Re: New version of free physics textbook (was: Nieuwe versie van gratis natuurkunde boek op het net

Acme Optics <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> Ahem!
> 
> Physics text books should not have pretty illustrations. They should
> have lots of equations. Intermediate steps should always be missing so
> that the professor can have the opportunity to say, "let the
> derivation be an exercise for the student".
> 
> Physics should be difficult enough that even the best students will
> need to spend at least 4 hours per problem. Physics and Pain should by
> synonymous, just as they were in the 60's at UCLA. Not all the
> problems should have solutions. This prepares the student for life.
> 
> Dr Image Nius
> Professor of Warp Field Studies
> James T. Kirk University
> Titan Colony, Alpha Quadrant

I can't agree with you that "physics and pain should be synomous", but
I will agree with you that the author of this online text fails to
present the essence of basic physics, if indeed he holds an education
in the subject.

I will concede that the presentation and visuals are well done, but
this is so very typical of today's Coffee Table Books, that is, all
style and no content.

Regarding 4 hour problems...I seriously doubt that anyone except other
physicists here will even relate to what you mean. Still, any
physicist here who has gone though a course in classical or
theoretical mecahnics will be familiar with this. Hell, a four hour
problem was one of the easier ones!

Do you remember the problems that were labeled as being from the
'Oxford' series? Damn, some of them were tough, yet they still
mysteriously re-appeared as at least one problem on a mid-term or
final exam. Separated those who did their homework from those who had
not!

Do you remember the one about the pocket watch?  It concerned a watch
having a case mass of M, and a coaxially located balance wheel with a
mass of m. The problem appeared simple, but was anything but. It was
simple to write the relatinship between the time kept by the watch
when the case was constrained not to move vs. that when it was
unconstrained and free to react. I'm probably a bit dense, but it must
have taken me 12-hours to solve that one.


                                                    Harry C.