I begin the book with a message to students, including advice on studying, taking notes, presenting homework solutions, and other important skills they have probably not heard explained at the university level. The link is the full text of the message. Here is the opening:
This book had readers before it was released. Talking about this Preface, I was given the feedback ‘I wish I’d been told all this when I was an undergraduate.’ I’ve tried to make it sound as friendly as possible, but that’s a bit challenging.
Physics One, The Alpha Edition is based on the many years I spent teaching this course as a college professor. This book represents a radical change in how we teach physics. Why is this book different from many other introductory mechanics books? Most important, you can probably afford to buy it. In some states, this book costs less than the sales tax on some of its competitors. That’s possible because this volume is independently published, using my figures and editing skills. My illustrations are the sort of line drawings I would put on the blackboard during lecture.
Physics One presents calculus-based, college-level physics. By calculus-based, I mean that you must consistently use calculus in homework. Your should also need calculus in examinations, but that is under your professor’s control, not mine. By college-level, I mean that for the most part the course is based on symbolic, not numerical, reasoning.
What is physics? Physics is the study of all natural phenomena. The objective of physics is to reduce all natural phenomena to a small number of principles and elementary objects. Physics explains all natural phenomena in terms of matter and motion, in terms of particles, fields, and forms. The original difference between physics (and its sister sciences, and engineering) and all other natural philosophies arises from two understandings: (1) The natural world can be described quantitatively, notably by analytic geometry and calculus, and (2) when you can make accurate predictions about the world, you can also calculate how accurate your predictions might be. Physics covers a vast number of particular topics, some of which have been given openings in this book. To find those openings, consult `advanced topics’ in the Index.
To learn physics, there is no substitute for spending time studying. Study your notes. Study your book. Study the solutions to the Worked Problems, after you have tried solving the problems yourself. Study means questioning what you are reading. If there are a series of equations, do the algebra for yourself and see if you get the same answer that I did. Some people learn more from reading. Some people learn more from working problems. You have to learn what works for you. If you hit something that you do not understand, try looking at a different physics book. See what you can find on the internet.
For many of you, doing homework is how you learn physics. You should view homework as a self-test. The best way to do homework is to read the chapter and your lecture notes carefully, perhaps taking notes on the text, work through the calculations in your notes, and then do the homework without looking back into the chapter. If you have learned the material, you usually will not need to look up procedures. I say probably, because for some of us homework problems are a nuisance that must be overcome — remember, problems probably count toward your grade — before serious studying takes place.