Book Description
This best-selling classical mechanics text, written for the advanced undergraduate one- or two-semester course, provides a complete account of the classical mechanics of particles, systems of particles, and rigid bodies. Vector calculus is used extensively to explore topics.The Lagrangian formulation of mechanics is introduced early to show its powerful problem solving ability.. Modern notation and terminology are used throughout in support of the text's objective: to facilitate students' transition to advanced physics and the mathematical formalism needed for the quantum theory of physics. CLASSICAL DYNAMICS OF PARTICLES AND SYSTEMS can easily be used for a one- or two-semester course, depending on the instructor's choice of topics.
Customer Reviews:
I doubt students using this text can tackle dynamics.......2007-04-28
I doubt students using this text will be as capable in tackling dynamics problems as one would assume. Give the Physics student fed on a regular diet of this book one of those swirling, mechanical-arm problems and they'll probably be dead in the waters. This is probably one of those books that create the illusion of mastery rather than develop real skills.
Springer has a real good series on classical mechanics nowadays. That's my tip.
Disclaimer: gave up on this book and never really used it, because I think it sucks and life is too short.
worst textbook I ever had.......2007-02-03
This book is one of the reasons why I am now a math phd student, rather than a physics phd student. Unfortunately, physics departments stick to the same awful books, when they really ought to know better. It doesn't matter how much math you know--I was a senior math major. You can follow everything that is written in this book and still not learn much because the book hardly contains any real knowledge. Very little physical insight will be found here, unless you think about it for yourself and come up with your own explanations. The idea of actually understanding anything seems to be completely missing. The problems are often tedious, involving excessive computations (not that some of that isn't appropriate), with a few exceptions. Not a good textbook or reference. If you don't at least question this book, you will miss out, big time--I promise.
If you have the misfortune of having this as a text, please, at least try reading something else. Feynman's lectures cover some of the material at an elementary level. V. I. Arnold's Mathematical Methods of Classical Mechanics might be worth taking a look at, although it requires some mathematical sophistication for a full appreciation.
This book is a real dissaster!!!.......2007-01-29
I used this book for Classical Mechanics and Classical Dynamics, and was a complete waste of time and money, the explanation of the topics is very superficial, and the mathematics are very poorly. However, the book is well organized, because clearly it develop a line of thought that an undergraduated student can follow, nonetheless the develop of this line of thought is a real dissaster. In conclusion, please look for another book, don't buy this piece of sh... Sorry, but I'm really dissapointed with this book. I had to buy another five books to complete what at last is the real classical dynamics.
P.S.: Beg your pardon if there is any grammar error, I'm not a native English Speaker.
Know's its place.......2006-09-02
This semester is my first in grad school and we're starting into Goldstein and I'm using Marion for review and backfill. The really negative opinions on this page are over done. AND so are the really positive reviews.
Overall the book is just great for an undergrad who won't be going on to the PhD or masters. But once you're in one of these programs you may find yourself reaching for it to make sure you've got your basics covered.
Hopefully Thornton will upgrade the book and not dumb it down as time goes on. A layered approach usually works.
A shame..........2006-04-29
People who read this book carefully will find that many of the examples in the book contain flawed reasoning. The sloppy logic often leads one to understand certain concepts in a wrong way. The book does have lots of long-winded mathematical derivations, but they don't really add to the reader's physical insight. (eg. in chapter 11, some simple linear algebra that can be done in three lines are instead derived in pages of summations and index swap)
This book is a disgrace to the teaching of physics. Its tedious, sometimes illegitimate algebra spoils the elegance of classical mechanics. Compare it with Landau, and you will see the point.
Amazon.com
As a scientist, Albert Einstein is undoubtedly the most epic among 20th-century thinkers. Albert Einstein as a man, however, has been a much harder portrait to paint, and what we know of him as a husband, father, and friend is fragmentary at best. With Einstein: His Life and Universe, Walter Isaacson (author of the bestselling biographies Benjamin Franklin and Kissinger) brings Einstein's experience of life, love, and intellectual discovery into brilliant focus. The book is the first biography to tackle Einstein's enormous volume of personal correspondence that heretofore had been sealed from the public, and it's hard to imagine another book that could do such a richly textured and complicated life as Einstein's the same thoughtful justice. Isaacson is a master of the form and this latest opus is at once arresting and wonderfully revelatory. --Anne Bartholomew
Read "The Light-Beam Rider," the first chapter of Walter Isaacson's Einstein: His Life and Universe.
Five Questions for Walter Isaacson
Amazon.com: What kind of scientific education did you have to give yourself to be able to understand and explain Einstein's ideas?
Isaacson: I've always loved science, and I had a group of great physicists--such as Brian Greene, Lawrence Krauss, and Murray Gell-Mann--who tutored me, helped me learn the physics, and checked various versions of my book. I also learned the tensor calculus underlying general relativity, but tried to avoid spending too much time on it in the book. I wanted to capture the imaginative beauty of Einstein's scientific leaps, but I hope folks who want to delve more deeply into the science will read Einstein books by such scientists as Abraham Pais, Jeremy Bernstein, Brian Greene, and others.
Amazon.com: That Einstein was a clerk in the Swiss Patent Office when he revolutionized our understanding of the physical world has often been treated as ironic or even absurd. But you argue that in many ways his time there fostered his discoveries. Could you explain?
Isaacson: I think he was lucky to be at the patent office rather than serving as an acolyte in the academy trying to please senior professors and teach the conventional wisdom. As a patent examiner, he got to visualize the physical realities underlying scientific concepts. He had a boss who told him to question every premise and assumption. And as Peter Galison shows in Einstein's Clocks, Poincare's Maps, many of the patent applications involved synchronizing clocks using signals that traveled at the speed of light. So with his office-mate Michele Besso as a sounding board, he was primed to make the leap to special relativity.
Amazon.com: That time in the patent office makes him sound far more like a practical scientist and tinkerer than the usual image of the wild-haired professor, and more like your previous biographical subject, the multitalented but eminently earthly Benjamin Franklin. Did you see connections between them?
Isaacson: I like writing about creativity, and that's what Franklin and Einstein shared. They also had great curiosity and imagination. But Franklin was a more practical man who was not very theoretical, and Einstein was the opposite in that regard.
Amazon.com: Of the many legends that have accumulated around Einstein, what did you find to be least true? Most true?
Isaacson: The least true legend is that he failed math as a schoolboy. He was actually great in math, because he could visualize equations. He knew they were nature's brushstrokes for painting her wonders. For example, he could look at Maxwell's equations and marvel at what it would be like to ride alongside a light wave, and he could look at Max Planck's equations about radiation and realize that Planck's constant meant that light was a particle as well as a wave. The most true legend is how rebellious and defiant of authority he was. You see it in his politics, his personal life, and his science.
Amazon.com: At Time and CNN and the Aspen Institute, you've worked with many of the leading thinkers and leaders of the day. Now that you've had the chance to get to know Einstein so well, did he remind you of anyone from our day who shares at least some of his remarkable qualities?
Isaacson: There are many creative scientists, most notably Stephen Hawking, who wrote the essay on Einstein as "Person of the Century" when I was editor of Time. In the world of technology, Steve Jobs has the same creative imagination and ability to think differently that distinguished Einstein, and Bill Gates has the same intellectual intensity. I wish I knew politicians who had the creativity and human instincts of Einstein, or for that matter the wise feel for our common values of Benjamin Franklin.
More to Explore
Book Description
By the author of the acclaimed bestseller Benjamin Franklin, this is the first full biography of Albert Einstein since all of his papers have become available.
How did his mind work? What made him a genius? Isaacson's biography shows how his scientific imagination sprang from the rebellious nature of his personality. His fascinating story is a testament to the connection between creativity and freedom.
Based on newly released personal letters of Einstein, this book explores how an imaginative, impertinent patent clerk -- a struggling father in a difficult marriage who couldn't get a teaching job or a doctorate -- became the mind reader of the creator of the cosmos, the locksmith of the mysteries of the atom and the universe. His success came from questioning conventional wisdom and marveling at mysteries that struck others as mundane. This led him to embrace a morality and politics based on respect for free minds, free spirits, and free individuals.
These traits are just as vital for this new century of globalization, in which our success will depend on our creativity, as they were for the beginning of the last century, when Einstein helped usher in the modern age.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely Fantastic.......2007-10-03
This biography reads like a story, creating suspense and other emotions that you experince while reading fiction. Einstein provides great insight into Einstein's mind and life. Highly recommended.
Greatest Book Ever on Einstein.......2007-10-03
I am 75 years old and have read over a dozen books on Einstein and his work, including his own. This is the best book ever on the personal life and tribulations of a great scientist as he trys to get his work done. With all the flaws and worts of a human the scientist struggles on.
Good, comprehensive look at the man..........2007-10-03
This is a good, comprehensive look at the life and career of Einstein. It is a bit long winded. But, the details are enlightening and well researched and documented. And, I learned a lot I didn't know about his life, times, and mentality.
I recommend the book to fans and those who want to understand what made this genius tick.
good but too long.......2007-10-01
This is really a good book. Mostly becuase Einstein was a great man and did amazing work. But it is not a great book becuase it gets too bogged down in his personal life. When the author is describing his miracle year of 1905 and then ten years later his theory of general relativitiy there is a sense of excitement and wonder. Unfortanately after that the book wanders around aimlessly. I really did not want to hear every tedious detail of his divorce or his (at times) acrimonious relationship with his first wife. It all feels like filler and a distraction from the amazing work that this man did. I'm sad to say but Einstein's personal life is not anywhere near as exciting as his great discoveries and to devote almost the entire book to his personal life seems like a waste of time.
You don't have to be an Einstein to enjoy this book!.......2007-10-01
You don't have to be an Einstein to enjoy this book but I sure wish that I would have taken physics instead of chemistry at junior college...Isaacson did a good job of trying to dummy up Einstein's discoveries so that JBODS like me could appreciate his genius but I do admit to having re-read a few sections here and there...
Forget the geeky stereotypes that one leans toward when thinking of scientists - Einstein was a rebel and cool in every sense of the word. His humanity and adherence to the principle of individual freedom made him a great man beyond just the science that he pioneered.
I especially enjoyed the way that religion, philosophy and science came together when developing and testing new theories. And the last chapter about Einstein's brain was entertaining in a macabre kind of way...
Book Description
Physics for Scientists and Engineers combines outstanding pedagogy with a clear and direct narrative and applications that draw the reader into the physics. The new edition features an unrivaled suite of media and on-line resources that enhance the understanding of physics.
Many new topics have been incorporated such as: the Otto cycle, lens combinations, three-phase alternating current, and many more. New developments and discoveries in physics have been added including the Hubble space telescope, age and inflation of the universe, and distant planets. Modern physics topics are often discussed within the framework of classical physics where appropriate.
For scientists and engineers who are interested in learning physics.
Customer Reviews:
Good deal.......2005-09-15
I got a quick response to my email. Happy to do business with an organization doing some good in the community.
Outstanding.......2005-03-18
I had to use this book during my two semesters of non-calculus college physics, and my first reaction to this 1000+ page monster was mathematical FEAR. However, as I kept reading the book I realized that it explained the majority of concepts clearly even for a person with limited calculus knowledge. The book does an excellent job early on with Newton's three laws, but it gets a little confusing on statics.
The last half of the book was covered in my second semester, and it was also excellent in explaining the topics of thermodynamics, DC and RC circuits, Magnetism and Optics among others. Nevertheless, there were times when the explanation and examples of the book were not enough to answer some of the problems at the end of each chapter. Furthermore, my only complain about the book is that sometimes it uses what my instructor called "Shortcuts" in the sample problems without explaining how the author arrived to a given equation or derivation of a formula. Physics is by no means an easy subject and to do well at it you will need a great instructor and a great book - I was lucky enough to have both.
There are very few books that I keep after I take a class, but I have to say that this book is an invaluable reference that will be in my professional bookshelf for many years.
excellent book.......2004-12-28
This book is very easy to understand and fun to study from. Very helpful for beginners.
Decent but way expensive.......2004-06-16
I had to buy this book for my two general physics courses. I must say this book is the most expensive I've ever bought. This leads me to my first bad critique: this book is unnecessarily large and expensive. The book is full of useless pictures (all in vibrant expensive color), it has too many examples and 1/3 of the majority of the pages are blank. I don't recommend this book if your a poor college student. My second bad critique is that some examples aren't fully explained (particularly with the some equations). Third bad critique: some problems require knowledge that you won't find in the book. There was an instance where I ran into a problem (a double Atwood machine problem) that required knowledge of Newton's laws in non-inertial frames which the book does not provide. I managed to solve this problem with outside help but I must say I felt cheated. My last bad critique: this book has no errata yet!
Now for some good points. The authors exposition of the material is fairly straight-forward. The book is full of problems (some which overly challenging but good nevertheless), covers a great number of topics (45 chapters worth), and uses very little calculus (the majority of the problems involve highschool mathematics).
Not a very good physics book.......2004-06-04
If you're a beginner or not interested in physics stay away from this book. Its mostly geared towards people with high interest and a good reference. Otherwise, the book is very boring to read and all they do is throw formulas at you. Stay away at all costs.
Book Description
Chaisson/McMillan's writing style and pedagogically driven art program are recognized as being scientifically accurate yet accessible to non-science majors. The integrated media program contains the market's only E-book. It provides readers with innovative and interactive tools to learn and test their understanding of astronomy concepts. Topics covered include Astronomy and the Universe, Our Planetay System, Stars and Stellar Evolution, Galaxies and Cosmology, and more. For one or two-semester introductory astronomy course.
Customer Reviews:
New Book that was NOT a new Book.......2007-06-08
Simply put - I purchased this Astronomy book through Amazon because the price was the same as elsewhere but I would save on shipping. I expected a NEW book but received a Used Book in good condition.
The Book itself so far seems well laid out and interesting but the course I am taking has just reached the 1/3 mark toward completion.
For the Non-Science Major.......2007-03-08
This book is designed to be the astronomy book that non-science majors would use to meet their one-year of science requirement as part of their undergraduate degree. As such it is written without the mathematics content that would be normal in a course aimed at astronoly or physics students. In addition, this particular book has several advantages. To identify just a few:
1. Throughout the book there is an emphasis on teaching the scientific method. This area has been strengthened in this edition because (I'm guessing) the current attempts by the un-intelligent design people to disparage scientific theories.
2. Revised to include the latest discoveries being made by the Mars rovers and the down grading of poor Pluto to a minor planet.
3. Updating the current theories regarding dark matter and dark energy.
In summary this is a well written, well illustrated text, ideally suited for the non-scientists.
Astronomy Today 5th edition.......2006-03-11
I have had a lifetime love of Astronomy but have lacked the mathmatical background for a thorough understanding. Most popular books on the subject rarely cover the field in the manner that I desire. Astronomy Today is a textbook for a beginning course in astronomy at the college level and does, in fact, cover a great deal of information without the need for mathmatical knowledge. The authors express their ideas and information in clear, concise language and clearly manifest an enthusiasm for their subject. I have enjoyed the book immensely.
A Paradox of Blind Astronomers!.......2005-06-23
This is an excellent textbook, but I deducted one star (from a possible five-star rating) because of the absurd comments made by the authors in the beginning of the book. In this fourth edition of Astronomy Today, a textbook published by Prentice Hall for college students, the authors open the very first chapter with the following statements:
"Of all the scientific insights attained to date, one stands out boldly: Earth is neither central nor special. We inhabit no unique place in the universe. Astronomical research, especially within the past few decades, strongly suggests that we live on what seems to be an ordinary rocky planet called Earth, one of the nine known planets orbiting an average star called the Sun, a star near the edge of a huge collection of stars called the Milky Way Galaxy, which is one galaxy among countless billions of others spread throughout the observable universe."
Huh!? Earth isn't special? Compare the other planets in our Solar System to Earth and tell us it isn't special. And Earth is "...an ordinary rocky planet..."? It's the only planet we know of with vast oceans of liquid water, a breathable atmosphere, lush vegetation, and a spectacular collection of life forms. The authors of this textbook must have been "out to lunch" when they wrote that trite introduction, or... this is just another deliberate attempt by "philosophers of gobbledygook" to strip the Earth of its special place in the universe and to squash any special characteristics that may differentiate it from everything else in the cosmos. I strongly suspect the latter viewpoint is the correct one.
The fact is the Earth is indeed a very special place, and the Sun is a very special star. In fact, the Sun-Earth relationship represents a very special arrangement that permits life to thrive upon our planet. Mercury, Venus and Mars may be nothing more than ordinary rocky planets, but Earth is truly unique from all the other planets in our Solar System, and may be truly unique in all the universe.
I stand by my initial rating of the textbook: 4 stars and an excellent read. I just have a wee bit of a problem with blind astronomers.
A joy to read!.......2005-02-18
This book is really outstanding! It contains 757 pages of text (not counting the preface and appendix), about 480 (mostly quite smallish) photos, some 400 drawings/figures/illustrations and almost 50 tables. The writing style is very clear, not at all dry or overtly technical. It is a joy to read this book. I know of no other book that clarifies all kind of astronomical subjects as thoroughly and understandably as this book (and I did read many books on astronomy.....). Highly recommended!
Book Description
Conceptual Physics, Tenth Edition helps readers connect physics to their everyday experiences and the world around them with additional help on solving more mathematical problems. Hewitt's text is famous for engaging readers with analogies and imagery from real-world situations that build a strong conceptual understanding of physical principles ranging from classical mechanics to modern physics. With this strong foundation, readers are better equipped to understand the equations and formulas of physics, and motivated to explore the thought-provoking exercises and fun projects in each chapter. Included in the package is the workbook.
Mechanics, Properties of Matter, Heat, Sound, Electricity and Magnetism, Light, Atomic and Nuclear Physics, Relativity.
For all readers interested in conceptual physics.
Customer Reviews:
Not conceptual.......2007-09-04
My daughter used this textbook in her HS physics class and I was apalled with how much useless information it contained. Little to no historical information about who, what and when it was discovered and how it brought about changed. Her teacher used the chapter on the conservation of energy to talk about energy conservation, an entirely different subject. I agree with teaching the concepts of physics in HS before diving into the math in college, but there are much better texts available!
Not what they stated.......2007-05-19
Well, they made it seem like this is the paperback version of the hardcover. It is NOT.
This is an EXERCISE BOOK and no such description exists.
Be careful when purchasing. I'm preparing to send mine back.
Incredible textbook.......2007-02-04
Going into intro physics this semester, my boyfriend (who had aced his physics course no problem) was utterly ready to hold my hand through the ordeal. But a good instructor and this very comprehensible text makes everything quite easy to understand. Highly recommended to anyone wanting a firm grasp of physics.
Very useful book for those who would like to learn physics without equations.......2006-12-30
I used Conceptual Physics by Paul G. Hewitt along with a more technical university-level introductory physics book that had a lot of equations but not much conceptual explanation. I should admit that I was not very fond of physics until I started to read this book. It explained physical concepts in a simple language that was easy to understand. Although it did not cover some of the more complicated physical concept, it did cover enough material so that I could understand most of the physics equations in my other more technical physics book much better. Conceptual Physics was even exciting to read and I usually looked forward to doing so. After finishing this book, because I understood physical concepts much better, I started to read other popular physics books. Conceptual Physics is not intended to be used in a course that requires solving physics problems based on understanding equation. So it should not be used as such unless it is accompanied by another book containing equations. But if you would like to learn conceptual physics without equation, it has a tremendous value.
This book helped me learn to hate physics.......2006-12-11
As a college student forced to endure this book for an entire semester of conceptual physics, I can say with utmost certainty that this book should not be be on any teacher's list of useful text books. I chose physics to fulfill my university math requirement in order to broaden my very basic scientific knowledge, as I had never taken a physics course. However, what I found in this book (which constituted the bulk of my instruction) was a conglomeration of random examples with little cohesion, annoying illustrations that were distracting rather than helpful, badly organized chapters that left me wandering through the pages wondering what had happened, and an index that doesn't include standard items such as "static friction" or "watt". Perhaps most frustrating was the appalling lack of mathematical equations that the student is somehow supposed to magically know by the end of the chapter, when they are necessary to solve the problems. Please, if you are a physics instructor, spare your students the agony of trying to grasp an understanding of your subject through this book.
Book Description
This revised edition of Feynman’s legendary lectures includes extensive corrections Feynman and his colleagues received and Caltech approved. This boxed set provides Volumes 1-3 together with Feynman’s Tips on Physics making this the complete and definitive set of The Feynman Lectures on Physics.
For all readers interested in physics.
Customer Reviews:
Surpassed my expectations!.......2007-09-29
I could go over and over about the exceptional quality of the content presented in the Feynman Lectures, but I think millions of readers have already taken care of that. So I'm gonna focus on something that really distinguishes this edition from the others (besides, of course, all the corrections made to the previous editions): the physical characteristics of the books.
I was impressed at the quality of this collection. The books are all covered with a smooth red fabric wich really gives them a sophisticated look. They will look great anywhere. I placed my collection on the top of a shelf and I gotta tell you, that big red box really stands out.
The books are somewhat big and heavy, but that doesn't interferes with a confortable reading. You're not gonna have to place it on a table while reading it.
Now, I know this review may have sounded quite futile (why the hell is this fellow talking about how the book looks!?), but since everyone knows about how great and enlightening the Lectures are, I thougt I'd go on about some details that rather we admmit it or not, we care about.
So this is it: these books are beautiful, provide a comfortable reading, and they're THE FEYNMAN LECTURES ON PHYSICS!
open your mind.......2007-07-30
I wasn't a natural in math or physics, but I was interested in learning more than one might learn at a junior college's first year physics program. And so I bought these books.
Feynman has a very interesting way of looking at things. Sometimes it is so unique that it opened my eyes to a whole different way of seeing problems presented in a more traditional fashion. A real conceptual eye-opener. And for this alone, the books are worth it. He also makes you want to learn more, by giving you a taste of things to come.
At other times, he is frustrating because he has a way of seeing that I couldn't understand. Maybe more mathematical than conceptual, but that wouldn't quite capture it. Sometimes he just presents things as straight forward that really aren't.
He's also sort of funny, in a strange way. It seemed like he was jealous of Einstein's discoveries -- like they were too easy for all the fame they gave the man. You can tell he's proud of his own intelligence.
But his comments on relativity, along with some other sources, helped me understand some key points. Like the principles that Einstein held inviolate, leading to his surprising conclusions. Or that objects travel to minimize their "proper time" in space time -- which you'd never hear in any other 1st year book. Stuff like that make these lectures great.
As others have commented, this should be a companion to a traditional text book, not a replacement.
A graduate students point of view........2007-07-04
Physics Majors!, spend the money on these books, but not until you are 1/2 way through a calculus based physics introduction, at least at the level of H R & Walkers's "Fundamentals of Physics." I agree with many other reviewers, these are not the best books from which to initially learn the subject. But I truly wish that I had read these when I was first studying Quantum Mechanics & Electrodynamics from Griffiths' and Mechanics from Marion & Thornton.
Feynman is most helpful by putting things in perspective and speaking to the aspiring physicist in you. By reading Feynman, you can get a better sense of how to ask questions about physics. As a graduate student, I really appreciate *how* Feynman teaches, I believe reading these can make anyone a better physics lecturer. There is a lot of material, don't be afraid to pick and choose. I highly recommend the chapters on optics in Vol 1. Between reading Feynman as an undergrad and Landau as a graduate student, all of the aspiring physicists out there should be set.
How does each electron pass through two slits at the same time? It must move discontinuously........2007-05-27
In this book, Feynman uses more than twenty pages to discuss the mysterious double-slit experiment. He regards it as "a phenomenon which is impossible, absolutely impossible, to explain in any classical way." His analysis implies that each single electron must pass through two slits at the same time. But how in hell does a single electron pass through two slits? Feynman provides no answer. In fact, it seems evident that the single electron can only pass through the two slits in a discontinuous way. Therefore, its motion must be not continuous but discontinuous. Such discontinuous motion is imaginable and comprehensible. It has actually been lucidly expounded in a recent book Quantum Motion - Unveiling the Mysterious Quantum World. A more popular introduction God Does Play Dice with the Universe can be found at my name (i.e. [..]).
Once we realize that motion is discontinuous and random in reality, we may finally understand the mysterious quantum world, where an electron can pass through two slits at the same time. Even Feynman might be satisfied with this answer.
The classic Feynman.......2007-05-14
Having undergone an Honours level Physics course, it was extraordinarily enlightening to discover Richard Feynman's view of Physics from these volumes many years later. Some 40 years after they were written, there is a huge value to the student (and past student ) still. Forget the "Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman" etc. These are the ultimate testament to Richard Feynman's understanding of physics and his ability to explain it. Unreservedly recommended to Feynman fans with a bit of Math to help understand it.
Book Description
With its time-tested problems, pioneering conceptual and visual pedagogy, and next-generation media package, the Eleventh Edition of Young and Freedman's
University Physics is the classic physics book with an eye on the future. Using Young & Freedman's research-based ISEE (Identify, Set up, Execute, Evaluate) problem-solving strategy, readers develop the physical intuition and problem-solving skills required to tackle the book's extensive high-quality problem sets that have been developed and refined over the past five decades. The completely redesigned, pedagogically consistent artwork and diagrams integrate seamlessly with the book to help readers better visualize key concepts.
For college instructors, students, or anyone interested in physics.
Customer Reviews:
(1/2) Worst possible physics book ever. .......2007-07-14
In a nutshell:
All the classical newtonian physics stuff is ok. I know this sounds ridiculously vague but its only because this isn't the part that you should be concerned with.
THE MAIN CONCERN is the ambiguity of the electricity, magnetism, etc. sections. The chapters are divided into inconvenient and uncommon section divisions. Therefore, MOST of the example problems in these secitons refer you back to a problem from another chapter! Further more, the sample problems are solved in the most tedious way possible. I guess, the authors felt that their target audience was for most 8th graders who have just taken Pre-Calc. (yes, i know the title of this book is slightly misleading) Also, what is up with the 'with Modern Physics' stuff. So basically, 'connecting the dots' is an impossiblity. This book does NOT even venture into that general region of comprehensibility. They also include a lot of irrelevant small connections between concepts that you end up wasting several minutes trying to realize that it contributes nothing to the overall idea. They have dedicated the last few pages to it. (Wow, I learned A LOT from that. Note to the author: Hugh, either get rid of those pages pages because the book is heavy enough or write more than what you can find in Ask.com in 3 minutes.)
I would NOT recommend this book to anyone. I would first take a look at Principes of Physics by Serwey and Jewett.
*The problem, for these types of books, is that most people buying this book probably are required to get this book for class (e.i. Me). Therefore, the only suggestions from this entire review that maybe helpful is, get a alternative study guide for these later sections that I have mentioned.
Excellent book on all aspects of Freshman Physics.......2006-02-15
This series of textbooks on college freshman physics is simply the best I have found in print, even if it is not the most widely used. It has clear explanations of all concepts, plenty of instructive diagrams, and most of all many interesting solved problems and examples. I am by no means saying that this is an easy book, you will need to read it carefully and work through the examples. However, unlike with other physics textbooks, all of the information is there if you are willing to put forth the required time and effort. Make sure you've had the first two semesters of calculus first though, or there are parts of this book that will not make sense to you. If you are interested in having a good textbook and reference for both college physics and modern physics, it is the best choice you could make. If you are only interested in the classical physics part, I suggest you buy the 10th edition and save yourself a lot of money. The 10th edition has just a very abbreviated section on modern physics. This book is of great use for engineers, because not only will it get you through your freshman physics sequence smoothly, it is a great reference with lots of examples that you will need when you take statics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and your sophomore level courses on electric circuits and EM. I notice that Amazon does not show the table of contents, so I do that here:
Mechanics.
1. Units, Physical Quantities, and Vectors.
2. Motion Along a Straight Line.
3. Motion in Two or Three Dimensions.
4. Newton's Laws of Motion.
5. Applying Newton's Laws.
6. Work and Kinetic Energy.
7. Potential Energy and Energy Conservation.
8. Momentum, Impulse, and Collisions.
9. Rotation of Rigid Bodies.
10. Dynamics of Rotational Motion.
11. Equilibrium and Elasticity.
12. Gravitation.
13. Periodic Motion.
14. Fluid Mechanics.
Waves/Acoustics.
15. Mechanical Waves.
16. Sound and Hearing.
Thermodynamics.
17. Temperature and Heat.
18. Thermal Properties of Matter.
19. The First Law of Thermodynamics.
20. The Second Law of Thermodynamics.
Electromagnetism.
21. Electric Charge and Electric Field.
22. Gauss's Law.
23. Electric Potential.
24. Capacitance and Dielectrics.
25. Current, Resistance, and Electromotive Force.
26. Direct-Current Circuits.
27. Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces.
28. Sources of Magnetic Field.
29. Electromagnetic Induction.
30. Inductance.
31. Alternating Current.
32. Electromagnetic Waves.
Optics.
33. The Nature and Propagation of Light.
34. Geometric Optics and Optical Instruments.
35. Interference.
36. Diffraction.
Modern Physics.
37. Relativity.
38. Quantum Physics I: Photons, Electrons, and Atoms.
39. Quantum Physics II: The Wave Nature of Particles.
40. Quantum Physics III: Quantum Mechanics.
41. Atomic Structure.
42. Molecules and Condensed Matter.
43. Nuclear Physics.
44. Particle Physics and Cosmology.
One of the best.......2005-12-10
This book is one of the best general physics texts there is. Period. The author(s) took the time to clearly explain topics and answer all those little "Wait, why did you do this?" questions that other texts leave to you to figure out. I still go back to this book instead of Hibbeler's engineering series as the concepts are explained much more clearly and the excersizes are tough to make sure you really learn the concepts. Another great feature of this book is it's easy to understand writting style. Reading the book is just like having a professer explain something to you in person, not a mathenatician reading a theorem out loud, unlike say, Hibbeler. Very good choice overall.
Superb book for the beginning Physics student.......2005-01-02
This book is the best book out there that I have seen for the beginning Physics student. It is a bit wordy as some of the reviews have said, but I think the authors have done their best to bend over backwards to explain each Physics topic in a simple, clear, and unassuming way for the neophyte. Even as reference, this textbook is invaluable, because it explains concepts down to the nitty gritty detail; unlike a book like Physics by Halliday, Resnick, and Krane which just drops you onto your head expecting you to have some understanding of the subject already. This book is unpresumptious, unpretentious, and yes for some; unsophisticated, but when you're just starting out in Physics, no one expects you to be an Einstein or Feynman right from the start.
This book is one of the worst texts I've read........2005-01-02
It starts off confusing from Chapter One and continues in that manner. Multiple times I was unable to work homework problems from the sections using only the text in this book, relying instead on the internet or a friend's old physics book to help me figure out the matieral that was either glossed over or not covered in this book.
The wording is often imprecise, misleading, or generally obfuscated. Useful tables were few and far between, and the math was a confusing mix of Pre-Calc through Complex Analysis (though they never seem to quite spell out exactly what they are getting at, so I feel sorry for anyone using this book before at least Calc II).
The book is paced so that it can be taught to students currently enroled in Calc 1, so if you know more advanced math you should skim it at least once before your class starts to figure out where the material is.
If you have to suffer through a class that uses this wretched book like I just did I strongly recommend getting another calculus based classical physics book to actually explain things, using this book in loose association with your real reference. Note that this book has a love of polar vectors.
If you bother to read through this book as a learning tool, I recommend taking notes as you go because the book is a horrible reference.
The only reason I give this book two stars is I did not spot any actual errors in the book. I give them a point for at least knowing the subject. They however should not be writing textbooks.
Book Description
COLLEGE PHYSICS provides students with a clear and logical presentation of the basic concepts and principles of physics. The authors include a broad range of contemporary applications to motivate students understanding of how physics works in the real world. In addition, new pedagogy, reflecting the findings of physics education research, has been added to help students improve their problem solving skills and conceptual understanding. The text's flexible, accessible, and focused presentation, coupled with extraordinary text/media integration through PhysicsNow, gives instructors and students the tools they need to succeed. This text, which covers the standard topics in classical physics and 20th century physics, is divided into six parts. Newtonian mechanics and the physics of fluids (Part I); heat and thermodynamics (Part II); wave motion and sound (Part III); electricity and magnetism (Part IV); properties of light and the field of geometric and wave optics (Part V); and an introduction to special relativity, quantum physics, and atomic and nuclear physics (Part VI).
Customer Reviews:
Horrible textbook.......2007-07-27
This book is a terrible, terrible waste of a textbook. The authors spend quite a bit of time talking about absolutely nothing in the book. They oftentimes show examples that are very trite and obvious for anyone to do, but then assign much harder problems. I was very annoyed that they never even bothered to do a complete Kirchoff's rules circuit problem. They emphasize absolutely NO conceptual understanding of the material. I can cite no redeeming qualities of the book except perhaps for decent diagrams.
This is written as a graduate physicist; I am no stranger to difficult physics problems. The problems jump from stupidly easy to difficult in a way that is hard for first years, and I sympathize with their difficulty with this book.
HELP!!!!!!!.......2007-01-11
I am in a beginner physics class this semester and this book is the required text. So far it is like trying to read Greek. I am a relatively good student with the ability to figure out problems but no matter the wording used or the examples given, this book is just plain confusing. The problems at the end of the chapters are rediculously hard and don't seem to be covered in the least little bit within the chapter. The author's attempt at explaining the Pythagorean Theorem was even confusing, shouldn't that be one of the easier ideas? I think I'm in big trouble!!!!!
Books like this are the reason people abandon physics!.......2006-09-24
I am by no means incompetent, as I am an honors student and have no problem getting strait A's in calculus, linear algebra and object oriented programming, but this book is abysmal and almost impossible to follow. The book is horrible on so many levels. First off, many of the chapters start off throwing equations at you, and offer no clarity as to the purpose of the equation. The text very poorly explains concepts and the problems given throughout the book are even worse. The problems given during the chapters literally throw information out at you that was'nt ever touch upon in the entire chapter, and to make matters worse, i've counted 4 problems that have incorrect solutions, and thats only chapter 2! This is a very poorly written, even worse explained book. I dont mind sadistically difficult problems at the end of a chapter, if the book did a good job of teaching me the concepts and computations to answer the problem, unfortunately this book does neither. Whats funny is that our teacher started the semester by saying, he does'nt like the book, but were using it while he researches a better book for us to use. Sadly, I could have walked into a book store, and grabbed ANY physics book, and it would have been better then this one. Luckily I have several other physics books that peice together the missing information for me, but for a textbook that students depend on to learn the subject, it should'nt be required.
horrible text- worst text I've ever had to buy.......2006-09-18
I am a chemistry teacher and I am taking a college physics course as a review for an exam. The text has problems worked out but they are difficult to follow, and the problems at the end of the chapter are entirely impossible. It seems one person wrote the text and a different person wrote the end of text questions and another wrote the solutions. I am using other texts to help but unfortunately my teacher requires me to solve problems from this text. May God bless everyone who has to use this text. Teachers, professors, please rethink using this text.
Sloppy.......2006-08-15
I am not at all impressed with the 7th ed. I am now using another textbook instead of the the College Physics 7th ed required for my class.
The text itself if so-so. The text explanations of concepts are unclear and unnecessarily wordy, not the worst out there but certainly nothing to scream about. One of the irritating tendencies was that simple explanations of even basic concepts were few and far between, and often hidden in the middle of muddy piles of minor trivia. But these are not my major gripes.
What I really dont like: The makings of the text are simply sloppy. Questions covering ideas not mentioned in the book, incorrect answers, or improperly-referenced answers abound. The pages are crammed with so much visual clutter it's hard to find important points. The solutions manual only covers 20% of the questions! Nearly every other textbook covers all odd-numbered, sometimes even ALL of them! Yet this one still costs just as much. You have to submit personal information just to access the "free" website, which doesnt have that much anyways.
For crying out loud, the guy wrote this edition had to come on here to give the ratings for the book a boost! And one other 5-star rater was almost certainly someone from the book's publisher or team. Read through the ratings, you will see which one I mean.
Book Description
A brief, introductory astronomy book designed for readers with little or no scientific background, A Beginner's Guide uses an exceptionally clear writing style. The authors present a broad view of astronomy without complex mathematics, yet the book discusses important concepts without simplification. The book's organization follows the popular and effective “Earth-Out” progression, starting with our planet and then moving through the solar system. A study of the Sun as a model star follows, then the book covers the Milky Way Galaxy, cosmology, and the universe as a whole. Because of its easy-to-read yet comprehensive coverage of astronomy, this book can serve as excellent reference material for those readers interested in learning about our universe.
Customer Reviews:
Solid Intro Astronomy Book.......2007-03-28
This textbook presents information about the Earth, solar system, and universe in a clear manner that avoids technical jargon while staying scientifically respectable. The author demonstrates the practical uses of mathematics throughout the book and the end of chapter questions challenge the reader's grasp of the material. It's a rarity for such a readable book to be written by a person with this author's impressive educational creditials. I would definitely recommend this text and any other written by Chaisson.
good condition and speedy delivery.......2005-09-19
item arrived in 2 days and was in perfect condition. completely satisfied. would recommend to others!
Way too expensive for a paperback.......2004-08-27
Attractive book but not a good value. All the information is available for free on the internet where it is periodically updated and can be referenced for free without wearing out.
Astronomy Text Book.......2004-01-06
Text book arrived in excellent condition (brand spankin' new) and in a timely manner (about 3 business days). I got a great deal too! No problems whatsoever. Thanks a bunch!
Great Textbook.......2001-03-01
For anyone who has a vague interest in astronomy, this would be the book to read. Albeit not entirely simple, this is a relatively straight forward book that uses excellent examples to explain difficult concepts. There are many charts and diagrams. How exactly does a black hole work? What's the difference between a nova and a supernova (not as simple as you might think)? Why do we get meteor showers? There is a bit of mathematics involved, but nothing too intimidating. This is an excellent textbook. Best of all, a CD-ROM is included with lots of multimedia content, study questions, and links to more sources. Avoid other dry textbooks and purchase this one.
Book Description
This best-selling, calculus-based text is recognized for its carefully crafted, logical presentation of the basic concepts and principles of physics. PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, Sixth Edition, maintains the Serway traditions of concise writing for the students, carefully thought-out problem sets and worked examples, and evolving educational pedagogy. This edition introduces a new co-author, Dr. John Jewett, at Cal Poly ? Pomona, known best for his teaching awards and his role in the recently published PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS, Third Edition, also written with Ray Serway. Providing students with the tools they need to succeed in introductory physics, the Sixth Edition of this authoritative text features unparalleled media integration and a newly enhanced supplemental package for instructors and students!
Customer Reviews:
Wow. All the colours blinded me........2007-03-30
Wow. The book was so illustrated and so colourful, I got distracted. And, boy, do they like to write...I guess it also combats illiteracy!
I foresee a crucial change in forthcoming editions: the style of the guy's pants in the elevator will go out of fashion and they will have to issue a new edition (it will cost more, however, because printing technology will allow you to see the guy in 3D).
I personally find the "features" in these American-style textbooks to be nothing but distractions. Besides, the level of physics students went down, not up, as physicists will tell you. So how are the pedagogical "features" helping? Accordingly, in truth, the level of the books went down. The reality is that they're targeting a certain niche market here, keep that in mind. Granted, this book has been around. But, for real, it's overpriced and if that is what they made you buy, well, I'm sorry. On the bright side, you could be using Halliday's, in which case you'd be even worse off. Seriously though, this book is representative of a slew of books that are full of fluff and overpriced.
If you feel adventurous, get yourself something with less colour and more math, straight out of the 70s, like Alonso and Finn, or McKelvey and Grotch. I garantee you will get to calculate the apparent weight of fishes in elevators. Besides, come to think of it, hey, all the good math and physics books from Springer and Kluwer are in black-and-white!
Excellent Textbook! .......2006-10-27
I really am impressed with this textbook. It is one of the most organized texts I have ever used in college. The authors and publisher do an excellent job of "formatting" the topics. All equations are very well marked and numbered. Many other texts throw an equation in the middle of a paragraph and you can never find it when you need it. Not so in this book! You will always find just what you are looking for.
They also do a great job of explaining the topics, with many many examples in each chapter. They provide "quick quizzes" in each chapter with answers at the end of the chapter that allows you to see how you are doing. They make liberal use of colors and illustrations which all help to ease the strain on the eye, and help the mind follow along.
Overall, VERY GOOD BOOK! This book will never leave my library reference collection.
Successful textbook.......2006-08-18
This is one of the most popular and most useful calculus based physics textbook in the market. Normally if you have a textbook and some problem books such as Thinking like a physicist, Problems for Physics Students etc and work through as many problem as you can, you shall have no problem mastering the concepts and getting A's from your class.
Solid introduction to college physics for scientists and engineers.......2006-08-03
Next to older editions of Haliday and Resnick, this is probably the best introductory physics text for "college level physics," and I have seen and used most of them after 20+ years of teaching physics. The material in this text does require previous experience with physics (high school or first term algebra-trig based general physics) plus knowledge of introductory calculus. (Limits, continuity, derivatives and integrals - first year calculus, frequently taken concurrently.) I have taught from, and used earlier versions of the text and have found them, (and this), to be good, reliable texts, with good, clear explanations and contemporary applications, with few or no complaints from students. (Physics is a dry subject for many students - this text should help make it a little more palatable, if not interesting.)
The material covered will be challenging for those who do not have the prerequisite background in mathematics, since free and frequent use of derivatives and integrals is made throughout the text, and facility with trigonometry and algebra is assumed. There's a lot of material covered in 38 chapters, from measurements and mechanics through light and optics. (The 39th chapter introduces special relativity, but is frequently skipped by many instructors, though I always present this topic since many students are fascinated by it, as well as by Einstein - thanks to PBS and Discovery specials. However, relativity is usually the first topic covered in the follow-on modern physics course.)
There are many well done diagrams, graphs, drawings and photographs to help visualize the explanations and examples. Special "blue boxes" highlight historical notes and include pictures of historical figures. Qualitative (conceptual) 'Questions' follow each chapter as well as 'Problems' (color coded by degree of difficulty), some iconed for computer/calculator numerical solution or simulation or on-line "coaching" using the free PhysicsNow web-based learning system. The reading material in each section is also complemented with 'Quick Quizzes' with answers at the end of each chapter. Many complementary example problems are worked completely in the reading and appendices are included at the end of the text for all essential mathematical techniques, including derivatives, integrals and error propagation. The back and front covers (with adjacent heavy pages) provide essential and easily accessible information on units, conversions, physical or useful constants and symbology used in the text.
The text contains no chapters on atomic or nuclear physics (Bohr atomic theory, quantum mechanics, periodic table structure, etc.) because these are topics also usually covered in a separate follow-on modern physics course for "scientists and engineers."
I rated the text 4 stars because it is divided into 39 chapters, rather than ~30, which would be more helpful, I think, for a two 15-week semester or three 10-week quarter sequence of courses in "college physics" for scientists and engineers.
To learn the fundamentals of physics.......2006-05-01
I had used Serway's textbook before the second author joined. Different editions may exhibit slight differences, but this book is very suitable for those who want to gain a solid fundamental in physics. I believe this book is intended to address freshmen and sophomores, who major in math, sciences and engineering and it executes this task very successfully. It requires knowledge of calculus for better understanding.
The chapters do not contain excessively long, boring discussions; rather, they are presented with adequate discussions. Worked-out problems are especially beneficial to understand the concepts. If one solves and understands these examples, they can attack the end-of-chapter problems more easily. The end-of-chapter problems are classified into 3 categories; standard difficulty, medium difficulty and challenging problems. Therefore, a student can make use of his time according to the level of difficulty of his course, background etc. If you little time to practice and a fair knowledge of the subject matter, you could easily start with medium level problems and try the harder ones as well.
Some chapters contain some interesting articles about everyday physical phenomena which are related to the concepts presented. Hence, the student has a chance to relate theory and life and get a more profound comprehension of physics.
Answers to odd-numbered problems are given in the back of the book, so you can check your results. Many numbers used in these problems are not hard to tackle without a calculator. A smart student can solve many problems with a pencil and paper.
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