Conceptual Physics Package Edition [Hardcover]

Paul G. Hewitt (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0805391908 | ISBN-13: 978-0805391909 | Publication Date: July 10, 2005 | Edition: 10th

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul G. Hewitt was a Silver Medalist flyweight Boxing Champion for New England States at the age of 17. He was then a cartoonist, sign painter, and uranium prospector before beginning his physics studies.

Conceptual Physics was first published in 1971, while Hewitt was teaching at City College of San Francisco. He has also served as a guest lecturer at the University of California at Berkeley, the University of California at Santa Cruz, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Hewitt returned to San Francisco to teach at the City College and the well-known science museum, The Exploratorium. He retired from full-time teaching in 2000, and currently resides in St. Petersburg, Florida.

 

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1079 pages
• Publisher: Addison Wesley; 10th edition (July 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805391908
• ISBN-13: 978-0805391909
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.3 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,494 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The conceptual physics standard, December 7, 2006

By 

J. Kremer (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conceptual Physics Package Edition (Hardcover)

I am a physics teacher with a degree in physics and I think this is one of the best physics texts I have ever seen. I have used it for quite a few years now, with excellent results. Hewitt packs a lot of information into the book, but teachers and students are not expected to get through it all. The extra material gives the book great applications for a wide variety of audiences, but the responsibility is on the teacher to use it in a way that is not confusing to students. This is the case with any of the standard physics texts (Halliday Resnick, Giancoli).

Anyone who discounts this book because it has more words and cartoons than equations and math problems in it has no idea what understanding physics can be. Physics has too long been abused as an applied math course, and this book is a welcome remedy for this. For a general audience, this book provides an excellent overview of the fundamental concepts that make our world run. For science-bound students, it provides an excellent conceptual foundation for a more rigorous calculus-based course where deeper understanding of the connection between math and nature can be explored.

On major fault of the book, as one reviewer pointed out, is that Hewitt includes some problems that he does not give readers the math skills to solve. If a teacher assigns these problems, it is necessary that the students have access to the supplementary material written for the text that explains this math. But as a conceptual physics text for a conceptual physics course, Hewitt's book is unparalleled.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best textbook I ever read!, January 19, 2006

By 

Michael Plasmeier "ThePlaz.com" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conceptual Physics Package Edition (Hardcover)

For anyone wanting an easy approach to physics and actually understand it, needs this book. Our school sort-of uses this book once and a while, but I read and re-read every chapter to clearly understand what my teacher is talking about.

Every paragraph there are little conceptual questions you answer in you mind-- then the answer is at the bottom of the page. You can read the answer to see if you understand what the book is talking about.

Paul G. Hewitt was an artist before he was a physics teacher. All of the diagrams and pictures are in cartoon-ish style, which makes it much easier and fun(!) to read. There are even some cartoons in the book.

I agree there is not much math behind it, but this books makes you actually learn physics concepts, not memorize formulas just for the test.

This is the best textbook I have ever read and the only way I could understand what my physics teacher is talking about.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Conceptual Physics at its best, April 21, 2006

By 

KevinandDenise (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conceptual Physics Package Edition (Hardcover)

As a High School physics teacher I appreciate a text that will convey the ideas of Physics without requiring a profound understanding of Math. If you need a more advanced course -- take an AP course using an advanced book, like Giancoli's. However, if all you want is a basic understanding of the concepts of physics, this is the book for you. One important point -- a thorough understanding of this book will answer every question on the FCI (a test used by some college professors to determine their students understanding of forces in physics).