Light and Matter

Reviewed by Esperanza Zenon, Associate Professor, River Parishes Community College on 6/20/17

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

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 rating: 5

The content in this textbook is error-free and unbiased.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 2

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 rating: 2

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 rating: 5

The content represented in this textbook is internally consistent.

Modularity rating: 2

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 rating: 1

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 rating: 5

There are no issues are concerns regarding this textbook's interface.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

There are no issues are concerns regarding the grammar used in this textbook.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

There are no cultural or racial insensitivities found in this textbook.

This textbook lacks the rigor and structure needed for an undergraduate introductory physics course or an AP Physics B course.

Reviewed by Ulrich Zurcher, Associate Professor, Cleveland State University on 1/12/15

Comprehensiveness rating: 2 see less

While the book “nominally” covers all the topic of an introductory physics course [either algebra- or calculus-based], the topics are not covered at a level appropriate for a standard college-level course. For example, in the chapters on forces, the text does not solve typical problems covered in these courses, such as the sliding of a block on an incline plane with friction. A textbook should include a step-by-step explanation how these problems are solved.

Content Accuracy rating: 3

The text is fairly accurate, with only few mistakes. For example, on page 149, two hands are connected by a string. The text writes: “Two people’s hands exert forces on each other.” This is technically not correct since the two hands are not in contact with other: it’s not acceptable that a textbook would make such a mistake.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 1

The text is an idiosyncratic text. It has its charm, but is ill-suited for a highly “regulated” introductory course. These courses cover a long-list of required topics and prepare students for standardized tests [such as MCAT]. It would be very difficult to adopt the text and amend it such that it would a standard course outline.

Clarity rating: 1

The text introduces too many concepts in the same chapter. In chapter 2 that deals with translational kinematics in one spatial dimension, it introduces: rotation, deformation, center of mass, rolling motion, projectile motion, and the principle of inertia. I cannot see that how anyone just learning the “language of physics” cannot distinguish between these different concepts.

The authors lament that students are frequently not able to distinguish between force and energy. This reviewer shares this sentiment; it is then puzzling why the authors do not address this difficulty by step-by0step explanation of illustrative examples.

Overall, the book is far too long; students do not read long books. Short book are much more likely to be read. Short texts also have the benefit of authors forcing to be very concise in their writing.

Consistency rating: 4

The book is internally consistent.

Modularity rating: 2

Physical concepts are used in different chapters. This will make it difficult to split the text into different parts.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 1

The organization of the text is very unusual. Air resistance is discussed in the chapter on forces. It should instead be in the chapter on fluids where density is introduced. This organization is detrimental to student learning. This is a single example of a much deeper problem of the organization of this text.

Interface rating: 4

There are no problems with the interface.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

The grammar is fine.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

The book is not insensitive in any form. It is difficult to address racial disparities in a physics text.

This text is ill-suited for an introductory physics course or as a self-study text for students.