Physics (Cliffs Quick Review)
by Linda Huetinck Ph.D., Scott Adams

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Book Summary Information

Book Reviews of Physics (Cliffs Quick Review)

Book Review: Not Very Helpful
Summary: 3 Stars

B. Are you thinking of buying this book to refresh your memory on definitions and basic math equations?

C. And most importantly: Are you buying this book to get ahead in an introductory physics course?

If you answered yes to either A and C, I would advise you to not buy this book for many reasons, but for brevity's sake I will only entertain you with a few important ones. Firstly, this book is meant (though the cover is misleading) for those who are either taking Calculus-based physics and need a quick review on some equations and principles, or for those who are deep into their first college physics course and need a reference book. Everything in this book is condensed to a point that will make unfamiliar information seem impossible to understand. There are very few examples of mathematical problems worked out, and though the book does have a plentiful amount of pictures to illustrate many concepts such as polarization of light, the law of conservation of energy, etc. there isn't much explination of the picture itself. Just about every aspect of this book is written as a conundrum, and in my opinion the author probably assumed the reader would be able to fly right through it, which in my case wasn't what happened.

Secondly, I found the amount of practice problems at the end of every chapter to be a joke considering the amount of material that was covered in each of the 6 chapters. (Classical Mechanics, Waves and Sound, Thermodynamics, Electricity and Magnetism, Light, and Modern Physics). For example, the chapter on classical mechanics covers everything from motion in one and two dimensions to fluid mechanics - subjects that may take up 7 to 8 chapters in a text depending on the book itself. Given this, it is justifiable to say that 5 practice problems at the end of each chapter is hardly enough to help anyone get a full review. Suffice to say there are 30 "final exam" questions at the end of the book but once again, these questions are hardly enough to cover the wide range of material you'll encounter in your physics course regardless of its level of difficulty.

Despite all these shortcomings, the text is good for a quick review of concepts for those in higher level physics. The equations and definitions combined are enough to aid students with study materials and can be put on note cards. I should side with the book in that it is a review book and should not be thought of as a crutch for anyone struggling. Nevertheless, the fact that the book is to the point is what earned the 3-star rating, and I'd have to say that ultimately the book is decent for what it was and the price was very reasonable considering its length of 184 pages.

Summary of Physics (Cliffs Quick Review)

Whether you need a course supplement, help preparing for a physics exam, or a concise reference for physics, CliffsQuickReview Physics can help. This guide provides a valuable introduction to the concepts of classical mechanics, thermodynamics, magnetism, and electricity. In no time, you'll be ready to tackle other concepts in this book such as

• Wave motion and sound
• Current and resistance
• Electromagnetic induction
• Geometrical optics
• Nuclear physics
• Quantum mechanics

CliffsQuickReview Physics acts as a supplement to your other learning material. Use this reference in any way that fits your personal style for study and review ? you decide what works best with your needs. You can flip through the book until you find what you're looking for ? it's organized to gradually build on key concepts. Or, here are just a few other ways you can search for topics:

• Use the free Pocket Guide full of essential information
• Get a glimpse of what you?ll gain from a chapter by reading through the Chapter Check-In at the beginning of each chapter
• Use the Chapter Checkout at the end of each chapter to gauge your grasp of the important information you need to know
• Test your knowledge more completely in the CQR Review and look for additional sources of information in the CQR Resource Center
• Use the glossary to find key terms fast.

With titles available for all the most popular high school and college courses, CliffsQuickReview guides are a comprehensive resource that can help you get the best possible grades.

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