Physics Reading List

Please read these documents published by the Department of Physics carefully before you
arrive in Oxford:

 Physics Department’s Guide for Physics Freshers or Physics and

Philosophy Freshers
 Notes for Incoming Freshers
 2018 Induction Programme (which takes place in Freshers’ Week)
 Physics Department’s Introduction to Computing in the Oxford Physics Course

Physics at university differs in many ways from the subject studied at school level. Many new
subjects are introduced and developed. Familiar-sounding areas of the subject are re-developed
from firmer foundations. More extensive use is made of mathematics as a tool in the logical
development of the subject.

The first-year courses are designed to assist in this transition, and about half of the first year is
spent in developing the necessary mathematical expertise.

The major textbooks used in the first year are listed below. As an introduction to the subject,
however, it would be hard to improve on Feynman’s ‘Lectures’ (Lectures on Physics; Feynman,
Leighton and Sands, Addison Wesley Vols. 1-3). These are cleverly written, and sufficiently
advanced to be used up to degree level, but many sections can be read with profit at this stage.

To avoid initial difficulties in mathematics, students are advised to revise A-level work on
differentiation, integration and differential equations and to study chapters 1 and 2 in Boas (see
below). This is especially important for those who have taken single maths at A-level. Single
maths students are advised to do some extra work on integration and differential equations and
maths applied to mechanics.

** All students are asked to complete these ‘Maths and Mechanics Introductory Problems’
before the start of term and send them to the College for the attention of Dr C W P
Palmer. **

It is highly recommended that students look at the Maths online bridging programme offered by
the Physics Department and check that they have covered the topics. The department will be in
touch directly with you to provide further information.

The following list shows the books currently used as primary sources in the first year of the
Physics Honour course. (Second-hand copies can sometimes be obtained from Oxford
booksellers.) In addition to its normal short-term loan and reference role, the College Library
keeps multiple copies of some standard texts for loan.

Riley, K.F., Hobson, Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering (this is the
M.P., and Bence, S.J. recommended maths textbook for the first year of the course)
Boas Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences (Wiley)
Lorrain and Corson Electromagnetism, Principles and Applications (W.H. Freeman)
Lyons All you wanted to know about Mathematics… Vols. 1 & 2 (Cambridge)
Krane Modern Physics (Wiley)
Hecht Optics (Addison Wesley) (not for Physics and Philosophy)
Main Vibrations and Waves in Physics (Cambridge)
McCall, M.W. Classical Mechanics (Wiley)

If you have questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with the College.

Please also see the Physics Department’s Physics Freshers Guide and Physics & Philosophy
Freshers Guide. There are also some Notes for Incoming Freshers and details of your
Induction Programme (which takes place in Freshers’ Week). These documents will all be
linked above when available.