Question

I'm about to take Physics 8.02. The recommended textbook is the one by Giancoli, although the SC version of the course doesn't seem to need a textbook. Would the 3rd edition version be better seeing as how it would be more aligned with the readings and assignments, or should I go for the 4th edition? Thanks.

Answer 1

Go with the edition your teacher is using. Formal education is not about learning what is best, it is about learning what your teacher says to.

Answer 2

also use university physics with modern physics by young and freedman 12 edition, basic electronics by grove, resnick , halliday and krane physics

Answer 3

If you intend to go into graduate school for physics, I would recommend Resnick as I hear it covers the Physics GRE better than most texts. Also, there is no shame in going for the older and potentially cheaper edition in college; your bookstore is looking for profit, not your best interest.

Answer 4

Giannicoli is a great introductory book that is virtually free of calculus, and hence allows the student to get his teeth into the foundation principals of university level physics, without having to worry about all that mathematics.

Newer additions will usually only have updates with respect to new insights or applications, usually in the fields of astrophysics, quantum physics, or even medical physics, but the core "classical element does not usually change much". Therefore a previous edition is just as valuable to the student as a newer edition.

As dofborg states, Fundamental Physics by Halladay Resnick and Walker is a great follow up, which introduces more advanced treatments of the general physics covered in Gianacoli.

While having the same edition as your lecturer can be useful, it is not a necessity for understanding the course, and if you can get a cheaper previous edition, then all the better (and some sneaky lecturers like to lift homework examples from previous editions)