Physics Textbooks and Materials

The following texts and materials are required for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 course years:

Physics: Principles with Applications 7/E by Douglas Giancoli, from Pearson.

This is a college level introduction to physics for non-physics majors and requires some algebra and trigonometry, but no calculus. It is available in eText from VitalSource, and in hardcover and paperback versions. Any format of the seventh edition is acceptable.

Do not confuse this text with Giancoli's Physics for Scientists and Engineers, which is calculus-based.

This text is also available from VitalSource at Giancoli, Physics: Principles with Applications 7/E.

A 180-day rental is about $60.

Note that eBook downloads can be tricky and access to the internet may be required for refreshes should you lose your files for any reason. It is also often frustrating to have to page back and forth to look up data in the appendices when doing homework exercises. Also, you don't get permanent access to the text unless you pay a substantially higher price. However, if you anticipate traveling or situations where you must study away from home, eBook versions on your laptop or tablet are far more portable than heavy textbooks.

Note on reading the text

Much of the difficulty in learning physics lies in learning how to apply the concepts, usually through mathematical manipulation, to hypothetical and real situations. Pay attention and work through the examples in the test! If you don't understand how the examples work, email me or ask during chat, or compare the problem to another homework practice problem solution that you do understand.

Like all teachers, the author of your textbook needs to present a lot of material as succinctly as possible. Consequently, he sometimes presents as straightforward and simple fact generalizations which ignore special cases and exceptions. Part of my job will be to offer alternatives to this presentation, or to expand it with more examples, so you see some of the complexity behind Giancoli's summaries. This doesn't mean that we will cover it all! If you run across a topic you want to investigate more, let me know. We may try to work it into the course if there is time, or I can work with you on an independent project.

• Preparing for the Physics B AP Exam, Giancoli (2004, ISBN 5360731586) is not required, although students preparing for the AP exam may find it useful.

You may order all texts through Scholars Online Bookstore.

© 2005 - 2024 This course is offered through Scholars Online, a non-profit organization supporting classical Christian education through online courses. Permission to copy course content (lessons and labs) for personal study is granted to students currently or formerly enrolled in the course through Scholars Online. Reproduction for any other purpose, without the express written consent of the author, is prohibited.