David Halliday (March 3, 1916 – April 2, 2010) was an American
physicist known for his
physics textbooks, ''Physics'' and ''
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 12th edition (published October, 2021).
The current version is a revised version of the orig ...
'', which he wrote with
Robert Resnick. Both textbooks have been in continuous use since 1960 and are available in more than 47 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 ''Introductory 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.
His ''Physics'' has been used widely and is considered by many to have revolutionized physics education. Now in its tenth edition in a two-volume set revised by
Jearl Walker
Jearl Walker (born 1945 in Pensacola, Florida) is a physicist noted for his book '' The Flying Circus of Physics'', first published in 1975; the second edition was published in June 2006. He teaches physics at Cleveland State University.
Walker ...
, and under the title ''
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 12th edition (published October, 2021).
The current version is a revised version of the orig ...
'', 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
The American Physical Society (APS) is a not-for-profit membership organization of professionals in physics and related disciplines, comprising nearly fifty divisions, sections, and other units. Its mission is the advancement and diffusion of k ...
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 is a census-designated place (CDP) in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The population was 324 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census.
Geography
Maple Falls is located on the Washington State Route 542, Mount Baker Hig ...
.
David Halliday 1916–2010 Obituary - Tributes.com
/ref> His doctoral students include John Wheatley
John Wheatley (19 May 1869 – 12 May 1930) was a Scottish socialist politician. He was a prominent figure of the Red Clydeside era.
Early life and career
Wheatley was born to Thomas and Johanna Wheatley in Bonmahon, County Waterford, Ire ...
.
References
University of Pittsburgh biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Halliday, David
American physicists
American textbook writers
American male non-fiction writers
University of Pittsburgh alumni
University of Pittsburgh faculty
1916 births
2010 deaths
Manhattan Project people