Physics: The First Science By Peter Lindenfeld and Suzanne White Brahmia
Physics: The First Science is an introductory physics textbook designed to be used in a two-semester college course for science majors. We are writing the text because we think it is our responsibility as educators to develop more sophistication in our students' abilities to learn by reading about physics. The current practice of using the science textbook mainly as a source of homework problems has led to a scenario in which the students purchase an encyclopedic text that is neither read nor considered an integral part of the their learning experience beyond problem solving. We feel that the textbook can and should have a much bigger role in the learning experience of the students.
A university physics course ought to produce students that are better able to learn from scientific writings, and who are better able to reason using both English and mathematical descriptions of the natural laws. It is to this end that we have written our book.
Physics: The First Science is being used in the summers of 2006 and 2007 in the General Physics course at Rutgers University. It is due to be published by Rutgers University Press in the Fall 2008.