Physics: Principles with Applications (5th Edition) [Hardcover]

Douglas C. Giancoli (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0136119719 | ISBN-13: 978-0136119715 | Publication Date: August 15, 1997 | Edition: 5th

This best-selling algebra-based physics book has been widely known for its carefully crafted exposition, strong biological applications, and high degree of accuracy and precision. The Fifth Edition maintains these strengths and brings a conceptual emphasis and real-world flavor to the examples, problems, and art program. In addition, the new edition features an unparalleled suite of media and on-line resources to enhance the physics classroom. For readers with an algebra-based physics background.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This best-selling algebra-based physics book has been widely known for its carefully crafted exposition, strong biological applications, and high degree of accuracy and precision. The Fifth Edition maintains these strengths and brings a conceptual emphasis and real-world flavor to the examples, problems, and art program. In addition, the new edition features an unparalleled suite of media and on-line resources to enhance the physics classroom. For readers with an algebra-based physics background.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

See the World through Eyes that Know Physics

This book is written for students. It has been written to give students a thorough understanding of the basic concepts of physics in all its aspects, from mechanics to modern physics. It aims to explain physics in a readable and interesting manner that is accessible and clear, and to teach students by anticipating their needs and difficulties without oversimplifying. A second objective is to show students how useful physics is in their own lives and future professions by means of interesting applications. In addition, much effort has gone into techniques and approaches for solving problems.

This textbook is especially suited for students taking a one-year introductory course in physics that uses algebra and trigonometry but not calculus. Many of these students are majoring in biology or (pre)medicine, and others may be in architecture, technology, or the earth or environmental sciences. Many applications to these fields are intended to answer that common student query: "Why must I study physics?" The answer is that physics is fundamental to a full understanding of these fields, and here they can see how. Physics is all about us in the everyday world. It is the goal of this book to help students "see the world through eyes that know physics."

NEW: Some of the new features in this sixth edition include (1) in-text Exercises for students to check their understanding; (2) new Approach paragraphs for worked out Examples; (3) new Examples that step-by-step follow each Problem Solving Box; (4) new physics such as a rigorously updated Chapter 33 on cosmology and astrophysics to reflect the latest results in the recent "Cosmological Revolution"; and (5) new applications such as detailed physics-based descriptions of liquid crystal screens (LCD), digital cameras (with CCD), and expanded coverage of electrical safety and devices. These and other new aspects are highlighted below.

Physics and How to Understand It

I have avoided the common, dry, dogmatic approach of treating topics formally and abstractly first, and only later relating the material to the students' own experience. My approach is to recognize that physics is a description of reality and thus to start each topic with concrete observations and experiences that students can directly relate to. Then we move on to the generalizations and more formal treatment of the topic. Not only does this make the material more interesting and easier to understand, but it is closer to the way physics is actually practiced.

A major effort has been made to not throw too much at students reading the first few chapters. The basics have to be learned first; many aspects can come later, when the students are more prepared. If we don't overwhelm students with too much detail, especially at the start, maybe they can find physics interesting, fun, and helpful-and those who were afraid may lose their fear.

The great laws of physics are emphasized by giving them a tan-colored screen and a marginal note in capital letters enclosed in a rectangle. All important equations are given a number to distinguish them from less useful ones. To help make clear which equations are general and which are not, the limitations of important equations are given in brackets next to the equation.

Mathematics can be an obstacle to student understanding. I have aimed at including all steps in a derivation. Important mathematical tools, such as addition of vectors and trigonometry, are incorporated in the text where first needed, so they come with a context rather than in a scary introductory Chapter. Appendices contain a review of algebra and geometry (plus a few advanced topics: rotating reference frames, inertial forces, Coriolis effect; heat capacities of gases and equipartition of energy; Lorentz transformations). Systeme International (SI) units are used throughout. Other metric and British units are defined for informational purposes.

Chapter 1 is not a throwaway. It is fundamental to physics to realize that every measurement has an uncertainty, and how significant figures are used to reflect that. Converting units and being able to make rapid estimates are also basic. The cultural aspects at the start of Chapter 1 broaden a person's understanding of the world but do not have to be covered in class.

The many applications sometimes serve only as examples of physical principles. Others are treated in depth. They have been carefully chosen and integrated into the text so as not to interfere with the development of the physics, but rather to illuminate it. To make it easy to spot the applications, a Physics Applied marginal note is placed in the margin.

Color is used pedagogically to bring out the physics. Different types of vectors are given different colors (see the chart on page xxv). This book has been printed in 5 colors (5 passes through the presses) to provide better variety and definition for illustrating vectors and other concepts such as fields and rays. The photographs opening each Chapter, some of which have vectors superimposed on them, have been chosen so that the accompanying caption can be a sort of summary of the Chapter.

Some of the new aspects of physics and pedagogy in this sixth edition are:

• Cosmological Revolution: The latest results in cosmology and astrophysics are presented with the generous help of top experts in the field. We give readers the latest results and interpretations from the present, ongoing "Golden Age of Cosmology."
• Greater clarity: No topic, no paragraph in this book was overlooked in the search to improve the clarity of the presentation. Many changes and clarifications have been made, both small and not so small. One goal has been to eliminate phrases and sentences that may slow down the principle argument: keep to the essentials at first, give the elaborations later.
• NEW: Vector notation, arrows: The symbols for vector quantities in the text and Figures now have a tiny arrow over them, so they are similar to what a professor writes by hand in lecture. The letters are still the traditional boldface: thus v for velocity, F for force.
• NEW: Exercises within the text, for students to check their understanding. Answers are given at the end of the Chapter.
• NEW: Step-by Step Examples, after a Problem Solving Box, as discussed on page xvii.
• Conceptual Examples are not a new feature, but there are some new ones.
• Examples modified: more math steps are spelled out, and many new Examples added: see page xvii.
• Page layout: Complete Derivations. Even more than in the previous edition, serious attention has been paid to how each page is formatted. Great effort has been made to keep important derivations and arguments on facing pages. Students then don't have to turn back and forth. Throughout the book readers see before them, on two facing pages, an important slice of physics.
• NEW: Subheads: Many of the Sections within a Chapter are now divided into subsections, thus breaking up the topics into more manageable "bites." They allow "pauses" for the students to rest or catch their breath.
• NEW: Marginal notes: Caution. Margin notes, in blue, point out main topics actin as a sort of outline and as an aid to find topics in review. They also point out applications and problem-solving hints. A new type, labeled CAUTION, points out possible misunderstandings discussed in the adjacent text.
• Deletions. To keep the book from being too long, and also to reduce the burden on students in more advanced topics, many topics have been shortened or streamlined, and a few dropped.

New Physics Topics and Major Revisions

Here is a list of major changes or additions, but there are many others:

• Symmetry used more, including for solving Problems
• NEW: Dimensional analysis, optional (Ch. 1)
• More graphs in kinematics (Ch. 2)
• Engine efficiency (Chs. 6,15)
• Work-energy principle, and conservation of energy: new subsection (Ch. 6); carried through in thermodynamics (Ch. 15) and electricity (Ch. 17)
• NEW: Force on tennis ball by racket (Ch. 7)
• NEW: Airplane wings, curve balls, sailboats, and other applications of Bernoulli's principle: improved and clarified with new material (Ch. 10)
• Distinguish wave interference in space and in time (beats) (Ch. 11)
• Doppler shift for light (Ch. 12 now, as well as Ch. 33)
• NEW: Giant star radius (Ch. 14)
• First law of thermodynamics rewritten and extended, connected better to work-energy principle and energy conservation (Ch. 15)
• Energy resources shortened (Ch. 15)
• NEW: SEER rating (Ch. 15)
• NEW: Separation of charge in nonconductors (Ch. 16)
• NEW: Gauss's law, optional (Ch. 16)
• NEW: Photocopiers and computer printers (Ch. 16)
• Electric force and field directions emphasized more (Chs. 16,17)
• Electric potential related better to work, more detail (Ch. 17)
• NEW: Dielectric effect on capacitor with and without connection to voltage plus other details (Ch. 17)
• NEW: Parallel-plate capacitor derivation, optional (Ch. 17)
• NEW: Electric hazards, grounding, safety, current interrupters: expanded with much new material (Chs.17,18,19 especially, 20, 21)
• NEW: Electric current, misconceptions discussed in Chapter 18
• Superconductivity updated (Ch. 18)
• Terminal voltage and emf reorganized, with more detail (Ch. 19)
• Magnetic materials shortened (Ch. 20)
• NEW: Right-hand rules summarized in a Table (Ch. 20)
• Faraday's and Lenz's laws expanded (Ch. ... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1096 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 5th edition (August 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0136119719
• ISBN-13: 978-0136119715
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars WARNING, March 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Physics: Principles with Applications, Volume II (5th Edition) (Paperback)

This book is maddening. Hundreds of physics problems, and no manual to show you how their solutions are derived. You can't learn physics unless you go over the solutions to problems -- so you can't learn physics with this book alone. You need 1.)a professor with the solutions manual 2.) the solutions manual (which a lowly student is not allowed to have) -- or 3.) a different book (my recommendation). I'm preparing on my own for the MCAT, and this book is driving me crazy. I'm able to get my hands on College Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Biology texts, all with detailed answers to their problems. Trying to answer a problem, failing, reviewing the answer, coming back to it later and trying again -- that's how you learn. Reading five pages of text, one or two worked-out examples, and then tackling 30 problems of varying degrees of difficulty with no assistance from the text (or the absolutely useless student manual, what a waste of money) -- is no way to learn physics. If the authors published a student solutions manual with worked-out problems, this would be a good text. I wish the authors could read some of the comments on this site and realize WORKED-OUT PROBLEMS FOR STUDENTS OF PHYSICS ARE ESSENTIAL TO LEARNING PHYSICS. Perhaps in a classroom setting, with a good teacher, this is a helpful text. Trying to use it on your own as a resource for MCAT preparation, or any other solitary learning, however, is a complete waste of time. DON'T BUY IT.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Less babble, more physics please..., February 12, 2004

By 

"texas_wael" (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Physics: Principles with Applications (5th Edition) (Hardcover)

The author starts chapters by giving simple (maybe too simple) introductions. Then he starts jumping from one aspect of the subject discussed to another, feels like a bad novel in a way. Then there's the humour, and lets not forget the colorful drawings, and the pictures, and all the tables. Then, a couple of simple examples that, in no way, go in depth or cover the scope of the subject discussed. Then, BOOM! Five or six pages of problems that you're supposed to somehow solve with the little understanding you are left with after going through the nursery rhymes and eye candy.

WARNING: Unless you have a great instructor, you will suffer, and I mean suffer trying to pass a physics course using this text.

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very difficult book to understand and follow., August 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Physics (Paperback)

I used this book in my AP Physics B course in grade 12. The book, if you read JUST the text and examples, is not difficult at all. The examples are very straightforward, and the text is coherent. There are a few errors I have found, but in mathematics/physics books, this is a frequent thing. But the weakness in this book is the Problems--WAY WAY WAY too hard for an intro Physics class. Now I have a strong algebra and calculus/trig basis, and even for me this book is very diffucult. Too much time is spent rambling on about useless topics, and more time should be devoted to crafting a stronger exposition--explain the solutions to more of the problems. The only thing that saved us is the fact that we had the INSTRUCTOR'S SOLUTIONS MANUAL, by Irvin A Miller to guide us through these gruesome questions. Mr Giancoli, if you are reading this--you wrote a very good textbook. But in order to do problems, one must SEE visually how it is done out and be able to clearly follow the exposition. We are grateful to Mr Miller, the author of the solutions manual, for enabling us to get through the book. With the answer book to guide us, we all got 4's and a few 5's on the AP exam. The kids the year before who used just the Giancoli text got all 3's or less (most got 2's). A word of advise--get the answer book if you are studying this text. Without it the book is useless in understanding how to do the problems. ...