Synopses & Reviews
This text contains a running story line about how the current physics "world view" came to be. This story line is divided into nine parts framed by an introductory chapter ("A World View") which puts the approach into context. This approach gives non-science students an appreciation for the laws of nature and physics contribution to that understanding. The new sixth edition uses the latest physics education principles to emphasize conceptual understanding, both in the main narrative and in the accompanying media program. Designed to fit the specific needs of any non-majors physics course, the text is flexible, fully modular and now can be customized to fit any syllabus through Cengage Learning's TextChoice custom solution program. Mathematics is used minimally, but for instructors wishing to incorporate more problem-solving skills and quantitative reasoning, the optional, slightly more detailed, "Problem Solving to accompany Physics: A World View" student supplement reveals more of the beauty and power of mathematics in physics. The new edition includes access to PhysicsNow, a powerful personal student study companion. This interactive online resource uses a series of chapter-specific diagnostics to gauge students' unique study needs, then provides a Personalized Learning Plan that focuses their study time on the concepts they need to review most. Active Figure tutorial simulations provide an opportunity for students to learn through observation, further enhancing conceptual understanding.
Synopsis
PHYSICS: A CONCEPTUAL WORLD VIEW provides an engaging and effective introduction to physics through an ongoing storyline that describes the development of the current physics "world view." This story provides readers with a clear understanding of the laws of nature and the context to fully appreciate the importance of physics. The book's appealing style and minimal use of math also help to make complex material interesting and easy to grasp, even for readers intimidated by physics or math. In addition, the new Seventh Edition includes a thoroughly revised art program featuring elements such as balloon captions and numerous illustrations to help readers better visualize key concepts. In this remarkable book, the authors masterfully translate the logic, vocabulary, and values of physics into a compelling narrative that general readers can readily understand and enjoy.
Synopsis
In this edition, Larry Kirkpatrick is joined by new co-author, Gregory E. Francis (Montana State University) whose love of teaching has led him to experiment with active learning approaches in large introductory classes. This Fifth Edition retains the text's hallmark clear and logical conceptual presentation of physics concepts and principles (using a story line about the development of the current physics world view) written at the appropriate level for the liberal arts student Francis' subtle integration of physics education principles throughout the text includes a new feature--FLAWED REASONING--that poses a common student misunderstanding and explains the error in reasoning. To create level-appropriate language for students, the authors translate the logic, vocabulary, and values of physics into longer, less tightly structured narration that students can easily understand. And while the text incorporates minimal mathematics, there is an optional, slightly more detailed, numerical student supplement avialable that reveals more of the beauty and power of mathematics in physics.
About the Author
Larry Kirkpatrick has always been a teacher; he just didn't know it. After receiving a B.S. in physics from Washington State University and a Ph.D. in experimental high-energy physics from MIT, he began his academic career at the University of Washington as a typical faculty member. However, he found that he was spending more and more time in the classroom and less and less time in the laboratory. Finally, he decided that he would get a position teaching physics full time or he would quit physics and use his computer skills to make lots of money. Fortunately, Montana State University hired him to teach physics. He served for eight years as academic director of the U.S. Physics Team that competes in the International Physics Olympiad each summer and has also served as President of the American Association of Physics Teachers. He retired in 2002 to concentrate on teaching, writing, ranching, and playing golf.Greg Francis is a professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Purdue University. He earned his Ph.D. in cognitive and neural systems from Boston University in 1993. His research investigates properties of neural networks and visual perception. He also was coauthor of the Coglab Reader, Coglab on a CD, and Social Psychology Laboratory.
Table of Contents
'\"I am an advocate of inquiry-based teaching and learning and so I applaud the extensive use of conceptual questions sprinkled throughout the text.\" \"...the conceptual questions are excellent because they address everyday phenomena that a curious student will want to understand.\"\"I like the Flawed Reasoning questions and answers and would like to see even more of these, if possible.\"\"One of the reasons why we switched from the Hewitt text to Kirkpatrick and Wheeler several years ago was based on the inclusion of substantially more numerical exercises in the KW text.\"\"The greatest strength of Hewitt?s book is supposed to be its clarity, with careful explanations of basic principles. However, with our students, Kirkpatrick and Wheeler did a lot better job.\"\"The students find the text readable. Questions and exercises are at the right level and present the answers in a complete way. The Questions and their corresponding answers is one of the greatest strengths of the text, they teach some great physics.\"\n
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