mathematics

This book manifests the proper perspective for both introducing students to physics and for refreshing those long out of college, or just anyone who wants to learn the essentials but does not have advanced math skills.

In this textbook for introductory physics, the author takes a wise approach by presenting the essential nuts-&-bolts of physics concepts. The concepts and principles should always come before the actual applications, i.e., involving the "math". Mathematics is certainly vital in physics, but any science book (or study course) needs to establish a foundation before proceeding with complex (and often confusing) calculations.

This publication has helped me immensely and I highly recommend it.

I took freshman physics in college. I picked up this book as a bit of a review. It is well worth reading. It is pitched at a level that a 12 year old could understand, but contains physics that would educate and entertain adults. I recommend getting the accompanying work book as well. There are concept questions and math questions. The math questions at the end of the chapters require knowledge of arithmetic ( not heavy algebra or calculus ).

I recommend this book for those that just like to read educational material for fun.... this is a light enough read to allow that. I also recommend this book for science students that want to get the concepts of physics down, before they get bogged down in the math. It makes your higher level physics book much easier to read.

If you dont get this book, you are really missin out on a good thing.

Katherine
PS yes real girls do read physics

Two years ago, my daughter took a high-school physics course based on this book. She is mathematically able and found the whole approach extremely frustrating. The fact is that much of modern mathematics -- differential calculus is a prime example -- was developed specifically so that physicists could articulate their ideas. The "conceptual" approach may be OK for pop-science TV shows, but it is worse that useless as an education for anyone who wants to pursue a career in engineering or science. Now entering 12th grade, my daughter is faced with a major catch-up exercise if she wants to get into a worthwhile engineering program at college. Her school doesn't offer AP Physics, largely because the "conceptual" approach they started out with doesn't adequately prepare students to move to AP level. So she is spending a big chunk of time this summer on a distance-learning course that actually presents physics as a mathematical science, which is what it is. Quite honestly, I think this book should be titled "Armchair Physics" or "Physics for People who Don't Really Care about Physics" -- it should certainly not be presented as a serious attempt to teach a scientific subject.