Book Description

A highly respected physicist demonstrates that the essential beliefs of Christianity are wholly consistent with the laws of physics.

Frank Tipler takes an exciting new approach to the age-old dispute about the relationship between science and religion in The Physics of Christianity. In reviewing centuries of writings and discussions, Tipler realized that in all the debate about science versus religion, there was no serious scientific research into central Christian claims and beliefs. So Tipler embarked on just such a scientific inquiry. The Physics of Christianity presents the fascinating results of his pioneering study.

Tipler begins by outlining the basic concepts of physics for the lay reader and brings to light the underlying connections between physics and theology. In a compelling example, he illustrates how the God depicted by Jews and Christians, the Uncaused First Cause, is completely consistent with the Cosmological Singularity, an entity whose existence is required by physical law. His discussion of the scientific possibility of miracles provides an impressive, credible scientific foundation for many of Christianity’s most astonishing claims, including the Virgin Birth, the Resurrection, and the Incarnation. He even includes specific outlines for practical experiments that can help prove the validity of the “miracles” at the heart of Christianity.

Tipler’s thoroughly rational approach and fully accessible style sets The Physics of Christianity apart from other books dealing with conflicts between science and religion. It will appeal not only to Christian readers, but also to anyone interested in an issue that triggers heated and divisive intellectual and cultural debates.

Customer Reviews (25)

WOW as in Far out Man!
This book is probably one of the more fantastic books I have ever read. Mr Tipler takes us for a wild ride through the off the wall world of quantum physics in search of ways in which the core Christian miracles may have occured and doesn't hold back when he wishes to freak us out with a couple of (I thought) very optimistic predictions for future technologies. Hell perhaps he's right. He certainly manages to make even the ressurection of Jesus miracle look quite ordinary by the time we get to that bit.
The Physics of Christianity, in style, reminds me a little of the more forward thinking scientific writings of the late 19th century where some, at the time, amazing claims and predictions were made, boundless optimism and all that.
Mind you at this end of a century later we would probably do well to remember that some of these most amazing predictions have been exceeded beyond expectation.
A great read for all of those who wish to explore the outer fringe (or perhaps core) implications of the emerging physics.

The Physics of God
Few men could be more qualified than Tipler, Professor of Mathematics and Physics (joint appointment), to explain the physics of God. Tipler's Ph.D. is in the field of global general relativity (the same rarefied field of Penrose and Hawking). John Wheeler wrote that "Frank Tipler is widely known for important concepts and theorems in general relativity and gravitation physics" in the Foreword to The Anthropic Cosmological Principle (1986) by cosmologist Prof. John D. Barrow and Tipler, which was the first book wherein Tipler's Omega Point Theory (OPT) was described.

An atheist since the age of 16, Tipler only again became a theist circa 1998 due to advancements in the OPT that came after his book The Physics of Immortality (1994; PoI), which concentrates on the OPT.

Physicist Prof. David Deutsch (inventor of the quantum computer and winner of the Institute of Physics' Paul Dirac Prize for his work) defends the physics of the OPT in his excellent book The Fabric of Reality (1997).

Tipler's present book (PoC) is a simplified exposition of his OPT, while giving an update to the latest findings of the OPT since Tipler's previous book, PoI. PoC is very much intended for a popular audience, and far less technical details are given than in PoI (which is quite technically advanced, particularly in the Appendix for Scientists, and is quite an intellectually rigorous treasure-trove in everything from the physics of Artificial Intelligence, perfect emulations of humans via computer, the inherent multiverse nature of quantum mechanics, and much more).

Instead, for PoC, Tipler confines the rigorous technical details of the OPT to his papers in the science journals and his previous book PoI, while giving endnotes in PoC to them (many of which papers are available online for free). Where that can be a problem is that some people (especially ones wanting the technical exposition) may think that Tipler is out of his league by asserting fantastic ideas without presenting proof if they don't follow up with the endnoted references.

In PoC, Tipler especially analyzes the OPT's pertinence to Christian theology. Tipler therein identifies the Omega Point (OP) as being the Judeo-Christian God, particularly as described by Christian theology, due to the fundamentally triune structure of the OP cosmology when formulated in multiversal terms (of which many-worlds formulation isn't necessary for the physics upon which the OP itself is based): the Final Singularity (i.e., the OP), the All-Presents Singularity (which exists at all times at the edge of the multiverse), and the Initial Singularity (i.e., the beginning of the Big Bang), which Tipler identifies with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, respectively.

Tipler also analyzes how Jesus Christ could have performed the miracles recorded in the New Testament without violating any known laws of physics, even if one were to assume that we currently don't exist as an emulation (in that case, then such miracles would be trivially easy to perform for the society running the simulation, even though it would seem amazing from our perspective). This process uses baryon annihilation, and its inverse, via electroweak quantum tunneling controlled by the cosmological end state of the OP (since in physics it's just as accurate to say that causation goes from future to past events: viz, the principle of least action; and unitarity).

Tipler proposes that the virgin birth of Jesus could be possible via Jesus being a special type of XX male who obtained all of his genetic material from Mary.

Tipler is not claiming that the above miracles in the previous two paragraphs are proven to have taken place by physics, simply that they need not have violated any known laws of physics. Tipler proposes tests that can be performed on certain relics which could verify whether in fact said miracles did take place via the described processes. Although I'll point out that if such tests are performed and the results are negative, that would not disprove the miracles of Jesus, since the provenience of the relics are themselves in question.

Tipler discusses the Feynman-Weinberg quantum gravity/Standard Model Theory of Everything in PoC, but for the technical details see Tipler's paper "The structure of the world from pure numbers," Rep Prog Phys, available on Tipler's website (and with a different title at arXiv:0704.3276), which also gives the technical details on how the known laws of physics (i.e., general relativity, quantum mechanics, and the Standard Model) requires that the universe end in the OP.

The only way to avoid the OP cosmology is to invent tenuous physical theories which have no experimental support and which violate the known laws of physics, such as with Prof. Stephen Hawking's paper "Information loss in black holes" hep-th/0507171 on the black hole information issue (BHII) which is dependant on the conjectured AdS/CFT correspondence.

That is, Hawking's paper is based upon proposed, unconfirmed physics. It's an impressive testament to the OPT's correctness, as Hawking implicitly confirms that the known laws of physics require the universe to collapse in finite time. Hawking realizes that the BHII must be resolved without violating unitarity, yet he's forced to abandon the known laws of physics in order to avoid unitarity violation without the universe collapsing.

Some have suggested that the universe's current accelerating expansion obviates the OP. But as Profs. Lawrence Krauss and Michael Turner point out in "Geometry and Destiny" astro-ph/9904020, cosmological observations cannot tell us whether the universe will expand forever or eventually collapse.

The reason for that is because that is dependant on the actions of intelligent life. The known laws of physics provide the mechanism for the universe's collapse, as discussed in PoC (again, by baryon annihilation via electroweak quantum tunneling). Moreover, this process would provide the ideal energy resource and rocket propulsion during the universe's colonization.

God uses the SIMPLE to Confound the "WISE"
The second I saw the 1 star ratings from those blasting this book for daring to tie the finite capabilities of science to the Infinite, absolute, eternal
essence of an Almighty Creator, I knew I had to buy it and read it and it did not disappoint. Einstein and his elegant equations got off the bus when as he stated " God doesn't play dice". God begins where we end. All of the materialistic, empirical, statistical data that has been compiled scientifically does not amount to a hill of beans when stacked against the Absolute of the Universe. Frank Tipler is Quixotic in stepping out of the scientific dogmatic bondage that enslaves so many and daring to bridge the gap- a step of faith to be sure. Over reaching at times- but compelling for those of us with the courage to recognize that to deny an intelligence beyond all understanding is in the final analysis intellectual dishonesty.

Physics?Christianity F
Tipler is a physicist of some reputation, and his explanation of the principles of physics is OK, not as good as in his earlier Physics of Immortality.The book really is weak in its understanding of Chrtistianity.He does not seem to have even a rudimentary understanding of the teachings of the gospels, much less those who have commented on them from Paul to modern authors.

Courting the Disasters of Dogma

Sam Harris tells us on page 224 of his angry book The End of Faith that ending blind faith - which he describes as belief in the absence of evidence - is "a matter of finding approaches to ethics and spiritual experience that make no appeal to faith and broadcast this knowledge to everyone."Many of our leading intellectuals - Freeman Dyson, Albert Einstein, Carl Gustav Jung, H. G. Wells and Max Plank,seem to have felt noneed to have their science and their religion cohere. Professor Frank J. Tipler evidently does feel that need.For in his book The Physics of Christianity he finds and broadcasts approaches to science and religion that make no appeal to faith.Or does he?
Professor Tipler is a distinguished member of the science establishment, but he is not intimidated its prejudices.In The Physics of Christianity he intrepidly sets out to prove that Christianity's key dogmas, Original Sin, Incarnation, Virgin Birth, Resurrection, Ascension, Assumption, and Transubstantiation (aka Real Presence),are supported by evidence from modern physics.His argumentrests on 5 points: 1) God is a singularity in a trinity of manifestations: initial, present and final;2) a miracle is a quantum event that goes directly from the event into the singularity; 3) the incarnation can be understood with a little advanced mathematics; 4) two XX chromosomes and no Y chromosome in the DNA on the Turin Shroud is evidence of virgin birth; 5)Jesus rose from the dead by converting his body into neutrinos.The Physics of Christianity is Professor Frank J. Tipler's `theory of everything.'
Like a knight in heavy armor, he enters the lists of our culture wars armed with the iron logic of advanced mathematics, the Standard Model of particle physics, quantum mechanics, quantum cosmology, general relativity, and the Second Law of Thermodynamics. And with the tenacity of a Medieval Scholastic plus the dedication of an Einstein he enters the fray with great expectations.
These are his expectations: By the year 2050,most human beings will be Christians,have invulnerable human download capabilities,machines more intelligent than themselves, access to unlimited energy, and interstellar rocket travel.Those conditions will constitute the Second Coming. And before the Second Coming we can expect to have a Jewish Pope because the Jews are God's Chosen People.
The Physics of Christianity is astonishing.The Physics of Christianity is spellbinding. So enthralling, indeed, that this reader had to devote his every spare moment to reading it, neglecting to answer the telephone and feed the cat.For The Physics of Christianitydemands more than close reading; it demands study; it provokes re-reading, reflection, meditation.If Professor Tipler can present us withconvincing evidence that our traditional Christian dogmas are supported by modern physics then he will have made the most important contribution to Christian apologetics since The City of God by St. Augustine, and Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas.He approaches the task as a problem in epistemology: what do we know, and how do we know it?
Frank J. Tipler has been a star performer on the epistemology scene since the publication of The Anthropic Cosmological Principle, written with John D. Barrow and published in paperback in 1996.In that book the authors demonstrate how Teilhard de Chardin's Omega Point theory resonates with FAP, the final anthropic principle. According to FAP, mankind is the outcome of certain identifiable cosmological constants and is destined to take command of the universe.The Anthropic Cosmological Principle, by putting man back into the position from which Copernicus so recentlyremoved him, namely at the very center of the universe, constitutes a philosophical revolution. In The Physics of Christianity that revolution marches on.The argument that traditional Christian dogma is supported by modern physics hangs on evidence supporting two dogmas: The Virgin Birth and The Resurrection.In defense of the Virgin Birth dogma Professor Tiplerpoints out that virgin birth is common in some species, namely lizards and turkeys, and is known to occur, although with extreme rarity, among humans.
If Jesus was born of a virgin, he would have been an XX male lacking the normal Y chromosome.Ifit can be proven from the DNA on the Turin Shroud and the Oviedo Cloth that Jesus was an XX male then it follows that "From the biological point of view, we would have in Jesus a speciation event, the appearance of a new species in a single generation.Mary's parents were normal humans, whereas Jesus and Mary were the new Adam and the new Eve.No Darwinian slow evolutionary change here, but instantaneous speciation.This would explain the fact that the Gospels make no mention of Jesus ever taking a wife, or showing any interest in women as sex objects.So the DNA on the Turin Shroud and the Oviedo Cloth provide an experimental refutation of the claim made popular in the novel The Da Vinci Code, that Jesus married and had children by Mary Magdalene.Jesus's DNA is simply too different for this to be possible." (p. 193) That passage,by increasing the mass of it's data base,may prove to be a heavy contribution to the momentum of the militant gay Jesus movement Professor Morton Smith set afoot when he published his discovery of The Secret Gospel of Mark:M = mv.
As for proof of the Resurrection, that will be available when and iftrails of neutrinos in sufficient numbers can be found in the rocks surrounding the tomb of Jesus in Jerusalem.Likewise for the Assumption dogma: if trails of neutrinos can be found in the rocks around the alleged tomb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Butproofs will not be available until present technology is sufficiently improved. The argument comes down to a problem, as we said, in epistemology.If God is the Singularity identified by physics, and the laws of physics are the logos leading to Omega Point, then it follows that, indeed, it is in that Trinity ofSingularities, God, that "we live and move and have our being."
In a section titledThe Problem of Evil, our bold champion begins to sound less like a knight of the round table and more like the knight of the sorrowful countenance when he charges into the windmills of theodicy.In support of the existence of the multiverses of quantum theory he invokes two antique concepts: 1) Arthur O. Lovejoy's Great Chain of Being,and 2) that Leibniz phrase Voltaire had so much fun with in Candide, "the best of all possible worlds."Skeptical readers will begin to ask how some of his quotations from scripture are supported by physics.Readers with a liberal bias will doubtless sniff or even take umbrage at his quotation - as epigraphs for Chapters IV and V -of two Anathemasfrom The First Vatican Council.For it was The First Vatican Council of 1870 thatpromulgated the infamous doctrine of papal infallibility so often misinterpreted and abominatedby liberals.All of which brings to mindHarold Bloom's observation: "Seeking Godoutside the self courts the disasters of dogma."(Omens of Millennium, p. 14)What seems to be missing in the picture is the Shekhinah.
Nevertheless, The Physics of Christianity is a stunning read,brilliantly entertaining and highly informative! More importantly it is, like Be Done on Earth, by Howard E. Cook,a desperately earnest contribution to the lively dialogue concerning Western civilization's need for a rebirth of Christianity. The Physics of Christianity is unlike Be Done on Earth, in so far as Be Done on Earth bases its apologetics on Christianity's cultural prestige and the power of its poetic symbolism as well as a metaphysical concept of a fifth dimension, a transcendental epistemology.Thus The Physics of Christianity is less philosophically radical than Be Done on Earth.But it is a substantial contribution to Western civilization's intellectual and spiritual struggle against the growing menace of Islam. And it is far more effective than The End of Faith as polemics.Every liberally educated Christian should read it. The tacit assumption that the validation of Roman Catholic dogma in toto rests upon the verifiability of the DNA and neutrino evidence seems dubious.For it seems to confound physics with revisionary metaphysics. But what is questionable in Professor Tipler's thinking - when and if proven invalid - will not survive.The intrepidspirit he exhibits in facing up to the big issues hopefully will.If it does not, Western civilization is done for. ... Read more

Book Description
No other book on the market today can match the 30-year success of Halliday, Resnick and Walker's Fundamentals of Physics! In a breezy, easy-to-understand style the book offers a solid understanding of fundamental physics concepts, and helps readers apply this conceptual understanding to quantitative problem solving. This book offers a unique combination of authoritative content and stimulating applications.
* Problem-solving tactics are provided to help the reader solve problems and avoid common errors.
* This new edition features several thousand end of chapter problems that were rewritten to streamline both the presentations and answers.
* Chapter Puzzlers open each chapter with an intriguing application or question that is explained or answered in the chapter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Caution to fellow students
Thie DOES NOT include the wileyPLUS online accompaniment. If your professor requires wileyPLUS do not order this unless you intend to order the wileyPLUS seperate. ... Read more

Book Description
KEY MESSAGE: Richard Wolfson’s Essential University Physics is a concise and progressive calculus-based physics textbook that offers clear writing, great problems, and interesting real-life applications. At nearly half the length and half the price of other physics texts on the market, Essential University Physics is a compelling alternative for professors who want to focus on the fundamentals. Based on Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Wolfson and Pasachoff, Essential University Physics retains many of the lauded features of the original text, while introducing new pedagogical elements derived from physics education research. The text focuses on the fundamentals of physics, teaches sound problem-solving skills, emphasizes conceptual understanding, and makes connections to the real world. Features such as annotated figures and step-by-step problem-solving strategies help provide a clear learning path for the reader. Doing Physics; Mechanics: Motion in a Straight Line; Motion in Two and Three Dimensions; Force and Motion; Using Newton’s Laws; Work, Energy, and Power; Conservation of Energy; Gravity; Systems of Particles; Rotational Motion; Rotational Vectors and Angular Momentum; Static Equilibrium Oscillations, Waves, and Fluids: Oscillatory Motion; Wave Motion; Fluid Motion Thermodynamics: Temperature and Heat; The Thermal Behavior of Matter;Heat, Work, and the First Law of Thermodynamics; The Second Law of Thermodynamics Electromagnetism: Electric Charge, Force, and Field; Gauss’s Law; Electric Potential; Electrostatic Energy and Capacitors; Electric Current; Electric Circuits;Magnetism; Electromagnetic Induction; Alternating-Current Circuits;Electromagnetic Waves Optics: The Behavior of Light; Images and Optical Instruments; Interference and Diffraction Modern Physics: Relativity; Particles and Waves; Quantum Physics; Atomic Physics; Molecular and Solid-State Physics; Nuclear Physics; Quarks to Cosmos For all readers interested in calculus-based physics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Not for the regular guy
I've taken physics 1 with a different book (University Physics 11th Ed.) and had a A. Now in physics 2 I'm having a hard time because of this new book. The previous book was easy to understand, had plenty of examples and was entertaining to read for a physics book. I have to use that book to understand the class material. I have nothing good to say about this book, however. From page one it starts sentence after sentence of worthless facts and poorly explained ideas. Many people in my class feel that we will be switching back to the other book and the book store is stocking the other book for next semester instead of this one. I'm sure Wolfson can teach physics in person but for a writer he kinda sucks. Don't bother writing another edition, we aren't going to use it at NMT.

Incredibly easy to learn from
I took summer courses in introductory physics over the summer, and the two volumes of this book were the prescribed textbooks. Never have I found it as easy to learn material from a textbook as with these two books. Most everything is explained in a clear manner (even if some figures are a little confusing), and mathematical justification is given for most of the claims in the book. It's also good about making sure you get the right idea of what's being learned right off the bat, introducing vectors and light calculus usage early. Honestly, I think these books even helped my understanding of Calculus grow, and I've already taken several upper division math courses. I would highly recommend these volumes (or, if they ever come together in one book, that) to anyone looking to learn introductory physics.

Not even close
I have nothing but hatred for this poorly constructed book. I am a second year EE student with some prior Physics experience. This book has brought me nothing but frustration. Easy concepts are explained in detail, while advanced concepts get a short blurb. The information is poorly organized and structured and often takes other sources to understand the concept fully. I also found an error in Chapter 2 in one of the derivations of the equations. Though insignificant, it begs the question, what else was overlooked? In addition our professor has opted to use the "Mastering Physics" online tool as a daily homework assignment. This review will not delve into the infinite obscenities reserved for that component, as it is not part of the book as a reference, but let it be noted that it does nothing to save this book from the feelings I have already. If it's possible to avoid this book, I advise one to do so.

content matches the title
some odd 25 years ago i took an undergraduate course in physics based on the 3 volumes of Alonso-Finn "Fundamental university physics".

Keen to brush up on my rusty knowledge of classical physics i've been browsing the market searching for a present-day introductory university course on physics. This book more than fulfilled my expectations.

It's comprehensive, concise, well-structured, a joy to read, and above all, from an educational point of view, the best book on physics i've ever read. It's so easy as a student to get the wrong conceptions in your head, and once they're there, they usually stay there for a very long time. Richard Wolfson brilliantly avoids this pitfall - he knows exactly where students are likely to misinterpret certain equations or ideas in physics, and he does a splendid job making sure the students get all "the big ideas" right from the start.

I would not only recommend this book to students of physics, but to everyone interested in the most beautiful of all sciences. If only there were more educators the likes of R. Wolfson.


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Book Description
A revision of a successful junior/senior level text, this introduction to elementary quantum mechanics clearly explains the properties of the most important quantum systems. Emphasizes the applications of theory, and contains new material on particle physics, electron-positron annihilation in solids and the Mossbauer effect. Includes new appendices on such topics as crystallography, Fourier Integral Description of a Wave Group, and Time-Independent Perturbation Theory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

good but please a little more explanation!
I think this book is surely meant to go along with a class, I don't think it is entirely suited for independent study.The reason I feel this is that the discussion questions at the end of each chapter seem to be asking about stuff that isn't really addressed in the chapter, and requires additional knowledge unrelated to what is given in the book to answer.Also, there are no solutions to the practice problems, so you will never be able to test your own accuracy.I really believe in having solutions in the back of the book, otherwise how are you to rate your own progress and understanding?In concert with a course however and with a teacher to fill in any information gaps, I think this is a fine book!All the explanations seem clear, and the steps in the derivation processes are easy to follow!

Awesome Physics Book!
This is an awesome physcis book.It really allowed me to wrap my mind around some of them really big concepts.Sometimes my brain hurt!But I kept reading, just knowing it would make me smarter than George.He thinks he knows everything but he doesn't.Anyway, the book is better than a basket of spare ribs with extra sauce!

wonderful and enlightening to read!
This book catches my attention to a point that I cannot put it down until I have finished a chapter. It is true that the book is focused on understanding the physical concepts with little math...this can be confusing at times...but I still think highly of it.

Buy Griffiths Instead
This book was confusing, chaotic, and utterly disapointing.If your professor assigns this book I suggest you do not buy it but borrow from a friend.Instead use Griffiths to learn QM.Since moving onto graduate school I have learned just how little I learned from this book.Moreover, I was confused about simple issues in QM which Cohen-Tannoudji quickly and clearly dispelled.This book actually hurt my education.I can not for the life of me understand how anyone could give this book 3, 4, or even 5 stars.

Great introduction, focused on understanding
This book is an excellent introduction to Quantum Physics. This book gives the non-expert reader an insight into the tremendous explanatory power of quantum mechanics. It describes why and how Quantum Mechanics was developed, and it is primarily concerned with the understanding of concepts and ideas, rather than focusing on mathematical techniques. For this reason it might appear a little verbose to some readers.

The first five chapters gives the reader a good insight into the history of Quantum Physics and to why classical mechanics was insufficient. Chapter 6 is an excellent overview of how to solve the Schroedinger Equation in a few specific cases, at the same time as the reader is given a very good "feeling" for how Quantum Mechanics works. The remainder of the chapters focuses on specific situations, applications and phenomena's.

There are plenty of books that use less mathematics, but I do not believe they give a good understanding of the topic. There are also plenty of books that uses a lot more complex mathematics, but they are not for beginners. I recommend this book as an introduction to Quantum Physics for undergraduate physics students, engineers, science professionals, and mathematically literate others.

For reference, these are the chapters in the book:
(1) Thermal Radiation and Plank's Postulate
(2) Photons--Particlelike Properties of Radiation
(3) De Broglie's Postulate--Wavelike Properties of Particles
(4) Bohr's Model of the Atom
(5) Schroedinger's Theory of Quantum Mechanics
(6) Solutions of Time-Independent Schroedinger Equations
(7) One-Electron Atoms
(8) Magnetic Dipole Moments, Spin, and Transition Rates
(9) Multielectron Atoms--Ground States and X-Ray Excitations
(10) Multielectron Atoms--Optical Excitations
(11) Quantum Statistics
(12) Molecules
(13) Solids--Conductors and Semiconductors
(14) Solids--Superconductors and Magnetic Properties
(15) Nuclear Models
(16) Nuclear Decay and Nuclear Reactions
(17) Introduction to Elementary Particles
(18) More Elementary Particles

I liked Appendix A, "The Special Theory of Relativity". In only sixteen pages, the authors succeed to correctly explain the special theory of relativity. I also liked Appendix C, "The Boltzmann Distribution", which was good concise description of classical statistical mechanics (you need to understand it, to understand why it was not good enough). ... Read more

Book Description
For those who have always wanted to discover the joy ofphysics, this is the book that they've been waiting for. Many peopleremember their struggles with the topic in high school and have wished forthe right opportunity to gain an appreciation of this significant area ofknowledge.Now is their chance not only to understand physics, but to dophysics.

Physics professor and popular science writer Arthur W. Wigginsprovides the general reader with a fun-filled, entertaining, and trulyeducational tour of this all-important science. What makes the study ofphysics so worthwhile? Wiggins says that, despite its reputation fordifficulty, physics has an enormously ambitious goal, which appeals topeople's innate curiosity: to understand the workings of the entireuniverse, from the smallest quarks to the largest galaxies. Learning andcomprehending as much as we can about the inner and outer workings of theuniverse is what evokes the joy of physics.

Taking a hands-on approach, he invites the reader to share the joy.Easy, practical experiments pepper the book and connect the ideas ofphysics with the reality of the universe. The yo-yo, flying disc, shakeflashlight, laser pointer, LED, and even a microwave experiment with anedible result add to the fun. Understanding and enjoyment go hand in handas the whole enterprise of physics is explored, explained, and illustratedwith clear, recognizable examples and with good humor. Explanations ofmotion, energy, sound, electricity, and magnetism lead to intriguingdiscussions of such groundbreaking ideas as relativity, quarks, stringtheory, and dark energy.

Complete with lively, memorable cartoons by Sidney Harris--America'spremier science cartoonist--The Joy of Physics reveals the inherent fun,intellectual pleasure, and supreme importance of a subject that we can nowfinally tackle and enjoy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Understanding Physics can be Joyful!
Art Wiggins' ability to explain complex physics in a way that everyone can understand it is uncanny. Not only does he explain it well, he gives the reader great insight into the early researchers' thoughts, and the reasons they were pursuing the problem in the first place. Then he gives the reader some simple experiments they can do (using household items, or easily obtainable objects) to prove the concept or experience the phenomenon. He truly does bring physics into your home so that the reader can understand it and, more importantly, help them and their kids do their science projects. I recommend this book for anyone, and everyone, who has always thought that physics was just for nerds or smart folks, but wished they could understand science and physics better.

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Book Description
This book will save you time as you master the basics taught in first-year,calculus-based college physics courses. You'll firmly grasp the all-important building blocks needed for every physical science and all branches of engineering. The many problems included with guided solutionsmake this potentially daunting subject much easier. Additional problems with answers give you a chance to reinforce what you've learned and gauge your progress as you go. This next-best thing to a private tutor makes especially clear the topics most students find most difficult. It's ideal for independent study, brushup before an exam, or preparation for the MED-CAT and GRE. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Should be Recalled
I bought this book for my high school AP Physics child; it is almost evil to have a student suffer through wrong answers. I bought the book at Barnes and Noble and have returned it to them.I made a grat case for B&N to return all copies to the publisher as a protest.
When my child complained I checked with Amazon for confirmation; one great thing about Amazon is the reviews!!

Good for review for
Aside from the typos (which I have since learned to expect in the Schaum's Outlines), I liked this book.It was concise and provided a means of getting a good review without having to pour through lengthy textbooks.

Sometimes, some steps are skipped from going from one formula to another but filling in those steps helped with the learning process.

Although not a complete study tool for the physics GRE (because it doesn't cover concepts like Lagrangians or advanced quantum mechanics that are found on the physics GRE), I definitely used it in conjunction with my undergraduate textbooks and I'm convinced it did help me with the physics GRE.

I wasn't particularly fond of his treatment of interference but I think he did a really great job with rotational kinematics and nuclear physics.But overall, a good review of physical concepts.

Not a nuclear physicist!
I'm just an engineering student, so what do I know?Well, I will tell you this much: there are a lot of errors in this book.Someone else wrote a review that said these errors are a good way to learn.This person was also a practicing physicist!I'm still learning and I don't leave much room for interpretation when something is incorrect. I automatically assume I'm wrong because I'm still learning.This is overkill, but there are a LOT of errors so don't throw caution to the wind.This book also explicitly states that you should understand some "obvious" things.If I did, I'd stick with my textbook!Not completely useless, but can be frustrating.

permitivity of freespace constantlisted WRONG in book
The book is good other than....

On Pg 244the book has a MAJOR TYPO !!

the permittivity of freespace constant (a universal constant... used in almost every claculation for several chapters) is not correct. they have it equal to 8.85*E^-11 when really it's
8.85*E-12
In the book's calculations, they use a value k that is equal to the lump sum of 1/(4pi*our constant) which had a correctly calculated value... therfor the answers to their examples are right, but if you plug in their constant value seperately in an equation, your answer will be off.

IT TOOK A LOT OF HAIR PULLING TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY HOMEWORK WASN"T RIGHT! DON'T MISTAKENLY OVERLOOK THIS.

I have written several e-mails to the editing department of the books publisher, but even with requesting a reply on the manner, they have yet to contact me.

Too many errors to be helpful
If this book was relatively error free, I would probably give it four or five stars because it outlines college physics for engineers quite nicely. As it is, there are so many errors throughout the book - in equations, solutions, problem statements, etc. - that it will drive even the most persistent student insane. Instead, I suggest that students of college freshman physics use the Schaum's Outline of College Physics, currently in its tenth edition. It is an oldie but a goodie, and the outline is pretty much error-free from beginning to end.
If you have your heart set on working physics problems that make heavy use of calculus, try "Sears and Zemansky's University Physics (10th Edition)", which is out of print. Used copies can usually be found here on Amazon for under $50. There are loads of solved problems and example problems, plus it is a terrific calculus-based college physics text to boot. Since we are talking about a 10th edition, there are few of the errors in that book that you will find in this Schaum's outline. ... Read more

Book Description

Built from the ground up on our new understanding of how students learn physics, Randall Knight's introductory university physics textbook leads readers to a deeper understanding of the concepts and more proficient problem-solving skills. This authoritative text provides effective learning strategies and in-depth instruction to better guide readers around the misconceptions and preconceptions they often bring to the course.The superior problem-solving pedagogy of Physics for Scientists and Engineers uses a detailed, methodical approach that sequentially builds skills and confidence for tackling more complex problems. Knight combines rigorous quantitative coverage with a descriptive, inductive approach that leads to a deeper student understanding of the core concepts. Pictorial, graphical, algebraic, and descriptive representations for each concept are skillfully combined to provide a resource that students with different learning styles can readily grasp. A comprehensive, integrated approach introducing key topics of physics, including Newton's Laws, Conservation Laws, Newtonian Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Wave and Optics, Electricity and Magnetism, and Modern Physics. For college instructors, students, or anyone with an interest in physics.

Customer Reviews (21)

not the best
I'd say it's an average book physics. Neither good nor bad. If you're going to spend more than a hundred dollars on a physics book, you should choose either Halliday and Resnik or Serway's editions. The concepts are much more well explained in Halliday and Serway's editions than in Knight's edition. My college used Knight's edition, but I made through the first two semesters of physics with "A" reading Halliday's edition before the lectures.

This is written like a story, not a textbook
I understand that Knight wrote this in a very pedagogical manner, but this book confuses the hell out of me. He goes back and forth with references within the book, takes forever to describe a simple concept, and describes the mathematical side of physics poorly. On top of that, the layout is very poor. The examples in the book are in small print (8 point, maybe max 9 point font?) and the explanation for them are usually one huge blob of words. The text is just not clear for those who are more on the math side of things. To be fair, if you don't like reading science textbooks and would rather read something that is laid out to the most obvious detail, this book might serve its purpose. If you have a choice, Giancoli's Physics is very good.

Not very useful at all...
I only bought this book because I needed it for one of my college courses along with a key code for the online homework annoyance called Mastering Physics. I found the online site and this book to be completely worthless, having already studied Electricity and Magnetism with a different textbook and found this one to be much worse in comparison on many levels. The examples, the problems, the way they present concepts...all either generic or pointless or possible flawed in some way.

If you have a choice in the matter, get a different one. Possibly Feynman's Lectures on Physics.

For those who want to UNDERSTAND
I read about half of the E&M chapters (E&M tending to be more difficult conceptually than Mechanics) and Knight was incredibly lucid in its explanations. Where Halliday/Resnick left me completely confused and unsatisfied with their random assertions about Gauss' Law, Knight built it up step by step, carefully explaining each, leaving me with a very deep understanding of the concepts. I aced that test.

If you want a bunch of plug and chug formulas and nothing else, look elsewhere. But if you actually have the capacity and the desire to understand, this book will do you loads of good.

awesome
the book came in perfect condition and with everything it was described with. fast shipping ... Read more

Book Description
The Physics of Everyday Phenomena, Fifth Edition, introduces students to the basic concepts of physics using examples of common occurrences. Intended for use in a one-semester or two-quarter course in conceptual physics, this book is written in a narrative style, frequently using questions designed to draw the reader into a dialogue about the ideas of physics. This inclusive style allows the book to be used by anyone interested in exploring the nature of physics and explanations of everyday physical phenomena.

Beginning students will benefit from the large number of student aids and the reduced math content. Professors will appreciate the organization of the material and the wealth of pedagogical tools. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

textbook
Brought this book for my physics class. Questions are pretty easy. A very good book for first time physics class people. ... Read more

Book Description

Art interprets the visible world. Physics charts its unseen workings. The two realms seem completely opposed. But consider that both strive to reveal truths for which there are no words––with physicists using the language of mathematics and artists using visual images. In Art & Physics, Leonard Shlain tracks their breakthroughs side by side throughout history to reveal an astonishing correlation of visions. From the classical Greek sculptors to Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns, and from Aristotle to Einstein, artists have foreshadowed the discoveries of scientists, such as when Monet and Cezanne intuited the coming upheaval in physics that Einstein would initiate. In this lively and colorful narrative, Leonard Shlain explores how artistic breakthroughs could have prefigured the visionary insights of physicists on so many occasions throughout history. Provicative and original, Art & Physics is a seamless integration of the romance of art and the drama of science––and an exhilarating history of ideas.

Customer Reviews (2)

Shallow and confused
Leonard Shlain is a surgeon, not an art historian neither a physicist. His culture is impressively broad, but unfortunately shallow. His main thesis in this book is that basically all scientific discoveries were anticipated by artists. I find the interwoven relationship between art and science absolutely fascinating, but this book is not a reference that I would recommand on the topic.

The main problem is that this book abuses of the juxtaposition of unrelated facts, and presents them with such virtuosity that a magical causality seem to appear. Shlain presents ancient thoughts with the enlightenment of modern frameworks, subtly rewriting them, emphasizing concept and translating them such that they seem to fit with forthcoming theories.

This kind of pitfall has been described by Kuhn (the structure of scientific revolution). For example, if Newtonian mechanics can be expressed in the framework of relativity, relativity is NOT and extension of Newtonian physics, there is a fundamental revolution between them. It is only because Newtonian physics has been rewritten that it becomes more compatible with Einstein's new insights.

Moreover, Shlain's understanding of relativity is weak at best. For example, he often makes the confusion between the effect of the finite speed of light (which can be expressed in a Newtonian context) and relativity.

I was all the more disappointed that some of the issues are actually relevant and fascinating: relativity, non Euclidean, surrealism and cubism for example do share a common revolution of the notion of space (and thus of the place of humans in the world). Unfortunately, Shlain's caricatural statements are irrelevant: Manet had absolutely no idea of the concepts involved in relativity, and Einstein himself pointed out that cubism had nothing to deal with relativity (as opposed to Picasso's claims).

If you want a good introduction to art history, read Gombrich, if you want to learn about physics in a broad context, read Zajong (Catching the light).

Art & Physics:Parallel Visions in Space, Time, and Light
I thought this was a wonderful book. Tying the evolution of art to the evolution of thinking and science gave me a more holistic way to look at art. From the ancient Greeks through the Dark and Middle Ages, the Impressionists, and into modern times the parallels of physics to art are simply amazing.Perfect for us "left-brained" types. ... Read more

Book Description
This revised edition of Feynman’s legendary lectures includes extensive corrections Feynman and his colleagues received and Caltech approved. This boxed set provides Volumes 1-3 together with Feynman’s Tips on Physics making this the complete and definitive set of The Feynman Lectures on Physics. For all readers interested in physics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

originality
My sister bought this set for me 33 years ago when I was 14 and just finishing Resnick and Holiday.It was fun, inspiring, sometimes obtuse but lead me to appreciate physics as an "engineer's" textbook like R&H never could.I am not a physicist but physical thinking has never left me largely because of these lectures.Most critics of these lectures simply can't follow Feynman.I will confess that I couldn't at times either but when I could, it's exhilarating!

A masterpiece
A masterpiece!
If you study physics, you must have it.
It's the Holy Bible of the Physics

A warning.
I feel there are enough reviews of this material that you can decide for yourself on whether to purchase them or not.I am merely writing this review because of the BUY WITH... option that might confuse some buyers into purchasing this AS WELL AS Feynman's Tips on Physics.You should note thatthe Definitive and Extended Edition already contains this book, and it does not need to be purchased seperately. Most people are aware of this, but I wanted to simply warn those who might not have noticed.

A Great Introduction to Physics - By a Great Physicist
I am a mobile telecom software professional by career but have great interest in Physics. Perhaps my interest was recently renewed and I read/try understanding on a lot of advanced and interesting topics. But somehow I felt that I would need a refresher on my school time physics (as I was almost out of touch with Physics for almost 13 years). Based on the previous recommendations I went ahead for these lectures and I find that I made the right choice. The best part for me was that the lectures explain the 'why' of Physics, rather than just presenting equations illustrating the principles of Physics. Also, I found myself developing some dramatic new understanding on elementary principles of Physics, which I never had earlier. I would recommend a book like Resnick & Halliday + Irodov (my personal school time favourites) for some problem solving for physics first-timers as a complement to these lectures (as they do not contain problems ... I have no issues with that, I just like knowing more on what Feynman had to say on Physics).

Best collection ever
This is the best collection of Physics lectures for undergrads, I have ever seen, it is very thought provoking and stimulating for their development of scientific vistion, highly recommended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Frustrated Physics Student
I had trouble solving the problems in the text that accompanys this book. I bought this in hopes that it would help me figure out where I went wrong in the solutions of the problems of the book and was disapointed in that it lists very few solutions. I was expecting it to be like my Calculus solution manual which lists all of the odd problems. I do not like that it lists very few problems, but the ones it actually does list helps me understand the material better, they were very thorough and easy to read. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Well worth the purchase
This text is well put together, concise where one should be for a Biophysics book, and with plenty of great back of the envelop calculations. If you are looking for a true physicist approach to this very new and broad field, get this text.

Updated and comprehensive introduction
Biological Physics by Philip Nelson manages to connect a physicist to relevant names and problems in biology, and a biologist to the methods and toolbox of physics. Either task is formidable. Philip Nelson manages it through a good articulated context, friendly language and plethora of well-thought examples. Nelson has compiled a textbook that provides both the basic concepts and the latest results from biophysics world. I would personally prefer a revision or rewrite in the way thermodynamics and statistical mechanics is introduced and conceptualized here.(For example, the concepts of high vs low quality energy, or limited space awarded to partition functions may be addressed in next revision). Physical Biochemistry by van Holde is a classic text that can be used in conjunction with this text. The book has lots of good problems that help one to become comfortable with the kind of questions that biophysics encounters and seeks to answer. All the papers cited in examples or problems have become necessary reads in the field. The power of this text is revealed when you follow up and read those theoretical or experimental articles. As such, the book is more suitable for beginners, and the discussions seem too verbose for a physicist or engineer in me. Yet knowing how disparate the audience of this book is bound to be, I consider it to be immensely valuable treatise.

Best General Introduction to Biophysics
The field of biophysics has experienced a flowering over the last several decades, with new experimental techniques (such as single molecule manipulation) providing quantitative data that allow for true tests of theoretical models.This book provides a wonderful introduction to the ideas and techniques that are now at the forefront of much of biological physics research.The previously available books are either out-of-date (Cantor & Schimmel's classic series on "Biophysical Chemistry") or are better as a reference for researchers (John Howard's useful book "Mechanics of Motor Proteins and the Cytoskeleton").Other options for an upper level introductory class (such as Duane's book "Molecular Biophysics") are, in my opinion, not as clear or as well-organized as Nelson's book.

This is the textbook that I would use in teaching an introductory biophysics class.

A colorful introduction to the subject with
some weaknesses in some critical respects. The subtitle of the book is a little misleading because he does not address information theory at all (except by dismissal as discussed below), and confuses entropy with information. Let's look at a few problems.

He makes the standard textbook error of defining entropy as disorder or equivalently lost information. These can be useful teaching tools but physicists trained with this ultimately get into trouble. For instance in the former case, entropy is not always a measure of disorder, such as in crystalizations. Also the phase transformation of solid helium to liquid helium II does not require energy. In the second analogy of lost information, this leads to silly paradoxes like going back in time has increasing information. This is because he agrees that universal entropy increases with time - "the quantity that must increase is the whole world's entropy." If entropy decreases going back in time then he is suggesting information increases. Information to who? While Boltzman confused the situation a century ago, it was Nobel Prize winner Claude Shannon in the 1940's who derived the proper interpretation of information rate being the reduction of uncertainty to a recognizer of signals reeceived. Information begins with life, whereas entropy was increasing long before humans came along. It is a measure of the dispersal of energy and should not be viewed as uncertainty which requires an observer. The mistake is to equate entropy with the negative of information through Boltzman's constant whereas the proper measure of information is a state function difference (uncertainty before and after measurement. It is uncertainty that is the entropy-like formula without Boltzman's constant. This is a popular mistake.)

His biggest mistake is on page 232: "Communications engineers are also interested in the compressibility of streams of data. They refer to the quantity I as the 'information content' per message. This definition has the unintuitive feature that random messages carry the most information! This book will use the word disorder for I; the word information will be used in its everyday sense."

This is false; he is confusing entropy with uncertainty. Rather than a dismissive paragraph like that above, an entire book could be devoted to the subject and while there appears to be no book that gets this right, except Shannon's and Weaver's original treatise, Dr Tom Schneider has written extensively about this with articles available at his website. For instance in a recent published article he writes:

"Information theory was developed by Claude Shannon in the late 1940's to describe movement of information in communications. When applied to biological systems it has proven to be useful. Based on the frequency of each base at each position in a set of aligned [protein] binding sites [on DNA], we can determine the strength of anindividual site in bits of information...the units of measure allow direct comparison between different molecular systems...Binding site information is correlated to stability...so the more infomration a binding site has, the larger the number of contacts it can make with the protein and correspondingly the more difficult it becomes for thermal noise to separate the two once they are bound together... The individual information appears to be well correlated to the kinetics of binding." In another article he says "the Second Law of Thermodynamics...is a simplified version of the [Shannon] channel capacity theorem under isothermal conditions."

However the book is well written and some analyses are very good such as on friction, but it is introductory only. There are no higher level subjects like Ising spins or networks and the passages on protein folding are brief; and of course nothing on quantun mechanics. Even these subjects fall short of fully addressing high complexity as R. Santilli points out, classical and quantum mechanics are ideal, local and linear. Instead he has invented a new math, Hadronic Mechanics, and he has a book out on Hadronic Chemistry for the invariant treatment of nonlinear, nonlocal, and nonunitary theories and a new structure model of molecules. However before advancing to that stage one has to understand the shortfalls with the conventional analyses. For instance as he says in a 2005 article available on the net (with a simple google search):

"In chemistry, quantum mechanics, quantum chemistry and special relativity have been unable to provide an exact representation of the binding energy of the simplest molecule, the hydrogen molecule...with larger deviations when passing to more complex molecules such as water...not to forget the embarrassing prediction by quantum chemistry that all molecules are ferromagnetic (a direct consequence of the independence of the electrons in valence bonds, thus permitting the polarization of their orbits under an external magnetic field)...the basic insufficiency...is the impossibility to represent interactions due to ...overlapping wavepackets and/or charge distributions of particles...This limitation is evidently due to the fact that quantum mechanics, quantum chemistry and special relativity are strictly linear local-differential and potential theories. Consequently the interactions...are beyond any hope of representation." [i.e. under those theories!]

Good Textbook
This is a good text book for both physicists and biologists.It's very well organized and the literature is clear and understandable. ... Read more

Book Description

Like having a private coach at their elbows, this introduction to algebra-based physics involves readers actively in a guided learn-by-doing process—sensing when they need a very patient exposition and when they need only minimal reinforcement, when they need to focus on concepts and when they need an opportunity to practice their quantitative skills. At the heart of the volume are worked examples in a unique, two-column format that focuses on the basic strategies and step-by-step thought processes involved in problem solving—with an emphasis on the relationship between the physical concepts and their mathematical expression. Color-coded drawings help readers visualize physics problems, and companion photographs show the same principle at work in different physical contexts, or juxtapose situations in which contrasting principles are at work. Real-world physics applications abound. Covers the full spectrum of topics in Mechanics, Thermal Physics, Electromagnetism, Light and Optics, and Modern Physics. For anyone needing an introduction to, or refresher of, algebra-based physics.

Customer Reviews (12)

A good textbook for Visual Learners
I give Walker's Physics 3rd edition 5 stars because it's a well-written physics book.The author gives plenty of real-world examples, and offers clear step-by-step solutions to the problems presented, as well as helpful insight into the solutions.Some physics books limit explanations but Walker clearly explains each concept. The text also contains well-chosen illustrations, pictures, and diagrams that supplement the author's presentation and are perfect for visual learners.If you're planning to major in physics or engineering I would recommend starting with this book and then moving on to the more rigorous Giancoli physics book (after completing Calculus I and II, of course).But if you just need an algebra-based physics book then get this one by Walker.I recommend also getting the solutions manuals (vols. I and II) as the end-of-chapter problems are a bit challenging.

Decent job on concepts, horrible on math application
This book is for a non-physics major physics class, which is mostly going to be biology majors and a few others who are required to take a year of physics but don't need the calculus-based physics. The concepts of physics are explained fairly well, nothing spectacular.The problem with this textbook is the inadequate explanations of the many and varied word problems encountered in a physics class. The homework in this book is a lot more complex than the simplistic explanations given in the chapter.The hardest questions, which invariably show up on the exams, rarely have step-by-step explanations on how to solve them.Physics professors like to talk about the concepts and how important they are to learn.I agree they are important, but when was the last time you saw a physics exam that wasn't 90-100% physics PROBLEMS.I may be odd but I find the concepts of physics fairly easy to understand and almost common sense.The math problems of physics, on the other hand, are long, complex and difficult to understand.The solutions manual isn't worth the money either.If this is a required book for your physics class I would definitely supplement it with a physics book with good explanations of the problems and practice practice practice doing the problems from many different approaches.

coulda woulda shoulda
the book was just what i needed, but the shipping took too long, that was the only drawback. I waited too long to get a used one. Good buy.

Too many problems that have NO explanation
This book gets very wordy on its introductions and then just leaps into problems without explaining or outlining the concepts that need to be learned.I am a chemistry major at Missouri State and I have come across a lot of scientific books that are difficult to understand.This one beats them all.Unless you have an instructor that is an amazing physics teacher, you will not be able to succeed in the class with this book. 'Most worthless book' award definitely goes to Walker.

Didn't think that much of it
Of course, that may be because I didn't like the course all that much. I thought that the text was too wordy and did not present concepts well enough. The example problems are good to have and so are the chapter summaries. All in all, I thought the concepts could have been explained much better and with less words. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

WOW!This book will change your life!
WOW! This book is amazing! I have been reading about the quantum for quite a while, and have seen "What the Bleep" and read "The Secret".As interesting as they were, I gleaned no tools from them with which I could actually affect change in my life.Dr. Reid's "5 Steps to a Quantum Life" not only clearly explains how the quantum works,it contains simple, user-friendly tools in the form of meditations and exercises which instruct the reader vividly on how to USE the knowledge.This is the book I have been waiting for!For the holidays,I am giving a copy to everyone I love; it's that good!

Excellent: Even Better than The Secret
I absolutely loved this book.I liked The Secret, but it left me with more questions than answers.Ms. Reid's book provides the missing pieces to the puzzle of creating the life I want.5 Steps to a Quantum Life provides insight, helpful information and a whole host of useful exercises, meditations and practices to create the things I want in my life.After a couple weeks, I can already see tangible ways that these practices are working for me in my life.I've recommended this book to all my frieds and they are loving it as well.A must read!

Strongly recommended for personal and community library Self-Help & Self-Improvement reference collections
"5 Steps To A Quantum Life: How To use The Astounding Secrets Of Quantum Physics To Create The Life You Want" by Natalie Reid offers the reader a practical and thoroughly 'user friendly' five-step process to improve daily life. Reid shows how we create our own reality and, utilizing our expanding knowledge of quantum physics and how our subconscious mind perceives and interprets our experiences and observations, how we can affect and influence that reality to improve our lives. Drawing from her many years of experience and expertise in psychology, meditation, mind-body work, and the study of quantum physics, Reid has written a seminal study and guide that can be readily accessed and incorporated by any non-specialist general reader with an interest in improving the quality of their life emotionally, physically, financially, socially, and professionally. Enhanced with chapter notes, a glossary, and an extensive bibliography, "5 Steps To A Quantum Life" is strongly recommended for personal and community library Self-Help & Self-Improvement reference collections and supplemental reading lists. ... Read more

Book Description
This text emphasizes conceptual understanding within a problem-solving framework, using modern applications such as iPods, metal detectors, sundogs, kaleidoscopes, and smoke detectors to demonstrate the relevance of physics in our daily lives. ... Read more

Book Description
Why is there eight times more ice in Antarctica than in the Arctic? Why can you warm your hands by blowing gently, and cool your hands by blowing hard? Why would a pitcher scuff a baseball?Which weighs more-a pound of feathers or a pound of iron? Let science experts Christopher Jargodzki and Franklin Potter guide you through the curiosities of physics and you'll find the answers to these and hundreds of other quirky conundrums. You'll discover why sounds carry well over water (especially in the summer), how a mouse can be levitated in a magnetic field, why backspin is so important when shooting a basketball, and whether women are indeed as strong as men.

With nearly 400 questions and answers on everything from race cars to jumping fleas to vanishing elephants, Mad about Physics presents a comprehensive collection of braintwisters and paradoxes that will challenge and entertain even the brainiest of science lovers. Whether you're a physicist by trade or just want to give your brain a power workout, this collection of intriguing and unusual physics challenges will send you on a highly entertaining ride that reveals the relevance of physics in our everyday lives.Download Description
Give your brain a workout with this collection of intriguing and unusual physics challenges ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Fun Approach to Occasionally Dry Topics
Mad About Physics has problems covering a wide range of topics arranged by chapter.The problems are presented clearly and the solutions are fairly thoroughly explained if you take the time to read through them. This book is a fun and great way to review and apply your scientific knowledge or learn new things!There are entertaining quotations in the columns as fun distractions.Interspersed among the short problems/scenarios are diagrams if the situation needs to be described graphically.

Acclaim from a British physics journal
As a physicist I was impressed
by a review of MAD ABOUT PHYSICS which
came out in the July 2001 issue of PHYSICS WORLD,
a British physics monthly. The review was written
by Peter Ford, a member of the physics department
at the University of Bath, and referred to MAD ABOUT
PHYSICS as a "fascinating new book."

fun for experts and novices alike
It's been over 20 years since I've had any physics, but I still enjoyed the riddles and questions in this book -- sure, some were over my head, but I still could understand lots of the explanations.Plus, the examples are practical enough to make you the star of your next party:is it better (which will make it COOL faster) to let black coffee cool first and then put in cold milk or to put cold milk in and let it cool?Coffee drinkers will be happy to know that black coffee cools faster than white so wait a few minutes before pouring your cold milk in if you want it to cool quickly.If you like these kinds of brainteasers, you'll love this book.An appropriate gift for students and pondering adults alike.The authors also provide interesting quotes in the margins that make for good reading as well.Some of the explanations are a bit too brief if you really want to understand the physics behind it, but the authors provide the reader with enough information to dig deeper. Fun!

Great Book for Physics Enthusiasts!
I bought this book after reading the previous reviews, and it was exactly the book I had imagined. The more you read, the more you want to know about the world and how things work in our world. Physics is amazingly applied throughout our lives knowingly and unknowingly. The curiosities just keep going. After finishing it, you can correct your friends on misconcepted ideas or explain to them the theories behind an event.

This paperback has 397 questions/puzzles, each with an answer in the back. Questions range from simple ones like what is the difference between gas and vapor, to more complex ones like the architecture of a rollercoaster. Although someone earlier had recommended this book for children, I would say that most of the braintwisters require some fundamental understanding of physics that a highschool student would have an easier time with. But again it is certainly a great choice and a must-have if you are one of those physics maniacs like me.