Classical Electrodynamics (Classical Theoretical Physics) [Paperback]

Walter Greiner (Author), D.A. Bromley (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 038794799X | ISBN-13: 978-0387947990 | Publication Date: October 23, 1998 | Edition: 1

This reference and workbook provides not only a complete survey of classical electrodynamics, but also an enormous number of worked examples and problems to show the reader how to apply abstract principles to realistic problems. The book will prove useful to graduate students in electrodynamics needing a practical and comprehensive treatment of the subject.

Product Details

• Paperback: 565 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (October 23, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038794799X
• ISBN-13: 978-0387947990
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #756,024 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good book but the English version has many errors., July 9, 2000

By 

Jaroslaw Piskorski (Zielona Gora, Poland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classical Electrodynamics (Classical Theoretical Physics) (Paperback)

I do agree with the previous reviews that the book is of great didactic value. Indeed, the books which offer an indepth knowledge on electromagnetism are very often so complicated that they put the student off (e.g. Jackson). Other books strive for simplicity and offer a didactic approach at the expense of thoroughness.

Greiner's book combines the two aims. It is very detailed and at the same time even the undergraduate student is able to understand it.

There is, however, one BIG problem. The book is fraught with errors. Being a junior lecturer at a Polish university I had to prepare a course on electrodynamics so I read the whole book paying attention to the details.

The first problem is the language. As a native speaker of Polish I am not an expert, but you do not have to be one to notice grammar or spelling mistakes. Also, some indices seem to have their origin in the German terms instead of English ones (e.g. the index a - ausserhalb - outside).

The derivations and formulae are another problem. Very often reading a formula you will be confused because a wrong letter has been used or a symbol is in the wrong place.

Referring is also a problem of this edition of the book. Very often the number of a formula to which a specific problem refers is wrong. You will have to find the right formula yourself (this is especially visible in Chapter 14).

I am really sorry to say this, but for the above reasons I would NOT RECOMMEND buying this book in its present form. Wait for the second edition (corrected I hope) and in the meantime use the German version or borrow the book from the library.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Probably the most didactic book on electrodynamics., May 9, 1999

By 

Joaquin E. Drut "jaq" (Seattle, WA. USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Classical Electrodynamics (Classical Theoretical Physics) (Paperback)

A very clear book on advanced electrodynamics. Close to the book by Jackson in some ways, but much more user friendly as far as mathematical methods and concepts are concerned. There is one problem: the gaussian units system. Unfortunately the depth of most of Greiner's books is not great. If you look for something at the professional level then go get Jackson or Landau.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars More Careless Typos and Mistakes, December 8, 2002

By 

Kevin (Columbia, MD, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Classical Electrodynamics (Classical Theoretical Physics) (Paperback)

I heartily concur with Piskorski's earlier review except I think he was a bit generous with the stars. It seems that this may be a problem with VERY POOR editing. I hope the publisher reads this. I gave a similar review of Greiner's Stat Mech book. I don't read German; so, I can't comment on the original books in this series, but the translations are extraordinarily sloppy.

There are numerous incorrect equation references. Typos in equations are abundant - often the incorrect symbol or letter appears. The grammar is sloppy - the translator should be ashamed. As far as references to other work, I didn't see any. A very serious omission in an academic text. However, there is a nice history of optics and E&M at the end of the book; maybe this compensates for the lack of references a bit.

The typos and mistakes make this book unacceptable for an undergraduate text. Instead I would highly recommend David Griffiths' "Introduction to Electrodynamics" - by far the class act for undergraduate E&M texts.