The guiding principle of this science-literacy textbook for college or secondary school students is that science literacy is vital for democratic societies. As the American Association for the Advancement of Science puts it, "Without a scientifically literate population, the outlook for a better world is not promising." PCC is a socially conscious textbook, written for non-scientists and for scientists who want a broad introduction to the great ideas of classical and modern physics and their connection to society. It is conceptual (non-algebraic but still "numerate"), focusing on ideas rather than mathematical techniques. Besides presenting most of the great principles of classical and modern physics, PCC emphasizes fascinating modern topics such as quantum uncertainty and non-locality, general relativity, contemporary cosmology, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and quantum field theory, along with significant social implications such as global warming, the energy future, technological risk, nuclear proliferation, nuclear terrorism, the scientific process, and pseudoscience. PCC has been adopted on over 120 campuses.

Back cover of 4th edition:

How Did I Improve This Edition?

I’ve removed many superfluous words by “word-smithing” the entire text carefully and omitting redundant statements and irrelevant details. The result is stronger writing, better communication, and a main text that is 20,000 words shorter despite several new additions. I’ve always believed that “less is more,” especially when it comes to physics textbooks, and I’m happy to have relieved students of some of their burden while increasing their understanding.

I’ve updated and improved the two chapters on relativity. Modern physics requires extensive updating and revision with each new edition, because new results appear continually. Based on reviewer feedback, I’ve reorganized Chapters 10 and 11, on special and general relativity, and largely rewritten Chapter 11. All of special relativity is now in Chapter 10, and all of general relativity is now in Chapter 11. Chapter 11 now includes the modern cosmology that was formerly in portions of Chapters 16 and 18 and reflects new research during the “golden age of cosmology,” which began in 1992. Chapter 11 is the natural place for this material. I’ve improved and updated the two chapters on quantum physics.

I've updated and improved the two chapters on quantum physics. I’ve reorganized Chapters 13 and 14 on quantum physics and rewritten Chapter 13 so it. Chapter 13 is now based on the more logical and straightforward field approach (rather than particle) to quantum physics that avoids the wave-particle duality confusion of most presentations while highlighting the essentials: quantization, uncertainty, and nonlocality.A reviewer who also used the previous edition in his course commented that “everything in the chapter is technically correct, and the presentation is completely unique.” In Chapter 14, I’ve moved the material on the quantum atom to the end of the chapter in order to maintain continuity with Chapter 13 and to highlight quantum uncertainty and nonlocality. Nonlocality is now treated more simply and directly.

I’ve updated the societal topics to reflect recent developments. The sections on transportation, ozone depletion, global warming, the geological ages, risk assessment, wind energy, photovoltaics, energy efficiency, and nuclear power have been updated to reflect new developments. I’ve added a new section on nuclear terrorism in Chapter 16.

There are additional and improved “How Do We Know?” subsections. These important subsections are now integrated more gracefully into each chapter. Many readers have praised these subsections, which emphasize the observational basis of the scientific process. I’ve tightened up some of them, supplemented some with additional evidence, and added several new subsections. Three of these additions are in Chapter 12,“The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence,” a somewhat speculative topic that requires careful grounding in real evidence. See a complete list of these subsections on the “endpapers” inside the covers.

From the reviews of the first edition:

"It is always a challenge for an instructor to bring a feeling of connectedness to students, helping them to understand how the class relates to their own experience and interests. ...Art Hobson's new text fits in with this ideal. True to the title, ...Hobson adds enrichment and variety through connections between physics and the liberal arts. It is unusual to find a physics-appreciation text that respects the intelligence of even the most sophisticated reader, while not losing sight of who the students are, what will hold their interest, and what they can reasonably hope to understand." --Carl A. Kocher, Oergon State University, post-use review in American Journal of Physics, May 1996, p. 667.

"Hobson offers us a book with the following features: scientific literacy, modern physics, societal connections, appropriate quantitative skills, less is more, and unifying themes. Hobson delivers well on all six features." --John L. Roeder, in STS Today, June 1995, pp. 3-6.

" The book's technical execution is excellent. ...I was surprised and pleased to find sections on extraterrestrial intelligence, astrology and creationism, all used to illuminate what one does and does not mean by 'science'." --Paul P. Craig, University of California at Davis, in Physics Today, August 1995, pp. 55-56.

"[Because] there is a growing split between the two cultures of science and the arts...it is very pleasing to see a book making an attempt to redress the balance from the physicists' side and introduce arts students to the ideas, methods and practices that are physics. ...The final chapter brings together all the modern physics threads introduced to show the development of the quantum field theories. ...I found this chapter to be the most lucid and entertaining chapter on the subject that I have read... " --D. I. Bate, Leo Electron Microscopy Ltd., Cambridge, in Contemporary Physics, Vol. 37, No. 5, pp. 413-415 (1996).

Furthur information, including Table of Contents and purchase information, from Prentice Hall.