This edition continues to introduce basic concepts and key ideas while providing opportunities for students to learn reasoning skills and a new way of thinking about their environment. Additional content has been added to this edition, including a discussion of “Scientific Communication” to chapter 1, “Simple Machines” to chapter 3, and “efficiency” to chapter 4.

The book is intended to serve the needs of non-science majors who are required to complete one or more science courses as part of a general or basic studies requirement. No prior work in science is assumed. The language, as well as the mathematics, is as simple as can be practical for a college-level science course.