Rating: 
Summary: Good higher level physics text
Review: I used an earlier edition (2nd ed I think) of this text for my first year undergrad physics courses. I found the examples were reasonably clear and easy to follow. Text material while on the dry side clearly explained most of the concepts. The majority of the problems at the end of each chapter were of moderate difficulty, with a few easier ones for warm up at the beginning and some considerably more difficult ones (marked with an asterisk) for a real workout at the end.This text is by no means meant for an introductory physics course though (i.e. pre-med physics or other general intro physics for non-physicist wannabes). The book relies heavily on calculus, trig and other higher math knowledge. People lacking a solid foundation in math and calculus probably will not like this book. The university I went to offered three levels of physics, one non-calculus based track for non-physics majors, one for engineers and another one for physics majors and honors physics students for which this text was used.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding text
Review: I used Giancoli as my primary text in high school, and found it to be a superb text. I think those complaining of a lack of worked problems are missing the entire point of this text and the essence of studying physics. This book is about understanding physics principles and the equations you use to solve physics problems. You will find that with this understanding (certainly provided by this excellent text), the need for mindless ploughing through physics problems is lost. You will be able to solve physics problems on the basis of your conceptual understanding of the problems. So many students rely on rote learning and repetition by doing hundreds of questions. Sure, you might be able to attack similar problems for the next week or so, but as soon as you stop practicing, the skill is lost. True mastery of physics comes from appreciation of principles, not mere recognition of patterns in problems...this text will help you achieve such an appreciation.
Rating: 
Summary: Community College Teacher's Remarks on This Book
Review: I used this book for an introductory physics course for two semesters. Students were very dissatisfied with the book. They claimed, explanations were not clear, there were no two similar problems at the end of the chapters, to practice solving problems with similar concepts. I found some of the problems too difficult for this level course. Many texts have summary of the formulas at the end of the chapters, this one does not.This year we changed the text book for the incoming freshmen,however kept it for physics II to save money for the students who already had Giancoli.For the first time in my 21 years of teaching career, once the students saw the new book we adopted for the course, they wanted ...to buy the Wilson and Buffa's College Physics. When they did this, I realized the intensity of their frustrations.
Rating: 
Summary: VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND
Review: I used this book for my AP physics course. The idea of physics is to learn how to problem solve. This book would show you a few problems in the chapter and then dump a massive amount of problems on you at the end of the chapter with the answers for only the odd numbered problems, but those didn't have explanations! How can this book be helpful if there are no solutions. I wouldn't recommend this book. ...
Rating:
Summary: Very difficult book to understand and follow.
Review: I used this book in my AP Physics B course in grade 12. The book, if you read JUST the text and examples, is not difficult at all. The examples are very straightforward, and the text is coherent. There are a few errors I have found, but in mathematics/physics books, this is a frequent thing. But the weakness in this book is the Problems--WAY WAY WAY too hard for an intro Physics class. Now I have a strong algebra and calculus/trig basis, and even for me this book is very diffucult. Too much time is spent rambling on about useless topics, and more time should be devoted to crafting a stronger exposition--explain the solutions to more of the problems. The only thing that saved us is the fact that we had the INSTRUCTOR'S SOLUTIONS MANUAL, by Irvin A Miller to guide us through these gruesome questions. Mr Giancoli, if you are reading this--you wrote a very good textbook. But in order to do problems, one must SEE visually how it is done out and be able to clearly follow the exposition. We are grateful to Mr Miller, the author of the solutions manual, for enabling us to get through the book. With the answer book to guide us, we all got 4's and a few 5's on the AP exam. The kids the year before who used just the Giancoli text got all 3's or less (most got 2's). A word of advise--get the answer book if you are studying this text. Without it the book is useless in understanding how to do the problems. ...
Rating:
Summary: excellent introductory text
Review: i was a high school sophomore last yera when i began using this book. it does NOT require knowledge of advanced math. it is simple and concise in its explanations and derivations. it covers a lot of subjects. its much better than Hecht: Physics: Calculus. i found giancoli consistently easy to read and understand. i dun know much aabout physics books but if its a choice between physics: calculus by hecht and this one, buy giancoli.
Rating:
Summary: Annoying Textbook
Review: I'm in AP Physics B right now and our school uses the Giancoli Textbook. I find that the book has good descriptions, but focuses on trite details that are not essential in understanding general physics. In addition, as an earlier reviewer said, the problems are WAY TOO HARD! To make matters worse, there are many errors in the Answers to Odd Numbers section in the back. Answers from previous additions are mixed in with the correct solutions. Trying to solve problems with wrong solutions can be quite agitating and time-consuming. Moreover, the "Summaries" at each end of the section are quite pathetic in their content because they are not useful in recalling facts needed to solve the problems. When I compare some of Giancoli's questions to the AP questions, they are more difficult than they need to be. Another factor for my negative review is the ordering of the concepts. My teacher was especially annoyed with the fact that momentum was introduced much later on in the book than it ought to be. That, like Giancoli, however, is an annoying trifle that is a subjective opinion. However, sometimes the progression of Giancoli's book is jarred by unrelated concepts just stuck together right after another towards the end of the book. While at the beginning, the chapters seem to relate to eath other beautifully. Dr. Giancoli (maybe I'll have you as a college professor) please take the time to check over each of the answers for the problems and make sure that a solution manual is readily available. Also, get rid of some of the unnecessary detail and instead use the gained space for more sample problems. Finally, tone down the problems. Some of them are too difficult. Thanks.
Rating:
Summary: good for teachers, bad for students
Review: In this book, author covers too many applications in each subject and do not have enough room to explain them in details and thus lost most of beginners. Sure, for teachers, the book looks good because they know subjects so well. However,I think the applications to science and medicine are very interesting and fairly easy ( it depends on who the readers are). I am neither a teacher nor a student. The reason I ran into this book because my daugher took physics in high school using this book so I read it and helped out. Interestingly, My phone did ring quite often at night because many of her friends need to know homeworks' solution. Again, these phone rings support my statement "good for teachers, bad for students(beginners)" In all, the mechanics part ( chap 1 to 9) seems to be good. Fluid and heat and themodynamics are OK. Waves and electricity parts are lousy. I need to consult Halliday text book. Optics is good, but not enough support for problems solving. By the way, the study guide to go with this book written by Joseph Boyle is useless.
Rating: 
Summary: TRY AND SEE: IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT NOT BAD AT ALL!
Review: In this edition of "Physics: Principles with Applications", Douglas C. Giancoli did his best in alleviating the problems many Engineering and Science students face during their fresh year in the university. Physics is not the easiest course in the world; yet, the analyses of the chapters of this book are straightforward enough. Its coverage of Fluid Mechanics is much better than what I have seen in many books, (outside the British-based "Advanced Level Physics" by M. Nelkon and P. Parker). The same applies to Geometrical Optics, Waves, Sound, and Current Electricity. In each case, the mathematical dimension is simplified enough: and enriched with illustrated examples.
The fact that this book used lengthy verbal explanations in supporting its mathematical analyses should be appreciated, and not condemned. It shows that the author is not interested in scaring students with Differential Calculus and Complex Geometry, but merely interested in thorough explanations.
In conclusion, I would agree that this is no perfect physics text: none exist; however, it is not as bad as many reviewers have labelled it to be. Physics is a complex subject. It can be difficult; but, any student who diligently pay attention to the lessons of this book would not be disappointed. Only a trial will convince you!
Rating:
Summary: Giancoli, Physics Principles with applications
Review: It is disappointing that the book is provided with very little how to's when it comes to problem solving. The solutions manual is not available to students and anyone who might want to use the book on a private basis. How can one obtain worked examples to the difficult to follow book of Giancoli's. The practice problems on the internet are true and false which has since fallen out of practice with some teachers. Actually, I am frustrated with the book and need to know how anyone can get hold of the solutions manual. Is there one for students since the teacher's solutions manual is not available to students?
| 
