David Halliday (physics)
Encyclopedia
David Halliday was an American
physicist widely known for his physics
textbooks, Physics and Fundamentals of Physics
, which he wrote with Robert Resnick
. Both textbooks have been in continuous use since 1960 and are available in twenty languages.
Halliday attended the University of Pittsburgh
both as an undergraduate student and a graduate student, receiving his Ph.D. in physics in 1941. During World War II
, he worked at the MIT Radiation Lab developing radar
techniques. In 1946 he returned to Pittsburgh as an assistant professor and spent the rest of his career there. In 1950, he wrote Nuclear Physics, which became a classic text and was translated into four languages. In 1951 Halliday became the Department Chair, a position he held until 1962.
Physics has been used widely and is considered to have revolutionized physics education. Now in its ninth edition in a five-volume set revised by Jearl Walker
, and under the title Fundamentals of Physics
, it is still highly regarded. It is noted for its clear standardized diagrams, very thorough but highly readable pedagogy, outlook into modern physics, and challenging, thought provoking problems. In 2002 the American Physical Society
named the work the most outstanding introductory physics text of the 20th century.
Halliday died at the age of 94 on April 2, 2010. He was living in Maple Falls, Washington
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physicist widely known for his physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
textbooks, Physics and Fundamentals of Physics
Fundamentals of Physics
Fundamentals of Physics is a calculus-based physics textbook by David Halliday, Robert Resnick, and Jearl Walker. The textbook is currently in its ninth edition and is published in a five-volume set. The current version is a revised version of the original textbook Physics by Halliday and Resnick,...
, which he wrote with Robert Resnick
Robert Resnick
Robert Resnick is a well-respected physics educator and author of physics textbooks.He was born in Baltimore, Maryland on January 11, 1923 and graduated from the Baltimore City College high school in 1939. He received his B.A. in 1943 and his Ph.D. in 1949, both in physics from Johns Hopkins...
. Both textbooks have been in continuous use since 1960 and are available in twenty languages.
Halliday attended the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
both as an undergraduate student and a graduate student, receiving his Ph.D. in physics in 1941. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he worked at the MIT Radiation Lab developing radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
techniques. In 1946 he returned to Pittsburgh as an assistant professor and spent the rest of his career there. In 1950, he wrote Nuclear Physics, which became a classic text and was translated into four languages. In 1951 Halliday became the Department Chair, a position he held until 1962.
Physics has been used widely and is considered to have revolutionized physics education. Now in its ninth edition in a five-volume set revised by Jearl Walker
Jearl Walker
Jearl Walker is a physicist noted for his book Flying Circus of Physics, first published in 1975; the second edition was published in June 2006...
, and under the title Fundamentals of Physics
Fundamentals of Physics
Fundamentals of Physics is a calculus-based physics textbook by David Halliday, Robert Resnick, and Jearl Walker. The textbook is currently in its ninth edition and is published in a five-volume set. The current version is a revised version of the original textbook Physics by Halliday and Resnick,...
, it is still highly regarded. It is noted for its clear standardized diagrams, very thorough but highly readable pedagogy, outlook into modern physics, and challenging, thought provoking problems. In 2002 the American Physical Society
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
named the work the most outstanding introductory physics text of the 20th century.
Halliday died at the age of 94 on April 2, 2010. He was living in Maple Falls, Washington
Maple Falls, Washington
Maple Falls is a census-designated place in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The population was 324 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
.