Physics: An Incremental Development (Solutions Manual)

Rating:
Summary: Too Jumpy
Review: This book does not shy away from introducing advanced topics to high school students. Also, like all Saxon books, it does a good job of reviewing the concepts learned instead of just letting them drop at the end of the chapter. These are the reasons for the second star in my rating.

On the other hand, the book jumps around from topic to topic. This is a poor way to get students to learn Physics. Physics is not a procedure to memorize like working in an assembly line. It is a thought process. Students need time to focus on a particular concept and develop it before they move on. They need to understand it and play with it, not just solve problems.

That brings me to my other major objection. This book suggests saving labs for the second semester. In that case, this is not a science book. Science is not a set of procedures to memorize and problems to solve. It is a way of thinking. Students need to know where the ideas come from, and they need the chance to play with them and explain them. That comes from labs.

Overall, although this book is better than most Physics books (which I would rank at 0 stars), it is still not a very good one. My qualifications to say this are that I am a high school Physics teacher, and I have my degree in Physics (which isn't always the same thing).

The book I would recommend instead is PSSC Physics from Kendall Hunt. Unfortunately, it appears that book may be going out of print, so get it while you can.

Rating:
Summary: Too Jumpy
Review: This book does not shy away from introducing advanced topics to high school students. Also, like all Saxon books, it does a good job of reviewing the concepts learned instead of just letting them drop at the end of the chapter. These are the reasons for the second star in my rating.

On the other hand, the book jumps around from topic to topic. This is a poor way to get students to learn Physics. Physics is not a procedure to memorize like working in an assembly line. It is a thought process. Students need time to focus on a particular concept and develop it before they move on. They need to understand it and play with it, not just solve problems.

That brings me to my other major objection. This book suggests saving labs for the second semester. In that case, this is not a science book. Science is not a set of procedures to memorize and problems to solve. It is a way of thinking. Students need to know where the ideas come from, and they need the chance to play with them and explain them. That comes from labs.

Overall, although this book is better than most Physics books (which I would rank at 0 stars), it is still not a very good one. My qualifications to say this are that I am a high school Physics teacher, and I have my degree in Physics (which isn't always the same thing).

The book I would recommend instead is PSSC Physics from Kendall Hunt. Unfortunately, it appears that book may be going out of print, so get it while you can.

Rating:
Summary: Physics: An Incremental Development
Review: This the clearest, best physics book I have seen. Each lesson reviews every skill previously taught to aid in retention of concepts and skills. I recommend it very highly.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent way to learn beginning physics on your own
Review: Using an incremental approach Mr. Saxon develops an understanding on the part of those who work the problems that surpasses that gained using other aroaches. Problem topics are mixed in each set with those from previous sections thus the student learns not just how to do problems in an isolated context but in many different contexts. This addresses a long-standing impediment to learning physical science: how are previous tools and principles used in combination and in different contexts. However: Where is the solutions manual?

Rating:
Summary: Excellent way to learn beginning physics on your own
Review: Using an incremental approach Mr. Saxon develops an understanding on the part of those who work the problems that surpasses that gained using other aroaches. Problem topics are mixed in each set with those from previous sections thus the student learns not just how to do problems in an isolated context but in many different contexts. This addresses a long-standing impediment to learning physical science: how are previous tools and principles used in combination and in different contexts. However: Where is the solutions manual?