Jovan Markov

Jovan Markov

Spending my time lowering entropy around me. I also like coffee ☕.

Self-Study Resources for Physics

Self-Study Resources for Physics

Embarking on a journey to learn physics can be both exciting and challenging. This guide provides a curated list of resources to help you get started, even if you only have a high school level of math. These resources include books, YouTube channels, lecture series, and online courses, divided by specific topics.

Table of Contents

General Physics

Books

  1. “The Feynman Lectures on Physics” by Richard P. Feynman, Robert B. Leighton, and Matthew Sands
    • A comprehensive and engaging introduction to physics, covering a wide range of topics.
    • Caltech website
  2. “Fundamentals of Physics” by David Halliday, Robert Resnick, and Jearl Walker
    • A widely used introductory textbook that covers a broad range of physics topics with clear explanations and examples.
    • Amazon Link
  3. “University Physics with Modern Physics” by Hugh D. Young and Roger A. Freedman
    • A comprehensive textbook that provides a thorough introduction to physics, including modern physics topics.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. Physics Girl
    • Engaging videos that explain various physics concepts in an accessible way.
  2. MinutePhysics
    • Short and informative videos on a wide range of physics topics.
  3. Khan Academy Physics
    • Offers a wide range of physics tutorials and explanations, suitable for learners at all levels.
  4. Veritasium
    • Engaging and well-produced videos that explore various physics concepts and phenomena.
  5. Sixty Symbols
    • Professors from Nottingham University discuss fascinating developments in physics research and concepts through engaging videos.

  6. Your Daily Equation with Brian Greene

  7. Pretty Much Physics
    • Short videos that cover a wide range of physics topics in an accessible manner.

Lecture Series

  1. MIT OpenCourseWare: Physics Courses
    • A collection of free lecture series on various physics topics from MIT.

Physics Research Papers

  1. arXiv: Physics
    • A repository of open-access research papers in physics, covering a wide range of topics. Note that these papers are not peer-reviewed.
  2. Physical Review X
    • An open-access journal that publishes original research in all areas of physics.
  3. New Journal of Physics
    • An open-access journal that covers all areas of physics.
  4. Journal of High Energy Physics
    • An open-access journal focusing on high energy physics, including particle physics, field theory, and quantum mechanics.
  5. Advances in Physics: X
    • An open-access journal that publishes high-quality research across all areas of physics.
  6. Scientific Reports - Physics
    • An open-access journal that publishes research in all areas of physics.
  7. Frontiers in Physics
    • An open-access journal that covers a wide range of topics in physics.
  8. EPJ Open
    • A series of open-access journals covering various fields of physics, including EPJ C (Particles and Fields) and EPJ D (Atomic, Molecular, Optical and Plasma Physics).
  9. Physics Open
    • An open-access journal that publishes research in all areas of physics.
  10. npj Quantum Information
    • An open-access journal focusing on quantum information science and technology.
  11. Journal of Physics: Communications
    • An open-access journal that publishes high-quality research across all areas of physics.

Resources by topic

Classical Mechanics

Books

  1. “Classical Mechanics” by Herbert Goldstein
    • A comprehensive textbook on classical mechanics, suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduate students.
    • Amazon Link
  2. “Classical Mechanics” by John R. Taylor
    • A well-written and accessible textbook on classical mechanics, suitable for beginners.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. Lectures by Walter Lewin
    • A series of classical mechanics lectures by MIT professor Walter Lewin.

Online Courses

  1. MIT OpenCourseWare: Classical Mechanics
    • A comprehensive course on classical mechanics from MIT.

Quantum Mechanics

Books

  1. “Principles of Quantum Mechanics” by R. Shankar
    • A comprehensive and accessible textbook on quantum mechanics.
    • Amazon Link
  2. “Introduction to Quantum Mechanics” by David J. Griffiths
    • A widely used textbook for learning quantum mechanics, suitable for beginners.
    • Amazon Link
  3. “Quantum Mechanics” by Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Bernard Diu, and Frank Laloë
    • A comprehensive and detailed textbook on quantum mechanics, suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduate students.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. Professor M does Science
    • Cambridge academics simplify university-level quantum mechanics with rigorous, concise, and transparent explanations.

Online Courses

  1. edX: Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers
    • A course that provides a solid foundation in quantum mechanics.
  2. Coursera: Quantum Mechanics
    • An introductory course on quantum mechanics.

Special Relativity

Books

  1. “Spacetime Physics” by Edwin F. Taylor and John Archibald Wheeler
    • A great introduction to special relativity, with clear explanations and plenty of examples.
    • Amazon Link
  2. “Introduction to Special Relativity” by James H. Smith
    • A concise and accessible textbook on special relativity.
    • Amazon Link
  3. “Introduction to Special Relativity” by Robert Resnick
    • A classic and accessible textbook on special relativity.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. MinutePhysics
    • Short and informative videos on special relativity topics.

General Relativity

Books

  1. “A First Course in General Relativity” by Bernard Schutz
    • A well-written and accessible textbook on general relativity.
    • Amazon Link
  2. “Gravitation” by Charles W. Misner, Kip S. Thorne, and John Archibald Wheeler
    • A comprehensive and advanced textbook on general relativity.
    • Amazon Link
  3. “Einstein Gravity in a Nutshell” by A. Zee
    • A comprehensive and accessible textbook on general relativity.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. PBS Space Time
    • Explores various topics in general relativity and theoretical physics.

Online Courses

  1. edX: General Relativity
    • A course that provides a solid foundation in general relativity.
  2. Coursera: Introduction to General Relativity
    • An introductory course on general relativity.

Classical Field Theory

Books

  1. “Classical Field Theory” by Francis E. Low
    • A comprehensive textbook on classical field theory.
    • Amazon Link
  2. “The Classical Theory of Fields” by Lev D. Landau and Evgeny M. Lifshitz
    • A classic textbook on classical field theory.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. Physics Explained
    • Provides clear explanations of classical field theory concepts.

Quantum Field Theory

Books

  1. “An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory” by Michael E. Peskin and Daniel V. Schroeder
    • A widely used textbook for learning quantum field theory.
    • Amazon Link
  2. “Quantum Field Theory for the Gifted Amateur” by Tom Lancaster and Stephen J. Blundell
    • An accessible introduction to quantum field theory.
    • Amazon Link
  3. “Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell” by A. Zee
    • An accessible and comprehensive introduction to quantum field theory.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. Physics Explained
    • Provides clear explanations of quantum field theory concepts.

Online Courses

  1. edX: Quantum Field Theory
    • A course that provides a solid foundation in quantum field theory.
  2. Coursera: Introduction to Quantum Field Theory
    • An introductory course on quantum field theory.

Atomic Physics

Books

  1. “Introduction to Atomic Spectra” by Harvey Elliott White
    • A comprehensive textbook on atomic spectra and atomic physics.
    • Amazon Link
  2. “The Physics of Atoms and Quanta” by Hermann Haken and Hans Christoph Wolf
    • An accessible introduction to atomic physics.
    • Amazon Link
  3. “Atomic Physics” by Christopher J. Foot
    • A comprehensive textbook on atomic physics, suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduate students.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. MIT OpenCourseWare
    • Provides lectures on atomic physics.

Electromagnetism

Books

  1. “Introduction to Electrodynamics” by David J. Griffiths
    • A widely used textbook for learning electromagnetism.
    • Amazon Link
  2. “Classical Electrodynamics” by John David Jackson
    • A comprehensive and advanced textbook on electromagnetism.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. Lectures by Walter Lewin
    • A series of electromagnetism lectures by MIT professor Walter Lewin.

Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

Books

  1. “Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics” by Herbert B. Callen
    • A comprehensive textbook on thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.
    • Amazon Link
  2. “Statistical Mechanics” by R. K. Pathria and Paul D. Beale
    • A widely used textbook for learning statistical mechanics.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. MIT OpenCourseWare
    • Provides lectures on thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.

Optics

Books

  1. “Optics” by Eugene Hecht
  2. “Introduction to Modern Optics” by Grant R. Fowles
    • An accessible introduction to modern optics.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. MinutePhysics
    • Short and informative videos on optics topics.

Nuclear Physics

Books

  1. “Introductory Nuclear Physics” by Kenneth S. Krane
    • A comprehensive textbook on nuclear physics.
    • Amazon Link
  2. “Theoretical Nuclear Physics” by John M. Blatt and Victor F. Weisskopf
    • A classic textbook on theoretical nuclear physics.
    • Amazon Link
  3. “Introduction to Nuclear Particle Physics” by A. Das and T. Ferbel
    • A comprehensive textbook on nuclear and particle physics.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. MIT OpenCourseWare
    • Provides lectures on nuclear physics.

Condensed Matter Physics

Books

  1. “Introduction to Solid State Physics” by Charles Kittel
    • A widely used textbook for learning condensed matter physics.
    • Amazon Link
  2. “Principles of Condensed Matter Physics” by Paul M. Chaikin and T. C. Lubensky
    • A comprehensive textbook on condensed matter physics.
    • Amazon Link
  3. “The Oxford Solid State Basics” by Steven H. Simon
    • An accessible introduction to solid state physics.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. Physics Explained
    • Provides clear explanations of condensed matter physics concepts.

Astrophysics and Cosmology

Books

  1. “An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics” by Bradley W. Carroll and Dale A. Ostlie
  2. “Cosmology” by Steven Weinberg

YouTube Channels

  1. PBS Space Time
    • Explores various topics in astrophysics and cosmology.

Quantum Computing

Books

  1. “Quantum Computation and Quantum Information” by Michael A. Nielsen and Isaac L. Chuang
    • A comprehensive textbook on quantum computing and quantum information.
    • Amazon Link
  2. “Quantum Computing: A Gentle Introduction” by Eleanor G. Rieffel and Wolfgang H. Polak
    • An accessible introduction to quantum computing for beginners.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. Qiskit
    • Provides tutorials and explanations on quantum computing using the Qiskit framework.
  2. Quantum Computing UK
    • Offers videos on various quantum computing topics and concepts.

Online Courses

  1. edX: Quantum Computing
    • A course that provides a solid foundation in quantum computing.
  2. Coursera: Introduction to Quantum Computing
    • An introductory course on quantum computing.

Additional Resources

  1. IBM Quantum Experience
    • An online platform to learn and experiment with quantum computing.
  2. Qiskit Documentation
    • Comprehensive documentation and tutorials for learning quantum computing with Qiskit.

Particle Physics

Books

  1. “Introduction to Elementary Particles” by David Griffiths
    • A widely used textbook for learning particle physics.
    • Amazon Link
  2. “Quarks and Leptons: An Introductory Course in Modern Particle Physics” by Francis Halzen and Alan D. Martin
    • A comprehensive introduction to particle physics.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. Fermilab
    • Provides educational videos on particle physics and related topics.
  2. CERN
    • Offers videos on particle physics research and experiments conducted at CERN.

Quantum Optics

Books

  1. “Quantum Optics” by Marlan O. Scully and M. Suhail Zubairy
  2. “Introduction to Quantum Optics: From the Semi-Classical Approach to Quantized Light” by Gilbert Grynberg, Alain Aspect, and Claude Fabre
    • An accessible introduction to quantum optics.
    • Amazon Link

YouTube Channels

  1. Quantum Optics Lab
    • Provides educational videos on quantum optics experiments and concepts.
  2. Physics Explained
    • Offers clear explanations of quantum optics concepts.

Additional Resources

  1. HyperPhysics
    • A comprehensive resource for learning various physics topics.
  2. Wolfram Alpha
    • A powerful computational engine that can help with solving physics problems and visualizing concepts.
  3. Physics Forums
    • A community and resource hub for students and enthusiasts interested in physics.

These resources should provide a solid foundation for anyone interested in learning physics, regardless of their current level of expertise. Happy learning!

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