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Title: Physics: The Nature of Things by Susan Lea, John Robert Burke ISBN: 0-314-07012-5 Publisher: West Information Pub Group Pub. Date: June, 1998 Format: Hardcover

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Average Customer Rating: 3 (8 reviews)

Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent intro text but users need some math maturity
Comment: I've used this book for the 3-semester intro to physics sequence taught at San Francisco State and have been thoroughly pleased with it. Basic principles and key concepts are heavily emphasized. The authors tend to de-emphasize memorizing derived formulae (which leads to plug-and-chug problem solving) and focuses on breaking down a problem into its basic elements, which is in my opinion the best way to approach problems in physics. Some might find the math a bit rigorous for introductory physics but it's the same math as in Giancoli or Tipler which is just calculus (some differential equations is used later in the text but so does the others). This is not a "learn by example" text, since the examples tend to emphasize additional elements of the concepts (usually by showing some of the math techniques) but the text does show well thought out outlines to solving problems. It really has given me an excellent foundation in physics.

Rating: 4
Summary: a fundamentally solid book
Comment: I've been working with this book for three semesters now, and I feel it's strong, specifically in that:

1. The authors recognize that many beginning students need problem solving strategies; they supply a good method and are consistent with its use.

2. The book makes it abundantly clear what the big ideas are going into (and coming out of) each chapter. This was a very helpful study tool.

3. Their is surprisingly little "hand-waving" in this book, which I think is special for an introductory book on physics.

4. The problems have a _wide_ range of difficulty levels, and there are a lot of them.

5. The book covers a terrific amount of material, including basic mechanics, waves, optics, thermodynamics, and E&M. There's a short section on special relativity and other modern physics too, which is a nice appetite-whetter for students who will continue on.

This book can be very useful, but the organizational structure might at first seem a little opaque. After some getting used to, I have found the book a great resource. I would definitely recommend it for an introductory sequence at almost any school. I think the book might fit in best at more rigorous institutions, because it doesn't really pull many punches in the early chapters (though it does a good job making challenging material digestible). A good instructor could effectively use it at any institution, though--it's written to be understood.

One side comment regarding other reviews: The intro physics courses at SF State (where some of the reviewers used this book, including me) are unfortunately out of sequence, with students taking intro E&M with as little as one semester of calculus under their belts. This is obviously a big problem and I think some criticism has been leveled at the book (unfairly) because of it.

Rating: 1
Summary: Hard to read, difficult to understand
Comment: This is a poor choice for a lower division physics course. The authors' writing style is not particularly clear and often difficult to read, not to mention DRY. Nothing in this text inspired any interest in the subject matter. Come on! Physics should not be too difficult to make interesting! The authors sometimes use concepts that are not introduced and explained until later in the book. There must be better choices for an introductory physics class. (This text is the only physics text used at San Francisco State University. I have to assume that the primary (only?) reason it was chosen is that Lea & Burke teach there.)

Similar Books:

Title: Student Solutions Manual to Accompany Physics: The Nature of Things by Susan M. Lea, Burke ISBN: 0314207317 Publisher: Brooks Cole Pub. Date: November, 1997 List Price(USD): $33.95