Calculus based intro physics textbook recommendations?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for calculus-based physics textbooks suitable for first-year physics students. Participants explore various options, including textbooks and problem books, while expressing concerns about difficulty levels and the quality of resources.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks a calculus-based physics textbook that balances difficulty, finding Halliday and Resnick's book too easy and Irodov's too difficult.
  • Another participant recommends the OpenStax University Physics book, noting it is free and comparable to Halliday and Resnick.
  • Some participants express concerns about the quality of problems in the OpenStax book, citing repetitiveness and errors.
  • Randy Knight's book and Ohanian's book are suggested as potential alternatives, along with Schaum's problem books and Chris McMullen's series.
  • One participant mentions their experience with the Alonso and Finn book and Sears Zemansky's collection of problems related to Newton's laws.
  • There are discussions about the maintenance and error correction of OpenStax materials, with some participants questioning the reliability of the resource.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best textbook or problem book. There are multiple competing views regarding the suitability and reliability of OpenStax materials versus traditional textbooks.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight issues such as the difficulty level of problems, the presence of errors in textbooks, and the varying preferences for different teaching approaches, which may affect recommendations.

blesingri
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hi,

I'm a first year physics student who still hasn't found a textbook for his class. Our professor mentioned that any calculus based book is okay, but I can't seem to find anything!

He suggested Halliday and Resnick's Fundamentals of Physics (extended edition), and although it covers the material, the problems in the book are too easy compared to the ones for my course, while Irodov's Problems in General Physics are too difficult for me now! I'm looking for something in between, or something that gradually increases in difficulty from basics to Irodov's book's level.

Any recommendations?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Have you tried Randy Knight's Book? Another book I like is Ohanian. The Schaum's book has decent problems. Have you looked into the Physics book by R&H as oppsed to the fundamentals book? Chris McMullen wrote a series of problem books. Schaum also has a problem book. Lastly, check out this Steve Warner book.

I know I am not making it easier for you choose, but it is hard to choose for someone else as everyone likes a different approach.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: WWGD
blesingri said:
What problembooks would you recommend with it?

It comes with embedded problems after section topics and chapters I think.
 
jedishrfu said:
Openstax.org has a University Physics book in 3 volumes that is comparable to Halliday and Resnick and its FREE.
The problems in these books are often repetitive, and there are a lot of errors in the books. I wouldn’t recommend them as a source for problems.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: jedishrfu
I didn't know that. It seems they can continuously update them to eliminate errors but I see if students are doing the work then errors can creep in.
 
OpenStax seems to take a long time to fix errors in University Physics. Back in February, I reported an error in the answers to one of the homework problems, and they finally got around to looking at it and fixing the online text in October. And I wasn't the first one to report the error. Someone else had noted the same mistake a few months earlier.

The idea of OpenStax is neat, but the economics of the project doesn't seen to provide an incentive for adequate maintenance. I know of one instructor who dismissed OpenStax as abandonware. I think that's a little harsh, but at this point, I think students are better off spending a little bit for an old edition of a traditional textbook.
 
I studied with the Alonso and Finn book. Though, Sears Zemansky have a nice collections of problems about Newton's law .
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: smodak

Similar threads

Intro Physics What is the best conceptual high school physics book?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Intro Physics Physics Introduction book
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Intro Physics Physics textbook recommendation for young gifted child
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
6K
Intro Physics Textbook recommendations for calculus based physics course
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
12K
Intro Physics BEST Calc- and Algebra-Based Textbooks with the same Chapter Sequence?
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
3K
Review/refresher of college physics: textbook recommendations request
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Intro Physics A good physics textbook with clear and concise explanations?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
5K
Other Is Richard Courant's Intro to Calculus Enough for the USAPhO Physics Exam?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Intro Physics What are some textbooks and problem sets I can use to learn physics?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Other Physics puzzle/problem books at the undergraduate/graduate level?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
5K