Book excerpt: Twelve Problems in Physics introduces students to important concepts and techniques in introductory physics. The book focuses on exploring major concepts in depth through exciting, detailed examples. The material is organized into twelve carefully selected chapters. Astute chapter titles immediately engage students and relate the physics concepts to something familiar and accessible. The book begins with the "Flight of the Rocket," and important kinematic and dynamical concepts such as vertical and angled flight, and drag. It progresses to "Nonstop Service to Anywhere," with information on flight range, work and energy, and more. "Shoot the Moon" deals with the laws of Newtonian and Einsteinian gravitation, planetary motion, and orbital dynamics, while "Catch a Wave (A Knotty Problem)" addresses wave dynamics and kinematics, sound waves, and scattering at a knot. Readers will also learn about collisions, rotation, the harmonic oscillator, electrons, neurons, the solenoid, electromagnetic waves, and optics. Clear and incisive, Twelve Problems in Physics provides thorough coverage of critical information. The book is written for introductory calculus-based physics courses for science and engineering students.