Physical Science 10th Edition

Book Preface

Physical Science is a straightforward, easy-to-read but substan-tial introduction to the fundamental behavior of matter and energy. It is intended to serve the needs of nonscience majors who are required to complete one or more physical science courses. It introduces basic concepts and key ideas while pro-viding opportunities for students to learn reasoning skills and a new way of thinking about their environment. No prior work in science is assumed. The language, as well as the mathematics, is as simple as can be practical for a college-level science course.

ORGANIZATION

The Physical Science sequence of chapters is flexible, and the instructor can determine topic sequence and depth of coverage as needed. The materials are also designed to support a concep-tual approach or a combined conceptual and problem-solving approach. With laboratory studies, the text contains enough material for the instructor to select a sequence for a two-semester course. It can also serve as a text in a one-semester astronomy and earth science course or in other combinations.

“The text is excellent. I do not think I could have taught the course using any other textbook. I think one reason I really enjoy teaching this course is because of the text. I could say for sure that this is one of the best textbooks I have seen in my career. . . . I love this textbook for the following reasons: (1) it is comprehensive, (2) it is very well written, (3) it is easily readable and comprehendible, (4) it has good graphics.”
—Ezat Heydari, Jackson State University
“Thorough, very well put together and containing everything a professor will need for a course in Physical Science.”
—Dimitri Tamalis, Florida Memorial University

MEETING STUDENT NEEDS

Physical Science is based on two fundamental assumptions arrived at as the result of years of experience and observation from teaching the course: (1) that students taking the course often have very limited background and/or aptitude in the natu-ral sciences; and (2) that these types of student will better grasp the ideas and principles of physical science that are discussed with minimal use of technical terminology and detail. In addi-tion, it is critical for the student to see relevant applications of the material to everyday life. Most of these everyday-life appli-cations, such as environmental concerns, are not isolated in an arbitrary chapter; they are discussed where they occur naturally throughout the text.

“Tillery continues to do a great job in making the physical sciences come alive to today’s students. I have been using this text for over 10 years and have no plans on switching.”
—Timothy M. Ritter, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Each chapter presents historical background where appro-priate, uses everyday examples in developing concepts, and fol-lows a logical flow of presentation. The historical chronology, of special interest to the humanistically inclined nonscience major, serves to humanize the science being presented. The use of everyday examples appeals to the nonscience major, typically accustomed to reading narration, not scientific technical writ-ing, and also tends to bring relevancy to the material being pre-sented. The logical flow of presentation is helpful to students not accustomed to thinking about relationships between what is being read and previous knowledge learned, a useful skill in understanding the physical sciences. Worked examples help students to integrate concepts and understand the use of rela-tionships called equations. These examples also serve as a model for problem solving; consequently, special attention is given to complete unit work and to the clear, fully expressed use of math-ematics. Where appropriate, chapters contain one or more activities, called Concepts Applied, that use everyday materials rather than specialized laboratory equipment. These activities are intended to bring the science concepts closer to the world of the student. The activities are supplemental and can be done as optional student activities or as demonstrations.

“Tillery’s Physical Science is an excellent text that can be used for students at all levels of backgrounds and abilities. The text can be used to teach the course by using conceptual approach, or the instructor can use the text to focus on the mathematics of physics topics. The development of the topics is logical and each subject builds on the preceding material. I have used the Tillery texts for over 14 years, and even though I have looked at others, I would not want to change!” —Wilda Pounds, Northeast Mississippi Community College
“Simply put, Tillery’s Physical Science is a complete, concise, delightfully written text.”
—Pamela Ray, Chattahoochee Valley Community College

NEW TO THIS EDITION

Numerous revisions have been made to the text to update the content on current events and to make the text even more user-friendly and relevant for students.
One overall revision has been made to this edition to fur-ther enhance the text’s focus on developing concepts and build-ing problem-solving skills:
Case Studies New interactive Case Studies are available for se-lect chapters of the tenth edition. The Case Study boxed readings expand upon interesting topics in the text and then are further supplemented by the online versions. The online Case Studies are assignable through McGraw-Hill

ConnectPlus® and include additional reading, videos, ani-mations, assessment questions and other valuable resources.
Some examples include:
Chapter 5 Doppler Effect
Chapter 7 Bioluminous
Chapter 15 Worth the Cost?
Chapter 18 Measuring Plate Movement
Chapter 23 El Nino
Chapter 23 Proxy Data
The list below provides chapter-specific updates:

Chapter 1 New information on scientific communication has been added to help students further understand how the scientific method is implemented in real life situations.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3 includes a new illustration and informa-tion about calculating work and when the change of posi-tion must be in the same direction as the direction of the force. The chapter also includes updated information on energy resources and a new Myths, Mistakes, and Misun-derstandings on recycling.

Chapter 4 New information on energy efficiency has been added. A new figure provides a real-life example of how condensation and evaporation is involved in laundry. A note to clarify the convention of C and C has also been added.

Chapter 7 A new Closer Look on Fiber Optics has been added. Figure 7.7 has been revised to explain how the law of reflec-tion applies to each light ray.

Chapter 8 A Closer Look on semiconductors has been added to help students make everyday connections with the topic of atomic structures. Additional information has been added to direct students to online resource.

Chapter 11 Chapter 11 includes a new Science and Society on BPA.

Chapter 13 New information on the Fukushima I nuclear reac-tor has been added. The Science and Society on High-Level Nuclear Waste has also been updated with new information.
Chapter 14 New figures have been added to the sections on The
Life of a Star and The Life of a Galaxy.
Chapter 15 Chapter 15 includes updated information on the Messenger mission and on spacecraft missions to study comets and asteroids as well as new figures of a comet and asteroid.

Chapter 19 A new Closer Look on Some Recent Earthquakes
has been added to update the material with recent events.
Chapter 22 New and updated information has been added to the Science and Society: Use Wind Energy?