Physics
Undergraduate Physics
If you work through the all of the textbooks in the Undergraduate Physics list of this post, and master each of the topics, you’ll have gained the knowledge equivalent of a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics.
Introduction to Mechanics
Textbooks
- University Physics with Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Work through all of the “Mechanics” chapters (in my edition, these are chapters 1-14).
The Math You’ll Need To Learn
You’ll need to learn calculus:
- Calculus by James Stewart, 5th edition.
Electrostatics
Textbooks
- University Physics with Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Work through the chapters on “Electromagnetism” (in my edition, these are chapters 21-32)
The Math You’ll Need To Learn
Keep working through the calculus textbooks while you work through the basics of electrostatics, but you should finish them by the time you finish the electromagnetism chapters in University Physics.
Waves and Vibrations
Textbooks
The Math You’ll Need To Learn
By this point, you should have finished the introductory calculus books and are ready to move on to more advanced mathematics. You should start working through Zill’s Advanced Engineering Mathematics, which is a thorough introduction to more advanced topics in mathematics (linear algebra, complex analysis, real analysis, partial differential equations, and ordinary differential equations). The topics in this book are essential — once you master them, you’ll have all the math you need to know in order to understand undergraduate physics.
Modern Physics
Textbooks
- University Physics with Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Work through the “Thermodynamics” section (chapters 17-20 in my edition of the book), and the “Modern Physics” section (chapters 37-44).
The Math You’ll Need To Learn
Continue working through Zill’s Advanced Engineering Mathematics. Once you have mastered all of the topics in this book, you’ll have all the math you need to know in order to understand undergraduate physics.
Classical Mechanics
Textbooks
- Taylor’s Classical Mechanics
- Morin’s Introduction to Classical Mechanics with Problems and Solutions
- Problems and Solutions in Introductory Mechanics by Morin
The Maths You’ll Need To Learn
If you haven’t finished working through Zill by now, you should master the topics in it by the time you finish studying classical mechanics.
Electrodynamics
Quantum Mechanics
Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
Undergraduate Electives
Graduate Physics
If you work through the graduate core of the Graduate Physics textbooks, you’ll have the equivalent knowledge of obtaining a Master’s Degree in Physics.
Mathematical Methods in Physics
Graduate Quantum Mechanics
Textbooks
- Sakurai’s Modern Quantum Mechanics
- Quantum Mechanics and Path Integrals by Feynman
- The Principles of Quantum Mechanics by Dirac
- Principles of Quantum Mechanics by Shankar
- Decoherence and the Appearance of a Classical World in Quantum Theory
- The Everett Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: Collected Works 1955-1980