Textbook Errata

Errors found in popular physics textbooks, with verified corrections. Comments and discussion welcome — if you find something or have a clarification, leave a note.

Fundamentals of Physics, 10th edition by Halliday & Resnick. Chapter 11 Question 11.

The answer should be a) same and b) more, not a) same and b) same. M of the cannonball is more, therefore it would have more translational kinetic energy.

Fundamentals of Physics, 10th edition by Halliday & Resnick. Chapter 17 Question 3.

The answer should be A and B tie, then C. A and B have a ratio of 3/2, while C has a ratio of 2, using $V = \sqrt{B/\rho}$.

Fundamentals of Physics, 10th edition by Halliday & Resnick. Chapter 22 Question 13 Halliday.

The answer should be b > a > c = 0, not a > b > c. b) has a higher charge density, therefore the E field would be greater above b) than a).

University Physics, 12th edition by Sears and Zemansky. Chapter 1 Exercise 1.13(b).

Should be yes 890,010 m, as measuring changes the precision.

University Physics, 12th edition by Sears and Zemansky. Chapter 1 Exercise 1.17.

The volume should be $2.8 \, \text{cm}^3$, not $28 \, \text{cm}^3$. $V = \pi r^2 h = \pi \cdot \left(\frac{8.50}{2}\right)^2 \cdot 0.050 = 2.8 \, \text{cm}^3$

University Physics, 12th edition by Sears and Zemansky. Chapter 1 Exercise 1.57.

a) The answer should be 6.39 meters into the page, not 63.9 meters. $\hat{D}$ is a unit vector, so $\vec{A} \times \hat{D} = |8||1|\cos(127°) = 6.39 \, m$ into the page. Same for b). $\hat{D} \times \vec{A} = |1||8|\cos(127°) = 6.39 \, m$ out of the page.