The Theoretical Minimum: What You Need To Know To Start Doing Physics by George Hrabovsky and Leonard Susskind is an important work in physics and higher mathematics. The book describes classical concepts; such as, quantum mechanics, Newton's Laws, electromagnetic fields and the general theory of relativity.
The major lectures include classical physics, motion, dynamics, multiple particle systems, energy, least action, symmetries, conservation, mechanics, phase space fluid, Poisson brackets and electromagnetic forces.
Hrabovsky explains how dynamic systems have infinite states. In addition, the state of a particle system is a function of the current location, as well as the current velocity. The presentation reinforces the readers' background with a primer on trigonometry, vectors and the differential and integral calculus. The vector analysis is important for understanding particle location. The work has important implications for understanding the fundamentals of time travel.
The book builds up to a crescendo in the discussion of motion mutidimensionally. Equations of motion are expressed in the Lagrangian forms. In addition, Maxwell's Theory of Electromagnetics, Einstein's Theory of Relativity and the Standard Model of Elementary Particles are encompassed in the Lagrangian equations.
The Theoretical Minimum is an important treatise on the principles of physics and higher mathematics requisite to understanding the cutting edge physics in the modern scientific literature. An important strength of the book is that the authors set forth the higher mathematics simply so that the general public can read the presentation without too much effort.
Article comments
1 - Igor
There's a lot on the internet about the material of this book. Here's a pointer to Suskinds recorded video courses, which are available on iTunes and Youtube:
Susskind
2 - Igor
Also, Hrabovsky has a website on this material here:
3 - Dr Joseph S. Maresca
Thanks for the referral. It looks like good stuff.