Problem-Solving Exercises in Physics

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for college or high school algebra-based physics
Review: Each chapter starts with a two or three page review of the relevant physics. There are many detailed examples neatly worked out. Then there are numerous exercises, often with good real-world relevance. This is not a revolutionary book, but I strongly recommend it to physics teachers and students alike. It is a good supplement for any algebra-based physics course. A teacher's edition is also available.

Rating:
Summary: A High School Physics Teacher
Review: I used this resource occasionally last year because the text has little in the way of problems involving math. My main complaint is the topics addressed in this workbook are often not explained covered in the text. For example, the workbook topics of static drawings, coefficient of friction, frequency/preiod, and angular quantities. Consequently, the student often has only the brief workbook section introduction (1/2 page) and a sample problem for reference. In my experience this is insufficent. Yes, my students can sometimes step through the problem, but doing so forces the student outside the realm of conceptual physics which is the whole idea of this course.

It seems like this workbook was a too-quick attempt to throw a math resource into the course. The premise is good: the text needs more math so the student can see how math is the language of physics. But the task of introducing new topics should be left to the text.