Physics: Principles with Applications (6th Edition)

Customer Reviews:

Perfect Pysics Book.......2007-09-23

The perfect book to study physics. Many pictures and great problems. It applies physics to everyday life and makes physics very interesting. A great book for all levels of study: high school, college, university, grad school, etc.

Learn to Run Before You Can Walk with Giancoli's "Physics" . . ........2007-06-14

While I wouldn't call this a bad book, I find myself rather frustrated with it. It seems to me to be most ideally suited for those who either have a natural inclination for physics or those who have plenty of spare time in which to contemplate solutions for the problems. (Unfortunately, I have neither.) The chapters themselves are actually fairly well done, but, in my opinion, not well enough to provide all the necessary information and insights to successfully solve the problems. I've opted to discontinue my attempts to work through this book in favor of Cutnell and Johnson's text of the same title.

outstanding.......2006-07-30

I used Giancoli as my primary text in high school, and found it to be a superb text. I think those complaining of a lack of worked problems are missing the entire point of this text and the essence of studying physics. This book is about understanding physics principles and the equations you use to solve physics problems. You will find that with this understanding (certainly provided by this excellent text), the need for mindless ploughing through physics problems is lost. You will be able to solve physics problems on the basis of your conceptual understanding of the problems. So many students rely on rote learning and repetition by doing hundreds of questions. Sure, you might be able to attack similar problems for the next week or so, but as soon as you stop practicing, the skill is lost. True mastery of physics comes from appreciation of principles, not mere recognition of patterns in problems...this text will help you achieve such an appreciation.

Clear and nice physics book for intro students.......2005-11-18

I know physics is hard for all of us, but this book is very clear in explaining physics. It does not involve in calculus, so usually it is better for most students who never took physics. So if you did not take physics class before, I highly recommend this book because it does not use pompous or intricate words that most science textbook writers do. Not only is it an easy reading, but also it has awesome questions and problems that make you think and that check whether you know really physics.

Most my friends who were in engineering or math majors had easy physics teachers in high school. Some of them did not even take physics at all. Surprisingly, they dived into calculus based physics book and they found the subject to be incredibly hard. I understand their pain because I think this book can be a bridge that can connect high school physics(so easy ones) and calculus based physics.

I also read Serway's College Physics, and in my opinion, I think Giancoli wrote better job in explaining physics with more clear diagrams. The sentences that he uses grabs my attention. Serway confused me and I was stuck a lot from his book. Problems in examples are so much better in Giancoli as well and diagrams were better as well.

So before you read calculus based physics, read this one thoroughly and you will be able to breathe in higher physics class.

Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text, Volume 2 (with PhysicsNOW)

Average customer rating:

Good.
Too pretty - not enough meat
Excellent
Garbage
A remarkable first step in changing physics pedagogy

Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text, Volume 2 (with PhysicsNOW)
Raymond A. Serway , and John W. Jewett
Manufacturer: Brooks Cole
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0534491464

Book Description

This successful text was the first to address the latest teaching and learning trends as suggested by the Introductory University Physics Project (IUPP) guidelines. PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS features a concise approach to traditional topics, an early introduction to modern physics, integration of physics education research pedagogies, as well as the integration of contemporary topics throughout the text. This revision of PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS also contains text/media integration unlike no other through the PhysicsNow online assessment, tutorial, and course management system.

Customer Reviews:

Good........2007-01-04

Good books about Physics. Not to difficult to understand, but not that easy either (It's PHYSICS!!!)

Too pretty - not enough meat.......2005-11-01

I doubt many who have written reviews here are actual college students. Physics is probably one of the most challenging courses one can take. Nevertheless, it can also be an exciting field of study - this book doesn't do it justice though. It has the potential of scaring off newcomers.

While the book's overall visual presentation is nicely done, the theory behind various mathematical laws is poor. Often, it takes two or three paragraphs of rambling before getting to the point on a topic.

Each chapter has its own set of word problems to solve. While some of the problems are generally a piece of cake, most contain subtleties and assume you know far too much prior knowledge outside the book. It would be a nightmare solving these problems without the answer/studyguide book handy. That guide is almost as large as the textbook and sells for almost $70 alone. Even with the studyguide, some of the demonstrations are illogical and don't necessarily reflect the material you learnt in the current or previous chapters. I've even seen plenty of cases where the math contradicts what the material in the chapter stated!

Although the book says it is a calculus-based text, there really isn't a whole lot of it in there. This might be a blessing to some but isn't always practical in the real world. My Calculus textbook covered physics problems better than this textbook! The authors tend to brush basic differentiation/integration in the theory portions but they're never really used in actual problems.

The PhysicsNow online study tool has some neat diagrams and interactive problems but is still generally useless. Good luck getting your account activated when registering online! I had to call customer service several times before I could actually login to the site.

I could conclude in saying that this book does make a great reference book to people who already have knowledge in physics. However, I'm sure there are better textbooks out there that can teach you the basics if you're new to the field. Many fellow students in my physics classes have shared the same grunts about the book as much as I have and agree that this book can make physics frustrating to the newbie.

Excellent.......2005-09-12

Great service. I had the book in just a few days after I ordered. Thankyou,
Armando

Garbage.......2002-12-16

Totally garbage....

The author jumps around a lot, and doesn't show enough thoery before giving u formulas. Some explanations are too wordy.. some are not wordy enough...

the person who wrote the first review was obviously linked to the book in some way..

pls stop putting up reviews if you have something to gain from the book's popularity... ur just fooling students...

A remarkable first step in changing physics pedagogy.......2002-07-17

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."

Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text, Volume 1 (with PhysicsNOW)
Average customer rating:
Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text, Volume 1 (with PhysicsNOW)
Raymond A. Serway , and John W. Jewett
Manufacturer: Brooks Cole
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Human Physiology

ASIN: 0534491448

Book Description

Uncertainty: Einstein, Heisenberg, Bohr, and the Struggle for the Soul of Science

Average customer rating:

Uncertainty
Elegant and exciting
A great account of where the hell does quantum mechanics come from, centered around the main scientists involved.
Fascinating history, very well written
Wow! The history, concepts and personalities behind Quantum Physics

Uncertainty: Einstein, Heisenberg, Bohr, and the Struggle for the Soul of Science
David Lindley
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385515065
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Book Description

The more precisely the position is determined, the less precisely the momentum is known in this instant, and vice versa.
—Werner Heisenberg

That God would choose to play dice with the world is something I cannot believe.
—Albert Einstein

Nothing exists until it is measured.
—Neils Bohr

The remarkable story of a startling scientific idea that ignited a battle among the greatest minds of the twentieth century and profoundly influenced intellectual inquiry in fields ranging from physics to literary criticism, anthropology and journalism

In 1927, the young German physicist Werner Heisenberg challenged centuries of scientific understanding when he introduced what came to be known as “the uncertainty principle.” Building on his own radical innovations in quantum theory, Heisenberg proved that in many physical measurements, you can obtain one bit of information only at the price of losing another. Heisenberg’s principle implied that scientific quantities/concepts do not have absolute, independent meaning, but acquire meaning only in terms of the experiments used to measure them. This proposition, undermining the cherished belief that science could reveal the physical world with limitless detail and precision, placed Heisenberg in direct opposition to the revered Albert Einstein. The eminent scientist Niels Bohr, Heisenberg’s mentor and Einstein’s long-time friend, found himself caught between the two.
Uncertainty chronicles the birth and evolution of one of the most significant findings in the history of science, and portrays the clash of ideas and personalities it provoked. Einstein was emotionally as well as intellectually determined to prove the uncertainty principle false. Heisenberg represented a new generation of physicists who believed that quantum theory overthrew the old certainties; confident of his reasoning, Heisenberg dismissed Einstein’s objections. Bohr understood that Heisenberg was correct, but he also recognized the vital necessity of gaining Einstein’s support as the world faced the shocking implications of Heisenberg’s principle.

Customer Reviews:

Uncertainty.......2007-09-20

A good book. Makes a difficult topic - - quantum mechanics and some particle physics - - understandable for non-experts.

Elegant and exciting .......2007-09-01

I read two graduate texts on quantum mechanics recently. The first took an historical approach, beginning with Planck's work on black-body radiation, then Einstein's treatment of Brownian motion and light quanta, proceeding on to Bohr's atom, Compton scattering, the Zeeman effect, and so on. The second started out by saying (I paraphrase), "Here's Schroedinger's equation. The rest of the book goes through various solutions, with different potentials."

I find it completely incredible that this little equation can have so many implications, none of them ever having been found to be wrong. Lindley's book is about the "meaning" of quantum mechanics, a project that most physicists consider irrelevant at best. I still remember listening to Feynman's Cal Tech lectures on quantum mechanics, where his urged his student not to try to figure what the equation "means." Rather, he urged them just to solve it and get an intuitive "feel" for how it works. Quantum mechanics doesn't "mean" anything. It just is.

This stance is not enough for many people, including virtually all of its creators, who worked in the dizzying years of discovery, 1900 to 1927. Bohr' model did fit some of the specroscopic data on hydrogen very well, but he spent most of his intellectual (as opposed to organizational) energy thereafter ruminating on the principle of complementarity and the so-called Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. The next generation of physicist could not have cared less. When asked about Bohr's interpretation, Dirac replied that there were no equations, so there was nothing of interest there.

This may be the bast book ever written on the topic, despite its elementary nature. Lindley handle complex topics (e.g., Mach and Carnap) with ease and brevity, yet capturing the essence of the issues. His descriptions are what might be termed "stream of consciousness" physics, because he has the ability to enter and explore highly heterogeneous modalities of consciousness, without ever leaving the physics far out of the picture. After you have read this wonderful book, try Abraham Pais' biographies of Einstein and Bohr. They are more work, but more than worth the effort.

A great account of where the hell does quantum mechanics come from, centered around the main scientists involved. .......2007-08-26

If you've ever had a basic course in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics the names of the main characters in this book will sound familiar ; Robert Brown (yes, from the "Brownian motion of particles"), Charles Darwin, Boltzmann, Poincaré,Röntgen, Rutherford, Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg, Schroedinger, Dirac, Pauli, Max Planck, Marie Curie, Geiger ...etcetera
It is actually a concise, lucid and very readable account with due attention to the "personal streaks" of the main characters. With a rare clarity the author manages to paint the transition from the classical Newtonian view of the world to the quantum mechanical view and all the pains suffered in the process.Especially, the confrontations between Einstein and Niels Bohr on this topic are exquisitely recounted. And all this, without mentioning ONE formula (excepting THE formula E=mc2).
In the end one can't but agree with Bohr's statement : "It is wrong to think that the task of physics is to find out how nature is. Physics concerns what we can say about nature."
In short, this book manages to convey the essence of the new quantum view while it reads like a novel because of the pittoresque characters of the story.

Fascinating history, very well written.......2007-08-16

Lindley writes very well, indeed. I liked both his style and the story which he told. The early days of quantum mechanics presented physics with a set of dilemmas which were a shock to the way the world was thought to work. We are not over that shock yet, almost a century later! Recommended.

Wow! The history, concepts and personalities behind Quantum Physics.......2007-07-30

My Dad got his doctorate in Physics at Berlin Institute of Technology (The top technological school in the world at the time) starting in 1932 when Einstein was still there. He knew all the personalities. Heisenberg, Born, Schroedinger. It was a wild and wonderful read for me because the stories were the ones my Dad told me when I was a girl. The book is wonderful for lay persons. It lays out the time line from Brownian Motion to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle in non-technical and brilliantly understandable ways. The personalities and all the arguments from Brown, to the Curies, Niels Bohr, Einstein, Werner Heisenberg, Pauli, Max Born, Schroedinger are all beautifully researched and quoted from there own works and letters to each other. He finishes with a brilliant critique of how "uncertainty" was co-opted by other subjects, mostly in fascinatingly ignorant ways. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

An Introduction to Systems Biology: Design Principles of Biological Circuits (Chapman & Hall/Crc Mathematical and Computational Biology Series)

Average customer rating:

Clear, rigorous, fascinating
Building Mathematical Models of Cells
Great Job

An Introduction to Systems Biology: Design Principles of Biological Circuits (Chapman & Hall/Crc Mathematical and Computational Biology Series)
Uri Alon
Manufacturer: Chapman & Hall/CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1584886420

Book Description

Thorough and accessible, this book presents the design principles of biological systems, and highlights the recurring circuit elements that make up biological networks. It provides a simple mathematical framework which can be used to understand and even design biological circuits. The text avoids specialist terms, focusing instead on several well-studied biological systems that concisely demonstrate key principles. An Introduction to Systems Biology: Design Principles of Biological Circuits builds a solid foundation for the intuitive understanding of general principles. It encourages the reader to ask why a system is designed in a particular way and then proceeds to answer with simplified models.

Customer Reviews:

Clear, rigorous, fascinating.......2007-01-20

I'm a Ph.D. student in biophysics. This is the best treatment of systems biology that I've encountered. It treats both the math and the biology with clarity, rigor, and respect. It simplifies without dumbing down. It's beautifully written. If you doubt that systems biology is a real scientific discipline, this book will change your mind.

Building Mathematical Models of Cells.......2006-09-25

The history of science over the past few centuries is to become ever more specialized. The physicists, becomming ever more concerned with the very large (stars, galaxies, the cosmos) or the very tiny (first atoms, then atomic components, now sub-components. The biologists on the other hand were studying much larger things, such as the cells that make up life. Both sciences developed techniques to facilitate their study.

In recent years, researchers have discovered that sometimes these specialized techniques can be used to develop greater insight into what is happening in other sciences.

In this book, Dr. Alon uses his training in physics to examine certain aspects of biology and to use the terminology and mathematics to describe the way these biological networks work.

The goal of the book is to begin the formulation of general laws that apply to biological networks. This is done by providing a mathematical framework in which some of the design principles of biological systems can help to understand biological networks. In looking at the results, an underlying simplicity not seen before appears in biological systems.

Great Job.......2006-09-09

A superb intro to the field. The math is moderate and helpful. Network concepts and their ties to examples and theory are clearly and succinctly presented. This is a textbook but reads easily like a book. Covers key elements while connecting them by at least mention to up-to-date further research. The basics and the grandeur of systems biology. I am trying to remember now anything on the negative side and cannot.

Physics: Principles with Applications (5th Edition)

Average customer rating:

errors in Giancoli
Three words. Not very good.
Another Algebra-Based Physics Textbook!
A student's perspective
Informative

Physics: Principles with Applications (5th Edition)
Douglas C. Giancoli
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Physics: Principles with Applications Volume II (Ch. 16-33) (6th Edition)
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Physics: Principles with Applications (6th Edition)

ASIN: 0136119719

Product Description

Used like new

Customer Reviews:

errors in Giancoli.......2007-09-21

6th Edition: For number 24, pg. 40, it is incorrect to ask about the "average acceleration" of the sprinter. One has to assume that the rate of acceleration is constant or one will not be able to solve the problem.

This is just one of many errors in this book, although none of the errors I have seen are severe.

The problem reads:
"A world-class sprinter can burst out of the blocks to essentially top speed of about 11.5 m/s in the first 15.0 m of the race. What is the average acceleration of the sprinter, and how long does it take her to reach top speed?"

To figure out why one cannot find the average acceleration without assuming that the acceleration is constant, imagine that the sprinter falls off the blocks, picks herself up and then blasts up to 11.5 m/s within the 15.0 m. Her average acceleration is (v - vo) / t, but t in this case is much larger than it would be compared to the normal situation where she pushes off and essentially accelerates uniformly. But remember, the problem only asks for average acceleration!

More mathematically to the point, let her velocity be v = c t^2, instead of the usual v = a t. This is not disallowed by the notion of average acceleration, but it does lead to different answers. Therefore, one needs the additional assumption that acceleration is constant.

Since runners don't accelerate at a uniform rate, we could state that we are simplifying the problem with this assumption, but Giancoli doesn't do this. This is an example of his sloppiness in the name of pedagogy.

Three words. Not very good........2007-07-04

Those three words really are a very good description. The book isn't very good at all. I used this book in AP Physics (B), in all honesty it was just terrible. It was uninteresting, and confusing. If you're going to buy an introductory Physics book, consider Physics (2 Vol. Set). But as always you can't really go off of another person's opinion, as everyone seems to learn best in their own unique styles, so scan through the books.

Another Algebra-Based Physics Textbook!.......2006-09-21

I have taken three straight years of Physics in highschool. I took it sophomore, junior, and now senior year. Each year, I used a different book. I was given this book for AP Physics B (Junior Year), an algebra-based Advanced Placement Physics course.

Overall, the book's examples don't truly help much with the more difficult problems. Explanations aren't very clear, and the key points aren't highlighted. Examples are boring, and questions are less than exciting. How am I to be motivated to perform numerous number crunches with algebra when the questions and writing are so dry?

There is a lot of information in this book, and some of the explanations are good (it's pretty difficult to mess up Kinematics), but the book stumbles in its explanations of many important Physics topics--including Fluid Mechanics and Modern Physics.

Overall, not a great text, but it is very difficult to find a nice Algebra-based Physics text that is as intellectually challenging and in depth. Be wary, if you are not a Physics geek, you will have a hard time plowing through this book.

A student's perspective.......2005-10-17

As one reviewer stated before me, these books are the reason why people are afraid of physics.

I have had the horrible misfortune of using this book during my senior year of high school...it is horrible...horrific...detestable...coarse to the mind. The most criminal error that I can point out is that this book does not have a GLOSSARY. A school textbook without a glossary? Give me a break.

The text reads like a conversation. Apparently Giancoli didn't pay very much attention in English class. One should not write educational text the way he or she speaks. One should state facts in a way that clearly defines what needs to be said. The positively criminal lingo of the book goes on tangents constantly and really breaks up the progression of the information.

Also, the author tends to call an element of a concept one thing, but substitute it with a variable that is totally different. It is clear that Giancoli assumed that everyone who was reading this book already knew physics vocabulary and was looking for a refresher course. Apparently Giancoli, the god of physics, could teach the experts more than they could ever dream. Throw me a bone here...his writing is crap. This book is being distributed to highschools and is also used at the university level. These are LEARNING stages. LEARNING. That's something that one can't do with this horrible book.

It's criminal. Absolutely criminal. Physics isn't a scary thing, nor is it impossible. Don't let books like these scare you away from the subject. It's just a few selfish, cocky scientists that wish to exclude others.

Giancoli, I hope your 6th edition was better...much better. Otherwise, schools will be wasting even more money on garbage.

Informative .......2005-03-23

Comprehensive and thorough. A must for anyone who needs an understanding of applying calculations to actions. I found this book to be even paced and very understandable.

$Negative Refraction Metamaterials: Fundamental Principles and Applications$
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Negative Refraction Metamaterials: Fundamental Principles and Applications
G. V. Eleftheriades , and K.G Balmain
Manufacturer: Wiley-IEEE Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471601462

Book Description

Learn about the revolutionary new technology of negative-refraction metamaterials

Negative-Refraction Metamaterials: Fundamental Principles and Applications introduces artificial materials that support the unusual electromagnetic property of negative refraction. Readers will discover several classes of negative-refraction materials along with their exciting, groundbreaking applications, such as lenses and antennas, imaging with super-resolution, microwave devices, dispersion-compensating interconnects, radar, and defense.

The book begins with a chapter describing the fundamentals of isotropic metamaterials in which a negative index of refraction is defined. In the following chapters, the text builds on the fundamentals by describing a range of useful microwave devices and antennas. Next, a broad spectrum of exciting new research and emerging applications is examined, including:
* Theory and experiments behind a super-resolving, negative-refractive-index transmission-line lens
* 3-D transmission-line metamaterials with a negative refractive index
* Numerical simulation studies of negative refraction of Gaussian beams and associated focusing phenomena
* Unique advantages and theory of shaped lenses made of negative-refractive-index metamaterials
* A new type of transmission-line metamaterial that is anisotropic and supports the formation of sharp steerable beams (resonance cones)
* Implementations of negative-refraction metamaterials at optical frequencies
* Unusual propagation phenomena in metallic waveguides partially filled with negative-refractive-index metamaterials
* Metamaterials in which the refractive index and the underlying group velocity are both negative

This work brings together the best minds in this cutting-edge field. It is fascinating reading for scientists, engineers, and graduate-level students in physics, chemistry, materials science, photonics, and electrical engineering.

Download Description

Learn about the revolutionary new technology of negative-refraction metamaterials Negative-Refraction Metamaterials: Fundamental Principles and Applications introduces artificial materials that support the unusual electromagnetic property of negative refraction. Readers will discover several classes of negative-refraction materials along with their exciting, groundbreaking applications, such as lenses and antennas, imaging with super-resolution, microwave devices, dispersion-compensating interconnects, radar, and defense. The book begins with a chapter describing the fundamentals of isotropic metamaterials in which a negative index of refraction is defined. In the following chapters, the text builds on the fundamentals by describing a range of useful microwave devices and antennas. Next, a broad spectrum of exciting new research and emerging applications is examined, including: Theory and experiments behind a super-resolving, negative-refractive-index transmission-line lens 3-D transmission-line metamaterials with a negative refractive index Numerical simulation studies of negative refraction of Gaussian beams and associated focusing phenomena Unique advantages and theory of shaped lenses made of negative-refractive-index metamaterials A new type of transmission-line metamaterial that is anisotropic and supports the formation of sharp steerable beams (resonance cones) Implementations of negative-refraction metamaterials at optical frequencies Unusual propagation phenomena in metallic waveguides partially filled with negative-refractive-index metamaterials Metamaterials in which the refractive index and the underlying group velocity are both negative This work brings together the best minds in this cutting-edge field. It is fascinating reading for scientists, engineers, and graduate-level students in physics, chemistry, materials science, photonics, and electrical engineering.

The Principia : Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy

Average customer rating:

Excellent translation with helpful apparatus
Is Newton come on!
An Engrossing and Time Consuming Masterpiece of Science and Literature
I can't believe people still believe this stuff
Wonderful overview, somewhat overwhelming.

The Principia : Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy
Isaac Newton
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0520088174

Book Description

In his monumental 1687 work Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, known familiarly as the Principia, Isaac Newton laid out in mathematical terms the principles of time, force, and motion that have guided the development of modern physical science. Even after more than three centuries and the revolutions of Einsteinian relativity and quantum mechanics, Newtonian physics continues to account for many of the phenomena of the observed world, and Newtonian celestial dynamics is used to determine the orbits of our space vehicles.
This completely new translation, the first in 270 years, is based on the third (1726) edition, the final revised version approved by Newton; it includes extracts from the earlier editions, corrects errors found in earlier versions, and replaces archaic English with contemporary prose and up-to-date mathematical forms.
Newton's principles describe acceleration, deceleration, and inertial movement; fluid dynamics; and the motions of the earth, moon, planets, and comets. A great work in itself, the Principia also revolutionized the methods of scientific investigation. It set forth the fundamental three laws of motion and the law of universal gravity, the physical principles that account for the Copernican system of the world as emended by Kepler, thus effectively ending controversy concerning the Copernican planetary system.
The illuminating Guide to the Principia by I. Bernard Cohen, along with his and Anne Whitman's translation, will make this preeminent work truly accessible for today's scientists, scholars, and students.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent translation with helpful apparatus.......2007-06-11

I am writing my dissertation on Newton and have found this translation incredibly helpful and surprisingly readable.

The Principia is one of the most difficult and inaccessible books ever written -- so much so, in fact that even John Locke (himself a pretty smart guy) had to ask Christian Huygens to explain much of it to him. This difficulty was intentional, because Newton did not want people who only understood math a little to try and undermine his arguments. For this reason, he rewrote book three so that only those who had read and understood book 1 could understand its concepts.

People laugh when I tell then that I own a book with a three hundred page introduction, but it's a book that needs a three hundred page intro. In their intro, Cohen and whitman describe the history of the principia, its structure, an explanation of where prior translations have fallen short, and -- most importantly -- note which of the Principia's sections have been most significant during and after Newton's time. This is helpful so that when you get to each section, you are more likely to notice which elements may have seemed most controversial, where he is taking down Descartes' vortices, etc. I'm not saying I agree 100% with cohen and whitman on all of their points, but they have produced a work that does not simply translate the book; it also shares the writers' substantial knowledge about the principia.

This is an essential and monumental translation. If you are at all interested in early modern science, you must own it.

Is Newton come on!.......2006-08-10

What I have to say is Newton.... What else are you lookin for in a Physics book. Ohh yeah the only problem it has that its size is such a college book(huge), and it is not hard cover.

An Engrossing and Time Consuming Masterpiece of Science and Literature.......2005-09-22

Principia explains with great detail some elements of Eucledian geometry, Calculus, Fluid mechanics, Three laws of Gravity and The Method of the Universe. Newtons three hundred year old advice remains true today to read Book One and Three while skipping Book Two altogether. I can honestly say that subject is not too difficult but is guilty of being well conceived but poorly worded. The latter was Newtons own intention to make its reading very exclusive and making him less vunerable to his contemporary critiques. This version has the diagrams illustrated on multiple pages for each Scholium to avoid the constant turning of its pages. I advice a slow read of Book 1 and 3. The last Scholium of Book 3 is the best discussion as to the existance of God that I have read. Long live the spirits of Shakespeare, Newton, Vermeer and Beethoven.

I can't believe people still believe this stuff.......2005-09-20

The Principia is the basis for much of modern science. It is swallowed hook, line and sinker by mathematicians and people in physics as a 'holy grail.' It is a continuation of very old fashioned thinking, hooked on 'cause and effect' relationships, Aristotelian in nature. One would think that modern science could see through this veil of antiquity, but seemingly has not yet had the courage to do so.

It is essential reading, however, so see how far 'science' has not moved for nearly 400 years.

This particular translation is of interest in that half of the book tries to explain and support the original text. Bit too hard of a sell to justify Newton's arguments. Again, it is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the flaws of modern 'science.'

Wonderful overview, somewhat overwhelming........2004-09-07

This is a wonderful reference, but frankly, it was overwhelming for me. Let's just say that while the first two sections of this book were clear, informative, meticulously and thoroughly footnoted and annotated, the last section-- the actual translation-- proved beyond my abilities. I'd HIGHLY recommend a college-level geometry course before attempting to read the actual translation of Newton's revolutionary work.

Frankly, the combination of archaic verbiage (Cohen kept a number of obsolescent terms in translating from the original Latin), combined with a predominately narrative style (reading in an entire paragraph what can in modern mathematical symbology be articulated in a single line) combined with my lack of working analytic geometry enabled me to follow this seminal work conceptually, but not in detail. Other reviwers have suggested that a working knowledge of calculus and Newtonian physics is required. I disagree. To follow Newton's proofs in detail, it is Euclidean geometry that is required. Newton's Principia CONCEPTUALLY utilizes calculus, but the proofs themselves are Euclidean with the concept of "infinitisimally small" added to the equation. I have single- and multi-variable calculus, linear algebra, differential equations (first-, second-order, and partial), and graduate-level statistics under my belt. Junior high school geometry is insufficient to understand his work. So far, I am studying tensors, differential geometry/exterior calculus with respect to gravitation physics without too much difficuly. Geometry!

Otherwise, this book was wonderful. Section One is a thoroughly researched historical background. Social setting, scientific thought at the time, the controversies of the times, historical perspective, insights into Newton himself. Wonderfully referenced and annotated.

Section Two is a clear "How to Read" section-- discussing section by section of the Principia what the main concepts and issues are, even critiquing Newton's flaws and obvious attempts to fill in gaps or alter data when existing data were insufficient to his theories! Cohen even guides us step-by-step through some of the more important proofs in the Principia-- proofs that for the most part I followed, except for certain geometric assumptions that I had to assume were true.

My fascination has always been relativity... which I am working on understanding now. When finished, I may read a college-level text in analytic geometry, then come back to this. But I was impressed by the sheer breadth of conceptual material Newton covered. Certainly entitling his last book of The Principia "The System of the World" was justified.

Gravitation and Cosmology: Principles and Applications of the General Theory of Relativity

Average customer rating:

Ancient and Obsolete
Unique,Idiosyncratic Approach
A great book by a great physicist
Superlative
Old book that is hostile to the spirt of G.R.

Gravitation and Cosmology: Principles and Applications of the General Theory of Relativity
Steven Weinberg
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471925675

Customer Reviews:

Ancient and Obsolete.......2007-04-23

The beauty of general relativity (GR) lies in the connection it provides between geometry and physics. Weinberg's algebraic approach completely obscures this connection. Instead Weinberg teaches how to crank through complex calculations without any insight or geometric intuition. It is a fairly good book when compared to Misner-Thorne-Wheeler (another ancient text). However, by modern standards, Weinberg's book leaves much to be desired. Having been published in 1972, the book lacks modern examples in cosmology and quantum gravity. It also lacks a proper introduction to differential geometry and makes no mention of topology or other mathematical ideas prevalent in current GR research. In the 35 years since its publication, it has been surpassed by many much better books. For an excellent introduction to GR, read Carroll's book. For a more rigorous study of GR read Wald's book. For an easy introduction to GR, read Schutz's book.

Unique,Idiosyncratic Approach.......2006-09-15

Flashback to 1979.I Purchased Weinberg's Gravitation book and
Misner,Thorne, Wheeler's Gravitation book, simultaneously. Back then it took four weeks to get hold of a book by mail. The waiting made it all the more special when the books finally arrived. I still have those same two worn copies. Still re-read each. Sure, they are different viewpoints of General Relativity.
But, how greatly they both enrich the world. Together, those two
books started a pedagogic revolution. Weinberg has no
equal,cherish this book. Cherish MTW, also.

A great book by a great physicist.......2006-04-09

This is the best book written on general relativity, and I have read or at least looked at nearly every one of them. It is better than Wald's book because Steven Weinberg is a better physicist than Robert Wald. The only people who will not be pleased with it are those mathematicians who are looking to physics for elegant mathematics and not for physical insight.

A virtue of this book is that so far as I can see Weinberg has thought through general relativity for himself, and he has worked through all of the derivations himself - certainly the ones that I have checked - rather than quoting others.
This is not always the case for books in physics. Weinberg is careful, and I have yet to find an error in the book.

Superlative.......2004-12-14

Weinberg's writing is fantastic--direct, precise, and inspiring. His minimalist yet comprehensive approach, basing GR on nothing but the absolute necessities is beautiful. Virtually every word in the book is necessary and sufficient.

For GR, Weinberg's book is first among equals. Other reviews have critiqued his mathematics as old (Einstein's methods)--so what? It's easier and centerpieces the physics. Weinberg does well at making the complex as simple as can be reasonably made, a mark of a great expositor.

Old book that is hostile to the spirt of G.R........2004-12-08

There was a time when this book was probably very authoritative and useful (though I can't see myself preferring it over Hawking and Ellis, even then). Put it out of your mind: that time is gone. There are a slew of much better, much more modern books out there. Furthermore, this book is written from a perspective that attempts to filter a huge chunk of the geometry out of G.R., sullying a lot of the beauty of Einstein's central idea. If you are interested in cosmology, you can do a lot better looking at Hawking and Ellis, or one of the more recent books that will, due to their newness, emphasize the numerous advances in cosmology since the 70s. If you are interested in Relativity, PLEASE look at Schutze (beginner) or at Wald (graduate). Don't waste time and energy on this book.

That being said, there are some interesting advanced topics here, and a few things that I haven't seen elsewhere. This can be a useful reference for a researching relativist.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Physical Principles and Sequence Design

Average customer rating:

the most complete book so far
An excellent intro for readers with some math background

Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Physical Principles and Sequence Design
E. Mark Haacke , Robert W. Brown , Michael R. Thompson , and Ramesh Venkatesan
Manufacturer: Wiley-Liss
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Radiologic & Ultrasound Technology | Allied Health Professions | Medicine | Subjects | Books

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0471351288

Book Description

This book provides a synoptic introduction to the key fundamental and operational principles of MRI for medical physicists, radiologists,biochemists, and students. It addresses basic NMR principles, basic imaging concepts, Fourier transform concepts and fundamental applications such as chemical shift imaging, rf pulse design, fast imaging, motion and flow, MR angiography, diffusion, sequence design, and coil concepts.

Customer Reviews:

the most complete book so far.......2004-12-09

This is probably the most complete textbook on MRI so far, covering many of the recent topics. The prerequisite is an undergraduate engineering or physics degree, but nothing fancy, the math is completely trivial, and all of the necessary background is included in the book. So it's quite comprehensive in that regard, you won't need to use other books, it's all in there. And if it's not in there, I find the list of references at the end of sections to be excellent. They really refer you to the relevant literature so you don't have to worry about missing important details. I don't give 5 stars for books like this, because I just see it as a decent book. It is not "extraordinary" (5 stars), it is just the best book on MRI out there, but essentially because there are no decent alternative out there that cover such a broad range of topics. I suspect there will be subsequent editions of this book to cover newer topics, but the bulk of the book will remain the same, since it covers mostly very basic topics (a good choice of topics too).

An excellent intro for readers with some math background.......2000-03-01

This book is a welcome introduction for readers who are comfortable with basic differential equations and vector calculus. As an applied mathematician interested in learning the fundamentals of MRI, I had grown quite frustrated with the simplified literature on one hand ("MRI for technologists", "MRI for medical people", "MRI for dummies"...) and the professional literature on the other, which is directed at people already immersed in the study of MR technology. In contrast, this book is an excellent introduction to the subject for applied mathematicians (though this may not have been the intended audience), as it makes no assumptions regarding reader's science background and thus explains thoroughly all relevant E+M, physics and signal processing. But most importantly, it does so without cutting mathematical corners. This results in a far more lucid and logical exposition than books which try to protect the reader for his/her own good.

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