Pasco Scientific To Release New, Digital Edition of 'Essential Physics' Text

physics

This week at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) National Conference in Los Angeles, Pasco Scientific is unveiling the third edition of “Essential Physics,” a deeply digital curriculum that brings physics concepts to life in ways that text and static images cannot. The only physics textbook supported by an e-book with more than 100 interactive tools, the new edition of “Essential Physics” also integrates modular circuits from Pasco as well as the company’s Smart Cart, an all-in-one wireless dynamics cart that makes the classroom study of forces and motion easy and affordable.

Unlike other electronic versions of physics textbooks, the “Essential Physics” e-book is page-for-page identical to the print textbook, and it includes additional features such as audio for the entire book, videos and animations, lab investigations, interactive equations and an infinite test bank.

Developed completely in HTML5, the e-book works on all major platforms from desktops to smartphones, with or without an internet connection, and it doesn’t require any software to be installed. Combined with resources for teachers and optional equipment for lab investigations, “Essential Physics” forms a seamless learning system for mastering physics, according to a news release.

The third edition of “Essential Physics” will be available for sale in July, and it will be released in 2018.

“To learn science, you have to do science. What’s unique about ‘Essential Physics’ is that it comes with everything we need to teach physics — and teach it well,” said Cynthia T. Rudolph, secondary science specialist for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in Mecklenburg County, NC, which began using “Essential Physics” in fall 2016. “Our teachers appreciate the way the lessons identify and correct misconceptions, and the way the material is scaffolded to ensure student success. Our students enjoy the interactivity, the simulations and the labs.”

For information or a free trial of the “Essential Physics” e-book, visit this Pasco website.

About the Author

Richard Chang is associate editor of THE Journal. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • chart with ascending bars and two silhouetted figures observing it, set against a light background with blue and purple tones

    Report: Enterprises Are Embracing Agentic AI

    According to a new report from SnapLogic, 50% of enterprises are already deploying AI agents, and another 32% plan to do so within the next 12 months..

  • zSpace Imagine Learning Solution

    zSpace Debuts Headset-Free AR/VR System

    Immersive learning company zSpace has announced the zSpace Imagine Learning Solution, a headset-free AR/VR laptop system designed for elementary education. The all-in-one platform integrates hardware, software, and hands-on lessons to create dynamic learning experiences for young students.

  • AI robot with cybersecurity symbol on its chest

    Microsoft Announces New Agentic AI Tools for Security Copilot

    Microsoft has expanded its AI-powered cybersecurity platform, introducing a suite of autonomous agents to help organizations counter rising threats and manage the growing complexity of cloud and AI security.