Flying Circus of Physics

Physics for Entertainment by Yakov Perelman is a classic physics book. For me it was the first physics book that I laid my hands on. The one that I have was published by MIR Publishers, Moscow. Actually many editions of the book exist, varying in size and design. Its just the right book for introducing physics. Perelman is prolific writer when it comes to the extent of the topics he covers. The examples that he takes you can readily relate to, and they are presented in a way that almost anybody can understand. Diagrams from the book are fun. This I guess is the first science popularization book that has come out. Perelman has other gems to offer too. They include Mathematics for Entertainment Fun with Maths and Physics Astronomy for Entertainment and many others... The book is available for download at http://www.archive.org which has lots of other free - ebooks to offer, this is the URL Download

Thermodynamics by Enrico Fermi is a classic introduction to the subject. The book is based on a course of lectures delivered by Fermi at Columbia University in summer of 1938. The text is elementary and clear. It was first published in Dover in 1956. The contents of the book are as follows: 1 Thermodynamic Systems 2 The First Law of Thermodynamics 3 The Second Law of Themodynamics 4 The Entropy 5 Thermodynamic Potentials 6 Gaseous Reactions 7 Thermodynamics of Dilute Solutions 8 The Entropy Constant The text is as simple as an introduction to the subject can be. With problems at the end of each chapter the book is an indispensable guide for beginners. Download

The Nature of Light and Color in the Open Air is a classic book by M. Minnaert dealing with optical phenomenon. The book takes examples from everyday life and some not so common phenomenon like eclipses and halos. The edition that I have was published in 1954 by Dover. The book really covers wide spectrum of phenomenon involving light. The contents of the book are as follows 1 Sunlight and Shadows 2 Reflection of Light 3 Refraction of Light 4 Curvature of light rays in the atmosphere 5 Intensity and brightness of light 6 The Eye 7 Colors 8 After Images and Contrast Phenomenon 9 Judging shape and motion 10 Rainbows, halos and coronae 11 Light and color of the sky 12 Light and color of the landscape 13 Luminous plants, animals and stones Almost all the optical phenomenon that I ever wanted to know about or wanted an explanation has an entry here. And the most important factor that I feel that makes this book really stand out is the fact that least mathematics is used. Complex mathemati...

The book Character of Physical Law is based on The Messenger Lectures delivered at Cornell by Richard Feynman in 1964. The book was published by MIT Press first in 1967 [The version that I have is the eleventh reprint form MIT Press]. Richard `Dick' Feynman is guess needs no introduction. In this book he tries to explain the essential characters that a Physical law should have. Chapter 1 starts with the Law of Gravitation as an exemplar of physical law. The book then goes on conservaton laws, symmetry of physical laws and so on... There are seven chapters in the book: 1 The Law of Universal Gravitation, an example of physical law 2 The Relation of Mathematics to Physics 3 The Great Conservation Principles 4 Symmetry in Physical Law 5 The Distinction of Past and Future 6 Probability and Uncertainty - The Quantum Mechanical view of Nature 7 Seeking New Laws The book is written a bit philosophically [that is what I feel], and gives you an added perspective to what you already know....

Physics for the Inquiring Mind is gem of a book written by Eric Rogers . The subtitle of the book reads The methods, nature, and Philosophy of Physical Science. The book was published by Princeton University Press in 1960. As the subtitle says the book goes into methods and the philosophy of the physical science. Even the things which we suppose were quite natural and simple are questioned in a way that really sets you thinking. One of the major features of the book is excellent illustrations that are numerous and very well done. The clarity and the way they are drawn to elucidate a concept is just amazing. Why the other books on physics do not have such meaningful diagrams. Another major theme that is emphasized is the laboratory work and actual`hands on' activities that Rogers literally urges us to do. Also rhetoric at times is employed to make the point clear. Consider this excerpt from page 343-344; one of my favorites from the book: Demons Problem 1 in Chapter 7 asked, ``Ho...

The book Flying Circus of Physics by Jearl Walker is published by John Wiley & Sons [June 2006, ISBN 0-471-76273-3]. The book takes on real world problems and really talks about physics in every possible situation and setting. It really opens ones eyes to the world of physics, it tells you that physics is in nature and not in text books... After going through the book and going some of the problems I had to change my outlook about things... Now I could visualize the physics in the things when I see them around me.... And believe me once you get this sight it is very difficult to let it go... The best part of the book is the list of references, which run to some thing about one and a half thousand. The list refers to articles, books on every question that is asked. One is amazed to know what research people have done over the years, in very esoteric subjects .... The book also has website http://www.flyingcircusofphysics.com/ on which they have put up the updated version of...