Intro Physics What are the differences between physics textbooks for engineers and scientists?

[Pochen Liu]

I am working through physics for engineers and scientists 5th edition right now. I have met many people who strongly believe a certain textbook is better than others.

Can someone please clarify the differences? I have access to Fundamentals of physics 10th edition and wondered if working through that would make a difference.

 

[Dr Transport]

It is a subjective opinion, at the introductory level there is little difference between texts.

 

[gleem]

As far as content is concerned their may little difference but I think that there is a difference in the approach and explanations that various authors use. I have read some book that some topic took a bit of rereading in order to fully understand the topic. Authors make unconscious assumptions about and understanding of knowledge or the use of terminology of the reader. So if a subject does seem a little abstruse try another book. This issue may be more prevalent in more advanced books.

 

[symbolipoint]

Not specific to Engineering or Physics -
If at any level, one finds a textbook is not doing what you hope for it to do for you, try an alternative book. Maybe some differences in sequence of topics; maybe some slight differences in commentary; one may give you something to hook into which the assigned book did not. My example was of learning (or trying to) proofs by Mathematical Induction when studying College Algebra ("Elementary Functions"), only to find a different book THIRTY YEARS LATER, which is what helped me finally understand and be able to do some.

 

[jtbell]

physics for engineers and scientists 5th edition

By whom? Most textbook titles are generic, so most people tend to remember them by the names of their authors.

I know "Fundamentals of Physics" is probably Halliday, Resnick and Walker (when I was a student it was just Halliday and Resnick). However, even with textbooks that I've actually taught from, I remember the authors more easily than the titles.