ISBN0534493394

My issues with this book include

- Concepts used before being defined e.g. reduced mass
- Essential definitions only made in fine-print footnotes
- Problems in the end of the chapter that simply could not be solved based on the material provided. One of the problems I had trouble with was covered in a third year text in several pages with two embedded exercises for the reader (with hints)!
- Errors in the text e.g. speed of light off by a factor of 100!
- Errors in the answers to problems
- Problems at the end of the chapter that require information only provided in previous problems which you may not have done, or even in *later* problems which you are most unlikely to have done.
- Much of the material is very sketchy and it is hard to tell whether we are supposed to just take something on trust or whether we are supposed to know why it is the case. Particularly the coverage of special relativity is sketchy.
- Inconsistent and unclear use of symbols e.g. k = boltzmann's constant, = coulomb's constant, = "wave number". You are just assumed to know which one is meant.
- Style and approach differs significantly between chapters which makes reading more difficult.

I estimate it took me twice as long as it should have to get through this material because of these and other problems. I often had to look through other texts to find an explanation of things. Invariably things were explained more clearly and accurately elsewhere.

Chapters 1, 4, 7 and 11 are particularly bad.

On the positive side I thought the authors' intent is good. They are trying to give you a feel for how physics is done, and partly succeed.

Overall this book is a disgrace though. Try and find something better.

I'm a student of Theoretical Physics, I used this book in my course of Modern Physics, the book is quite good in its explanation, but in the exercises it do not develop the kind of problems that is required for this kind of Physics, is the same problem with the majority of the american authors (in physics) they don't like to work and develop problem with complex mathematics, its is so simple that even a boy of first grade can solve them (not that kind of simple, you just understand to what I refer). It is good, but not excelent.

this book is ok, but it assumes alot of prior knowledge. i found that i could only understand the material presented in the book after i read an easier text on the subject. this book also had alot of errors in it. i spent 2 hours trying to derive something, only to discover that the book had a plus sign in a formula where it should have had a minus sign. i recomend modern physics by tippler or concepts of modern physics by beiser. beiser's book is easier, and tipplers book is more indepth, but both books assume no prior knowledge of the subject.

I've reviewed four (4) texts in modern physics and found this one to be the best of the lot. It is a bit challenging, but so are most modern physics texts at this level. It is intended as a transition text from lower division physics courses (both college level and general physics) to the upper division, and so is not a sophomoric text. It is a junior level text and so requires some commitment from students to read it - it should be read at no faster than 10 pages per hour, and a good set of notes should be developed in the process. A course in calculus is helpful (needed?), as quantum mechanics relies formally on the use of differential and integral equations. But, this text does not make over necessary use of calculus and permits a lot of room for focusing on the discussion of solutions to Schroedinger's equation without getting bogged down in the discussion of methods of solution - good for students finishing a general physics sequence who have some knowledge of calculus.

The other texts I reviewed were those by Krane, Tipler & Llewellyn, Beiser. None of thse texts were as well done; Tipler's text looks dated and cheaply done; Krane's text makes too liberal use of calculus, but does have some nice photos in the middle (might be good for engineering & physics majors ?); Beiser's text is a bit better than Tipler's, but suffers similar problems (too much magenta too, but presentation is better than Krane's). (Beiser was runner up - but... Serway is just better formatted and more professional in presentation, with fewer mathematical entanglements.)

I've used this book for two semesters of modern physics and think it's a great introduction to the material. It's a nice/easy read which expects almost no prior knowledge besides calculus. If you're interested in relativity and quantum mechanics, yet have never had any formal education on either, then this book is perfect for you. The book is clear and very readable. While some end-of-chapter problems were intentionally made challenging, the text is not complicated. The notation/symbols used are for the most part standard. I really wish more books were written like this, the textbook I used for Physics I and II was well over 1000 pages, this one is short and to the point. My Instructors covered more material than was covered in this text so it really depends on your instructor if this book will help you for class, but if you're looking for a good modern physics text, don't let a few bad reviews stop you from buying a great book.