The Physical Universe

by Konrad Krauskopf, Arthur Beiser

This is an outstanding text with a long history that has been updated and given a fresh look, including worked examples pulled out of the text into numbered boxes. The text is now also accompanied by stronger media support with "CPS" eInstruction student response system questions, more extensive online quizzing, and PowerPoint lectures. Aimed at presenting the essentials of physics, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy in a clear, easy-to-understand way, The Physical Universe shows students how science works, how scientists approach problems, and why science constantly evolves in its search for understanding. The text can also be packaged with its long time companion student study guide, which includes a review of chapter terms and concepts; self quizzing for extra practice; and solved problems from the text.

Genres: Nonfiction, Textbooks, Science

706 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1991

Reviews

[Roger Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a physical science textbook for non science majors and as a physical science textbook for non science majors I really can't see that it is any better or worse than any other physical science textbook for non science majors, so I am giving it a nutral three stars. There is, however, something that I really liked about it even if it was such a small part of the book that I can't bring myself to give it another star because of it. That is how it handles it when religious doctrine conflicts with scientific discovery. It just flat out states that the religious position is wrong. Most textbooks would evade the issue. It does not seek out opportunities to make that point and that is why this is such a minor part of the book. It also does not try to dwell on justifications for those statements. I do think that there is a place for such justifications, but this is a science textbook, not a philosophy textbook, so this is not the place. I would like to see more textbooks and more books in general and more media in general make such statements too, because, let's face it, religion, all religion, really is just plain flat out wrong.