Customer Reviews

Volume 2, Physics, 4th Edition

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being a freshmen of physics major in the first year of my university life, I engaged in three introductory physics courses, namely, mechanics, thermodynamics and optics, and electricity and magnetism. It was a surprise to me that all three courses recommended "Physics" by Resnick and Halliday as textbook. After one year of study, I found reading this book awarding and useful for my later and more in-depth studies. Although I didn't read the part on quantum physics and relativity, I'll give my comment on this book based on what I've read.
The book was written in an comprehensive way. No matter you 're a newcomer to physics or you already have some basis on general physics, the writers always give a careful and detailed desription on how they arrive at the results, and what assumptions they've made, so that you'll get a correct picture and understanding of the topic. Unlike some other textbooks, this book functions as a bridge for me to the more advanced physics courses, without much difficulties arised.
To improve the text, my idea is to introduce vector calculus in the E&M part, since it's essential for further studies on the topic.

I used this book for my intro to Electricity and Magnetism and for my Intro to Modern Physics - Light, optics, atomic and nuclear physics, quantum mechanics. It has plenty of theory in it in that often the book doesn't just present you equations, but derives them. Of course this isn't always the case as the math in this book doesn't go beyond Calc II and some basic, easy stuff from Calc III. Not only the theory, but it includes plenty of decent historical experimental results to explain how the laws come about. Also, the optional sections are decent as well. I especially liked the optional section regarding electromagnetism and frames of reference. The book also comes with alot of exercises, about half of which are just plug-and chug problems that waste time. But the others require you to know your concepts or to really think. Most of the Problems are decent and require thinking. However, some times the book can get too wordy. Also, the section on quantum mechanics isn't great, but you can't blame this book because quantum mechanics is best described using mathematics including linear algebra and beyond. This book is far better than the one by Serway as this book goes into more detail and offers better explanations and has better Problems.

I used this text for my undergraduate freshman year physics course. This was a recommended text and pretty soon I found out why it was popular with students. I have come across few books with such clarity and depth as this one.

The way the material was presented, and the way the ideas were pushed through as well as the pace was as if this book was written with someone like me in mind.

An indispensable book for any physics student...

I never bought the Halliday-Resnick book when I studied several Physics courses as an engineering undergraduate, but today, several years after graduation, I am considering buying it because of its immense value as a reference book (and my work doesn't have anything to do with Physics). I still remember all the other books quoted HR at some point. The weak point is, however, that for students who need step-by-step, spoonfed explanations, this is not the book, as it requires the reader to have a good level of Maths.

The best thing to happen to introductory Physics probabaly since Feynman lectures, the book relies on students thinking out concepts not just commiting formulae to memory. This book is best used by working out everything in detail and solving all the questions if not all the problems.

As a holder of physics degree and I used to teach physics in high school, I have many textbook in physics. I found this book is the best one explaining the concept of physics. The examples and the solved problems cover most of the principals and concept of the explained material. If you're a beginner just pay more attention to what is the book said and you will increase your skills and ability to understand physics. If you use the book as a reference in my opinion this is the best textbook in introductory physics courses you can get.

one of the best-selling books in South Asia, these books are used for freshman physics in almost every engineering college in Indian sub-continent. Although much simpler is the Serway's book due to high quality paper and computer simulated exemplification; in countries like India where theory is highly emphasized, this book has stood the test of time ! I possess both parts even now and always prefer referring to it than serway. problems aren't that tough but Irodov's book will supplement it very well !

I am a Chinese Computer Science student and we use this book for General Physics. After one year of study, I find it a nice book for freshmen. Because the authors take much effort trying to explain more Physics phenomena with less demand of advanced Mathematics, students following the book have the opportunities to acquaint Physics with ease and get much reward. It also covers relatively up-to-date development in applying certain Physics principals, which not only broadens the reader's sight but also raises much interest to read more about Physics after class. If the vast volume of after-chapter problems could be more compact and representative, it can be "ideal".

The questions are decent, the book is clear, and there aren't too many colors (which i found is good because i could focus for a longer period of time). Uses many examples which i found useful. Overall a great book.

This textbook is excellent. It has an in-depth theory part, that explains everything!!! and it also has lots of challenging exercises and problems. I strongly recommend it for Engineering and Science undergraduates.