Features
Addresses Student Misconceptions - Chapter 2 offers a qualitative and conceptual discussion of Newton's laws of motion and what they tell us about the relationship between forces and motion. The goal is to arm students with an understanding of this relationship to address many of their pre-Newtonian misconceptions and prepare for the discussion of the application of those laws in Chapter 3 and beyond. Armed with an understanding of the proper relationship between kinematics and forces, students can then reason about a variety of problems in mechanics. This approach also provides instructors with the flexibility to introduce a wider variety of problems much sooner in the course, and models for students the process of successful study in physics.
Emphasis on Developing Strong Problem Solving Skills—A consistent five-step approach to problem solving is featured in every example, helping students move beyond narrow applications of formulas to recognize the big picture in a given situation. Students are asked to recognize the physical principles involved, draw a sketch of the problem, identify the relationships between known and unknown quantities, solve for the unknown quantity, and ask what the answer means and whether it makes sense.
Numerous innovative Reasoning and Relationships problems in both the problem sets and in-chapter examples encourage students to use estimations and careful assumptions to gain an intuitive understanding of real-world situations. By applying fundamental principles to solve problems creatively and effectively, students deepen their understanding of physics. Explicit problem-solving strategies are also given for major classes of quantitative problems, such as applying the conservation of mechanical energy.
Relationships Between Physics and the Life Sciences—A unique range of applications emphasizes the relationships between physics and other areas of science, particularly the life sciences. For example, molecular motors are discussed as an application of work and energy (Chapter 6), and photosynthesis is covered as a thermodynamic process (Chapter 16). Applications such as these are interwoven throughout the text to motivate student understanding.
Comprehensive Online Learning Resources—The text is fully supported by Enhanced WebAssign®, the market-leading online homework system developed by physicists for physicists. This enhanced version includes all quantitative end-of-chapter problems; Reasoning and Relationships problems; author-written and -coded tutorials; Concept Checks; animations; PHET simulations; and a customizable, interactive eBook. All questions provide answer-specific feedback, and many provide guided hints to drive students to content mastery.
Examples and concepts build on previous knowledge throughout the text, revisiting key ideas and topics to build a stronger understanding of the relationships between various physical principles and how they can be applied to the students' experience. The theme of amplifying forces, for example, is revisited during later discussions of work and energy and is further applied to discuss the mechanics of the ear.
Concept Checks occur throughout each chapter as a tool to aid student reflection on key principles and fundamental issues. Many Concept Checks have been cast in an objective format to facilitate use with audience response system technology.
A selection of end-of-chapter questions measure student understanding of key concepts. End-of-chapter Problems provide students with the ability to practice their skills with straightforward, intermediate, and challenging problems. Additional Problems synthesize ideas across sections and chapters.
Summaries at the end of each chapter organize information and facilitate student study. Concepts have been classified as "Key Concepts and Principles" or "Applications," many including explanatory diagrams.