Thomas Moore’s Six Ideas That Shaped Physics is one of several recent textbooks designed to provide a modern, calculus-based introduction to the study of physics. That goal is brilliantly attained. Rather than attempt to survey all of physics or to function as an elementary reference work, Six Ideas introduces students to the modern study of physics by thoroughly developing its major themes, at the same time training students to think like physicists as they deal with realistic, messy problems. Moore’s strategies for achieving these goals rely heavily on interactive learning techniques that are used extensively in language and literature classes, but seldom in science classes. Although Six Ideas is very well suited for self-study, its adoption in the classroom requires unconventional methods of both study and teaching in order to take advantage of its unique content and structure.
It is thus necessary to evaluate Six Ideas as part of a...
