Many textbooks encourage memorization of equations over comprehension of concepts, allowing students to look for shortcuts in doing – and therefore learning – physics. To better align physics concepts with problem-solving, College Physics incorporates student-friendly pedagogy by presenting worked examples in a model that emphasizes reasoning and analysis. Presented in a flexible format that easily demonstrates text, equations, and figures, the worked examples use a common procedure throughout to help build students’ confidence when approaching problemsolving. This procedure, summarized by the key phrases “Set Up,” “Solve,” and “Reflect,” mirrors the approach scientists take in attacking problems:

Set Up. The first step in each problem is to determine an overall approach and to gather together the necessary pieces of information needed to solve it. These might include sketches, equations related to the physics, and concepts. We rely heavily on diagrams; many sample problems are accompanied by one or more.

Solve. Rather than simply summarizing the mathematical manipulations required to move from first principles to the final answer, the authors show many intermediate steps in working out solutions to the sample problems highlighting a crucial part of the problem-solving process that is otherwise often overlooked.

Reflect. An important part of the process of solving a problem is to reflect on the meaning, implications, and validity of the answer. Is it physically reasonable? Do the units make sense? Is there a deeper or wider understanding that can be drawn from the result? The authors address these and related questions when appropriate.

Finally, as with other texts, the authors reinforce problem-solving skills by including both conceptual questions and numeric problems at the end of each chapter. Numeric problems are presented at three levels of difficulty: basic, to provide practice on the fundamentals; standard, to encourage students to apply one or more physics principles from the chapter; and challenging, intended to push the best students. In addition, MCAT-prep questions from the AAMC are included in a unique MCAT Appendix, specifically designed to help students prepare for this important exam.

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