Both texts are important in their own rights, but it's fairly safe to say Conceptual Physics is more welcoming to the layperson. Or, one could look at chapters three, four and five of our second edition copy of Conceptual Physics, which are sprinkled with visual aids. One could brush up on Latin and review our third edition copy of Newton's Principia. Take for example Newton's laws of motion. He has a background as a sign painter 2, and his drawings greatly aid in the readability of physics concepts. Hewitt, in addition to being the author, is also the textbooks’ illustrator. 1 Conceptual Physics’ accessibility is achieved in part through its use of illustrations. Hewitt attracts non-scientists by “translating the central concepts of physics from mathematical language to common English”. HewittĪs evidenced in the publications above, Conceptual Physics aims to make physics approachable to everyone. This particular manuscript was likely the foundation for Hewitt’s 1998 mouthful, Conceptual Physics for Parents and Teachers: Especially Elementary School Teachers, Who, After Parents, Provide the Learning Foundation for Children-Mechanics.Ĭonceptual Physics: The High School Physics Program, 2nd ed. ©1992 by Paul G. NBLA's recent donation included an unpublished copy of a Conceptual Physics text prepared for elementary school teachers. Yet, Hewitt has not shied away from niche audiences. Hewitt’s high school level and college level texts (the college level text is currently in its 12th edition) are perhaps his most well known. The textbook was first published in 1971 and has since expanded to accommodate a wide range of audiences.

Hewitt’s Conceptual Physics has become a staple for many physics educators. In publication for nearly the past 50 years, Paul G. This year, I cataloged a donation that included nine different editions of the same textbook: Conceptual Physics. Rather, our donations often come from physicists whose collections span the length of their careers. This is not to say that we have a decade-old backlog. As the library’s metadata specialist, I am regularly processing books that, while new to NBLA, are generally a few decades old.

The Niels Bohr Library & Archives, like many institutions, has a backlog of donations.

Conceptual physics