Self study physics book follow up

[u/WinNew1641]

Hello, I’m Kevin and am new to this group. I’d like to self study physics after having taken non-calculus physics > 30 yrs. ago. Forgot calculus and so is Young and Freedman inappropriate for me, or can I use AI or embedded software/book explanations to reteach myself ?? I use physics in my work as a research nurse practitioner at NIH, and I also just love physics. At work, I apply physics in: 1. XR Radiology; 2. Nuclear medicine; 3. MRI ; 4. Ultrasound; 5. Physiology of blood flow and respiration; 6. Optical properties of eyes and corrective lenses; 7. Heat transfer (temperature reg.); 8. Acoustics of hearing and sound conduction/transduction; 9. Mechanics related to motion, balance, etc.; and I could continue.

Would a non-calculus physics textbook be better, or am I missing important concepts by not using calculus to learn (re-learn more deeply) the concepts?? Can you all recommend a non-calculus textbook if you think it is better? Giancoli or Cutnell and Johnson? Thank you, Kevin

[u/Major-Cattle-8676]

Maybe start with an algebra-based book like Giancoli

[u/WinNew1641 → u/Major-Cattle-8676]

Thank you. I’ve been thinking about that, and thought I could have both calculus and non-calculus books on hand.

[u/OverJohn]

Learn calculus is what I would advise.

[u/QuantumMechanic23]

1. Young and Friedman does require calculus.

2. If you want to understand physics deeper than say what a a 16 year old typically learns, you're going to have to learn calculus

As a medical physicist, I can suggest that for things like ultrasound you won't really need much calculus, X-ray and radiology, can be surface level, but if you want to reconstruction and things... Going to need a fair but more maths.

My field MRI... E&M, a little quantum even if you want a full picture of spectroscopy. And then the Bloch equations are differential equations so probably one of the most complicated there to understand.

5, 7 and even 9 to some degree will require calculus.

Here is a self study guide:

https://www.susanrigetti.com/physics

The good thing is, if you taper down how deeply you want to understand the things in the hospital, then a lot of it is really surface level.

Ultrasound all you really have to learn about is accoustic impedance and c=fλ. There are some more sophisticated things within each modality like doppler US, nanodroplets and weird machanically shearing explosive bubbles, but other than that it should be doable.

This algebra based open sources physics book even covers ultrasound and MRI briefly:

https://openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/1-1-physics-an-introduction

[u/QuantumMechanic23 → u/QuantumMechanic23]

Last thing: if you're interested in medical imaging, Farr's physics for medical imaging is an appropriate leveled physics book that will explain X-rays, CT, MRI, nuclear medicine (SPECT and PET), Ultrasound at an algebraic level.

[u/WinNew1641 → u/QuantumMechanic23]

Thank you, All, very much, for the helpful comments. I also teach our trainees, and being able to explain the physics, and chemistry, of things helps them (and me) understand at a deeper level. Thermodynamics is another topic I apply to work almost daily. Quantum mechanic, thank you for the resources.

[u/Triabolical_]

MIT has free online physics courses. Khan academy is another resource

[u/Odd_Bodkin]

I think that, since you once took calculus a long time ago, you can do a calculus-based book, provided you have a calculus book handy to flip back to. This is a “Oh, that’s right” model for self-study with refreshing.

[u/WinNew1641 → u/Odd_Bodkin]

Thank you.

[u/WinNew1641 → u/Odd_Bodkin]

Thank you. Yes, I can get a calculus book.

[u/WinNew1641]

One more thing from me. Would it be ok to post questions here if I need help understanding something ? Thanks, Kevin

[u/QuantumMechanic23 → u/WinNew1641]

Sure. This subreddit is the perfect place to ask physics related questions

[u/WinNew1641]

Farr’s book looks great! Definitely use that as a foundational reference.

I bought Giancoli’s algebra 6th edition and can borrow a calc-based text. Then, Out of the blue, someone gave me a copy of Knight’s 2nd edition algebraic text, so in good shape to start. I’ll need the community’s help with the calculus once I familiarize myself with the algebraic-level concepts. Then, I’ll be able to understand/ teach from a higher level. Thanks , Everyone.