those concentrating on optics. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Serves it¿s purposes, but not meant for physics students
We used this book for a one-semester undergraduate optics course. Readers should be aware of the fact that this textbook focuses more on the applications, not so much with theory. You only need the first-year introductory physics to keep up with the most stuff in the book, and the problem sets are very manageable with the answers to most problems provided at the end of the book. As a physics student, this made the entire course awfully boring and meaningless. I think many colleges teach optics after undergrad E&M, and if you are in one of those colleges, I strongly recommend NOT using this book as the textbook. Ideally, you would want take Maxwell equations as a starting point and going into diffraction theory, boundary value problems, etc., especially if you have already finished sophomore/junior level E&M. This book treats these only toward the end of the book. Who wants to bother with a bunch of geometrical optics, only to solve different kinds of problems without being exposed to new principles? I think an optics course in physics should be taught in a fashion that the phenomena in relation to Maxwell equations are illuminated. On a good side, I do think the book does a pretty good job of teaching the materials that it covers.

Not a good textbook
I don't see how anyone could approve of this book. I'm taking an udergraduate class in optics and the professor chose this book. It is the worst textbook I have ever had. And everyone else in my class agrees with me. If I don't understand or miss a lecture, there is no way I'm going to get up to speed by reading this book.

Solid, clear intro to optics
I used this book for an undergraduate optics class and felt that it was very clear and readable. It is good for a survey optics course, but it lacks some more technical information useful in the laboratory. For classwork and theory, it laid a good foundation. For lab work, I often found myself having to look to other books such as Hecht or Jenkins & White. It has since served as a good reference book for many basic concepts. The concepts and mathematical procedures can be found easily and quickly without wading through the technical parts. ... Read more