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Physicist Books
This section has University of Liverpool MPhys/BSc Physics Recommended Textbook Reviews, Bookshops in Liverpool Centre, and My Favourite Popular Science Book. Scroll down to the thick horizontal bar to get to Popular Science!
On this page : Textbooks * Year 1 * Year 2 * Shops * Popular Science * Internet Shops
Liverpool University MPhys/BSc Physics Course textbooks
"LIBRARY BOOK" for get out of the library and keep renewing either over the internet connections (Library) or by going into the library and renewing there,
"HOMEWORK BOOK" for get out of the library when desperate,
or "DON'T BOTHER" for it was as much help as a English student in an IQTest, not saying English is easy but... !
For a split decision look at what modules you'll be taking in future years and work out if its worth getting it so you can look over it for those modules aswell, or go to the library look at it and decide if its worth the money.
(Easiest year on the pocket in terms of books! You won't need all here)
HRW - "Fundementals of Physics - Extended 5th Edition" by Halliday, Resnick, and Walker.
(ISBN : 0471105597) NOTE : There is a newer version out, 6th Extended Edition. Released in August 2000, ISBN : 0471392227. Price direct from Wiley is £27.50! (Most of the recommended texts are from Wiley!)
Modules : All PHYS1** modules
Stroud - "Engineering Mathematics" by E.A.Stroud.
Not my sort of textbook. I prefer to be able to look in the index and find the information I need, in this you look in the index and search the chapter it sends you to then find an equation you don't understand and get confused. You will probably have to buy this book but don't get your hopes up! Not Brilliant, it's between a LIBRARY BOOK / MUST BUY!
(ISBN : 0333620224)
Modules : MATH181, MATH186
Kleppner - "Introduction to Mechanics" by D.Kleppner and R.J.Kolenkov
This book is OK, it doesn't look nice to read (as if we would read it)! The Physics Library has loads of these books, which is what I wish I'd known before buying it for £23. Dr Greenshaw will give you all the notes needed, if you miss a lecture go to PHYS 121 Notes where ALL the lecture notes, problem class questions and other stuff is!! HOMEWORK BOOK! Greenshaw suggests other books which I would suggest you look for in the library first before parting with you loan, or if you were the poor unsusspecting and trusting one who Greenshaw 'got' to do the bicycle wheel and spinning chair demo within the first few lectures I'd ask Greenshaw for a free copy! In my year it was Matt who did the demo and he is still getting over it! To get out of doing the demos don't look in Greenshaw's eyes, and don't let him catch you with any reflections! You've been warned!!
(ISBN : 0070854238)
Module : PHYS121
Flowers and Mendoza - "Properties of Matter" by Flowers and Mendoza
Tabor - "Solids, Liquids, and Gases" by Tabor
Both of these books are recommended, as well as HRW, for the Physics of Materials module, but you won't need them. Dr Dickson is a good lecturer and he will give you all the notes you will need including exam hints that are worth noting, as well as possible 'Czech Jazz' or 'Songs of the Forest' during intervals in the lecture, he didn't have any Mozart when I was on this course, and he had decided to try out the Mozart effect with Czech Jazz. It worked aswell (I got full marks for the module). Both LIBRARY BOOKS!
Module : PHYS132
"Relativity - The Special and the General Theory" by Albert Einstein
This is not a recommended text for the Relativity course but Dr Allport will mention it, and suggest you buy it. It goes through the ideas behind the theories and helps bring them to life. It is written as a cross between popular science for the public and a textbook desribing the theory for students. Saying that it is not an easy read, as would be expected from Relativity. It also looks like its been printed in the old fashioned way. It is a good book if you can be bothered reading this sort of text.
(ISBN : 0415091047) Module : PHYS122
Finn - "Thermal Physics - Physics and its Applications 5" by C.B.P.Finn.
Faissler - "An Introduction to Modern Electronics" by Faissler.
Hecht - "Optics - Third Edition" by E.Hecht
Grant & Phillips - "Electro-magnetism - Second Edition" by I.S.Grant and W.R.Phillips
Fowles & Cassidy - "Analytic Mechanics - Sixth Edition" by G.R.Fowles and G.L.Cassidy
Anton - "Elementary Linear Algebra" by H. Anton
Haven't looked at this book, but Dr Jack said everything is given in his notes, and in Kreysig, if you want to see his notes go to Dr Ian Jack's website, but you'll need Ghostview for the postcript (*.ps) notes (download Ghostview here!), Past papers are given in Adobe Reader (*.pdf) format aswell as postscript. LIBRARY / HOMEWORK BOOK!
(ISBN : )
Module : MATH284
Kreysig - "Advanced Engineering Mathematics - 8th Ed." by Kreysig.
This book is Huge! Buy it when you bag is at its lightest! Never looked at it except for the first page of integrals, etc. MUST BUY! All the modules in the handbook I was given on the OpenDay way back in Feb 1999 said to get this book. In reality only one Maths module has said get this book, the rest say their own thing. But get this it covers everything as far as I can see.
(ISBN : 047133328X)
Modules: MATH283, MATH284 (Also covers material for MATH281, MATH 285)
MORE RECOMMENDED TEXTS TO BE REVIEWED! Send what you think of these books, and I may quote you on this page!
Tuition fees cutting into your book money? Sign the LibDems petition.
Blackwell's, University Bookshop - Will have almost every book you need! May have special offers in the 1st semester to temp you to buy! Queues are massive in the first week of term, all the eager Freshers are stocking up, so if your in the second, third, or fourth year then try week 2!
Waterstone's, Bold Street Next to HSBC Bank. Good for Popular Science, Not So Good for Physics, Electronics or Maths. Coz its aimed more al the JMU students, and trianee/new teachers in these disaplines. Try it coz they do have some good books in, and are easy to book through, as the science is on the second floor the till area is empty of customers so they will take bookings there! [UPDATE 10 / 10 / 2002 : I accept Waterstone's is aimed at Liverpool Students in general. I have learnt that JMU seem to have more course textbooks there coz the lecturers give Waterstone's their book list, whereas UoL must give their booklists to Blackwell's since its closer. Sorry Waterstone's for my misrepresentation, thanks Andrew for correcting me! ]
IF YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER BOOKSHOPS CLOSE TO THE UNI PRECINCT LET ME KNOW!
Tuition fees cutting into your book money? Sign the LibDems petition.
Favourite Popular Science Book
"The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene
I have not been a big fan of books, prefer TV. But I bought a Popular Science book on the recomendation of a lecturer of mine (Dr Greenshaw - I think). The book was "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Green!
I was shocked by how it caught my mind. It altered my ways of thinking about this universe and shone a light onto a subject I had only heard the name of:
STRING THEORY!
This is a book that will inspire students, lecturers, doctors, and people who have a general interest in Science, especifically Physics. This book describes Special Relativity, General Relativity, and Quantum Theory to a standard needed for understanding the level of String Theory it sets out to talk about, but also it describes the three major parts of the Physics revolution of the first three quarters of the 20th century (Both theories of Relativity, and Quantum Theory) to a standard that will help for a first year doing Physics in University (hint).
String theory (if provern to be true) is THE fundemental theory governing the whole universe, including Black Holes. Infact Black Holes could be linked into elements, and elementary particles (I found this part of the book a bit heavy at times). It uses the notion of the most fundemental piece of the universe (the smallest thing) as being a one dimensional string which, to put into perspective, is in the order of the Planck length (x10-33 centimeter). "If an atom was the size of the known universe a Planck length would be the height of an average tree", take a moment to think of that!!! (page 130)
Whereas the 'normal' standard model is of point like objects being the most fundemental pieces of the universe, so no matter how big we took an atom to be the most fundemental piece would still be a point of diamenter ZERO, this would lead to Physical catastrophes of infinite answers for some problems!
"Elegant Universe" is takes us through the early stages of string theory (the first revolution) and through the dour period where the theory lost momentum, and into the second revolution (1995- ). The equations as you will read are not, as yet, perfect. String theorist use estimate equations which give a glimse of what treasures this theory holds. But, even if we proceed in this theory, revolution after revolution, we won't know for sure whether the theory is applicable to out universe untill out experiments can detect strings themselves. This won't happen for maybe a couple of centuries (Physicist have a habit of over estimating how good technogy will be - I don't want to fall in that trap) or more!
So if you want to know the way our universe is made, but to a standard you can understand read this book. It may seem dificult in some places but it is worth it. It will make you interested in the new Physics of our universe. Don't worry if your head hurts after reading some parts of the book, thats what Physics does to us (and I must be sadistic coz I like that bit)!!!
Blackwell's Bookshop (Paperback was £7.99 now £6.99 (16/12/00)) * Waterstones (Paperback £8.99 / Hardback £18.99) * Amazon (UK Paperback £7.19, UK Hardback £15.19, USA Paperback £9.52 - Click link to see my review)
UK Paperback (the copy I have): ISBN 009928992X
Links to Top Booksellers, and Amazon.co.uk's Popular Science bestsellers!
Updated when I buy or borrow new textbooks! If you have any comments about the books let me know!