Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers [Hardcover]

John R. Taylor (Author), Chris D. Zafiratos (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0135897890 | ISBN-13: 978-0135897898 | Publication Date: February 19, 1991 | Edition: US ed

A comprehensive introduction to the major areas of modern physics.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A comprehensive introduction to the major areas of modern physics.

From the Back Cover

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 768 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall College Div; US ed edition (February 19, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0135897890
• ISBN-13: 978-0135897898
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,471 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A decent introductory textbook, July 30, 2006

By 

Nicholas M (New York, N.Y.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers (2nd Edition) (Hardcover)

I used Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers for a sophomore-level modern physics course in an engineering curriculum. I liked the textbook. The authors' approach seemed to stress the experimental bases for modern theories of relativity and of atomic theory/quantum mechanics. I really preferred this approach to that of other textbooks -- postulating the governing laws of each and then proceeding to derive their consequences -- because it made the subjects less abstract.

While another reviewer has criticized the book's figures and its end-of-chapter exercises, I found the figures that present experimental data very helpful, and I thought the exercises were just fine -- many prompted the reader to work through derivations rather than to perform "plug-and-chug" computations. In addition, I enjoyed reading the biographical vignettes about historically important scientists that dot the book's chapters, although some readers might find these a bit corny, or a bit distracting.

While other textbooks treat relativity and quantum mechanics in a more detailed and sophisticated way, I think this book covers those topics adequately, with a level of depth and with mathematics (i.e. vector calculus and differential equations) appropriate for an undergraduate in engineering or the physical sciences.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great text for what it is, February 27, 2011

By 

Everyman (Earth) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers (2nd Edition) (Hardcover)

This book has a nice layout, is very well written, and covers all the important material in a course on modern physics. It also has nice biography sections on the important contributors to modern physics. I liked it so much I kept it as a reference after the course was over.

If you're looking for a complete introduction to quantum mechanics for physics students, this is not what you're looking for. This book only provides a basic background in modern physics that would be helpful for later studies in chemistry, engineering, materials science, etc. However, what it does, it does well.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you want a good base understanding..., January 1, 2009

By 

Daniel "Astro Dan" (Washington) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers (2nd Edition) (Hardcover)

This textbook was used in the modern physics class I took during college. It is excellent because it doesn't just derive the fundamental equations and move on leaving the student to find their significance elsewhere. There is just as much text as mathematical steps to ensure the student has a good understanding. The problems are tough, but really well worded.