Physics Essentials for Dummies

by Steven Holzner

For students who just need to know the vital concepts of physics, whether as a refresher, for exam prep, or as a reference, Physics Essentials For Dummies is a must-have guide. Free of ramp-up and ancillary material, Physics Essentials For Dummies contains content focused on key topics only. It provides discrete explanations of critical concepts taught in an introductory physics course, from force and motion to momentum and kinetics. This guide is also a perfect reference for parents who need to review critical physics concepts as they help high school students with homework assignments, as well as for adult learners headed back to the classroom who just need a refresher of the core concepts. The Essentials For Dummies SeriesDummies is proud to present our new series, The Essentials For Dummies. Now students who are prepping for exams, preparing to study new material, or who just need a refresher can have a concise, easy-to-understand review guide that covers an entire course by concentrating solely on the most important concepts. From algebra and chemistry to grammar and Spanish, our expert authors focus on the skills students most need to succeed in a subject.

Genres: Science, Physics, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Reference

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2010

Reviews

[Mohamed Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series so much
so it is a major component in my new reading list which represents a major shift to english written and scientific reading either natural or applied science

This one was the first on the list as an introduction to physics which itself is an introduction to science

It was amazing sometimes, boring sometimes, hard to catch some points but this is science and being fun not a major criteria to it

Linear physic run with me very well
angular movement and simple harmonic movements mostly ran away
Ofcourse my previous high school study has a major rule in determining what was easy and what was difficult

I will jump to physics I for dummies now to reread the missed parts and go on my physics way

[Luke Gruber · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first “for dummies” book I’ve ever read. Since the authors are typically different, I’m not sure how similar they are to each other. This book was written to be a reference book if needed. The chapters do not build on each other, and you can jump around the book however you please. I read all the way through, and it was a decent read. It was ok.

[Menglong Youk · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Physics Essentials for Dummies" provides those who want to review basic physics with a quick easy-to-go-through reference from force and motion to momentum and kinetics, plus a glimpse of Einstein's theory of special relativity. This reminds me of how dumb I was (and am).

[Alistair]

in progress

Contents

Introduction - 1

Chapter 1: Viewing the World through the Lens of Physics - 5

Chapter 2: Taking Vectors Step by Step - 15

Chapter 3: Going the Distance with Speed and Acceleration - 25

Chapter 4: Studying Circular Motions - 41

Chapter 5: Push-Ups and Pull-Ups: Exercises in Force - 49

Chapter 6: Falling Slowly: Gravity and Friction - 63

Chapter 7: Putting Physics to Work - 77

Chapter 8: Moving Objects with Impulse and Momentum - 95

Chapter 9: Navigating the Twists and Turns of Angular Kinetics - 111

Chapter 10: Taking a Spin with Rotational Dynamics - 127

Chapter 11: There and Back Again: Simple Harmonic Motion - 139

Chapter 12: Ten Marvels of Relativity - 159

Index - 169

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watched a Teaching Company lecture series on physics and read this to sort of help out. As Wodehouse would say: "It's all a bit much for a chappy." This is a good reference for when you start thinking . . . now how do electricity and magnetism work together? With physics, I'm continually thinking . . . "Oh, I get it now," but then a week later . . . it's gone.

[Stuart McArthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

dynamics and statics aspects of physics only

I was hoping for lessons on radio waves, sound, light, etc, but it was mostly mathematics. The Einstein relativity chapter at the end was interesting.

[Stasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Future buy.

[Asher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good review of the basics of physics. It's detailed enough if you need to use some basic equations while still readable if you don't need them.

[Sue Whitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did well in my physics classes in high school and college but reading this book made me realize those days are over. However, I do recommend it.

[Wes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have grown to really like the For Dummies series of books. They have a style and format that is easy to understand and digest, and is not too heavy on giving you actual work problems to do. They are great as quick reference guides, primers, and study helpers. Pick a topic and they generally have something on it.

The physics essentials are just that, the basic building blocks for any physics understanding. Good prep for Physics 1 students and anyone who wants to casually understand physics in general.

[Guillermo García Rojas C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este es un breve libro pero no para dummies, o al menos para dummies que ya tienen cierto conocimiento básico de Física. Toca temas algo avanzados y de manera muy rápida. Desde un inicio toca bastantes formulas y las deriva sin previa explicación.
Lo recomiendo para personas que ya tienen una base sólida en Física y Matemáticas.

[Kevin Browder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for basics, but not much else. I was hoping for a little more depth.

[Jack]

Can't help it, I'm a geek.

[H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful.

[Graham Hiscock · Rating 3 out of 5]

My level of scientific understanding and knowledge is, I can now say with confidence, sub-dummy; below dummy; probably, let's be honest, approaching idiot.

This book was written presumably for those with, shall we say, a limited knowledge of physics. That's me. But I like to think I'm intelligent and I did pass A level pure maths (many years ago, I admit. But I'm afraid most of this supposedly simple introduction went way over my head. The last chapter, on Einstein and relativity, was paradoxically the most understandable to my mind and I think I got that. Otherwise - I'm no wiser than when I started.