Physics, Second Edition [Hardcover]

James S. Walker (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0131014161 | ISBN-13: 978-0131014169 | Publication Date: April 10, 2003 | Edition: 2

Like having a private coach at their elbows, this introduction to algebra-based physics involves readers actively in a guided learn-by-doing process—sensing when they need a very patient exposition and when they need only minimal reinforcement, when they need to focus on concepts and when they need an opportunity to practice their quantitative skills. At the heart of the volume are worked examples in a unique, two-column format that focuses on the basic strategies and step-by-step thought processes involved in problem solving—with an emphasis on the relationship between the physical concepts and their mathematical expression. Color-coded drawings help readers visualize physics problems, and companion photographs show the same principle at work in different physical contexts, or juxtapose situations in which contrasting principles are at work. Real-world physics applications abound. Covers the full spectrum of topics in Mechanics, Thermal Physics, Electromagnetism, Light and Optics, and Modern Physics. For anyone needing an introduction to, or refresher of, algebra-based physics.

Editorial Reviews

Review

na --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Like having a private coach at their elbows, this introduction to algebra-based physics involves readers actively in a guided learn-by-doing process—sensing when they need a very patient exposition and when they need only minimal reinforcement, when they need to focus on concepts and when they need an opportunity to practice their quantitative skills. At the heart of the volume are worked examples in a unique, two-column format that focuses on the basic strategies and step-by-step thought processes involved in problem solving—with an emphasis on the relationship between the physical concepts and their mathematical expression. Color-coded drawings help readers visualize physics problems, and companion photographs show the same principle at work in different physical contexts, or juxtapose situations in which contrasting principles are at work. Real-world physics applications abound. Covers the full spectrum of topics in Mechanics, Thermal Physics, Electromagnetism, Light and Optics, and Modern Physics. For anyone needing an introduction to, or refresher of, algebra-based physics.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1216 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 edition (April 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131014161
• ISBN-13: 978-0131014169
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #946,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent but not great, April 30, 2004

By 

Matthew Bratkowski "mattster" (Ithaca, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Physics (Hardcover)

I used this book for my first class in college physics. The book is a decent text for learning physics, but I think that several improvements could be made.

This book is Volume 1 of a two volume set. It includes topics about kinematics, Newton's Laws, Energy, Waves and Sound, Fluids, and Thermodynamics, among other topics. To tell the truth, I don't really see the point of splitting the book up into two volumes since most people will take both classes anyway.

First, the good aspects of the book. This text is intended for an algebra-based (no calculus) college physics course. I does do a good job of limiting the mathematical details and instead presenting the underlying physical concept that is to be understood. There are also numerous illustrated examples and practice problems that are very helpful.

Next, the bad aspects of the book. If you are like me and go to a large state university, then it is quite likely that your professor will be a physicist that may be more interested in his or her research than your class. Since real physics majors do not take this class, your professor may not enjoy teaching it. But even if you have the best professor in the world, it is likely that many of the problems in this book are a bit more simplistic than ones that your professor will give on an exam. The book does include simple problems, but does not illustrate how to work out more difficult ones. If you are considering buying the study guide/answer book, don't. It is terrible. It only shows how to do about ten out of the fifty+ questions per chapter. I've had biology answer key books that included more problems.

Basically, this book is not bad for the basic principles but not very good for more advanced ones. How well the course goes depends on the instructor. I'd recommend taking physics first in high school if you are planning on taking it in college because this book is intended for one semester and it covers 18 chapters. It wouldn't hurt to have some prior knowledge of the subject.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good first course..., January 26, 2004

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Physics, Second Edition (Hardcover)

I first had physics in college twenty years ago. I was studying (at that time) astronomy and mathematics, so the first college-level physics class I took fully incorporated calculus and advanced mathematics. It was not until recently, as I took a position as tutor at a local community college, that I discovered a rigourous introductory physics text that did not involve calculus (only one semester of calculus is offered at the college, and usually taken concurrently with or after physics).

Walker's text, second edition, is the text we currently use. We offer one semester of physics, so we only get half-way through the text, which seems designed for a two-semester sequence. As the main focus of the college is technical, so the sections on mechanics, thermal physics and electromagnetism are the most essential sections for our degree programmes.

While this text does not assume calculus, it does assume basic trigonometry and analytic geometry. Dealing with angles and graphing are important skills to know here; dealing with vectors is introduced very early in the text, and continues to be very important throughout.

The book is well organised, with chapter summaries, problem-solving techniques summarised at the end of chapter, high concept questions, drawings, photographs, and real-world applications that relate the theory back to actual experience. From the light refraction in raindrops to the workings of the Global Positioning System, students will learn more about the interactions of the world from this text.

The examples follow a format that shows not only the worked solutions, but also the strategies employed to get to the solutions. Problems are pictured (after all, physics deals with real, substantial things), and conceptual considerations are explained (physics is largely story problems that need to be set up properly, after all). The insights and further considerations from the solutions are explored, and other practice problems are suggested (physics is always about going on to the next problem). The examples follow different categories - there are active examples, conceptual checkpoints, and real-world physics exercises.

The book is divided into five primary sections: Mechanics; Thermal Physics; Electromagnetism; Light and Optics; and Modern Physics. Mechanics largely deals with motion, introducing near the end ideas of gravity, sound, fluids and energy. This leads into Thermal Physics, the study of heat, temperature, and the laws of thermodynamics. Electromagnetism looks at electric force, charge, current, potential/potential energy, magnetism and flux. Light and Optics continues this with electromagnetic waves, proceeding to optical instruments and issues of interference and diffraction. The final section on Modern Physics deals with `fun stuff' like relativity, quantum physics, atomic and nuclear physics and radiation.

Like most texts, it comes with various supplements for students and teachers, computer-based and web-based. There are pocket companions and workbooks with solutions that can also be obtained, related to the text.

This is a good text for classroom study, and also a text for independent study. Some of the exercises are difficult to work through, but there are literally dozens (sometimes hundreds) after each chapter, so there is plenty on which to practice, and all the odd-numbered exercises have answers supplied.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent text for a first year physics student, July 28, 2009

By 

Mina Laia (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Physics (3rd Edition) (Hardcover)

There are a lot of bad physics textbooks out there and only a handful of great ones, and I think this book qualifies as one of the great ones.

First, the writing is very clear. Will everyone understand everything after reading a chapter once? Definitely not. Physics is hard, especially if you've been educated in typical American schools. But Walker knows what misconceptions you have and he addresses them. He gives thorough treatment to issues other texts gloss over in a sentence. Although I agree that the solved problems are typically not the hardest problems, I think that is a good thing. If you go the extra step and do the practice problems following, you'll cement the concept in your mind. He often refers you to related homework problems, too. Super helpful to test prep!!

Some really helpful things:

The solved problems take you through a specific procedure....picture, strategy, solution, insight and practice problem. Often, the numbers of related homework problems are given.

Conceptual checkpoints clear up important issues.

Odd numbered conceptual questions have answers in the back (unlike some other texts).

Lots of excellent diagrams/pictures (but as every textbook, incomplete).

Problem Solving Notes and Real World Examples in the sidebars.


What I like best about Walker is that he doesn't assume you know too much, and he repeats himself as necessary without overdoing it.

Is it perfect? No, but no text I've ever found is. If you're a serious student, you'll get a solutions guide, and perhaps even another text to supplement. Of course, a teacher or tutor who can answer your personal questions is the most efficient strategy.

In this age of technology, a CD/DVD with interactive animations should accompany this book. Maybe that will be in the 4th edition.