Product Description

This successful text was the first to address the latest teaching and learning trends as suggested by the Introductory University Physics Project (IUPP) guidelines. PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS features a concise approach to traditional topics, an early introduction to modern physics, integration of physics education research pedagogies, as well as the integration of contemporary topics throughout the text. This revision of PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS also contains text/media integration unlike no other through the PhysicsNow online assessment, tutorial, and course management system.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1784745 in Books
• Published on: 2005-02-24
• Released on: 2005-02-24
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1150 pages

Review
"The Context sections are absolutely fantastic. They are extremely useful. I love them. It is one of the main reasons that I really like this book…I am completely satisfied with the new Context [Alternative-Fuel Vehicles] and the conclusion. I think most students will appreciate this topic, and the relevance of physics in designing and developing future transportation systems…Overall, the new edition looks great. I am looking forward to using it."

"We have used this textbook since its 1st edition. One reason for its adoption was that we feel it is lucidly written and contains about the right amount of detail for our students. Students particularly appreciate the end-of-chapter summaries, as well as the several worked examples throughout the text."

[Regarding Context 9] "The authors here attempt something very cool: they set before the student spectacular and esoteric phenomena (the Big Bang and quark interactions) of vastly different scale lengths, and they hold out the hope that despite the disparities, there are themes in physics that can help us understand both, that apply to both—a beguiling way of drawing the student into a study of modern physics. Very cool."

"You have done a good job of coordinating the specific problem-solving hints with the general problem-solving hints…Context 1, Alternative-Fuel Vehicles: this is written well, it is interesting, and it introduces the concept of energy as the central theme for the next seven chapters. Did I mention that I like it?"

About the Author
Raymond A. Serway received his doctorate at Illinois Institute of Technology and is Professor Emeritus at James Madison University. In 1990, he received the Madison Scholar Award at James Madison University, where he taught for 17 years. Dr. Serway began his teaching career at Clarkson University, where he conducted research and taught from 1967 to 1980. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award at Clarkson University in 1977 and the Alumni Achievement Award from Utica College in 1985. As Guest Scientist at the IBM Research Laboratory in Zurich, Switzerland, he worked with K. Alex Müller, 1987 Nobel Prize recipient. Dr. Serway also was a visiting scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, where he collaborated with his mentor and friend, Sam Marshall. Dr. Serway is the coauthor of PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS, 4e; PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, 7e; ESSENTIALS OF COLLEGE PHYSICS; MODERN PHYSICS, 3e; and the high school textbook PHYSICS, published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. In addition, Dr. Serway has published more than 40 research papers in the field of condensed matter physics and has given more than 60 presentations at professional meetings. Dr. Serway and his wife Elizabeth enjoy traveling, playing golf, gardening, singing in the church choir, and spending quality time with their four children and eight grandchildren.

John W. Jewett, Jr. earned his Doctorate at Ohio State University, specializing in optical and magnetic properties of condensed matter. Dr. Jewett began his academic career at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, where he taught from 1974 to 1984. He is currently Professor of Physics at California State Polytechnic University¿Pomona. Through his teaching career, Dr. Jewett has been active in promoting science education. In addition to receiving four National Science Foundation grants, he helped found and direct the Southern California Area Modern Physics Institute (SCAMPI) and Science IMPACT (Institute for Modern Pedagogy and Creative Teaching), both of which work with teachers and schools to develop effective science curricula. Dr. Jewett's honors include four Meritorious Performance and Professional Promise awards, the Stockton Merit Award at Richard Stockton College in 1980, selection as Outstanding Professor at California State Polytechnic University for 1991¿1992, and the Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching Award from the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) in 1998. He has given over 80 presentations both domestically and abroad, including multiple presentations at national meetings of the AAPT. Dr. Jewett is the author of THE WORLD OF PHYSICS: MYSTERIES, MAGIC, AND MYTH, which provides many connections between physics and everyday experiences. In addition to his work as the co-author for PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS he is also the co-author on PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS: A CALCULUS-BASED TEXT, Fourth Edition, as well as GLOBAL ISSUES, a four-volume set of instruction manuals in integrated science for high school. Dr. Jewett enjoys playing keyboard with his all-physicist band, traveling, and collecting antique quack medical devices that can be used as demonstration apparatus in physics lectures. Most importantly, he relishes spending time with his wife Lisa and their children and grandchildren.

Customer Reviews

Garbage
Totally garbage....

The author jumps around a lot, and doesn't show enough thoery before giving u formulas. Some explanations are too wordy.. some are not wordy enough...

the person who wrote the first review was obviously linked to the book in some way..

pls stop putting up reviews if you have something to gain from the book's popularity... ur just fooling students...

A remarkable first step in changing physics pedagogy
Serway and Jewett have made a remarkable first step in changing physics pedagogy for the better:

1) They cover all topics of physics (including modern physics) in 31 chapters, more easily coverable in 2 semesters. To accomplish this, they removed some utlitarian aspects found in more traditional texts. I think Einstein would have liked this. Some utilitarian aspects are best left for (and in fact better covered by) engineering courses anyway.
2) They combined Newtonian relativity and special relativity into a single chapter and moved it to chapter 9, to be covered in first semester.
3) They introduce ALL fundamental forces in chapter 5 and apply a global approach to energy conservation in chapter 6. This allows them to implement a recommendation by the American Physical Society to present the first law of thermo as delta E = Q + W. Finally! Thermodynamics convention is in line with classical mechanics convention.

True, many staunch physics professors may not like the "prettiness" of the book, but I think this is a "walked ten miles to school in the snow" response. The following features make calc-based general physics more learnable for the first year college student:

1) Context overlay: the book is divided into 8 context sections that are associated with current challenges in our society. Chapters 2 through 11 are placed within the context of a mission to mars. This layout does not force the instructor to follow the context, but provides the student with things to think about while studying the material.
2) Pitfall prevention: marginal notes that tell the student what NOT to think or do with a concept or equation.
3) Modeling explained: THIS IS A BIG DEAL. In chapter 1, the authors explain how physicists use models to represent reality. They then reveal throughout the text the models that are used in the development of subject matter. This helps the student to actually learn about the philosophy of physics, and not just how to solve problems. But make no mistake. This approach actually helps the student learn how to solve problems. This is very important to the physics major, but also helps the engineering major understand the origin of the fundamental equations they use.
4) Mathematical level: Calculus is introduced gradually, since most students are taking first year calculus and physics concurrently. Most steps are shown when basic equations are developed, and references are made to mathematical appendices at the back of the text. Vector and scalar addition is introduced in chapter 1 to support kinematics in chapters 2 and 3, but the dot product is introduced in chapter 6 with work and energy and the cross product is introduced in chapter 10 with rotational dynamics.

There is more that can be done to improve the state of our general physics textbooks, but this is a great start. So I rated them "5 stars."

Remarkable encyclopedia of Physics
This book is a true mine of information. It is absolutely well made. Nothing of "Elementary Physics" is left in the shadow for the public for which it's designed. All topics of physics are supervised. I learnt what was yocto unit and even yotta unit, p.8. A incredible quantity of ancillaries accompanies this treatise to facilite understanding. Who can buy all this in the world ? and who can beneficy of all this material in the great world?. And who would have the courage to learn all of this in one or several sessions ? Someone had to do this work ; that's done and extremely well done. Blessed the ones who could benefit of this excellent and cooperative work (entirely made in USA). Please, could you pardon me if I am unjust.