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Principles & Practice of Physics, 2nd edition

Published by Pearson (March 30, 2020) © 2021

  • Eric Mazur

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For courses in introductory calculus-based physics.

A strong, simple understanding of physics

Eric Mazur's Principles and Practice of Physics combines unique pedagogy and peer-to-peer instruction techniques that align with physics education research (PER). This approach helps students develop a true conceptual understanding of physics with the needed quantitative skills. The 1st half of a chapter teaches ideas using words and images, and the 2nd half casts ideas into quantitative and symbolic form.

The 2nd Edition integrates features from the Practice volume into the Principles volume. Prelecture material prepares students prior to class and supports instructors in building active lectures.

Hallmark features of this title

  • Each chapter is divided into a Concepts section that develops ideas using words and pictures, and a Quantitative Tools section that formalizes the ideas mathematically.
  • Conservation laws are the backbone of contemporary physics. The text develops conservation of momentum and energy before Newton's laws, and it emphasizes symmetry, conservation, and unity throughout.
  • Concept of a system is used consistently throughout. Many ideas in physics depend on distinguishing system from surroundings. Selecting an appropriate system is a key skill for solving many problems types.
  • The core ideas of mechanics are developed in one dimension to help students to concentrate on learning them before tackling the mathematical complexities of two-dimensional analysis.

New and updated features of this title

  • NEW: Key features from the Practice volume now appear in the Principles volume, giving students access to content and features in one location.
  • NEW: Practice volume content and features:
  • Developing a Feel helps students to develop a quantitative feel for the quantities introduced in the chapter and to learn to make valid assumptions and estimates.
  • Worked and Guided Example videos give students the opportunity to review a worked example before they attempt to solve a similar problem.
  • Review Questions direct students to correlating content and interactive media .
  • Both Galilean and special relativity help to explain many ideas of physics.

Features of Mastering Physics for the 2nd Edition

  • NEW: Chapter Launch videos provide students with a brief introduction to surprising or interesting phenomenon related to physics concepts being covered in the chapter.
  • NEW: Lecture video series developed by and featuring author Eric Mazur provides real world connections to create a foundation for a deeper understanding of physics. For educators, the series provides a visual guide and assistant for using Just-in-Time (JIT) learning.
  • NEW: Developing a Feel helps students to develop a quantitative feel for the quantities introduced in the chapter and to learn to make valid assumptions and estimates.
  • NEW: Worked and Guided Example videos allow students to review a worked example before they attempt to solve a similar problem. Hints and questions guide them through each problem.
  • NEW: Enhanced End-of-Chapter Questions provide instructional support when and where students need it.
  • UPDATED: Dynamic Study Modules are specific to Principles and Practice of Physics. The assignable modules pose a series of question sets about a course topic. The questions adapt to each student's performance and offer personalized, targeted feedback to help them master key concepts.

Features of Pearson eText for the 2nd Edition

  • NEW: Interactive, digital features developed specifically for Principles of Physics:
  • Lecture video series developed by and featuring author Eric Mazur provides real world connections to create a foundation for a deeper understanding of physics.
  • Checkpoint questions often serve as the springboard for the next phase of the discussion, and Review Questions provide links that direct students to correlating places in the eText.
  • Each Concepts section ends with a Self-Quiz that lets students test their understanding of the material before proceeding.
  • Practice problems and Chapter Summaries are now located in the Principles eText.
  • Worked and Guided Example videos give students the opportunity to review a worked example before they attempt to solve a similar problem. The videos are embedded in the eText .

Full Version, All Chapters: 1-34

Principles & Practice of Physics is also available in the following versions:

  • Volume 1: Chs 1-21
  • Volume 2: Chs 22-34
  1. Foundations
  2. Motion in One Dimension
  3. Acceleration
  4. Momentum
  5. Energy
  6. Principle of Relativity
  7. Interactions
  8. Force
  9. Work
  10. Motion in a Plane
  11. Motion in a Circle
  12. Torque
  13. Gravity
  14. Special Relativity
  15. Periodic Motion
  16. Waves in One Dimension
  17. Waves in Two and Three Dimensions
  18. Fluids
  19. Entropy
  20. Energy Transferred Thermally
  21. Degradation of Energy
  22. Electric Interactions
  23. The Electric Field
  24. Gauss’s Law
  25. Work and Energy in Electrostatics
  26. Charge Separation and Storage
  27. Magnetic Interactions
  28. Magnetic Fields of Charged Particles in Motion
  29. Changing Magnetic Fields
  30. Changing Electric Fields
  31. Electric Circuits
  32. Electronics
  33. Optics
  34. Wave and Particle Optics

About our author

Eric Mazur is the Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics at Harvard University and Area Chair of Applied Physics. As an internationally recognized scientist and researcher, he leads a vigorous research program in optical physics and supervises one of the largest research groups in the Physics Department at Harvard University.

Eric Mazur is author or co-author of over 300 scientific publications and holds three dozen patents. He has also written on education and is the author of Peer Instruction: A User's Manual (Prentice Hall, 1997), a book that explains how to teach large lecture classes interactively. In 2006, he helped produce the award-winning DVD Interactive Teaching. He is the founder of Learning Catalytics, a platform for promoting interactive learning in the classroom, which is available in Mastering® Physics and Perusall, the first truly social learning platform.

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