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Physics for Scientists and Engineers (3rd Edition)
Douglas C. Giancoli
Edition: 3
Retail Price (not our price): $174.47
ISBN: 0132431068
ISBN-13: 9780132431064
Publication Date: 2000-01-30
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 976


Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):

1) Product Description
Physics for Scientists and Engineers combines outstanding pedagogy with a clear and direct narrative and applications that draw the reader into the physics. The new edition features an unrivaled suite of media and on-line resources that enhance the understanding of physics. Many new topics have been incorporated such as: the Otto cycle, lens combinations, three-phase alternating current, and many more. New developments and discoveries in physics have been added including the Hubble space telescope, age and inflation of the universe, and distant planets. Modern physics topics are often discussed within the framework of classical physics where appropriate. For scientists and engineers who are interested in learning physics.

Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5

1) Helpful reference   [Rating: 4 out of 5]
I started using this book after college days to review some physics topics now and then. It is a complete and helpful reference covering the very broad field of physics. The large quantity of topics are logically structured which becomes apparent when one reads the table of contents.

2) Perhaps the best physics book i've ever read!   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Without trying "making" a mountain out of a molehill - this is the best physics book i've ever read! Well written, easy and understandable, everything a teacher or a student hope for...I just found it when i was "sailing" in MIT web page and somewhere in between this book pop up! It is proposed as a master textbook for the Physics course at EECS. I don't know what Berkley suggests in EECS but i can't think of anything better!

3) Promotes Culture of Free-thinking (Emotional Context) and Well-formed Thoughts   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Rational Presentation---------------------Compared to Serway's Text, Giancoli's presentation is a model of rationality. For example, the first 4 chapters are: Chapter 1 Introduction Measurement, EstimatingChapter 2 Describing Motion: Kinematics in One DimensionChapter 3 Kinematics in Two Dimensions; VectorsChapter 4 Dynamics: Newton's Laws of MotionThe order here demonstrates a rational, ordered thought. First, Motion in One Dimesion precedes the chapter on Vectors, unlike in Serway's text. Second, unlike in Serway's text Vectors and Two Dimensions are one chapter not 2. Good Concept Integration------------------------For example, the introduction of Coulomb's law takes advantage of the opportunity to mention that additional electromagnetic forces exist when charges are in motion.

4) +++++++++Good Calc Based Text -- Modern Phys Lacks a Bit+++++   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I've been using this book for years. I really like it a lot. There are many god things about it. It shows how calculus is used to derive formulas (remember less formulas, really) and solve many problems... good examples that are worth noting (so important). The calculus is almost a lack of what you'll see in Calc classes because it's seeing what's going on in a problem and describe it with calculus... mainly using integrals (set up equations with infinitesimals and taking the integral to solve for what you need). It'd be nice to find a good book on this, but anyway, I took advantage of getting the information from instructors who could explain it more thoroughly. If you follow the calc stuff in the book carefully you should get it, but be aware that you can integrate with respect to one of the other variables (like limits of integration with arc length s vice angle theta). Overall, I feel it could explain the calculus even more... then it would be very complete!I think this book is very well written, clearly presented, and has pretty much all the classic examples and problems. I think it needs to clear up some modern physics stuff, though. I felt a little lost and needed to search other books on that stuff. BTW, it appears there is a new 2007 edition coming out with "Modern Physics" in the title... so that might be the one to get. Anyhow, I love how this one has been around a while and it's a great reference for Univ Phys material. There are answer key/solution documents going around everywhere, but it would have been nice to see one in pdf format (the word one substitutes fonts and isn't in "pretty print" math format... a good version should be somewhere on the web... else I'm going to make one). Overall, I give this book a 4.75. The student solutions manual might be worth checking out (I didn't go that way). Thanks and best of luck.

5) It is a pleasure to read and learn from-a good reference   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I could write probably pages about this book but I want to keep it short. If you want to learn physics (at college and university level), then go no further. This is THE BOOK. I had used it in class before and I still keep it as a reference. It is easy to read and very well organized. I highly recommend this book.