Preface  (Page 2/4)

Due to the comprehensive nature of the material, we are offering the book in three volumes for flexibility and efficiency.

Coverage and scope

Our University Physics textbook adheres to the scope and sequence of most two- and three-semester physics courses nationwide. We have worked to make physics interesting and accessible to students while maintaining the mathematical rigor inherent in the subject. With this objective in mind, the content of this textbook has been developed and arranged to provide a logical progression from fundamental to more advanced concepts, building upon what students have already learned and emphasizing connections between topics and between theory and applications. The goal of each section is to enable students not just to recognize concepts, but to work with them in ways that will be useful in later courses and future careers. The organization and pedagogical features were developed and vetted with feedback from science educators dedicated to the project.

VOLUME I

Unit 1: Mechanics

• Chapter 1: Units and Measurement
• Chapter 2: Vectors
• Chapter 3: Motion Along a Straight Line
• Chapter 4: Motion in Two and Three Dimensions
• Chapter 5: Newton’s Laws of Motion
• Chapter 6: Applications of Newton’s Laws
• Chapter 7: Work and Kinetic Energy
• Chapter 8: Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy
• Chapter 9: Linear Momentum and Collisions
• Chapter 10: Fixed-Axis Rotation
• Chapter 11: Angular Momentum
• Chapter 12: Static Equilibrium and Elasticity
• Chapter 13: Gravitation
• Chapter 14: Fluid Mechanics

Unit 2: Waves and Acoustics

• Chapter 15: Oscillations
• Chapter 16: Waves
• Chapter 17: Sound

VOLUME II

Unit 1: Thermodynamics

• Chapter 1: Temperature and Heat
• Chapter 2: The Kinetic Theory of Gases
• Chapter 3: The First Law of Thermodynamics
• Chapter 4: The Second Law of Thermodynamics

Unit 2: Electricity and Magnetism

• Chapter 5: Electric Charges and Fields
• Chapter 6: Gauss’s Law
• Chapter 7: Electric Potential
• Chapter 8: Capacitance
• Chapter 9: Current and Resistance
• Chapter 10: Direct-Current Circuits
• Chapter 11: Magnetic Forces and Fields
• Chapter 12: Sources of Magnetic Fields
• Chapter 13: Electromagnetic Induction
• Chapter 14: Inductance
• Chapter 15: Alternating-Current Circuits
• Chapter 16: Electromagnetic Waves

VOLUME III

Unit 1: Optics

• Chapter 1: The Nature of Light
• Chapter 2: Geometric Optics and Image Formation
• Chapter 3: Interference
• Chapter 4: Diffraction

Unit 2: Modern Physics

• Chapter 5: Relativity
• Chapter 6: Photons and Matter Waves
• Chapter 7: Quantum Mechanics
• Chapter 8: Atomic Structure
• Chapter 9: Condensed Matter Physics
• Chapter 10: Nuclear Physics
• Chapter 11: Particle Physics and Cosmology

Pedagogical foundation

Throughout University Physics you will find derivations of concepts that present classical ideas and techniques, as well as modern applications and methods. Most chapters start with observations or experiments that place the material in a context of physical experience. Presentations and explanations rely on years of classroom experience on the part of long-time physics professors, striving for a balance of clarity and rigor that has proven successful with their students. Throughout the text, links enable students to review earlier material and then return to the present discussion, reinforcing connections between topics. Key historical figures and experiments are discussed in the main text (rather than in boxes or sidebars), maintaining a focus on the development of physical intuition. Key ideas, definitions, and equations are highlighted in the text and listed in summary form at the end of each chapter. Examples and chapter-opening images often include contemporary applications from daily life or modern science and engineering that students can relate to, from smart phones to the internet to GPS devices.