Customer Reviews

Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide (Wiley Self-Teaching Guides)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

rating 4.5;

Dr Kuhn has made a somewhat different approach to the usual methods of teaching physics
1) Mathematically (formulas!)
2) Conceptually (no mathematics, just ideas, more like 'popular science')

Instead he has sought a pedagogically stronger middle ground (balancing act) between these two methods that don't always compliment each other: especially in the minds of those who can't do mathematics very well but commmunicate well, or do mathematics very well and not the communicating thing very well. This means he has effectively made physics more accessible and more applicable (by including optional mathematical treatments of some topics). SO you can learn the concepts and then move on to the introductory mathematics of these concepts.

Lets face it: the push with physics now, so it seems, is concept mastery before mathematical treatment (anybody can learn some equations, plug the numbers in and turn the handle...it's knowing what they meant that's far more important). Dr Kuhn does a good job of this. His language, style and setting are conducive to reading and gaining the concepts in a fairly standard progression (this can be seen in the table of contents). The level here is for the 10-11 grade student or somebody who has never seen physics before. This book will not make passing those university physics courses overly likely. But it will get you on the right track so you can confront the books that those courses require you to read (and work with mathematically). Dr Kuhn uses the tool of a small 'section' quiz - three, four five questions at the end of each section (very short!) to reinforce the point of that section. His presentation of material in small 'bite-sized' pieces is also good, as is the profusion of diagrams (albeit black and white, line diagrams for the most part).

I admire the Dr Kuhn has made 'real', formalized physics (rather than just pop science) more approachable, applicable and this can't be bad. Maybe it will take some of the tarnish of the bad name physics has as 'the geek science'. And yes, the book is mostly metric!

One annoyance (hence the loss of 0.5 stars): the answers are right after the questions so it' easy for the student to 'accidentally' catch a peak. Maybe next edition put them at the end of the chapter or in an appendix.

Another book that could be used to compliment (or follow on from) Dr Kuhn's book, having a higher level and depth and more mathematics, is Physics (Palgrave Foundations)by Jim Breithaupt (isbn: 1403900558). It is geared more toward the final year high school student/1st year university student. Followed by Physics by Hecht (isbn: 0534339859) if you want a serious physics books (and weighty one too!)

So in all, this book is a very good starting point for physics! It doesn't promise more than an introduction to the topic, but at least it will present you with enough concepts so you can move onwards and upwards through the subject (of course, with the comensurate rise in mathematics and the ability to do it). I think if I was facing learning physics from scratch (thank god I'm not -> I have an engineering degree), this is the book I would like to try with. I think it would make that both enjoyable and rewarding because making learning progress and gaining conceptual understanding is a major theme of this book.

This book is a great place to start for anyone wanting to learn the basics of Newtonian physics. I decided to read this book in preparation for my high school's Physics AP class that I'll be taking next year. Comparing this book to an outline of the course, I found that the book covers more topics than the class, but in less detail. Like I said, it's great for the basics, but that's about it. The approach is rather non-mathematical, but very clear and easy to understand. Kuhn has done a great job of making basic physics understandable. This book, in conjunction with a study text, such as Schaum's Beginning Physics I or a textbook, would be an ideal way to learn physics on your own.

Should bring you up to Grade 12 level in Physics or serve as a good primer for those middle age lovers of science whose occupations never test our knowledge of physics, but nonetheless who feel the need for a physics "fix" later in life.

This book is so good that I never have to ask my wife (an Engineer) for help. In that sense it is good for family relations as well.

I liked the book. It's very simple, quite organised. I belive it has about 23 chapters. Starts with velocity, speed, gravity, weight, then goes to more advanced areas for example waves, particles, etc. Sometimes it gives the background of a discovery. Newton liked to make people sad, I think I remember. It has the regular Einstein is the greatest mind of all times. I think it tries to explain the E=MC2 that everybody knows and few understand it.

It's pretty simple. Stripped out of all formulas but the most useful ones. I really liked the beginning of the book, dealing with gravity. For example, there is no such thing as Zero gravity. The cosmonauts are acutally in microgravity because they fall with the ship, and the ship falls continously in a straight line towards earth, but as it falls it spirals around the earth because of gravity, which makes it miss the target and be kept orbiting around the earth. There is not one place in space where there is no gravity.

What I like about this book is the way it teaches the reader. It continously asks questions. Why this, why that, and you have to figure it out yourself. Although it does give brief introductory substance, but what you have the job to expand it. Luckily, all the answers are right beneath wihch is very annoying. Somtimes I see the answer before, and now the question is useless. I had to cover the answers before reading the questions.

But I belive there is an equal amount of literature and formulas. You won't learn math from this book, but the general idea. I gave it 5 starts because it is what the title says: self-teaching, and basic.

I do not recommend this as a textbook in any sort of way. You won't learn much detail from this book. BUTTTTT I strongly suggest u take a week or two to read through it (a chapter at a time).... before u start ur more intense study using your normal textbook. This book will give u the basic THEORY behind physics. This will come in handy once u start using weird formulas and whatnot during your course. So read it first. It's an easy read, so don't fear that it might take too long.

I found this book very helpful in preparing for my teacher certification test to teach high school science. It helped me recall many physical concepts that I had studied in college years ago. The book is written in language that is easy to understand. The fill-in-the-blank format helps to reinforce ideas. This is an excellent book.

I am currently enrolled in an entry-level physics course. There is no calculus involved in this course, nor is it a "math" based physics course: Rather, it is an introduction to most topics fundamental to physics. For the purposes of academicia, this book is essentially useless. Its coverage of topics attempts to be too many things at once: As a student, I got the impression that it was an attempt to cover everything, but with as little complexity as possible.

Thus, one is left with a sense of surface understanding, but very few abilities for application.

This book was purchased as a method by which I could introduce myself to topics covered in class. The theory behind this was that if i learned the basics from an outside source, then when we covered them (more in-depth and mechanical, less layman's-terms). This book provides an overly-simplified, dumbed-down portrayal of physics.

If you've never taken any physics courses and have - literally - no background in mechanics (and a weak background in algebra-based math), then this book may be perfect for you: It is a gentle, superficial introduction to the most basic concepts of physics. There basic discussion of Newton's laws of motion, some kinetic/potential energy discussion, etc: All topics common to most non-math physics courses. Additionally, while brief explanations of major laws and motions are given, there are very few practice problems and application instances. Thus, you've learned - in theory - say, Newton's Second Law. But the book, in no way, guides you through an application of said law.

Simply, it is a gentle introduction - and very gentle, at that - to the world of physics. The simple language is easy to follow, though topics are hardly covered thoroughly. But it is a good starting-off point if you are easing yourself into the study of physics (on your own). I highly recommend finding another, more thorough (and in-depth) book in order to further examine topics.

Used this to prepare for the Praxis exams. Took Physics in college 13 years previous. This baby covered me. Had enough questions and covered a broad enough range to get me ready.

Had tride Cliffs Notes for Physics and that lacked the substance, examples and breadth to prepare me for the test.

I bought several physics books for my husband, as he really wanted to learn physics. He never had it in school so he needed a basic physics book. Out of all the books I bought, this one is by far his favorite. It explains everything very well and truly works well as a self-teaching guide. Highly recommended if you are looking for a good book as a basic physics refresher or to learn about physics for the first time. It goes over all the areas of general physics, which provides a great overview of the subject.

Depicts and explains physics in a nice broken down simple way. So far I'm getting it as I go. No real retention; but that is my issue, not the books! I'm reading it nibble by nibble for my own enjoyment - but I think it would be a really helpful companion for students as it makes physics less intimidating.