Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide

by Karl F. Kuhn

Book Overview

The fast, easy way to master the fundamentals of physics Here is the most practical, complete, and easy-to-use guideavailable for understanding physics and the physical world. Even ifyou don't... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471134473
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: J. Wiley
• Length: 301 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.7" x 7.4"

Customer Reviews

I liked it, it is what the title says, although a bit skinny

I liked the book. It's very simple, quite organised. I belive it has about 23 chapters. Starts with velocity, speed, gravity, weight, then goes to more advanced areas for example waves, particles, etc. Sometimes it gives the background of a discovery. Newton liked to make people sad, I think I remember. It has the regular Einstein is the greatest mind of all times. I think it tries to explain the E=MC2 that everybody knows and few understand it. It's pretty simple. Stripped out of all formulas but the most useful ones. I really liked the beginning of the book, dealing with gravity. For example, there is no such thing as Zero gravity. The cosmonauts are acutally in microgravity because they fall with the ship, and the ship falls continously in a straight line towards earth, but as it falls it spirals around the earth because of gravity, which makes it miss the target and be kept orbiting around the earth. There is not one place in space where there is no gravity. What I like about this book is the way it teaches the reader. It continously asks questions. Why this, why that, and you have to figure it out yourself. Although it does give brief introductory substance, but what you have the job to expand it. Luckily, all the answers are right beneath wihch is very annoying. Somtimes I see the answer before, and now the question is useless. I had to cover the answers before reading the questions. But I belive there is an equal amount of literature and formulas. You won't learn math from this book, but the general idea. I gave it 5 starts because it is what the title says: self-teaching, and basic.

Simply amazing....

I do not recommend this as a textbook in any sort of way. You won't learn much detail from this book. BUTTTTT I strongly suggest u take a week or two to read through it (a chapter at a time).... before u start ur more intense study using your normal textbook. This book will give u the basic THEORY behind physics. This will come in handy once u start using weird formulas and whatnot during your course. So read it first. It's an easy read, so don't fear that it might take too long.

New to Physics?

If you are new to physics and know nothing about the subject than this is the place to start. It makes learning physics fun and easy. It covers all the basics and unlike other books their are no mistakes that I am aware of. This book takes a non-mathematical approach toward the subject so you don't have to be a wiz at math. Although, their is some math involved, most is optional. Their are problems to be solved on almost every page and their is a quiz at the end of each chapter to reinforce what you learn. Their are other great physics books out there but this is the best one I've read, hands down.Might I also recommend, 'Physics Made Simple'. A great book as well.

Pretty Good

Should bring you up to Grade 12 level in Physics or serve as a good primer for those middle age lovers of science whose occupations never test our knowledge of physics, but nonetheless who feel the need for a physics "fix" later in life. This book is so good that I never have to ask my wife (an Engineer) for help. In that sense it is good for family relations as well.

A Good Start

This book is a great place to start for anyone wanting to learn the basics of Newtonian physics. I decided to read this book in preparation for my high school's Physics AP class that I'll be taking next year. Comparing this book to an outline of the course, I found that the book covers more topics than the class, but in less detail. Like I said, it's great for the basics, but that's about it. The approach is rather non-mathematical, but very clear and easy to understand. Kuhn has done a great job of making basic physics understandable. This book, in conjunction with a study text, such as Schaum's Beginning Physics I or a textbook, would be an ideal way to learn physics on your own.