Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach [Hardcover]

Randall D. Knight (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 28, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0805386858 | ISBN-13: 978-0805386851 | Edition: United States ed

Built from the ground up on our new understanding of how students learn physics, Randall Knight's introductory university physics textbook leads readers to a deeper understanding of the concepts and more proficient problem-solving skills. This authoritative text provides effective learning strategies and in-depth instruction to better guide readers around the misconceptions and preconceptions they often bring to the course. The superior problem-solving pedagogy of Physics for Scientists and Engineers uses a detailed, methodical approach that sequentially builds skills and confidence for tackling more complex problems. Knight combines rigorous quantitative coverage with a descriptive, inductive approach that leads to a deeper student understanding of the core concepts. Pictorial, graphical, algebraic, and descriptive representations for each concept are skillfully combined to provide a resource that students with different learning styles can readily grasp. A comprehensive, integrated approach introducing key topics of physics, including Newton's Laws, Conservation Laws, Newtonian Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Wave and Optics, Electricity and Magnetism, and Modern Physics. For college instructors, students, or anyone with an interest in physics.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Randy Knight has taught introductory physics for more than 20 years at Ohio State University and California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, where he is currently Professor of Physics. Professor Knight received a bachelor's degree in physics from Washington University in St. Louis and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley. He was a post-doctoral fellow at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics before joining the faculty at Ohio State University. It was at Ohio State, under the mentorship of Professor Leonard Jossem, that he began to learn about the research in physics education that, many years later, led to this book.

Professor Knight's research interests are in the field of lasers and spectroscopy. He recently led the effort to establish an environmental studies program at Cal Poly, where, in addition to teaching introductory physics, he also teaches classes on energy, oceanography, and environmental issues. When he's not in the classroom or in front of a computer, you can find Randy hiking, sea kayaking, playing the piano, or spending time with his wife Sally and their seven cats.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1472 pages
• Publisher: Addison Wesley; United States ed edition (December 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805386858
• ISBN-13: 978-0805386851
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 3.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #590,682 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BacktoschoolDad, March 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach (Hardcover)

I am currently in a second semester calculus-based general physics class, using Halliday's extended 6th ed., which I find to be a good text. My professor uses Knight's text as a reference and teaching tool to amplify and explain some concepts. I bought the text as a supplemental reference. This is a new text based on the principles of physics education research. Perhaps an example of the difference between the two texts might help your evaluation. Knight, in Ch. 25, uses 13 pages to cover the principles of charge, insulators, and conductors before he gets to Coulomb's Law. Halliday uses 3 pages. This chapter is introductory and foundational. Knight takes more time with the basics. I also prefer Knight's analogies, diagrams, and visualizations of concepts and mathematical explanantions. A student workbook is included. I recommend the book for the serious beginning physics student, and anyone who desires a great reference for general physics.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Preferable to other physics texts, June 4, 2004

By 

"rsexton21" (Eugene, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach (Hardcover)

I purchased this book after becoming extremely disappointed with Giancoli's treatment of electromagnetism. In kind words, Giancoli is less than clear. However, Knight's treatment of the subject is remarkably clear, with an emphasis on understanding the physical concepts that describe natural phenomena. He then progresses onto describing the mathematical models that help quantify the physical concepts. Giancoli, in contrast, focuses almost entirely on the mathematical models with little discussion on why they are important. The end result is exposure to a jumble of equations without fully grasping how to apply them. Knight's book does not suffer from this ailment and offers a deeper understanding of both the qualitative and quantitative models of natural phenomena. To professors: please choose this text for next year's course; your students will thank you.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book for engineering physics, November 23, 2004

By 

Brady A. Olsen "geohunterx" (OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach (Hardcover)

I'm taking physics for engineering at a university level, and I this book was required for the course. I found this book to be great for learning. Chapters are small and broken into easily digested chunks. The examples within the chapters can be attemped using what has been taught previously in the chapter - the examples don't try to teach new things, they just show how a particular concept can be applied (this is very useful). I found this book way better than Giancoli's physics book. This one covers theory as well as problem solving strategies.