Light and Matter
Reviewed by Esperanza Zenon, Associate Professor, River Parishes Community College on 6/20/17
Comprehensiveness
This textbook does include many of the standard topics appropriate for an introductory physics course. Unfortunately, it doesn't cover these topics on a level that supports the attainment of mastery for the user. There are examples worked in this text, but these examples aren't the standard physics problems that students are expected to solve. Also, there aren't enough end-of-chapter questions and problems for sufficient student practice.
Content Accuracy
The content in this textbook is error-free and unbiased.
Relevance/Longevity
The arrangement of material in this textbook does show the connectedness between topics, but this interweaving of content makes it difficult to cover the information in the "typical" sequencing found in most introductory physics courses.
Clarity
The author is to be commended for trying to present this material in its historical context. Unfortunately, this leads to an overly complicated plethora of information that can't be easily digested by the student. The content needs to be separated and streamlined in order to make it usable.
Consistency
The content represented in this textbook is internally consistent.
Modularity
Many of the concepts presented in this textbook are woven together in a way that makes them difficult to separate into subunits or smaller reading sections.
Organization/Structure/Flow
The author's attempt to present this material in a more "story-like" fashion falls woefully short of the structure and rigor needed in an introductory physics course.
Interface
There are no issues are concerns regarding this textbook's interface.
Grammatical Errors
There are no issues are concerns regarding the grammar used in this textbook.
Cultural Relevance
There are no cultural or racial insensitivities found in this textbook.
CommentsThis textbook lacks the rigor and structure needed for an undergraduate introductory physics course or an AP Physics B course.