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Rating: 
Summary: A Very Pretty Book
Review: I have only recently started studying Physics and this book is my first exposure to college text-level Physics. As an interested student who appreciates seeing how equations are derived/solved etc., I believe Serway should have included an appendix in which he shows the algebraic or Calculus that goes into some formulas he merely lays out in a pretty box with colorful fonts. It is a very pretty book... but I don't know how genuinely useful I would evaluate it...
Rating: 
Summary: A remarkable first step in changing physics pedagogy
Review: Serway and Jewett have made a remarkable first step in changing physics pedagogy for the better:1) They cover all topics of physics (including modern physics) in 31 chapters, more easily coverable in 2 semesters. To accomplish this, they removed some utlitarian aspects found in more traditional texts. I think Einstein would have liked this. Some utilitarian aspects are best left for (and in fact better covered by) engineering courses anyway.
2) They combined Newtonian relativity and special relativity into a single chapter and moved it to chapter 9, to be covered in first semester.
3) They introduce ALL fundamental forces in chapter 5 and apply a global approach to energy conservation in chapter 6. This allows them to implement a recommendation by the American Physical Society to present the first law of thermo as delta E = Q + W. Finally! Thermodynamics convention is in line with classical mechanics convention. True, many staunch physics professors may not like the "prettiness" of the book, but I think this is a "walked ten miles to school in the snow" response. The following features make calc-based general physics more learnable for the first year college student: 1) Context overlay: the book is divided into 8 context sections that are associated with current challenges in our society. Chapters 2 through 11 are placed within the context of a mission to mars. This layout does not force the instructor to follow the context, but provides the student with things to think about while studying the material.
2) Pitfall prevention: marginal notes that tell the student what NOT to think or do with a concept or equation.
3) Modeling explained: THIS IS A BIG DEAL. In chapter 1, the authors explain how physicists use models to represent reality. They then reveal throughout the text the models that are used in the development of subject matter. This helps the student to actually learn about the philosophy of physics, and not just how to solve problems. But make no mistake. This approach actually helps the student learn how to solve problems. This is very important to the physics major, but also helps the engineering major understand the origin of the fundamental equations they use.
4) Mathematical level: Calculus is introduced gradually, since most students are taking first year calculus and physics concurrently. Most steps are shown when basic equations are developed, and references are made to mathematical appendices at the back of the text. Vector and scalar addition is introduced in chapter 1 to support kinematics in chapters 2 and 3, but the dot product is introduced in chapter 6 with work and energy and the cross product is introduced in chapter 10 with rotational dynamics. There is more that can be done to improve the state of our general physics textbooks, but this is a great start. So I rated them "5 stars."
Rating: 
Summary: Remarkable encyclopedia of Physics
Review: This book is a true mine of information. It is absolutely well made. Nothing of "Elementary Physics" is left in the shadow for the public for which it's designed. All topics of physics are supervised. I learnt what was yocto unit and even yotta unit, p.8. A incredible quantity of ancillaries accompanies this treatise to facilite understanding. Who can buy all this in the world ? and who can beneficy of all this material in the great world?. And who would have the courage to learn all of this in one or several sessions ? Someone had to do this work ; that's done and extremely well done. Blessed the ones who could benefit of this excellent and cooperative work (entirely made in USA). Please, could you pardon me if I am unjust.
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