College Physics 11th Edition by Hugh Young, Philip Adams

Book Preface

HOW TO SUCCEED IN PHYSICS
“Is physics hard? Is it too hard for me?” Many students are apprehensive about their physics course. However, while the course can be challenging, almost certain1y it is not too hard for you. If you devote time to the course and use that time wisely, you can succeed.

Heres how to succeed in physics.

1. Spend time studying. The rule of thumb for college courses is that you should expect to study about 2 to 3 houTs per week for each unit of credit, in addition to the time you spend in class. And budget your time: 3 hours every other day is much more effective than 33 hours right before the exam.
The good news is that physics is consistent. Once you’ve learned how to tackle one topic, you’ll use the same study techniques to tackle the rest of the course. So if you find you need to give the course extra time at first, do so and don’t worry-it’ll pay dividends as the course progresses.

2. Don’t miss class. Yes, you could borrow a friend’s notes, but listening and participating in class are far more effective. Of course, participating means paying active attention? and interacting when you have the chance!
3? Make this book work for you. This text is packed with decades of teaching experi­ence-but to 1nake it work for you, you must read and use it actively. Think about what the text is saying. Use the illustrations. Try to solve the Test Your Understanding prob­lems on your own, before reading the solutions. If you underline, do so thoughtfully and not mechanically.

Use the Variation Problems to hone your problem solving skills. These problems represent progressive variations on the Key Examples. They are designed to help you recognize and exploit the underlying mathematical similarities of two closely related, yet seemingly completely different, physics problems. This is an important exam skill and it can serve you well!
A good practice is to skim the chapter before going to class to get a sense for the topic, and then read it carefully and work the examples after class.

4? Approach physics problems systematically. While it’s important to attend class and use the book, your real learning will happen mostly as you work problems-if you ap­proach them correctly. Physics problems aren’t math problems. You need to approach them in a different way. (ff you ‘re “not good at math,” this may be good news for you!) What you do before and after solving an equation is more important than the math it­self. The worked examples in this book help you develop good habits by consistently following three steps-Set Up, Solve, and Ref Leet. (In fact, this global approach will help you with problem solving in all disciplines-chemistry, medicine, business, etc.)
5? Use campus resources. If you get stuck, get help. Your professor probably has office hours and email; use them. Use your TA or campus tutoring center if you have one. Partner with a friend to study together. But also try to get unstuck on your own before you go for help. That way, you’ll benefit more from the help you get.
6. Honestly assess your level of understanding. It is crucially important that you hon­estly acknowledge those concepts and problems that you don’t really understand. Too often, students simply tell themselves that they understand a point made in the lecture, or a homework problem, or a concept when, in fact, they don’t. Or, even worse, they simply hope that certain questions will not appear on the next exam.

So remember, you can succeed in physics. Just devote time to the job, work lots of prob­lems, and get help when you need it. Your book is here to help. Have fun!

College Physics places equal emphasis on conceptual, qualitative, and quantitative un­derstanding. This classic text gives students a solid understanding of the fundamentals helps them develop critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and problem-solving skills, and sparks interest in physics with real-world applications. Informed by physics education research and data of thousands of student users of Mastering Physics, this edition empha­sizes learning to solve physics problems in a variety of contexts, and applying physics to the real world.
This text provides a comprehensive introduction to physics. It is intended for students whose mathematics preparation includes high-school algebra and trigonometry but not calculus. The complete text may be taught in a two-semester or three-quarter course, and the book is also adaptable to a wide variety of shorter courses.

NEW TO THIS EDITION

• 83 new Test Your Understanding questions were added to the text. Now there is a Test Your Understanding box for every quantitative section of the book. These are in­tended to help students complete the important step of ensuring that their answer makes sense in the real world.
• New! 180 Example Variation Problems build in difficulty by adjusting scenarios, changing the knowns vs. unknowns, and adding complexity and a step of reasoning to provide the most helpful range of related problems that use the same fundamental approach to solve. These scaffolded problem sets help students see patterns and make connections between problems types that can be solved by applying the same funda­n1ental principles so that they are less surprised by variations on problems when exam time comes.
• Proportional Reasoning questions have been further developed. These are designed to help the students recognize and exploit algebraic relationships between relevant physical quantities. These types of questions commonly appear on physics exams.
• Streamlined and improved design. The eleventh edition is more concise than previ­ous editions and now features an open, inviting presentation.
• Over 70 PhET simulations are provided in the study area of the Mastering Physics website. These powerful simulations allow students to interact productively with the physics concepts they are learning.
• Video Tutors bring key content to life throughout the text:
• Over 50 Video Tutor Demonstrations feature interactive “pause-and-predict” demonstrations of key concepts. The videos actively engage students and help uncover misconceptions.
• Video Tutor Solutions accompany every Worked Example and Bridging Problem in the book. These narrated videos walk students through the prob­lem-solving process, acting as a virtual teaching assistant on a round-the-clock basis. Students can access the Video Tutor Solutions using QR codes conveniently placed in the text, through links in the eText, or through the study area within Mastering Physics.
• Assignable Mastering Physics activities are based on the Pause and Predict Video Tutors and PhET simulations.
• Video Tutor Demonstrations “vith assessment allow the student to extend their understanding by answering a follow-up question.
• PhE T tutorials prompt students to explore the PhET simulations and use them to answer questions and solve problems, helping them to make connections between real life phenomena and the underlying physics that explains such phenomena.