Wolf - Easy Physics Step-by-Step

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e-ISBN 978-0-07-180592-6
e-MHID 0-07-180592-3

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Other titles in the series:
Easy Algebra Step-by-Step, Sandra Luna McCune and William D. Clark
Easy Biology Step-by-Step, Nichole Vivion
Easy Chemistry Step-by-Step, Marian DeWane
Easy Mathematics Step-by-Step, William D. Clark and Sandra Luna McCune
Easy Precalculus Step-by-Step, Carolyn C. Wheater

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With the wide variety of review books on the market designed to supplement coursework, you may be asking, Why do we need another review book? Easy Physics Step-by-Step is unique because it is not designed as a test preparation book. This book will guide you, step-by-step, through the material covered in a typical high school physics course. It will take a unique approach to problem solving without teaching to the test. The emphasis is on presenting a review of fundamental concepts and encouraging you to think critically and creatively while solving problems.

In the spirit of this approach, introduces a problem-solving ring as a guide to enhancing your skills as you progress through the material. You will notice that there are no multiple-choice questions. These types of assessments have their use, but the development of creative and critical thinking involves writing out the problems and their solutions in order to actively and constructively promote learning and understanding.

The material covered in this book is taught in most high schools. It reflects a beginning course in elementary physics and so tricky or difficult problems are kept to a minimum. Many sample problems are presented in a step-by-step manner to help ease you into solving more difficult problems. At the end of each chapter, there are several additional practice problems for you to solve on your own. An answer key is provided at the end of the book.

Topics and their level of difficulty have been selected based on 30 years experience in teaching high school physics and represent material that will give the reader a good introduction and review of elementary physics. It is assumed that the reader has a working knowledge of basic algebra and trigonometry at the secondary school level.

I would like to thank Christopher Brown (from McGraw-Hill Education) and Grace Freedson (from the Grace Freedson Publishing Network) for facilitating this project. My colleagues Vanessa Blood, Robert Draper, Patricia Jablonowski, and Joseph Vaughan, from Scarsdale High School, have always been very supportive and helpful. Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Karen, my daughter Marissa and her fianc Eli Lieberman, and my daughter Ilana for all of their love and support.

In this chapter you will learn about the methods of problem solving in physics. These are techniques that you will use throughout this book as you learn about the mechanical universe.

The Nature of Science

What is physics? This is a difficult question to answer. If you are reading this book, then you are either taking a class in physics or are interested in learning more about physics. Science presents us with a worldview that relies on our sense experiences in conjunction with the rules of logic. We observe the universe in a state of motion and change all around us. How do we make sense of it all? What framework and structure can we build to understand and make predictions about the universe and also understand the practical applications of this knowledge?