Feynman lectures Definition and 100 Threads

The Feynman Lectures on Physics is a physics textbook based on some lectures by Richard Feynman, a Nobel laureate who has sometimes been called "The Great Explainer". The lectures were presented before undergraduate students at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), during 1961–1963. The book's co-authors are Feynman, Robert B. Leighton, and Matthew Sands.
The Feynman Lectures on Physics is perhaps the most popular physics book ever written. More than 1.5 million English-language copies have been sold; probably even more copies have been sold in a dozen foreign-language editions. A 2013 review in Nature described the book as having "simplicity, beauty, unity ... presented with enthusiasm and insight".

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  1. paulimerci

    Intro Physics Where can I find The Feynman Lectures on Physics at a discount?

    Hello everyone, I'm looking for The Feynman Lectures on Physics including Feynman's Tips on Physics: The Definitive and Extended Edition (2nd edition, 2005) for a discounted price. Any suggestions where I might look for one?
  2. C

    Studying Is Richard Feynman's Teaching Style Hard to Follow?

    I was wondering if anyone else had trouble with reading Richard Feynman's lectures on physics. I think he's a good man and had fundamental contributions to science, but has anyone noticed that it is sometimes hard to follow what he is saying? I was reading his chapter about psuedo forces and...
  3. codelieb

    Classical FLP Original Course Handouts at The Feynman Lectures Website

    Hello, everyone. The first large collection of FLP-related content posted at The Feynman Lectures Website was 744 pages of FLP classroom handouts (including laboratory guidelines, descriptions of experiments, homework, quizzes and exams, lecture summaries and outlines) donated by one of...
  4. ergospherical

    Quantum Is Feynman's Statistical Mechanics Suitable for a First Introduction?

    I found this little book titled “Statistical Mechanics; A set of lectures” by Feynman in the library. I’m not taking Stat Mech until Easter so I’d just be reading for interest at this stage, although the content looks fairly involved. Is it suitable for a first introduction?
  5. Dr. Courtney

    The Feynman Lectures: Physics Gift for Your Son

    When your son puts "The Feynman Lectures in Physics" on his gift list.
  6. rudransh verma

    B A Question about a Quote from the Feynman lectures

    “incidentally, to a good approximation we have another law, which says that the change in distance of a moving point is the velocity times the time interval, Deltas=vdeltat This statement is true only iF the Velocity is not changing during that time interval, and this condition is true only in...
  7. rudransh verma

    Intro Physics Exploring Potential Errors in Feynman Lectures on Physics: A Scientific Inquiry

    I was reading Motion chapter 8 in Vol 1 and I came across a line in speed topic which seemed confusing. So I checked with others and we concluded that its a mistake. Are there printing mistakes in this book? I will be surprised. Its pearson.
  8. E

    I Opaque-wall-with-hole argument from Feynman lectures

    In Feynman lectures vol I, last part of chapter 31, there was this argument about electric field on the other side of the opaque wall with holes. The argument is attached below. I'm having a hard time understanding the claim in the red box. In particular, I failed to see how "fields arrive at...
  9. T

    Question on problem 2.16 (a) of the Feynman Lectures (two-mass pulley)

    My attempt was to calculate the acceleration of M2 as the acceleration of M2 if it were the only mass in the system, minus the component of M1's acceleration along the slope. And then I would divide the whole thing by 2 to get the acceleration for just one of the two masses@ a = 1/2 ( g -...
  10. codelieb

    Intro Physics Feynman Lectures on Physics Tape Recordings Online for Free Listening

    Hello, everyone. I've made a number of announcements in this Forum about publications at The Feynman Lectures Website, but this is one I've long anticipated and am particularly happy to make: You can now listen to the original tape recordings of Feynman's famous Caltech Introductory Physics...
  11. codelieb

    Intro Physics Messenger Lectures at The Feynman Lectures Website

    Hello everyone, You can now watch Feynman's Messenger Lectures in Full HD video with a searchable autoscrolling transcript (and other cool features) at The Feynman Lectures Website. Here are some useful links: information about Feynman's Messenger Lectures with links to videos ...
  12. A

    Are the Feynman lectures on physics good?

    I've been reading a lot of stuff around physics as of late, and I was wondering if the "The Feynman Lectures on Physics: Volumes I, II, III." are a good thing to read? I'm asking as the price for these books aren't cheap, and I want to make sure they are worth the buy.
  13. Ishika_96_sparkles

    I Feynman's Lectures volume III (Ch:8) -- Resolution of vector states

    In the section 8-2 dealing with resolving the state vectors, we learn that |\phi \rangle =\sum_i C_i | i \rangle and the dual vector is defined as \langle \chi | =\sum_j D^*_j \langle j |Then, the an inner product is defined as \langle \chi | \phi \rangle =\sum_{ij} D^*_j C_i \langle j | i...
  14. anuttarasammyak

    B Question about notation in the Feynman Lectures on Physics III 3-1

    I have a question on formula (3.1) and (3.2) in Feynman Lectures on Physics III 3-1, available online, https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/III_03.html <x|s> here can be interpreted also as inner product of bra <x| and ket |s>, following usual Dirac notation ? For example, ##<r_1|r_2>## in...
  15. R

    B Another doubt I had while reading Feynman Lectures

    "The “stage” on which the universe goes is the three-dimensional space of geometry, as described by Euclid, and things change in a medium called time." -Feynman Lectures Do the 1st two lines mean that the thing in which everything moves around is the 3 dimensional space...am i interpreting it...
  16. R

    Exploring the Physics of Attraction & Repulsion: A Feynman Lecture

    "Suppose we have another ther charge some distance away. Would it feel any attraction? It would feel practically none, because if the first two are equal in size, the attraction for the one and the repulsion for the other balance out.Therefore there is very little force at any appreciable...
  17. R

    B Can someone tell me if I got this line from the Feynman lectures right?

    'Mass is found to increase with velocity, but appreciable increases require velocities near that of light. A true law is: if an object moves with a speed of less than one hundred miles a second the mass is constant to within one part in a million. ' What does 'constant to within one part in a...
  18. codelieb

    Intro Physics Feynman Lectures on Physics Photos posted online

    Hello, Everyone. I'm happy to announce that the entire collection of (3043) photos taken of Richard Feynman giving his famous 1961-64 introductory physics lectures at Caltech (including his blackboards - original source material for the book, The Feynman Lectures on Physics [FLP]) have been...
  19. sponteous

    Carnot's Argument (Cryptic passage in Feynman Lectures v. 1)

    In chapter 44 of Feynman Lectures on Physics, Volume I, which covers thermodynamics, we find this passage: Does anyone know what this argument of Carnot's is? I'm not sure exactly what it is that he is supposed to have derived without using the first law. The efficiency of a reversible...
  20. R

    Feynman Lectures vol.1 Chapter 4 Topic 4-2GravitationalPotentialEnergy

    Could anyone explain me in simple words what is being said in this topic from this book (great book and author btw)... i don't understand after it starts talking about perpetual motion and lifting and lowering of weights.please explain in simple words. okay someone said to add more details to my...
  21. codelieb

    Intro Physics Feynman's Notes for The Feynman Lectures on Physics

    611 pages of notes Richard Feynman made in 1961-64 to plan and prepare lectures for Caltech's two-year introductory physics course, later known as The Feynman Lectures on Physics, have been posted in deep-zoomable format at The Feynman Lecture Website. Photos of Feynman giving his...
  22. astroman707

    Intro Physics Suggested outline/syllabus for Feynman lectures?

    I just finished the intro physics sequence at my college, and I wanted to work through the Feyman lecture Vol.1, with the workbook, over the summer. Does anyone know of any sample curriculum used for this book? Or perhaps, knows a good way to work through the book?
  23. Aleoa

    I Atomic Layers calculation in Feynman lectures

    The lecture is here, paragraph 5-7. Feynman is trying to explain how to measure the size of the nucleus. He writes : "Suppose we have a piece of material 1 centimeter thick. There will be about 10^8 atomic layers. Since we don't know the size of the nucleous, how can be possible to calculate...
  24. dRic2

    Classical Should I Read The Feynman Lectures?

    Hi, last year I've decided to re-study physics starting from the very basis in my spare time. It is taking some time but it has been pretty fun and useful. I'm an engineering undergrad and the most advanced physics class I had was an introduction to QM, but right know I'm more focused on...
  25. J

    Firing mortar and cliff edge, Feynman Lectures 4.17

    Homework Statement "A mortar emplacement is set 27,000 ft horizontally from edge of a cliff that drops 350 ft down from level of mortar...It is desired to shell objects concealed on the ground behind the cliff. What is the smallest horizontal distance d from the cliff face that shells can reach...
  26. CalebB-M

    Feynman Lectures exercises problem 1.9

    Homework Statement The density of air is given as .001g/cm^-3 and the density of liquid air 1g/cm^-3 A.) Estimate the number of air molecules per cm^3 B.) Estimate the Mass of a single molecule. C.) Estimate the average distance L an air molecule should travel between collisions at normal...
  27. M

    Intro Physics Why are the Feynman lectures not good for beginners?

    Is it because it is more rigorous than books like Halliday and Resnick? Or maybe you need to digest those books as a prerequisite for the feynman lectures? Or maybe people don't believe a regular person could digest the feynman lectures as a introductory level physics book? If someone is a...
  28. A

    A Resonance in Feynman lectures v1 ch23

    I couldn't understand the physical meaning of this equation.Could anyone please tell me?(the last equation)
  29. V

    Classical The Feynman Lectures for a newcomer

    Hi all! I'm a senior philosophy/economics undergrad and I'm recently finding myself very interested in physics. For several reasons, I'm not able to take physics courses in college, but I wanted to introduce myself to the "corpus" of the undergrad physics. I'm willing to invest time and have...
  30. F

    I Feynman Lectures: negative alpha for solving Schrödinger equation

    Why doesn't The Feynman Lectures consider the possibility of negative ##\alpha## when it says that ##e^{+2\alpha\rho}## is a rapidly increasing exponential (just below http://feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/III_19.html#mjx-eqn-EqIII1923) ?
  31. kdrdgn07

    Astronomy [Suggest] Feynman lectures on Physics

    Hello everyone. I'm studying Mechanical engineering but I'm at Foreign language preparation class. My area is Space and aircraft. I'm studying Aircraft Deisgn (Daniel P. Raymer) and I think I've to improve myself in physics area. I thought that Feynman lectures on physics can be good start. What...
  32. smodak

    Intro Physics Printing Quality of Feynman Lectures Millennium Edition

    I know that the Millennium Edition of FLP is supposed to be the most up-to-date and corrected, however, I have read (in amazon) really less than ideal reviews on how glossy the pages are, how light the printed text are, and how the texts go inside the left margin making it very difficult to...
  33. V

    Intro Physics The Final Verdict on the Feynman Lectures?

    Hello guys. I've seen a lot of differing opinions on this site. I'm a middle schooler with a decent understanding of basic calculus, trig, and algebra. I want to learn physics, and am wondering if The Feynman Lectures supplemented with problems from Irodov and some of Walter Lewin's lectures...
  34. CrunchBerries

    Problem book to accompany Feynman Lectures?

    I am not quite taking Engineering Physics yet, but in preperation for a future degree I would like to jump in with both feet and take a journey through physics using the master's lectures. I know i will be in over my head with the problems, but i am extremely passionate about the subject...
  35. hubot

    Intro Physics What do you think about the Feynman lectures?

    Hi! I've bought book Feynman lectures, Feynman exercises and Physics Jay Orear. Is worthwhile to buy Landau and Lifshitz books? I'm beginner in physics. I'm not sure what to school textbooks. School programme is too easy for me. I need more accurate source to learn physics. Although in my school...
  36. H

    Feynman Lectures in Physics Available Free

    Since August 2014 the Feynman lectures have been available free of charge. They are direct from Cal Tech online, so one may rest assured they are not pirated. They are also available as a pdf download. Best introductory text I've found. The online site has better layout than the pdf, but is...
  37. Biscuit

    How to prepare for the Feynman Lectures

    I'm in the 11th grade and have little education of college level mathematics. I individually find myself studying one section of it but hardly have a grasp. I really want to read the Feynman Lectures to further my education of physics, but as I read over the pdf it looks like there is a lot of...
  38. N

    Heads or tails? (Question from Feynman lectures)

    I have been going through feynmans lectures on probability and have a few questions that i can't answer ; in the part regarding fluctuations he introduces us to tree diagrams(pascals triangle ) and gives an example regarding the toss of a coin If we consider the no. Of tosses as n and no. Of...
  39. Vannay

    Is this statement about the Uncertainty Principle correct?

    I was reading the Feynman Lectures awhile back and I remember reading something he said about the Uncertainty Principle and it seemed slightly odd to me. I don't remember the exact quote and combing through some of the lectures online I can't quite find it. I've heard it more than once from...
  40. A

    Feynman lectures electric dipole question

    For some reason, I'm having trouble with what I feel should be a relatively simple derivative to take. Feynman is differentiating the potential to find the z-component of the electric field. He has: -\frac{\partial \phi}{\partial z} = - \frac{p}{4 \pi \epsilon_0} \frac{\partial }{\partial z}...
  41. J

    Why Does Virtual Work Seem Incorrect in This Statics Problem?

    1. The problem statement, all variables and /known data Help! I'm stuck on an exceedingly simple statics problem, number 2.24 in the New Millennium edition of exercises for the Feynman lectures. The problem consists of an inclined plane (inclination angle 30 degrees) on wheels with a...
  42. MidgetDwarf

    Intro Physics Feynman Lectures millenium Edition questions.

    Looking to buy a copy of the Feynman lectures and the millenium edition is the one I am going to buy. I remember reading, maybe I am mistaken, that there was reprint of the 2011 millenium edition. If I am correct, this reprint fixed errors that were found in the 2011 editipn. However, when I...
  43. WCOLtd

    What are the Feynman Lectures on Physics and where can I find them?

    Just wanted to post a link from Caltech's website hosting the complete Feynman lectures on Physics. All 3 volumes. http://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/
  44. Y

    Halliday Or Feynman Lectures Or Young and Freedman?

    I am aware that all three of them are good ones. But, if one is to be picked, which one would it be? I have basic knowledge of mechanics and a little of thermodynamics. I am looking for a book which will further strengthen my basics.
  45. K

    Feynman Lectures: Is It Right For Engineering Student?

    Hello everyone. My name is Sam and I am an engineering student. I am very interested in studying physics. I am currently using physics by Halliday/Resnick/Krane. I have read good reviews on Feynman lectures but not really sure about its content. Is Feynman lectures a good supplement or is it too...
  46. rpthomps

    Resonance - from Feynman lectures

    Good afternoon, I am working my way through the Feynman lectures and I am stumped at Chapter 23, Resonance. Specifically, the derivation of equation 23.12. I have followed up to that point but the appearance of tan (theta) baffles me. The equation is below: Any help would be greatly...
  47. ZetaOfThree

    Second derivative of a unit vector from The Feynman Lectures

    In the Feynman Lectures on Physics chapter 28, Feynman explains the radiation equation $$\vec{E}=\frac{-q}{4\pi\epsilon_0 c^2}\, \frac{d^2\hat{e}_{r'}}{dt^2}$$ The fact that the transverse component varies as ##\frac{1}{r}## seems fairly obvious to me since what matters is just the angle...
  48. P

    What is the ratio of masses for two colliding gliders in a horizontal air flow?

    Homework Statement Two gliders are free to move in a horizontal air through. One is stationary and the other one collides perfectly ellastically. They rebound with equal and opposite velocities. What is the radio of their masses? The Attempt at a Solution The answer is 3, how can I...
  49. F

    Feynman Lectures and Uncertainty Principle

    I read the Quantum Physics section of the online version of Feynman lectures http://feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/I_02.html#Ch2-S3 and I don't understand how he can deduce electron momentum from the Uncertainty Principle. I agree that the momentum is uncertain but how can he deduce that it is very...
  50. F

    Feynman lectures and electron path

    I read the Quantum Physics section of the online version of Feynman lectures http://feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/I_02.html#Ch2-S3 and I don't understand the problem with the electrons "breaking away from the nucleus". So why can't the electrons just keep going in and out of the nucleus ?
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