🐻 Cornell Physics unofficial reading list, fall 2026
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Freshman level
Physics 1112 Supplement PHYS 1012 / Physics 2213 Supplement PHYS 1013
- University Physics w/ Modern Physics by Young & Freedman
- How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less by Cal Newport
- Schaum’s Outline of Mathematical Handbook of Formulas & Tables by Spiegel et al.
Physics I: Mechanics & Heat PHYS 1112 / Physics II: Electromagnetism PHYS 2213
- University Physics w/ Modern Physics by Young & Freedman
Physics I: Mechanics & Special Relativity PHYS 1116
- An Intro. to Mechanics by Kleppner & Kolenkow
Sophomore level
Fundamentals of Physics I PHYS 2207
- College Physics: A Strategic Approach by Randall Knight
Physics II: Electricity & Magnetism PHYS 2217
- Electricity & Magnetism by Purcell & Morin
Basics of Quantum Mechanics PHYS 3316
- Quantum Mechanics: A Paradigms Approach by David H. McIntyre
Applications of Quantum Mechanics PHYS 3317
- Intro. to Quantum Mechanics by Griffiths & Schroeter
- Modern Physics by Kenneth S. Krane
Senior level
Intro. to General Relativity PHYS 4445
- Gravity: An Introduction to Einstein’s General Relativity by James B. Hartle