Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Extended Version

Rating:
Summary: Dumbed down edition
Review: We have used the 3rd edition for several years and recently changed our course to reflect the 4th edition. The 3rd edition was a decent standard version for undergraduate physics with the standard problems contained in most texts (say 4 stars). The 4th edition has fallen into the recent widespread trend within physics education of dumbing down the curriculum to enhance results. Much of the content has been either relegated to an 'optional' section or removed altogether. In addition many of the more challenging questions in the 3rd edition are removed altogether. (Symmetry of large resistor networks for example). Instead of watering down the content more effort should be spent on improving pedagogy. The pictures are prettier.

Rating:
Summary: Do not buy this book!
Review: When learning physics, it really helps to have the concepts explained in a clear, concise way. Paul Tipler does NOT do this. Also, he tries to quickly "throw in" explanations of topics that need more attention than just two or three lines. See if you understand this: "A vector that points in the direction of the greatest change in a scalar function and has a magnitude equal to the derivative of that function with respect to the distance in that direction is called the gradient of the function." Most of Tipler's explanations are just like this.