Physics by Inquiry: An Introduction to Physics and the Physical Sciences (2 Volume Set)

Providing a step-by-step introduction to physics and physical sciences, this book emphasizes discovering rather than memorizing. Starting from their own observations, students construct physical concepts and simple scientific models. A major goal is to help students develop scientific reasoning skills and learn to relate concepts, representations, and models to real world phenomena. Physics by Inquiry consists of three volumes. Volume one develops fundamental concepts and basic reasoning skills essential for the physical sciences. The material in volume two provides a foundation for the study of introductory physics. The authors are also working on a third volume, which will introduce additional topics from the standard introductory physics course.

Consists of a set of laboratory-based modules that offer a step-by-step introduction to physics and the physical sciences. Through an in-depth study of a few fundamental topics, students develop critical scientific reasoning skills. All the modules have been explicitly designed to provide practice in relating scientific concepts, representations and models to existing phenomena. Volume I introduces basic physical ideas and includes topics which represent the essential background for the study of all physical sciences. The second volume extends several subjects treated in the first and introduces additional important topics. Both books contain narrative, experiments and exercises and supplementary problems.