Fundamentals of Physics II: Electromagnetism, Optics, and Quantum Mechanics

The Open Yale Courses Series

by Ramamurti Shankar

R. Shankar, a well-known physicist and contagiously enthusiastic educator, was among the first to offer a course through the innovative Open Yale Course program. His popular online video lectures on introductory physics have been viewed over a million times. In this second book based on his online Yale course, Shankar explains essential concepts, including electromagnetism, optics, and quantum mechanics.
  
The book begins at the simplest level, develops the basics, and reinforces fundamentals, ensuring a solid foundation in the principles and methods of physics. It provides an ideal introduction for college-level students of physics, chemistry, and engineering; for motivated AP Physics students; and for general readers interested in advances in the sciences.

Genres: Physics, Science, Textbooks

609 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 19, 2016

About the author

Ramamurti Shankar (born April 28, 1947) is the John Randolph Huffman Professor of Physics at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut. His research is in theoretical condensed matter physics, although he is also known for his earlier work in theoretical particle physics. In 2009, Shankar was awarded the Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize from the American Physical Society for "innovative applications of field theoretic techniques to quantum condensed matter systems". He received his B. Tech in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras and his Ph.D. in theoretical particle physics from the University of California, Berkeley (1974). After three years at the Harvard Society of Fellows, he joined the Yale physics department, which he chaired between 2001-2007. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is dedicated to teaching and has published three texts: Principles of Quantum Mechanics, Basic Training in Mathematics: A Fitness Program for Science Students and Fundamentals of Physics.

Reviews

[Arman Behrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

„We must be clear that, when it comes to atoms, language can only be used as in poetry.“
Niels Bohr
This book was a great piece of poetry.

[sbs transit · Rating 4 out of 5]

#nsreads 16

Re-read:

Saddening to see how far I've fallen

Original:

Solid book that for me fills the gap between a first calculus-based physics course and vector calculus-based course: think the stepping stone between University Physics and Griffiths. Somethings that might not exactly have been to my taste include the lack of coverage of more graphical methods of analysis such as phasors but it's probably understandable since it wants to build an appreciation for calculus-based physics. Also appreciate the extensions that you might not traditionally find in a first course that are good stepping stones to greater physics.

I really wish I didn't have to rush this in a panic and could spend more time on this but that's for a later time I suppose. For now, thanks for saving my QM and note to self I should read this again when I'm free.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally finished the book and the second half of the course. The classical stuff was great, I got some insights into electromagnetism that I didn’t have before, even after a couple of years as an undergrad. I even managed to limp through the vector calculus. Quantum mechanics was another problem. I couldn’t figure out where the wave function came from. Even when he showed solutions, my reaction was so what. It seemed like quantum theory was just made up. Oh well, it was fun anyway. The book is good, but the course is better, and it’s free on line

[Tianxing Weng · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best general physics books I've ever read! The way he talks about physics is just so fascinating, without losing deep inspiration. Very Good for reviewing and recovering concepts (in the level of general physics). I like how he leaves plenty of doorways for further studies, especially the electromagnetic tensor at the end of the E&M part. Can't wait to read his Principles of Quantum Mechanics.

[Andrew Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This course book is based on the author's Open Yale Course Physics lectures. The way topics are approached helps in their understanding with all the relevant maths. Some chapters are used as the refresher maths before taking up the subject. I spent most of the time on the lectures about electromagnetism. Again, each subject's presentation is quite detailed, and in case of electromagnetism includes the electromagnetic field tensors.

[Misrab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun

[Malcolm Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shankar will guide you through electromagnetism with a sense of wit and fun. But be warned your journey will be tough but oh so rewarding. The last 6 chapters take you into the realm of quantum mechanics where I actually saw the subject for the first time. Also I advise to watch the lectures on the Yale website and do the assignments and exams. It took me most of the year but wow what a year. Thank you Shankar. One day I hope to work though your quantum mechanics book as well.