Conceptual Physics

by Paul G. Hewitt

Conceptual Physics, Tenth Edition helps readers connect physics to their everyday experiences and the world around them with additional help on solving more mathematical problems. Hewitt's text is famous for engaging readers with analogies and imagery from real-world situations that build a strong conceptual understanding of physical principles ranging from classical mechanics to modern physics. With this strong foundation, readers are better equipped to understand the equations and formulas of physics, and motivated to explore the thought-provoking exercises and fun projects in each chapter. Included in the package is the workbook. Mechanics, Properties of Matter, Heat, Sound, Electricity and Magnetism, Light, Atomic and Nuclear Physics, Relativity. For all readers interested in conceptual physics.

Genres: Science, Physics, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Reference, Education, Academic

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Hewitt is amazing! He's a natural educator with a special gift for taking something that's always taught mathematically and therefore rather intimidating to many, and explaining it at a simplistic level that makes even the biggest math-phobe say "Of COURSE! How obvious!"
Quick Paul Hewitt story: When he was on Kaua`i I had the pleasure of taking him around to three or four different schools and watching him teach the SAME lesson ... how to put an object into orbit around the planet ... to three different educational levels ... and taking every kid to an understanding of the topic on the level of his/her own thinking. Amazing! =)

[Lex Javier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I passed so many hours laughing at cute, nerdy jokes. I looked at the cute pictures, over and over and over again. We couldn't be separated from each other. It was love.

I've fallen in love in college, yes. With this book!

Why? Physics is a beautiful subject, and the author expresses the same opinion in every page. I survived harder, more mathematical textbooks thanks to this book's large, friendly letters. Most of all, after all the math has faded away, you will recall years down the road that you had plenty of fun learning physics, and loving it with all your heart.

[☆ serethiel ☆]

No more high school science... *collapses with joy*

[J. Boo]

Random internet person recommends this for a bright 8th grader.

[Mk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Εξαιρετικό βιβλίο!
Από μικρή είχα κάποια προβλήματα με την κατανόηση της φυσικής και ακόμα και στην τρίτη λυκείου, με την βοήθειας ενός καταπληκτικού καθηγητή δεν μπόρεσα να τα ξεπεράσω πλήρως...
Ωστόσο, η ανάγνωση αυτού του βιβλίου με ξεμπέρδεψε αρκετά και επιτέλους κατάλαβα πολλά πράγματα, που στην πραγματικότητα δεν είναι καθόλου περίπλοκα.
Διαβάζεται εύκολα και εξηγεί με απλά λόγια πολλά φαινόμενα της φυσικής, που ενδεχομένως, για τους περισσότερους να φαίνονται αρκετά περίπλοκα και ακατανόητα.
Το συνιστώ ανεπιφύλακτα στους μαθητές που ακολουθούν την θετική κατεύθυνση, ή σε ποιον ενδιαφέρεται να μάθει βασικά πράγματα για αρκετούς τομείς της φυσικής!

[Michele Dunkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forty years later, I still own this wonderful textbook from my days in Paul Hewitt's (author) Physics class at City College in San Francisco. Science was not my interest or strength at all when I was in High School. I just about flunked out of Chemistry, so never got far enough to be able to take Physics. Once in college, Paul Hewitt changed my interest and understanding of Physics forever through his Introduction to Physics class at City College. He taught from his own textbook, Conceptual Physics. The book answered so many questions I had been developing about my physical experiences, from light refraction to gravity and SO many other questions. Paul Hewitt made Physics comprehendible and interesting. I've had maintained this textbook on my bookshelves (not stored in a box), and I often re-read sections as a refresher. Consider it a blessing to read this book.

[Sivasubramanyan M.V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

hewitt gives a nose punch to all those who go around claiming that physics is a boring subject..an exciting book which showcases the beauty and importance of a subject like physics...this book would have definitely contributed to many many people getting interested in physics..I strongly recommend it to any one who hates physics..and obvioyly to all lovers of phtsics!

[LB · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is nothing short of brilliant. It is so rare to find someone who understands a complex topic so well AND knows how to explain it. Yay Paul Hewitt!

[VII]

Such a charming and engaging textbook.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a life-long student of physics, I consult my 5th edition often (Conceptual Physics: A New Introduction to Your Environment). Paul Hewitt provides insight and develops the reader's intuition about the Physics of a problem. This text serves as an excellent compliment to a calculus based physics text like Fundamentals of Physics Extended or an excellent stand-alone overview for students pursuing of other fields of study.

[Mars Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pro: Paul G. Hewitt is a great author and physics teacher. I used this textbook for my first physics class. In the very front is a timeline on the history of physics from 320 BC to 2012. When reading the chapters, the illustrations helped me comprehend the concepts better. After reading, I did some of the chapter review questions. The review questions are really great.

Con: None! I found this book to be quite useful for my purposes.

Who is this for? The targeted audience would be for students studying conceptual physics/fundamentals of physics either in high school or as an undergraduate.

[Ray · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eh...not so bad. I made a B in the class.

[Sean Evans]

Conceptual Physics (7th Edition) by Paul G. Hewitt (1993)

[Suaad Alsaggaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!
handy physics a deep conceptions in a simple way.
I've learned much physics from it better than many courses I took in university.. honestly!

[Madhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Guarantee this is going to be super interesting for physics beginners...
Not for advanced people..
Works for intermediate learners too...
You will love physics after reading this...
Trust Me...

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

As far as textbooks go, I found this to be quite enjoyable.

[Kurt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never would have believed that a text book could deserve a five-star rating, but this book changed my mind.

Over the past six or seven months I have been studying this book on a daily basis – just a few pages at a time. All the derivations of formulas and the extensive mathematical applications of theories, principles, and formulas (the things that make most physics textbooks so scary) are left out of this one. Instead, it explains, in mostly easy-to-understand language, the concepts of physics. And every principle of physics that I can imagine is covered – motion, gravity, electricity, magnetism, fluids, light, thermodynamics, radioactivity, fission, fusion, relativity, and much much more.

The book's purpose is to enlighten young minds and inspire the truly well-suited minds to want to learn more. In my opinion it does a great job.

[Brenda Paull · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a graduating high school senior, this textbook has been, by far, the best one I've had yet. Paul Hewitt's great humor and explanations made difficult physics concepts easy to understand and apply, both in class and daily life. As a plus, Hewitt illustrated much of the book too with fun cartoon characters and serials.
Here are a couple of examples:





Who wouldn't have fun in a class using this textbook?

[Nattapon Chotsisuparat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an older edition of Conceptual Physics by Paul G. Hewitt. This is a great book, it will teach you physics in a different way than other textbooks. It's a conceptually driven textbook, full of words pictures and explanations. If you understand the concepts clearly, it will be much easier to understand equations, and if you understand equations, you can surely solve physics problems. The content is not hard actually, it's very friendly compared to other first-year physics textbooks such as Halliday.

[D.A. Fellows · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars. Initially started reading so I could help my students with their physics work, but once I got past their section, I decided to just go ahead and read the whole thing. Very cool. Deals with everything from simple mechanics to nuclear fission, and doesn’t bog you down with formula after formula, instead focusing on developing a conceptual understanding. I’ve never read a textbook from cover to cover before. I guess I qualify for my Full Blown Nerd certificate now!

[Lihuén Villarreal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente libro para aprender física desde una perspectiva conceptual e intuitiva, sin exceso de ecuaciones, buscando siempre analizar la lógica detrás de cada fenómeno mediante un lenguaje claro para todo el mundo. Gracias a este libro decidí dedicar mi vida a la física. Muy recomendable tanto para escuelas como para aficionados a la ciencia.

[Sam Herron · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom used this to teach her AP Physics class and had every single edition (spoiler, I love them all). The interactive drawings and activities really help with understanding real-life applications of physics and make it much easier to remember formulas. 5/5!!!!!

[David Hillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-have for every library, written by a SF City College teacher. Very accessible.

[Muhammad Arif]

I want to read this book in order to clear my basic concepts about physics

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was for a class. I enjoyed it for those purposes.

[Danelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Hewitt. Very visual.

[James]

I read this for high school physics. It explains many concepts well.

[MG King · Rating 5 out of 5]

God set a flower upon your head Paul G. Hewitt

[Baby Tiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can help primary school students have a better understanding of their abilities.

[ella · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cried