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Shea Tesla said:Also, what do you guys thing of something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0486691934/?tag=pfamazon01-20
Hi Shea.
I don't think you are quite ready for this book yet, judging by the table of contents (I haven't read it).
I am not sure how much math you know, but the first thing you need to do is finish your high school math: algebra, trigonometry, geometry, and pre-calculus. There are physics text-books that are written for students that do not know any calculus, however, the ones I know are dull and poorly written. I have done some digging around and it seems Giancoli's Physics: Principles with Applications is a decent physics book that does not use calculus, but I have not read it. If you buy this book please get an earlier, used copy, because the price of the new book is ridiculous. I think you can get such copies here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0131021532/?tag=pfamazon01-20
Most often new editions of popular text-books do not add much to or significanly improve upon previous editions, publishers do this so they can extract as much money as possible from students; this may prove something useful to keep in mind for your future purchases. In fact, the quality of text-books often declines with new editions.
Then you should start a study of calculus. Among the zillions of text-books that can be recommended, two of the most popular are the books by Stewart and Thomas. At first you will only need the material covering calculus of one variable. Needless to say, I recommend you find an old copy that is selling for cheap, and preferably a hardcover, because these books are invariably bloated.
After you have studied calculus of one variable you can start with calculus based physics. I recommend you get an old copy of Halliday and Resnick:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/047134530X/?tag=pfamazon01-20
or Alonso and Finn, but from a review on amazon.com it seems the new edition of this book has also been dumbed down, so perhaps you should get their three volumes of Fundamental University Physics, if you can find it reasonably priced.
If you are eager to start learning physics you can get the Giancoli book now. However, there is not much to be gained, I think, by first doing physics without calculus, so if you have the patience, learn calculus and then get one of the calculus based physics books. That should get you started.
By the way, you may find it useful to look for used books at this website: http://www.abebooks.com/
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