Science isn’t Sunshinegirl’s thing, so she says. Chemistry was NOT a hit in 10th grade, so I really spent a lot of time looking for the best resource to make Physics more bearable. As I wrote in “The Reality: Chemistry and Algebra 2“, I wish I would have used Conceptual Chemistry, but at least I could atone for my discretions for Physics. I hope to be redeemed with Paul Hewitt’s Conceptual Physics (Pearson).
I was able to find the 2006 version fairly inexpensive — the Student Text, the Teachers’ Edition, and the Laboratory Manual (the Tests are on the way). I originally stumbled on the textbook in its college format (for $1 at a thrift store — I LOVE thrift stores!), and while it was good, when I realized there was a High School edition, I was on it. In the textbook, the author states very plainly that this book focuses on the concepts and creating a love for physics — the math is only used for illustration purposes. Yes, there is math in the book, but I doubt it is as much as a standard text. If your student is planning to be a Physics or Math major, this may not be the text (or could be used at a younger level as an intro); if your student doesn’t necessarily plan to major in a STEM subject, this might be the book! At least I hope!
I am writing this as we are one week in to her Junior year, and we’ve only gotten through two chapters. (Yes, two chapters in one week, though the first the author states to cover “in a day and move on to the fun stuff”.) The author states that most chapters are independent and can be done in any order or omitted if needed. For the first time for us, I went through the textbook and my currently plan does NOT have us going through the entire book. (I even considered starting with the chapter on Rainbows as a warm up, and then returning to the first unit — Mechanics.) I want her to understand Physics and what it is and how it applies to real life. I have strong faith that this book will do that for us.
On the side we plan to work through a few other Physics books. We have:
- For the Love of Physics by Walter Lewin (professor at MIT — look up his lectures on YouTube): This book has chapters on most “standard” Physics topics — the author explains the topics with the beauty and reality, and no math.
- Physics for Future Presidents by Richard A. Muller: This book covers those topics of physics/science that are in the news and tend to be more political. Terrorism (the physics of a dirty bomb), Greenhouse effect/global warming, bombs, and other hot topics are covered.
- Six Easy Pieces by Richard P. Feynman: A great scientist of the 20th century and a great lecturer — explains basic physics for all.
- The Radioactive Boy Scout by Ken Silverstein: A true story about a Michigan Boy Scout that was able to create a feeder reactor in his backyard shed. I picked this partially because Sunshinegirl is a Scouts (Scouts BSA, which is what the program is called now instead of Boy Scouts). I pre-read this at Scout camp over the summer and loved the science of it.
I put together a schedule that omits some chapters, aligns chapters of the above four books, the Laboratory Manual, and Crash Course Physics; hopefully this makes a complete and enjoyable year that might….dare I wish…spark a love of science again.
Top of Her Class of One 