Physics for Scientists and Engineers

Citation

Tipler, P. A., & Mosca, G. (2008). Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Extended Version (6th ed.). W. H. Freeman.

Chapter Summary

The extended version covers Chapters 1–41 plus Chapter R on special relativity, and ends with appendices, a Math Tutorial, answers to odd-numbered problems and an index. The book is arranged in six parts: mechanics, oscillations and waves, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, light, and modern physics (the last only in the extended version). The same text was also published as three volumes (Chapters 1–20 and R; 21–33; 34–41) and as a standard version (Chapters 1–33 and R).

Chapter 1: Measurement and Vectors

The opening chapter before Part I (Mechanics): units, measurement and the vectors used throughout the book.

Part I, Chapters 2–5: Motion in One Dimension; Motion in Two and Three Dimensions; Newton's Laws; Additional Applications of Newton's Laws

Kinematics in one dimension and then in two and three dimensions, followed by Newton's laws and a second chapter of applications.

Part I, Chapters 6–10: Work and Kinetic Energy; Conservation of Energy; Conservation of Linear Momentum; Rotation; Angular Momentum

Work and kinetic energy lead into conservation of energy, then conservation of linear momentum, and finally rotation and angular momentum, so the part is organised around the conservation laws.

Chapter R: Special Relativity

A relativity chapter placed after Chapter 10 and before Chapter 11, inside the mechanics sequence. The extended version treats the subject again in Chapter 39.

Part I, Chapters 11–13: Gravity; Static Equilibrium and Elasticity; Fluids

Gravitation, the conditions for static equilibrium together with elasticity, and fluids.

Part II, Chapters 14–16: Oscillations; Traveling Waves; Superposition and Standing Waves

Oscillatory motion, then waves travelling through media, then the superposition of waves and standing waves.

Part III, Chapters 17–20: Temperature and Kinetic Theory of Gases; Heat and the First Law of Thermodynamics; The Second Law of Thermodynamics; Thermal Properties and Processes

Temperature with the kinetic theory of gases, heat and the first law, the second law, and a closing chapter on thermal properties and processes.

Part IV, Chapters 21–25: The Electric Field I: Discrete Charge Distributions; The Electric Field II: Continuous Charge Distributions; Electric Potential; Capacitance; Electric Current and Direct-Current Circuits

Electrostatics in order of increasing generality: the field of discrete charges, then of continuous distributions, then potential and capacitance, ending in current and direct-current circuits.

Part IV, Chapters 26–30: The Magnetic Field; Sources of the Magnetic Field; Magnetic Induction; Alternating-Current Circuits; Maxwell's Equations and Electromagnetic Waves

Magnetic forces and sources of magnetic fields, induction, alternating-current circuits, and a closing chapter on Maxwell's equations and electromagnetic waves.

Part V, Chapters 31–33: Properties of Light; Optical Images; Interference and Diffraction

Light and its properties, image formation, and wave optics.

Part VI, Chapters 34–38: Wave-Particle Duality and Quantum Physics; Applications of the Schrödinger Equation; Atoms; Molecules; Solids

Extended version only. An introduction to quantum physics, applications of the Schrödinger equation, and then atoms, molecules and solids.

Part VI, Chapters 39–41: Relativity; Nuclear Physics; Elementary Particles and the Beginning of the Universe

Relativity, nuclear physics, and a closing chapter on elementary particles and cosmology.

Appendices and Math Tutorial

A. SI Units and Conversion Factors; B. Numerical Data; C. Periodic Table of Elements; a Math Tutorial; and answers to odd-numbered end-of-chapter problems.

Key Concepts

Chapters 1–13: Mechanics

• Newton's laws: the force-based description of motion developed in Chapters 4–5.
• Conservation of energy, linear momentum and angular momentum: the three conservation laws of Chapters 7–10.
• Static equilibrium and elasticity: the conditions for balance and the response of materials.

Chapters 14–20: Oscillations, Waves and Thermodynamics

• Superposition and standing waves: combining waves and the resonant patterns that result.
• First and second laws of thermodynamics: energy conservation for heat and the limits on converting heat to work.

Chapters 21–30: Electricity and Magnetism

• Electric potential and capacitance: energy-based descriptions of electric fields.
• Magnetic induction: induced emf from changing magnetic flux.
• Maxwell's equations: the unified description that leads to electromagnetic waves.

Chapters 31–41: Light and Modern Physics

• Interference and diffraction: the wave behaviour of light.
• Schrödinger equation: applied in Chapter 35 and followed by chapters on atoms, molecules and solids.
• Relativity: introduced in Chapter R and developed further in Chapter 39.

Critical Analysis

Strengths

• A full calculus-based sequence in one text. The extended version runs from measurement to elementary particles and the beginning of the universe, so one book can cover a three-semester sequence.
• Flexible packaging. The publisher offered the same content as a standard version, three separate volumes or the extended version, so students needing only mechanics, only electricity and light, or only modern physics could use a subset.
• Mathematical support built in. The book includes a Math Tutorial inside the volume and, according to the publisher's description, a strategic problem-solving approach and new tools to improve conceptual understanding. Students who have been away from calculus can use the tutorial as a refresher.
• Early relativity. Because Chapter R sits within the mechanics sequence, courses that want relativity early can teach it right after angular momentum.

Limitations

• Size. The extended version runs to well over 1,300 pages and covers more than a typical course. Teachers select chapters, and the standard version ends at Chapter 33 with no modern physics beyond Chapter R.
• Relativity appears twice. Chapter R and Chapter 39 both treat special relativity, so the choice of where to teach it is the reader's.
• Modern physics in the extended version only. Quantum, atomic, solid-state, nuclear and particle physics are in Chapters 34–41, which the standard version does not contain; check which version you have.

Where It Fits in the Course

Physics for Scientists and Engineers is one of several full-length, calculus-based general physics textbooks in this list, alongside Fundamentals of Physics, Principles of Physics and University Physics. They cover essentially the same ground, so the choice is largely one of style, problem sets and the course in which they are used. Tipler and Mosca's distinguishing features are the built-in Math Tutorial, the Chapter R option for relativity within mechanics and the extended modern-physics section. For a first pass with little mathematics, Hewitt's Conceptual Physics gives the ideas, and OpenStax's College Physics is a free algebra-based course.

For more depth in mechanics, Kleppner and Kolenkow's An Introduction to Mechanics is a demanding calculus-based treatment, and 200 Puzzling Physics Problems is a collection of problems with hints and full solutions. The Feynman Lectures on Physics gives a concept-driven alternative account of many of the same topics.

How to Use This Book

The book is for science and engineering students taking a calculus-based general physics course. The Math Tutorial gives a refresher on the mathematics used.

A practical plan:

• Mechanics (first semester): Chapters 1–13, with Chapter R if relativity is part of the course.
• Waves and thermodynamics: Chapters 14–20.
• Electricity, magnetism and light (second semester): Chapters 21–33.
• Modern physics (extended version): Chapters 34–41, either as a final term or for reading ahead.
• Optional: use the volume split to carry only the part you need.

Read each chapter before attempting its problems, and check the answers printed at the back for odd-numbered problems. Use the Math Tutorial whenever a calculus technique is unfamiliar rather than skipping the derivation.