Customer Reviews

Handbook of Physics

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is just a great book. In just under 1200 pages the authors manage to describe pretty much all of undergraduate level Physics in clear understandable language, with lots of illustrations and many practical examples and suggestions. For any student of physics (or simply someone interested in the topic) I think this is the most clear and concise book I've seen. A great reference book to keep close at hand, as it includes a fair amount of practical reference material as well.

The mathematical content is unusually well presented with all symbols defined as to units and quantity in a box with each equation, and the SI dimensionality of the result is indicated in each case as well.

The index is excellent.

I think if I could only own one book on Physics that this one might be it.

Having decided to take some classes in electrical engineering, I had been looking for a book that I could use to refresh my knowledge of college physics. I first acquired Halliday's Fundamentals of Physics - a very good book indeed - however, as heavy as any stardand textbook produced in the US. I ended up acquiring Handbook of Physics out of pure curiosity, and to my surprise, it happens to be one of the best science books I have seen in years.

The authors are very successful in compiling every single piece of information on undergraduate physics. The concepts in the book are advanced enough so as not to make you feel as if you were reading some "Physics for Dummies" type of book. That's a perfect combination for people who are looking for practical applications of physical concepts (like engineers) but who already have a quite good grasp on those concepts. The authors also include a little bit of theory not usually found on traditional physics textbooks, such as mechanics of materials.

All in all, it's one of those books you would want to keep forever around. The book has 1000+ pages but interestingly it is not thick or heavy. It easily fits your backpack so that you can read it whenever you read an article about the latest NASA technology on the newspaper.

This book is a godsend, especially if you are studying for the Physics GRE. It is concise, with many diagrams, covering all major topics in undergraduate Physics. As another reviewer has said, if you are only limited to one book in Physics, this is the one to have.

After owning this book for several months, I can honestly say I use it on a daily basis. If I forget a formula when doing my own homework, it's there. If an intro-level student comes to me at a TA session not sure if an equation will work in a given situation, it backs me up. Some of the best money I've ever spent.

I can say the same for it's sister text, Harris and Stocker's "Handbook of Mathematics and Computational Science", as well, although that one has more of a European feel to it.

Admittedly, this is the type of book that will only show its true worth in time; however, having just completed my bachelor's in physics and working on my first year studying optical science and engineering, I have used it as a reference several times and always found what I needed. The brief explanation that accompanies the equations for each field have been quite good in my experience and very helpful.

The Handbook of Physics is and ourstanding value. Anyone who uses physics or has an interest in science or math should have it.

Whether you are a physicist, a student of physics or just plain interested in physics you will benefit from owning this book. Normally, your mathematical skill level has to involve a little bit of calculus but I bought this book before I took any calculus and was still able to learn and identify key concepts of the physics world.

Whenever I encounter a problem my textbook doesn't fully explain I just reach to my bookshelf and pull out the Handbook of Physics and usually my questions are answered. If they are not answered, it is not because of this Handbooks inabilities, but my own brain's incompetency.

For all of you fellow nerds out there studying any sort of science or engineering, I throw my full support behind the purchase of this book. There is also a Handbook of Mathematics that goes along quite well with this but that's another matter entirely.

Buy this book and you will not regret it. I would almost assume it would be somewhat of a requirement for those pursuing physics or an engineering program.

The authors furnish a useful synopsis of the main ideas in physics. Good if you already have covered the material elsewhere and you need a handy summary. The notation is up to date. And the material is covered at a level that can be understood by most readers who have had 2 to 3 years of undergrad physics.

One other reviewer suggested it helps for taking the Physics GRE. Well, that may depend on who you are. If you are already conversant enough with physics by the end of your undergrad years, then needing an extra text like this for the GRE may be superfluous.

Thorough and descriptive in very short form. The title could be: Handbook of Physics in Haiku.

great book it proves to be.

enjoy reading it and very comprehensive. it would be better if publisher can come up with a cd-rom with animation to show the concepts more clearly for old reader like me.

great!