<p>I've noticed that the standard school-issue physics textbook is extremely simplified and does not discuss most concepts in any depth or rigorously. Therefore I am looking for a good physics textbook, such an introductory college physics book, that explains concepts in more depth. I do not need an review book as I already have one, but rather a textbook that contains more comprehensive information. Are there a perhaps a few well known introductory textbooks? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Giancoli's Physics; I use it for my AP Physics B class, the 5th edition, which I believe is the most recent. It's geared toward the AP student - it has a large amount of examples, charts, diagrams, pictures, but Giancoli's explanations of each subject are for the most part easy to understand and always very thorough. The College Board lists this on the list of textbooks that would be beneficial in preparing for the AP Physics test.</p>
<p>Don't know if it's what you're looking for, but I don't believe it's a standard-issue high school textbook. The regular Physics students don't use Giancoli at my high school.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion, that's exactly what I am looking for. If you know of any other such textbooks, please tell me and I will try to compare them. Otherwise, I'll just order Giancoli's textbook.</p>
<p>We use Cutnell and Johnson- we had the giancoli one before but our teacher decided that the Cutnell and Johnson was easier to read and comprehend with lots of examples and visuals so we switched over</p>
<p>I used Giancoli, which was very well written. If I were you, I would also check to see what MIT uses for their freshman year courses - when I was there for their admitted student weekend, I picked up a freshman physics book and looked through it. It was VERY good (as expected).</p>
<p>Way back when, I used Halliday and Resnick for two years of Physics in high school, then got to Princeton and used the same book in Freshman Engineering level Physics. Some of my students now use the new version. It seems quite good and goes way beyond an introductory text.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions. I searched for the textbook that MIT uses for the introductory physics course, and it turns out to be Giancoli's Physics for Scientists and Engineers. Now I am torn between the two Giancoli books. Physics: Principles with Applications should be easier, and is algebra based, whereas Physics for S and E is calculus based. I should probably go for the easier one, but I have a good background in calculus. Does anybody have any suggestions?</p>
<p>If you know calculus, definitely go for a calc based textbook. If you know the calc, it might actually be easier for you and it makes a whole lot more sense.</p>
<p>Either way, dualityim, Giancoli is excellent. Probably not the response you were looking for, but either way you'll have made a good decision.</p>
<p>Cutnell & Johnson for algebra based physics. Halliday & Resnick for Calculus based.</p>
<p>i've used both the cutnell & johnson and the giancoli book for algebra based physics. i did one with an independent study (giancoli) and the other at a CC course over the summer (C&J). when i was doing independent study stuff, i found that giancoli's was more straightforward and provided all of the necessary examples. i'd take a look at that. C&J is good, but it much of its wording wasn't as smooth as the giancoli.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I just ordered the Giancoli algebra-based physics book and reserved the Halliday calculus-based textbook from our library system. I think I will find out just how different the two systems are...</p>