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Fundamentals of Physics
No other book on the market today can match the 30-year success of Halliday, Resnick and Walker's Fundamentals of Physics!
Fundamentals of Physics, 7th Edition and the Extended Version, 7th Edition offer a solid understanding of fundamental physics concepts, helping readers apply this conceptual understanding to quantitative problem solving, in a breezy, easy-to-understand style. A unique combination of authoritative content and stimulating applications.
* Numerous improvements in the text, based on feedback from the many users of the sixth edition (both instructors and students)
* Several thousand end-of-chapter problems have been rewritten to streamline both the presentations and answers
* 'Chapter Puzzlers' open each chapter with an intriguing application or question that is explained or answered in the chapter
* Problem-solving tactics are provided to help beginning Physics students solve problems and avoid common error
* The first section in every chapter introduces the subject of the chapter by asking and answering, "What is Physics?" as the question pertains to the chapter
* Numerous supplements available to aid teachers and students
The extended edition provides coverage of developments in Physics in the last 100 years, including: Einstein and Relativity, Bohr and others and Quantum Theory, and the more recent theoretical developments like String Theory.
Fundamentals of Physics, 7th Edition and the Extended Version, 7th Edition offer a solid understanding of fundamental physics concepts, helping readers apply this conceptual understanding to quantitative problem solving, in a breezy, easy-to-understand style. A unique combination of authoritative content and stimulating applications.
* Numerous improvements in the text, based on feedback from the many users of the sixth edition (both instructors and students)
* Several thousand end-of-chapter problems have been rewritten to streamline both the presentations and answers
* 'Chapter Puzzlers' open each chapter with an intriguing application or question that is explained or answered in the chapter
* Problem-solving tactics are provided to help beginning Physics students solve problems and avoid common error
* The first section in every chapter introduces the subject of the chapter by asking and answering, "What is Physics?" as the question pertains to the chapter
* Numerous supplements available to aid teachers and students
The extended edition provides coverage of developments in Physics in the last 100 years, including: Einstein and Relativity, Bohr and others and Quantum Theory, and the more recent theoretical developments like String Theory.
1328 pages, Hardcover
First published June 25, 2010
343 people are currently reading
4446 people want to read
About the author
David Halliday
977 books45 followersDavid Halliday (March 3, 1916 – April 2, 2010) was an American physicist known for his physics textbooks, Physics and Fundamentals of Physics, which he wrote with Robert Resnick. Both textbooks have been in continuous use since 1960 and are available in more than 47 languages.
His Physics has been used widely and is considered to have revolutionized physics education by many. Now in its tenth edition in a two-volume set revised by Jearl Walker, and under the title Fundamentals of Physics, it is still highly regarded. It is noted for its clear standardized diagrams, very thorough but highly readable pedagogy, outlook into modern physics, and challenging, thought provoking problems. In 2002 the American Physical Society named the work the most outstanding introductory physics text of the 20th century.
(Source: Wikipedia)
His Physics has been used widely and is considered to have revolutionized physics education by many. Now in its tenth edition in a two-volume set revised by Jearl Walker, and under the title Fundamentals of Physics, it is still highly regarded. It is noted for its clear standardized diagrams, very thorough but highly readable pedagogy, outlook into modern physics, and challenging, thought provoking problems. In 2002 the American Physical Society named the work the most outstanding introductory physics text of the 20th century.
(Source: Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
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May 8, 2007right hand rule #43: if a ball drops sideways from a moving car while moving through a magnetic field at the speed of light, point your pointer finger in the direction of your temple, curl your fingers into your palm, and point your thumb in the +Y direction.
June 13, 2012
I was lucky enough to study under Jearl Walker (of Halliday, Resnick and Walker) and it is great to see his humor surface in an advanced text.
May 12, 2012
I wont have added this to my goodreads list here had it not been this beautiful a book. I hate physics but the book makes me love it. Readin it, i came to believe, some gifted physicists writing books make you laugh with their wonderful sense of humor when the subject torments you. I've never read a reference book as magnificent as this one.
January 13, 2011
the best and the probably the most difficult physics book out there!!!!
June 29, 2010
This was my first real physics textbook ever, so I've refrained from reviewing it, fearing that my nostalgia will could my objective thinking. But the time has come for me to share my thoughts.
I gave Fundamentals of physics 5 stars a long time ago, in the spur of the moment. However, I won't change my mark now, for my feelings haven't changed. It's a great book for a beginner in real physics, for kids who have enrolled in an undergrad physics program and found out the not so pleasant truth: that all that they have learned in high school about physics was just a nice story, a set of approximations given to them just to inform them there exists something like physics. So in that sense, this book is excellent for bridging that gap between high school physics, and the real deal. There are questions that open each chapter, with the purpose to make the student think in terms of physics. The text of each chapter is done well - it's very easy to follow, and coupled with pictures and illustrations, it makes a very sweet read. The solved examples are a great help to students just starting out and trying to catch all the mathematical intricacies, and a myriad of exercises that accompany each chapter will certainly make a diligent student proficient in solving them. I also loved the fact that some of the exercises had solutions available on the Wiley site, either in the SSM or the ILW.
All in all, it's great for people just getting the hang of it. Those who are already well acquainted with physics won't see what the big deal is, but I'm sure that they will also find some didactic value in Halliday-Resnick-Walker's textbook.
There is one small downside; or rather a complaint of mine. While the parts concerning Mechanics, Electro(statics&dynamics) and Waves&optics were thorough and detailed, I felt there was too little of Thermodynamics in there. But that's not necessarily bad; that's, incidentally, the last of the General physics courses, so the student is, at that stage, able to find another textbook. But that doesn't detract nothing from my grade; it's going to stay a solid five stars.
I gave Fundamentals of physics 5 stars a long time ago, in the spur of the moment. However, I won't change my mark now, for my feelings haven't changed. It's a great book for a beginner in real physics, for kids who have enrolled in an undergrad physics program and found out the not so pleasant truth: that all that they have learned in high school about physics was just a nice story, a set of approximations given to them just to inform them there exists something like physics. So in that sense, this book is excellent for bridging that gap between high school physics, and the real deal. There are questions that open each chapter, with the purpose to make the student think in terms of physics. The text of each chapter is done well - it's very easy to follow, and coupled with pictures and illustrations, it makes a very sweet read. The solved examples are a great help to students just starting out and trying to catch all the mathematical intricacies, and a myriad of exercises that accompany each chapter will certainly make a diligent student proficient in solving them. I also loved the fact that some of the exercises had solutions available on the Wiley site, either in the SSM or the ILW.
All in all, it's great for people just getting the hang of it. Those who are already well acquainted with physics won't see what the big deal is, but I'm sure that they will also find some didactic value in Halliday-Resnick-Walker's textbook.
There is one small downside; or rather a complaint of mine. While the parts concerning Mechanics, Electro(statics&dynamics) and Waves&optics were thorough and detailed, I felt there was too little of Thermodynamics in there. But that's not necessarily bad; that's, incidentally, the last of the General physics courses, so the student is, at that stage, able to find another textbook. But that doesn't detract nothing from my grade; it's going to stay a solid five stars.
March 4, 2010
This text changed my life.
A slide-loving pig slides down a certain 35 degree slide (Fig. 6-24) in twice the time it would take to slide down a frictionless 35 degree slide. What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the pig and the slide?
Note, there is a picture of a pig on a slide to accompany this question.
Never to overlook physics-nerds' unwavering sense of humor, Halliday/Resnick/Walker's text has served as both springboard and dog-eared, always-trusty reminder of why I endeavored on a career in Physics in the first place.
A slide-loving pig slides down a certain 35 degree slide (Fig. 6-24) in twice the time it would take to slide down a frictionless 35 degree slide. What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the pig and the slide?
Note, there is a picture of a pig on a slide to accompany this question.
Never to overlook physics-nerds' unwavering sense of humor, Halliday/Resnick/Walker's text has served as both springboard and dog-eared, always-trusty reminder of why I endeavored on a career in Physics in the first place.
November 22, 2022
One of the better books for physics honestly
December 2, 2022
First book to make me violently sob in a really long time. Plot made no sense and no clear main character(s)
December 18, 2016
This textbook is extremely impressive when re-reading it. It teaches the student the core elements of physics of course, but it also teaches them how to solve more advanced problems using simple techniques. Even though a freshman (average) is not able to do triple integrals and differential equations, they are still allowed to work on physics problems of that caliber. This text has the ability to simply give you a lot of the math so the student can simply focus on the physics (assuming Algebra, Trig, and a little Calc). I would dare to say this is one of the best books ever written!!!! If someone knows some high school math then they can understand the universe around them much more, going from falling objects to motion of subatomic particles. Most books can not do this and most physics texts get bogged down in math problems. Even in my upper level classes, for the most part, we were just doing more advanced versions of these problems and sometimes I was even able to solve advanced problems using the simple techniques in this book.
However, some topics are lacking. The Thermo section is very small and the student can only do very contrived problems.
However, some topics are lacking. The Thermo section is very small and the student can only do very contrived problems.
November 6, 2013
I have read a very old version(My Dad's) of this book when I was a kid. The concepts are simple and I still remember reading the problems at the end of chapter for stories.
Preparing for college entrance examinations, I bought a new book and the experience was very different. You will not come across a better book which has so many things to keep you locked in. Physics explained in the way it is supposed to be.
Preparing for college entrance examinations, I bought a new book and the experience was very different. You will not come across a better book which has so many things to keep you locked in. Physics explained in the way it is supposed to be.
October 17, 2024
This book is really nutritious, delicious, and healthy!
The basic concepts of physics are presented in a way that is easy to understand, fun, detailed enough, and very helpful. Maybe reading other physics books for a long time often makes you bored, but THIS IS DIFFERENT!
The language used is very friendly and sometimes interspersed with cheap jokes. In fact, you may very often find odd and hilarious cases in this book. In my opinion, the thickness of this book is concise enough to make us understand basic physics whether it's for fun, getting an A, or just passing a course
The basic concepts of physics are presented in a way that is easy to understand, fun, detailed enough, and very helpful. Maybe reading other physics books for a long time often makes you bored, but THIS IS DIFFERENT!
The language used is very friendly and sometimes interspersed with cheap jokes. In fact, you may very often find odd and hilarious cases in this book. In my opinion, the thickness of this book is concise enough to make us understand basic physics whether it's for fun, getting an A, or just passing a course
April 25, 2018
am i extra for adding a textbook on here? perhaps. but this is the best book written by anyone ever and i need to appreciate it duly.
December 26, 2021
Really cruel. Tearjerker.
May 10, 2023
A bit dry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2024
Ti tiene incollato dall'inizio alla fine. Those piani inclinati and those momentos angolaries damn
May 24, 2016
This book is highly irritating. The problems require an absurd number of assumptions to solve, and the text contains few examples. The equations are also sparser than I'd expect from a physics book. I transferred schools midway through general physics, and previously used Giancoli. You open that book, and half the page is equations and/or examples. Now I'm referring to it constantly, to figure out WTF this one wants me to do.
An example from physics 1, provided by a member of that class (mildly paraphrased):
Find the average, round trip speed of a car that goes uphill at 40 mph and downhill 60 mph.
How far has the car travelled? I don't know. Do I assume the distance is the same each way? Suppose I do (which is correct in this problem, by the way). What sort of habit is that to get into? This isn't the only problem like that in the book. After solving eight problems, I've had to assume equal pressure, equal area of openings for fluid flow, equal energies, and equal angular frequencies. Half the time I'm setting up problems that need differential equations to solve, because I don't realize certain things aren't an unknown quantity.
If I'm going to assume something, I'd like to have a better reason than 'The textbook didn't specify otherwise.' If I tried that in a chem lab, I'd get (figuratively) smacked upside the head.
This refers to the ninth edition, published in 2010.
An example from physics 1, provided by a member of that class (mildly paraphrased):
Find the average, round trip speed of a car that goes uphill at 40 mph and downhill 60 mph.
How far has the car travelled? I don't know. Do I assume the distance is the same each way? Suppose I do (which is correct in this problem, by the way). What sort of habit is that to get into? This isn't the only problem like that in the book. After solving eight problems, I've had to assume equal pressure, equal area of openings for fluid flow, equal energies, and equal angular frequencies. Half the time I'm setting up problems that need differential equations to solve, because I don't realize certain things aren't an unknown quantity.
If I'm going to assume something, I'd like to have a better reason than 'The textbook didn't specify otherwise.' If I tried that in a chem lab, I'd get (figuratively) smacked upside the head.
This refers to the ninth edition, published in 2010.
May 26, 2014
This book presents physics topics without the history of physics. It is purely physics concepts and physics math. As a introductory physics course textbook, this does its job. But as a book that should offer insight to the importance of physic (in general, even just SCIENCE and the scientific method), this book is dry. If you wanted to calculate some electricity and magnetism problems out, you'll have no problem. Just plug in Maxwell's Equations. But why or how Maxwell's Equations came to be, this book will not cover. Why the last Maxwell Equation is significant, it will not cover. Halliday will just say, here's the four equations, here's how E&M works, now calculate it. Unless you are a general-physics programmer or simply trying to pass the AP exam for credit, for example, this book doesn't function well as an introduction to physics textbook. While students would be able to pass tests with this book, readers would not have a strong conceptual understanding, which is fundamental to physics!
December 31, 2011
I'm not sure if this is the exact book I have but the one I have is terrible!!! (Same cover as this one). The sections are way to short to give you any detailed information. While my professor advised us to skip the sections and go straight to the summary, I learn best by outlining and these sections had nothing of use in them. I'd read the chapter and try to do the homework but the book gave me no clue how to solve any of the problems. I was so disappointed.
May 15, 2007
highly recommended as a helpful reference tool, even if it isn't your assigned textbook. well organized, colorful, and full of good examples. includes an interactive website. it is really good for learning, for those having trouble with physics, and especially for physics majors to go back for reference.
September 4, 2012
Based on the date of publication I am pretty sure this is the text I used from 1983-84 for General Physics I and II. Sold and better than other similar texts I saw then or shortly after. It had the added benefit of bringing me together with my first love and much later wife. Few other physics books ever have that attached to them.
December 3, 2013
So good, that among Physics undergrads, it is called "the bible". My textbook for first year Physics. Even now, when I want to review something, I first reach for this. If you have high school trig and calculus, you will understand everything in this book. Plenty of excellent questions.
November 28, 2023
Didn't see much of vectors incorporated into the problems while in the second course of physics in my university, Tibra Ali and others taught us, in essence, vectors manifesting in almost all the problems.
July 1, 2018
Not the best possible, but the best available source for self study.
November 1, 2022
Very hard to read. Plot is very confusing and the main characters motivations are lacking
January 14, 2023
decided to re-read this (after 34 years) as a warm-up. I thought maybe I'd work the problems, but then remembered/"saw" many of the solutions and it was all pretty familiar (not too rusty!) - so decided to skip it. Then when I found a typo in the text, I decided I was vindicated in that approach! (won't give it away, but it is on p 581).
I was a surprised there wasn't more emphasis on dimensional analysis (there was some, but not much until ~Ch 30) - maybe we got much more of this in the lectures? Or I developed the habit elsewhere. But that is such a useful tool - I think it should be more of a focus in an intro text.
Also, the further text went, the more "we will state without proof.." - I understand trying to get a comprehensive overview of "all" of physics and that getting "everything" in means skipping things, but I felt this was cheating a bit.
The footnote on page 422 was really cheap ("see the footnote on p 398"?!?!)
Overall - I enjoyed re-reading this.
I was a surprised there wasn't more emphasis on dimensional analysis (there was some, but not much until ~Ch 30) - maybe we got much more of this in the lectures? Or I developed the habit elsewhere. But that is such a useful tool - I think it should be more of a focus in an intro text.
Also, the further text went, the more "we will state without proof.." - I understand trying to get a comprehensive overview of "all" of physics and that getting "everything" in means skipping things, but I felt this was cheating a bit.
The footnote on page 422 was really cheap ("see the footnote on p 398"?!?!)
Overall - I enjoyed re-reading this.
May 19, 2017
It helped me comb through what I have already known and it integrated calculus. The best part is that this book gave me an understanding that physics is about motions of everything. It starts with how regular geometric shaped object moves. Then it applies to electric particles and waves, although those chapters about waves were still a little bit fuzzy to me. Perfect introductory material.
January 3, 2021
What not to say about this book? I think this is the Bible of physics. If you want to to learn the concepts of physics, this book is must read. However you need to know a little bit of calculus, to have the full in enjoyment reading the book.
March 15, 2021
Baca ini tahun 2016-2017. Buku ini penolong gw buat survive pd masa jahanam TPB di ITB. Ya walaupu Fisdas I - II ga pernah dapat nilai lebih dari 70 tapi buku ini cukup nambah wawasan lah dan bantuin gw dapet indeks B dan BC haha!
December 26, 2022
I enjoy reading textbooks for pleasure. This is one of my all-time favorite books—or textbooks. I intend to complete all the problems and read every page from cover to cover. It's enjoyable and simple to comprehend. 26th chapter thus far.
May 6, 2017
Good book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews