Physical Modeling in MATLAB
Reviewed by Andrew Paluch, Assistant Professor, Miami University on 8/21/16
Comprehensiveness
I currently teach a sophomore-level introduction to MATLAB and numerical methods course for chemical engineers. This text is perfect, and I plan to use it in place of a traditional textbook.
MathWorks has a large number of very good MATLAB resources available online, which range from readings, to video tutorials, and example files. While these resources are excellent, I still find a I need a course text guide the student (who is new to MATLAB) through the course. For this purpose, the text is an excellent fit. It contains just the right amount of detail and is structured perfectly for my course. The basic coverage is exactly what I would hope to cover in 1 semester. The text assumes knowledge of calculus plus differential equations, with no programming experience, which is perfect for my class.
Where the text is lacking, which I actually think is a good thing, is on the examples and end of chapter problems. I say this is good, because it is something the instructor can readily create and use as a opportunity to customize the text for their field of study. Likewise, compared to other MATLAB texts I have used in the past, it lacks mathematical content. Again, I think this is a good thing. The author assumes knowledge of calculus and differential equations. (Both are pre-requisites for my course.) If the student needs review or help in these areas, they can refer to their course notes/text book, and I can help fill in gaps during class and recitation. But by omitting this material from the text, it becomes a much better resource for my students that like to quickly read through the material.
Content Accuracy
Great! The material is current and up-to-date. I would also add that the text would also be appropriate to introduce students to GNU Octave (an open-source MATLAB alternative). This has happened to me while teaching abroad.
Relevance/Longevity
The text is currently up to date, and I believe it is written in a way that it can easily be maintained for many years to come. The only material that can become outdated are the examples (and example i/o). By teaching and working through the book, any problems can readily be identified and fixed as needed.
Clarity
The text is very clear. The author writes very informally, which I appreciate. I feel as if I am being taught by a friend at just the right level.
Consistency
Yes, the text is very consistent. At the end of each chapter, the author summarizes the new vocabulary terms from the chapter. This builds through the book. The text reads very smoothly.
Modularity
The text is very well structure for a course of study. The chapters, and text as a whole, are a very nice length. They allow the students to spend less time reading and more time doing. In terms of modularity, for my course I would work through the text as is. My students have no prior MATLAB or programming experience. With a more advance background, the some of the earlier chapters could be skipped.
Organization/Structure/Flow
Great! For a student new to MATLAB and programming, the pace and structure is great.
Interface
Great! The website provides a PDF and an online version, in addition to a link to purchase a printed copy on Amazon. When I download the provided PDF it is not hyperlinked. However, the LaTex source is also available and allows for customization and hyperlinking, and you can even create a version for an e-reader. This additionally allows one to created a customized version for their course.
Grammatical Errors
The book is well written, and the author has done a great job editing.
Cultural Relevance
The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. It is a math/science book, so I do not believe this is relevant.
CommentsGreat text! I would also comment that the author has written many other very good, non-open source computer science texts. The availability of this text at no cost is absolutely wonderful.