Physics : A World View (with InfoTrac)
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
In this edition, Larry Kirkpatrick is joined by new co-author, Gregory E. Francis (Montana State University) whose love of teaching has led him to experiment with active learning approaches in large introductory classes. This Fifth Edition retains the text's hallmark clear and logical conceptual presentation of physics concepts and principles (using a story line about the development of the current physics world view) written at the appropriate level for the liberal arts student Francis' subtle integration of physics education principles throughout the text includes a new feature--FLAWED REASONING--that poses a common student misunderstanding and explains the error in reasoning. To create level-appropriate language for students, the authors translate the logic, vocabulary, and values of physics into longer, less tightly structured narration that students can easily understand. And while the text incorporates minimal mathematics, there is an optional, slightly more detailed, numerical student supplement avialable that reveals more of the beauty and power of mathematics in physics.
About the Author
Larry Kirkpatrick has always been a teacher; he just didn't know it. After receiving a B.S. in physics from Washington State University and a Ph.D. in experimental high-energy physics from MIT, he began his academic career at the University of Washington as a typical faculty member. However, he found that he was spending more and more time in the classroom and less and less time in the laboratory. Finally, he decided that he would get a position teaching physics full-time, or he would quit physics and use his computer skills to make lots of money. Fortunately, Montana State University hired him to teach physics in 1974. He served eight years as academic director of the U.S. Physics Team that competes in the International Physics Olympiad each summer and has also served as President of the American Association of Physics Teachers. Kirkpatrick recently retired, so that he can concentrate on teaching, writing, and playing golf. Gregory E. Francis is first and foremost a teacher. As an undergraduate at Brigham Young University he taught recitation sections normally reserved for graduate students. Later as a graduate student studying plasma physics at MIT he regularly found opportunities to teach classes normally reserved for research faculty. After finishing his doctorate in 1987 he served as a postdoctoral fellow at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories. Although his day job gave him the opportunity to work with world-class scientists on exciting problems, he found that he really preferred his night job, teaching physics classes at the local community college. In 1990, Greg joined the Physics Education Research Group at the University of Washington-Seattle, learning the "science" of effective physics teaching. Since 1992 Greg has continued to experiment with active learning approaches in large introductory classes at Montana State University where he is currently an Associate Professor of Physics and was recently awarded the 2005 James and Mary Provost's Award for Excellence.
Physics: A World View (with InfoTrac),Larry Kirkpatrick,Gregory E. Francis,Brooks Cole,0534408249,Physics,Science,Science/Mathematics,Science / Physics
Books Info:
Recommended Books