- #1
Is a Quantum Physics Textbook Useful for Learning Kinematics?
- Thread starter Herc Hansen
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- Kinematics Textbook
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the usefulness of a Quantum Physics textbook for understanding Kinematics, particularly in a high school context. Participants explore the relevance of the textbook's content to the topic of Kinematics, which includes concepts such as motion and mechanics.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Homework-related
- Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- One participant is using a Quantum Physics textbook for a class that has started with Kinematics and seeks guidance on relevant pages to read.
- Another participant suggests asking the teacher or reading the entire textbook, indicating a lack of specific direction.
- A participant notes that their teacher encourages self-discovery, complicating the search for guidance.
- One suggestion is to start with a Wikipedia article on Kinematics to compare it with the textbook content.
- Another participant clarifies that the textbook is not focused on quantum physics but rather on classical mechanics, including Kinematics and Dynamics.
- Details about the textbook's content are provided, including chapters on Uniform Rectilinear Motion and Projectiles, emphasizing its classical mechanics focus.
- There is a suggestion to consider other introductory physics textbooks that cover Kinematics at a potentially higher level.
- Participants express confusion regarding the textbook's title and its actual content, with one suggesting it may have been a marketing decision.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express a general consensus that the textbook, despite its title, is not about quantum physics and primarily covers classical mechanics. However, there is no agreement on how best to approach learning Kinematics from this textbook, as participants offer differing suggestions and experiences.
Contextual Notes
The discussion highlights the lack of a table of contents for the textbook, which limits specific guidance on reading material. Additionally, the varying interpretations of the textbook's relevance to Kinematics reflect differing educational backgrounds and expectations.
- #2
jedishrfu
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not knowing your book I'd say ask the teacher or better yet read them all.
- #3
Herc Hansen
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Problem is my teacher tells us to figure it out ourselves.
- #4
jedishrfu
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ok then start with the wikipedia article on kinematics and compare it to your book:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinematics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinematics
- #5
Daverz
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Herc Hansen said:
Can't find a table of contents for that book, but here's some information on Quantum Kinematics:
http://pms.iitk.ernet.in/wiki/index.php/Basic_formulation_and_Quantum_kinematics
It's usually the material before the discussion of the time evolution of states, i.e. Quantum Dynamics described by the time-dependent Schroedinger equation.
- #6
Herc Hansen
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Actually that's the name of the book and it has nothing to do with actual quantum physics. This is for high school physics.
- #7
jtbell
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A book titled "Quantum Physics" that isn't actually about quantum physics? 
[added after some Google-sleuthing]
Aha, it's by Bensaada, Ouelette and Pépin, published by Chenelière Éducation in Montreal. I turned up an answer key which lists the following units for "Third Year of Secondary Cycle Two":
Definitely nothing but classical mechanics and optics. The unit on Kinematics has the following chapters:
And the previous unit includes a chapter on Vectors.
Not being able to look inside the actual book, or read your teacher's mind, I can't suggest specific pages to read. If you want alternate reading material, any college/university level algebra/trig based intro physics textbook includes those topics, probably at a level slightly above this book. An example is "College Physics" by Serway and Vuille which is what we happen to use here. If you look on Amazon for it, it will probably give you other suggestions for similar books.
[added after some Google-sleuthing]
Aha, it's by Bensaada, Ouelette and Pépin, published by Chenelière Éducation in Montreal. I turned up an answer key which lists the following units for "Third Year of Secondary Cycle Two":
- Geometric Optics
- Preliminary Notions of Mechanics
- Kinematics
- Dynamics
- Energy and its Transformations
Definitely nothing but classical mechanics and optics. The unit on Kinematics has the following chapters:
- Uniform Rectilinear Motion
- Uniformly Accelerated Rectilinear Motion
- The Motion of Projectiles
And the previous unit includes a chapter on Vectors.
Not being able to look inside the actual book, or read your teacher's mind, I can't suggest specific pages to read. If you want alternate reading material, any college/university level algebra/trig based intro physics textbook includes those topics, probably at a level slightly above this book. An example is "College Physics" by Serway and Vuille which is what we happen to use here. If you look on Amazon for it, it will probably give you other suggestions for similar books.
Last edited:
- #8
Herc Hansen
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Thank you for that. Yes I live in Montreal and it is strange that they gave the book title, quantum physics even though it's not about quantum physics.
- #9
Daverz
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Herc Hansen said:
Probably some marketing moron chose the title because it sounded cool. I'd be mortified if I was one of the authors.
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