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Re: [Phys-L] intro modern physics textbook



The Etkina texts are for algebra-based courses, and wouldn't fit the bill
for a course aimed largely at engineers.

On Mon, Jun 20, 2022 at 2:11 PM Dan Radulescu via Phys-l <
phys-l@mail.phys-l.org> wrote:

one can try college physics books which have Eugenia Etkina as co-author





On Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 04:25:47 PM EDT, Brian Whatcott <
betwys1@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

It is my habit to attempt some cogent response to questions where my
experience may be thin because the power of the internet search is so
puissant.Accordingly, I searched for third semester physics texts. I looked
at MIT, I looked at Caribbean college texts on the topic. This approach was
unproductive.I lacked a personal voice. Several days later, I encountered a
QUORA note from a physics teacher which seemed to answer the need.(As often
happens, I could not recover it to quote directly. Pity!)Anyway - the
scenario was a physics class where the students all seemed to receive high
grades. Yet there was a certain lightness of spirit from thesekids. It was
easy to dismiss the data as grade-inflation, until further insight showed
that teacher was using unusual methods. There were experiments, trials,
debates, discussions, arguments. Advice could be obtained at any hour of
the day or night: in a word - intense engagement.The writer went on to say
that when several of those students progressed to his class, the effect
seemed to persist. Those students worked hard on the material and asked
copious questions etc.By the time the elite teacher's worth was recognized
so he could be offered tenure, he had been snatched away to work in the
Exploratorium.
This is a depressing contribution, I know. We are not all given to be a
shining dynamo of physics insight. But it speaks to the possibility that
success in the mission depends less on excellent texts, than on
interaction, demanding contributions, expecting ill-understood areas to be
open for questions and illumination.
Strangely enough, I have a feeling that physics teachers will understand
the merit of this approach, and wish that the gift could be shared more
widely. On Wednesday, June 15, 2022, 05:14:56 PM CDT, Larry Smith <
larry.smith@snow.edu> wrote:

We are looking for a new textbook for our third semester of introductory
Physics for Scientists and Engineers. We’ve been using Thornton and Rex but
we’re looking for something more geared toward engineering majors since we
have so few physics majors. We heard of one university that plans to use
Randall Knight’s PSE: A Strategic Approach for all three semesters. We use
Knight for the first two semesters, but he doesn’t do much with condensed
matter, semiconductors, or cosmology. I guess we could finish off the last
few chapters in Knight and then supplement with other material.

Any suggestions? What is your favorite textbook for introductory modern
physics for engineering majors?

Thanks,
Larry

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_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@mail.phys-l.org
https://www.phys-l.org/mailman/listinfo/phys-l

_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@mail.phys-l.org
https://www.phys-l.org/mailman/listinfo/phys-l



--
Todd K. Pedlar
Professor of Physics and Physics Department Head
Luther College, Decorah, IA
pedlto01@luther.edu
(563) 387-1628
*Learner | Context | Strategic | Individualization | Achiever*