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Practice of Physics (Chapters 1-34), Global Edition Paperback – 17 November 2014

by Eric Mazur (Author)
3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 28 ratings
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For Introductory Calculus-based Physics Courses

Putting physics first

Based on his storied research and teaching, Eric Mazur's Principles & Practice of Physics builds an understanding of physics that is both thorough and accessible. Unique organisation and pedagogy allow students to develop a true conceptual understanding of physics alongside the quantitative skills needed in the course.

Features

The book is structured to help students learn physics in an organised way that encourages comprehension and reduces distraction.

    • The separation of the Principles and Practice volumes
    addresses students' tendency to focus on shallow problem solving at the expense of understanding. The Principles volume teaches the physics; the Practice volume teaches the skills needed to apply physics to the task of solving problems. For example, Principles includes simple worked examples aimed at promoting understanding; Practice contains complex worked examples, problem sets, and related features.
    • The division of each Principles chapter into a Concepts section and a Quantitative Tools section
    helps students to build a robust understanding of the material instead of focusing too quickly on equations. The Concepts section develops the ideas in qualitative terms, using words and pictures and building from specific observations to general principles. The Quantitative Tools section formalises the ideas mathematically.
    • The core ideas of mechanics are developed in one dimension,
    helping students to concentrate on learning them before tackling the mathematical complexities of two-dimensional analysis. Chapter 10, 'Motion in a Plane,' introduces the second dimension.

    Physics on a contemporary foundation

    Traditional texts take a somewhat 19th-century approach to physics, delaying the introduction of ideas that we now see as unifying and foundational. This text builds physics on those unifying foundations, helping students to develop an understanding that is stronger, deeper, and fundamentally simpler.

      • Conservation laws.
      The conservation laws are the backbone of contemporary physics. This text develops conservation of momentum and energy before Newton's laws, and it emphasises symmetry, conservation, and unity throughout. In mechanics, this approach avoids many of the pitfalls related to the concept of force, leads naturally to the two-body character of forces, and enables students to solve a range of problems before bringing in calculus.
      • Concept of a system.
      Many ideas in physics depend on distinguishing system from surroundings, and selecting an appropriate system is a key skill for solving many types of problems. This text uses the idea of a system explicitly and consistently.
      • Relativity.
      Both Galilean and special relativity help to explain many ideas of physics. This text introduces reference frames in Chapter 6, and it covers special relativity in Chapter 14, rather than at the end of the second semester.
      • Statistical treatment of thermodynamics.
      The traditional, 19th-century approach to thermodynamics is intensely confusing to students. This text builds thermodynamics on a more logical and coherent foundation, starting with an accessible treatment of the statistical basis for entropy.
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      Previous page
      1. Print length
        720 pages
      2. Language
        English
      3. Publisher
        Pearson
      4. Publication date
        17 November 2014
      5. Dimensions
        21.4 x 2.8 x 27.4 cm
      6. ISBN-10
        1292076429
      7. ISBN-13
        978-1292076423
      8. See all details
      Next page

      Product description

      About the Author

      Eric Mazur is the Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics at Harvard University and Area Chair of Applied Physics. As an internationally recognised scientist and researcher, he leads a vigorous research program in optical physics and supervises one of the largest research groups in the Physics Department at Harvard University.

      Eric Mazur is author or co-author of over 300 scientific publications and holds three dozen patents. He has also written on education and is the author of Peer Instruction: A User's Manual, a book that explains how to teach large lecture classes interactively. In 2006, he helped produce the award-winning DVD Interactive Teaching. He is the founder of Learning Catalytics, a platform for promoting interactive learning in the classroom, which is available in Mastering Physics.

      Product details

      • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pearson; 1st edition (17 November 2014)
      • Language ‏ : ‎ English
      • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 720 pages
      • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1292076429
      • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1292076423
      • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 21.4 x 2.8 x 27.4 cm
      • Customer Reviews:
        3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 28 ratings

      About the authors

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      Previous page
      1. Eric Mazur

        Eric Mazur

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        Eric Mazur is Professor of Physics at Harvard University. He is a prominent physicist known for his contributions in nanophotonics, an internationally recognized educational innovator, and a sought after speaker. In education he is widely known for his work on Peer Instruction, an interactive teaching method aimed at engaging students in the classroom and beyond. His book on Peer Instruction has been translated into many languages. He also authored the Principles and Practice of Physics, a book that presents a groundbreaking new approach to teaching introductory calculus-based physics. Mazur is a leading speaker on optics and on education. His motivational lectures on interactive teaching, educational technology, and assessment have inspired people around the world to change their approach to teaching.

        For more information, see Eric Mazur's web site: ericmazur.com

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      2. Eric Mazur

        Eric Mazur

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      Customer reviews

      3.7 out of 5 stars
      3.7 out of 5
      28 global ratings

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      schmunzelmonster
      5.0 out of 5 stars I like the approach a lot, and Kindle does have both books
      Reviewed in Germany on 15 April 2020
      Verified Purchase
      I got this because I like Eric Mazur's approach to teaching (based on studies revealing embarrassing misconceptions among physics students), and because I appreciate getting a bit more insight than just deriving a formula and practicing putting it to use. That this approach takes more time is stated. A course needs to match the approach, I guess.

      The sample consists of the first three chapters, very basic material. A sample chapter further in would help to evaluate it, as would a corresponding chapter from the Practice book.

      It is not clear that both books are included (at least in the Kindle Global ed on amazon.de, they were) with separate numbering:
      Principles volume with 1062 pages (last page of index)
      Practice volume with 717 pages (last page number).
      Report
      Jamerduhgamer
      5.0 out of 5 stars Worked fine and had all the material I needed
      Reviewed in the United States on 20 July 2017
      Verified Purchase
      Bought the textbook for a class. Worked fine and had all the material I needed.
      Report
      optimization buyer
      4.0 out of 5 stars New approach
      Reviewed in India on 4 March 2018
      Verified Purchase
      Number of pages is 716 in kindle edition not like 2000 plus mentioned. Modern physics is absent. However I like new approach of author which is needed in present times as unnecessary focus is on newtons laws and other historical sequence . Conservation laws and relativity of observation have been given due importance. Its name should be however Principles and practices of classical physics. Had it covered modern physics I would have rated 5 star. However it cannot be used in colleges today as this book is a little ahead of its time . Buy this to have a second approach to learning physics , parallel to h c verma or resnick halliday etc.
      One person found this helpful
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      Loizos
      5.0 out of 5 stars Nice
      Reviewed in Germany on 3 December 2022
      Verified Purchase
      The best for students
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      Amazon Customer
      1.0 out of 5 stars This textbook drops the ball
      Reviewed in the United States on 27 April 2016
      Verified Purchase
      I am taking Physics at college for my degree. This is the worst textbook I have ever used, and I am not alone in this sentiment. Even my physics professor mentioned that they were going to avoid this textbook in future years. Unfortunately, I will still need to use this book for the last half of physics next semester, but I am warning you now, avoid at all costs. The book is doubly split, first by quantitative tools and concept separately in the chapter. Then, the problems are in an entirely different book. Sure, the idea might seem to have potential at first, but after a few chapters, I realized how much of a disaster the implementation is. This is also minimally calculus based, which is kind of disappointing. There are some random derivatives and integrals here and there, but it is never really needed which is quite disappointing. Because the book likes to present everything in algebra form, the labeling of variables is a nightmare. I'm certain I have seen some equations in here with 3 or 4 different subset variables within another variable. It's just terrible. The physics itself in the book is fine and quite interesting (the style in which the concepts is presented are easy enough to follow), and I am impressed with all of Mazur's accomplishments as a physicist, but he needs to fire his editor and publisher for allowing his name to be attached to this butchered textbook. The layout alone is the only reason this is one star. It minimizes learning, efficiency, and defeats the purpose of what I think a textbook should be. (An example of a good textbook is Tro Chemistry: A Molecular Approach 3rd Edition.)
      8 people found this helpful
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