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The Feynman Lectures on Physics - Study Repository

A comprehensive study repository for The Feynman Lectures on Physics - one of the most renowned physics lecture series ever created.

📚 About

This repository is organized to support structured study of Richard Feynman's legendary physics lectures delivered at Caltech from 1961-1963. The structure mirrors the resources available on the official Feynman Lectures website, with dedicated spaces for notes, code implementations, and exercises.

🗂️ Repository Structure

Main Lecture Volumes

Volume I: Mechanics, Radiation, and Heat (52 Chapters)

volume-1-mechanics-radiation-heat/
├── ch01-atoms-in-motion/
│   ├── notes/          # Chapter notes and summaries
│   ├── code/           # Simulations and calculations
│   └── exercises/      # Problem solutions
├── ch02-basic-physics/
├── ch03-relation-of-physics-to-other-sciences/
├── ch04-conservation-of-energy/
├── ch05-time-and-distance/
├── ch06-probability/
├── ch07-theory-of-gravitation/
├── ch08-motion/
├── ch09-newtons-laws-of-dynamics/
├── ch10-conservation-of-momentum/
└── ... (and 42 more chapters)

Volume I Topics:

  • Classical mechanics
  • Conservation laws
  • Gravitation
  • Kinematics and dynamics
  • Work and potential energy
  • Oscillations and resonance
  • Rotational motion
  • Relativistic effects
  • Radiation and heat
  • Kinetic theory of gases
  • Sound and waves

Volume II: Electromagnetism and Matter (42 Chapters)

volume-2-electromagnetism-matter/
├── ch01-electromagnetism/
│   ├── notes/
│   ├── code/
│   └── exercises/
├── ch02-differential-calculus-vector-fields/
├── ch03-vector-integral-calculus/
├── ch04-electrostatics/
├── ch05-application-of-gauss-law/
└── ... (and 37 more chapters)

Volume II Topics:

  • Electrostatics and Gauss's law
  • Electric fields and potentials
  • Dielectrics
  • Magnetostatics
  • Maxwell's equations
  • Electromagnetic waves
  • AC circuits and resonance
  • Waveguides and cavity resonators
  • Properties of matter
  • Magnetism in matter

Volume III: Quantum Mechanics (21 Chapters)

volume-3-quantum-mechanics/
├── ch01-quantum-behavior/
│   ├── notes/
│   ├── code/           # Quantum simulations
│   └── exercises/
├── ch02-wave-and-particle-viewpoints/
├── ch03-probability-amplitudes/
├── ch04-identical-particles/
├── ch05-spin-one/
└── ... (and 16 more chapters)

Volume III Topics:

  • Quantum behavior and uncertainty
  • Wave-particle duality
  • Probability amplitudes
  • Identical particles and spin
  • The Hamiltonian matrix
  • Time-dependent systems
  • Angular momentum
  • Hydrogen atom
  • Propagators and path integrals
  • Quantum electrodynamics

Exercises and Problem-Solving

exercises-tips-on-physics/
├── notes/              # Study notes from "Feynman's Tips on Physics"
└── solutions/          # Exercise solutions

For the companion book Feynman's Tips on Physics and additional problem-solving exercises.

Cornell Messenger Lectures (1964)

cornell-messenger-lectures/
├── lecture-1-law-of-gravitation/
│   ├── notes/
│   └── transcript/
├── lecture-2-relation-mathematics-physics/
├── lecture-3-great-conservation-principles/
├── lecture-4-symmetry-in-physical-law/
├── lecture-5-distinction-of-past-and-future/
├── lecture-6-probability-and-uncertainty/
└── lecture-7-seeking-new-laws/

The Character of Physical Law - Seven HD video lectures Feynman gave at Cornell University in 1964, exploring the fundamental principles underlying physical laws.

Supplementary Resources

FLP Audio Recordings

flp-audio-recordings/
├── volume-1/notes/     # Notes from 122 original lecture recordings
├── volume-2/notes/
└── volume-3/notes/

122 audio recordings of Feynman's original Caltech lectures (1961-1963).

FLP Lecture Photos

flp-lecture-photos/
├── volume-1/           # Photos from Volume I lectures
├── volume-2/           # Photos from Volume II lectures  
└── volume-3/           # Photos from Volume III lectures

3,043 photographs from the original lectures.

Feynman's Lecture Notes

feynman-lecture-notes/
├── volume-1/           # Feynman's handwritten preparation notes
├── volume-2/
└── volume-3/

611 pages of Richard Feynman's original handwritten notes used to prepare the lectures.

Original Course Handouts

original-course-handouts/
├── 1961-1962/          # First year handouts
└── 1962-1963/          # Second year handouts

744 pages of original mimeographed materials given to students: lecture summaries, lab guidelines, homework assignments, exams, and quizzes.

Info and Resources

info-resources/
├── about-the-lectures/ # Background information
├── commentary/         # Expert commentary and context
└── errata/            # Known errors and corrections

Additional context, commentary, and reference materials.

📖 How to Use This Repository

For Each Chapter:

  1. notes/: Write your chapter summaries, key concepts, and insights
  2. code/: Implement simulations, visualizations, and numerical solutions
  3. exercises/: Work through problems and save your solutions

Recommended Study Approach:

  1. Read the chapter on feynmanlectures.caltech.edu
  2. Listen to the corresponding audio recording (if available)
  3. Review Feynman's original preparation notes
  4. Take notes in the notes/ directory
  5. Implement concepts in code in the code/ directory
  6. Solve exercises in the exercises/ directory
  7. Review original course handouts for additional context

🛠️ Suggested Tools and Languages

  • Python: NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib for simulations and visualizations
  • Julia: For high-performance physics simulations
  • Mathematica/Maple: Symbolic calculations
  • Jupyter Notebooks: Interactive exploration
  • LaTeX: Mathematical notation in notes

📝 Note-Taking Conventions

  • Use Markdown for text notes
  • Include LaTeX for mathematical equations
  • Reference specific sections and equation numbers
  • Link to relevant chapters and resources
  • Tag important concepts for easy searching

🔗 Official Resources

📜 License & Copyright

Important: This repository is for personal study notes and code implementations only.

  • The Feynman Lectures on Physics © California Institute of Technology
  • The online edition is free to read at feynmanlectures.caltech.edu
  • Do not upload copyrighted content (book text, photos, recordings)
  • Original work, notes, and code in this repo: Use as you see fit for learning

🎯 Goals

  • Complete Volume I (52 chapters)
  • Complete Volume II (42 chapters)
  • Complete Volume III (21 chapters)
  • Watch all 7 Cornell Messenger Lectures
  • Review key audio recordings
  • Implement significant simulations for each volume
  • Solve exercises from Feynman's Tips on Physics

🙏 Acknowledgments

Endless gratitude to:

  • Richard Feynman, Robert Leighton, and Matthew Sands
  • Caltech and the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
  • The Feynman Lectures Website team
  • Carver Mead, for supporting the free online edition
  • All contributors who made these lectures freely available

"I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics." — Richard Feynman

"Study hard what interests you the most in the most undisciplined, irreverent and original manner possible." — Richard Feynman

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