The Physics of Fluids and Plasmas: An Introduction for Astrophysicists Book

Offers intuition throughout. I particularly love the fact that not only does it offer insight as far as the physics of fluids go, but also it offers intuition as far as the mathematics of fluids go. Comparing It with one of the giants of fluid mechanics textbooks, which is Cengel and Cimbala's book, I would say that at some points Cengel's book is just a bit more insightful but it is at a lower mathematical level. Now, an engineer/physics major should want this higher mathematical level because it is not overwhelming but it is also not very simple. So, it does not oversimplify the phenomenons(like Cengel does at a few points) and it just hits the right balance. So, someone should choose between a book like this and a book like Cengel's. Someone wanting full explanation of the underlying physics along with subtle point, he should look at other types of textbooks, the ones written by physicists for physicists. For an engineer though, he must choose what he prefers. If he prefers a full knowledge of the underlying mathematics and apply them at a more simple level than the mathematics suggest but not oversimplified, he should go with Munson's book. For somebody who does not care for the full mathematical picture but wants to know the full physics more qualitatively and apply them with simpler mathematics, he should ho with Cengel's. Whatever you choice, know that this book is great.