Physics for Scientists and Engineers (with PhysicsNOW and InfoTrac ) [Hardcover]

Raymond A. Serway (Author), John W. Jewett (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0534408427 | ISBN-13: 978-0534408428 | Publication Date: July 21, 2003 | Edition: 6

This best-selling, calculus-based text is recognized for its carefully crafted, logical presentation of the basic concepts and principles of physics. PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, Sixth Edition, maintains the Serway traditions of concise writing for the students, carefully thought-out problem sets and worked examples, and evolving educational pedagogy. This edition introduces a new co-author, Dr. John Jewett, at Cal Poly ? Pomona, known best for his teaching awards and his role in the recently published PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS, Third Edition, also written with Ray Serway. Providing students with the tools they need to succeed in introductory physics, the Sixth Edition of this authoritative text features unparalleled media integration and a newly enhanced supplemental package for instructors and students!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Prior to the adoption of this book (PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, 5th edition), the textbook was FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICS by Halliday and Resnick. Although Halliday and Resnick's book was the textbook chosen by the Physics Department, many students were observed by the faculty to be studying from Serway's book. The students had acquired old used versions of the Serway book, and they were actively studying out of this book rather than the prescribed textbook. Serway's book became our students' popular choice. The Physics Department, recognizing this, adopted a "give them what they want" attitude, and accordingly Serway's book was made the textbook for the calculus-based undergraduate physics course."

"Some of the general things I look for are the end-of-chapter questions and problems, and the quality of explanations. Feedback from students is also important--past students have given Serway more favorable reviews...another reason we went with Serway this semester."

"Quick Quizzes are a really good component. Pitfall Preventions answered a number of my criticisms of the text. I am very pleased with the overall emphasis on conceptual understanding. I have been very pleased with Serway. I have no expectations of switching texts in the near future."

"Would I use this text for my classes, both Engineers and Honors students? I certainly would."

"Finally, I would like to add that my son is taking high school physics. He is using the non-calculus version of the text. He likes the book and he tells me that his fellow students do also."

About the Author

Raymond A. Serway received his Doctorate at Illinois Institute of Technology and is Professor Emeritus at James Madison University. In 1990, he received the Madison Scholar Award at James Madison University, where he taught for 17 years. Dr. Serway began his teaching career at Clarkson University, where he conducted research and taught from 1967 to 1980. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award at Clarkson University in 1977 and of the Alumni Achievement Award from Utica College in 1985. As Guest Scientist at the IBM Research Laboratory in Zurich, Switzerland, he worked with K. Alex M¼ller, 1987 Nobel Prize recipient. Dr. Serway also was a visiting scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, where he collaborated with his mentor and friend, Sam Marshall. Dr. Serway is also the co-author of ESSENTIALS OF COLLEGE PHYSICS; COLLEGE PHYSICS, Seventh Edition; MODERN PHYSICS, Third Edition; PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS: A CALCULUS-BASED TEXT, Fourth Edition; and the high-school textbook PHYSICS, published by Holt, Rinehart, & Winston. In addition, Dr. Serway has published more than 40 research papers in the field of condensed matter physics and has given more than 60 presentations at professional meetings. Dr. Serway and his wife Elizabeth enjoy traveling, golfing, fishing, and spending quality time with their four children and six grandchildren.

John W. Jewett, Jr. earned his Doctorate at Ohio State University, specializing in optical and magnetic properties of condensed matter. Dr. Jewett began his academic career at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, where he taught from 1974 to 1984. He is currently Professor of Physics at California State Polytechnic University?Pomona. Through his teaching career, Dr. Jewett has been active in promoting science education. In addition to receiving four National Science Foundation grants, he helped found and direct the Southern California Area Modern Physics Institute (SCAMPI) and Science IMPACT (Institute for Modern Pedagogy and Creative Teaching), both of which work with teachers and schools to develop effective science curricula. Dr. Jewett's honors include four Meritorious Performance and Professional Promise awards, the Stockton Merit Award at Richard Stockton College in 1980, selection as Outstanding Professor at California State Polytechnic University for 1991?1992, and the Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching Award from the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) in 1998. He has given over 80 presentations both domestically and abroad, including multiple presentations at national meetings of the AAPT. Dr. Jewett is the author of THE WORLD OF PHYSICS: MYSTERIES, MAGIC, AND MYTH, which provides many connections between physics and everyday experiences. In addition to his work as the co-author for PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS he is also the co-author on PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS: A CALCULUS-BASED TEXT, Fourth Edition, as well as GLOBAL ISSUES, a four-volume set of instruction manuals in integrated science for high school. Dr. Jewett enjoys playing keyboard with his all-physicist band, traveling, and collecting antique quack medical devices that can be used as demonstration apparatus in physics lectures. Most importantly, he relishes spending time with his wife Lisa and their children and grandchildren.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1408 pages
• Publisher: Brooks Cole; 6 edition (July 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534408427
• ISBN-13: 978-0534408428
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #343,249 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good introductory text, June 24, 2004

By 

M. Salem "nickname1746" (Pasadena, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Physics for Scientists and Engineers (with PhysicsNOW and InfoTrac ) (Hardcover)

This was the required text for a course I TAed. I found the text useful for preparing my own lectures, as it often reminded me of ideas I would have 'taken for granted' among my students, although I found derivations often uncompelling and examples often glossing over subtle points. Also, examples and homework problems seemed predominantly to explore only straightforward applications of course concepts. I imagine, however, that many students at this level (freshmen bio, geo, and non-science majors) would prefer this kind of treatment, which is why, considering also this text's clarity and simplicity of presentation, I gave the above four star rating.

Students who consider themselves more analytically inclined would be wise to consult instead Purcell. In fewer words Purcell describes E&M more clearly and more completely, with interesting examples and homework problems which evoke a fuller understanding of the theory.

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Reception, September 17, 2005

By 

Dance Ham "Dane Harmon" (Tampa, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Physics for Scientists and Engineers (with PhysicsNOW and InfoTrac ) (Hardcover)

This book has its ups and downs.

Like another reviewer mentioned, this book is very verbose and unnecessarily full of pictures that are not helpful.

Concepts are often very poorly worded. Just because I'm an EE undergrad doesn't mean I like to decipher sentences that appear to be paragraphs at first glance. After 4 commas, two dashes, and a colon, I no longer have any interest in net-torque on a cylinder. A subtitle of "for scientists and engineers" is not an excuse to write in indecipherable technical terms.

There are easier ways to explain things.

Ultimately, I think this book fails for the same reason most physics books and professors fail: it is written by and for people with a natural gift for physics. For the other 98% of the world, it might as well be greek.

While a thorough reference and good guide for physically-inclined folk, this is a very difficult book for first year undergrads to use.

I would opt for a different textbook if I had the chance.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Verbose and not precise writing, August 25, 2005

By 

Phil H (City of Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Physics for Scientists and Engineers (with PhysicsNOW and InfoTrac ) (Hardcover)

When Serway and Jewett confuse me, I read an older Physics book that I have. For an expensive scientific textbook, I would expect less ambiguous writing. Perhaps I am too critical when reading.

A quick example in chapter 20: " . . .we explore more details about heat as a means of energy transfer and consider two other transfer methods that are often related to temperature changes - convection ( a form of matter transfer) and electromagnetic radiation." At first, I thought convection and radiation might be another form of energy transfer that is not heat nor work. I really don't know what they are trying to say. Latter in the section they say radiation is the transfer of energy.

I waste hours in each chapter trying to decipher the ambiguity. Also, The mixture of text with resolving equations is tedious. I would rather have the concepts explained and then have the equations derived. I would rather spend less money and receive less color printing. Most of the color pictures are a waste of space; I think about all of the superfluous pictures and verbose text whenever I lift this heavy book. On the plus side, the quick quizzes are helpful. I bookmark the answer page and check my progress of understanding as I read the chapter.