University Physics


Book Description

University Physics is a three-volume collection that meets the scope and sequence requirements for two- and three-semester calculus-based physics courses. Volume 1 covers mechanics, sound, oscillations, and waves. Volume 2 covers thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, and Volume 3 covers optics and modern physics. This textbook emphasizes connections between between theory and application, making physics concepts interesting and accessible to students while maintaining the mathematical rigor inherent in the subject. Frequent, strong examples focus on how to approach a problem, how to work with the equations, and how to check and generalize the result. The text and images in this textbook are grayscale.




Scattering Theory of Waves and Particles


Book Description

Much progress has been made in scattering theory since the publication of the first edition of this book fifteen years ago, and it is time to update it. Needless to say, it was impossible to incorporate all areas of new develop ment. Since among the newer books on scattering theory there are three excellent volumes that treat the subject from a much more abstract mathe matical point of view (Lax and Phillips on electromagnetic scattering, Amrein, Jauch and Sinha, and Reed and Simon on quantum scattering), I have refrained from adding material concerning the abundant new mathe matical results on time-dependent formulations of scattering theory. The only exception is Dollard's beautiful "scattering into cones" method that connects the physically intuitive and mathematically clean wave-packet description to experimentally accessible scattering rates in a much more satisfactory manner than the older procedure. Areas that have been substantially augmented are the analysis of the three-dimensional Schrodinger equation for non central potentials (in Chapter 10), the general approach to multiparticle reaction theory (in Chapter 16), the specific treatment of three-particle scattering (in Chapter 17), and inverse scattering (in Chapter 20). The additions to Chapter 16 include an introduction to the two-Hilbert space approach, as well as a derivation of general scattering-rate formulas. Chapter 17 now contains a survey of various approaches to the solution of three-particle problems, as well as a discussion of the Efimov effect.




Waves, Particles and Fields


Book Description

Choice Outstanding Title, September 2020 This book fills a gap in the middle ground between quantum mechanics of a single electron to the concept of a quantum field. In doing so, the book is divided into two parts; the first provides the necessary background to quantum theory extending from Planck’s formulation of black body radiation to Schrodinger’s equation; and the second part explores Dirac’s relativistic electron to quantum fields, finishing with an description of Feynman diagrams and their meaning. Much more than a popular account, yet not too heavy so as to be inaccessible, this book assumes no prior knowledge of quantum physics or field theory and provides the necessary foundations for readers to then progress to more advanced texts on quantum field theory. It will be of interest to undergraduate students in physics and mathematics, in addition to an interested, general audience. Features: Provides an extensive yet accessible background to the concepts Contains numerous, illustrative diagrams Presents in-depth explanations of difficult subjects




Light Can Be Both Wave and Particle


Book Description

Fiction from a National Book Award-winning author and “short-story writer of substantial gifts and reputation” (The New York Times). From National Book Award Winner Ellen Gilchrist, a pillar of Southern literature hailed by the Washington Post as “a national treasure,” comes a colorful collection of short stories integrating favorite characters with captivating newcomers. Rhoda’s reveling in her childhood and infinite possibility in “The Tree Fort” and “The Time Capsule” is juxtaposed with her darker adulthood in “Mexico.” Nora Jane returns alongside Lin Tan Sing, a Chinese medical student and geneticist who predicts the birth of her twins. Fans of Gilchrist won’t want to miss the author’s exploration of the many stages of life—and the lightness and darkness each can bring. “Several stories in Gilchrist’s latest collection are distinguished by her old magic—they have energy and gusto and humor, and a dark layer of knowledge beneath their nostalgic tone.”—Publishers Weekly “A validation of the author’s skill and versatility. Gilchrist creates new experiences for characters from earlier stories and … creates new characters who reveal her skill in portraying character and place.”—Library Journal




APlusPhysics


Book Description

APlusPhysics: Your Guide to Regents Physics Essentials is a clear and concise roadmap to the entire New York State Regents Physics curriculum, preparing students for success in their high school physics class as well as review for high marks on the Regents Physics Exam. Topics covered include pre-requisite math and trigonometry; kinematics; forces; Newton's Laws of Motion, circular motion and gravity; impulse and momentum; work, energy, and power; electrostatics; electric circuits; magnetism; waves; optics; and modern physics. Featuring more than five hundred questions from past Regents exams with worked out solutions and detailed illustrations, this book is integrated with the APlusPhysics.com website, which includes online question and answer forums, videos, animations, and supplemental problems to help you master Regents Physics essentials. "The best physics books are the ones kids will actually read." Advance Praise for APlusPhysics Regents Physics Essentials: "Very well written... simple, clear engaging and accessible. You hit a grand slam with this review book." -- Anthony, NY Regents Physics Teacher. "Does a great job giving students what they need to know. The value provided is amazing." -- Tom, NY Regents Physics Teacher. "This was tremendous preparation for my physics test. I love the detailed problem solutions." -- Jenny, NY Regents Physics Student. "Regents Physics Essentials has all the information you could ever need and is much easier to understand than many other textbooks... it is an excellent review tool and is truly written for students." -- Cat, NY Regents Physics Student




Particles and Waves


Book Description

This volume brings together six published and two new essays by the noted philosopher of science, Peter Achinstein. It represents the culmination of his examination of methodological issues that arise in nineteenth-century physics. He focuses on the philosophical problem of how, if at all, it is possible to confirm scientific hypotheses that postulate 'unobservables' such as light waves, molecules, and electrons. This question is one that not only was of great interest to nineteenth-century physicists and methodologists, but continues to occupy philosophers of science up to the present day. The essays in this volume deal with this vexing problem as it arose in actual scientific practice in three nineteenth-century episodes: the debate between particle and wave theorists of light, Maxwell's kinetic theory of gases, and J.J. Thomson's discovery of the electron. Achinstein shows that the most important issue raised by these three cases concerns the legitimacy of introducing hypotheses that invoke "unobservables". If science is to be empirical, can such hypotheses be employed? How, if at all, is it possible to confirm them?; Achinstein here assesses the philosophical validity of nineteenth-century and modern answers to these questions and presents and defends his own solutions




Scattering Theory


Book Description

This graduate-level text, intended for any student of physics who requires a thorough grounding in the quantum theory of nonrelativistic scattering, emphasizes the time-dependent approach. 1983 edition.




Your Place in the Universe


Book Description

An astrophysicist presents an in-depth yet accessible tour of the universe for lay readers, while conveying the excitement of astronomy.How is a galaxy billions of lightyears away connected to us? Is our home nothing more than a tiny speck of blue in an ocean of night? In this exciting tour of a universe far larger than we can imagine, cosmologist Paul M. Sutter emphasizes how amazing it is that we are part of such a huge, complex, and mysterious place. Through metaphors and uncomplicated language, Sutter breathes life into the science of astrophysics, unveiling how particles, forces, and fields interplay to create the greatest of cosmic dramas. Touched with the author's characteristic breezy, conversational style--which has made him a breakout hit on venues such as The Weather Channel, the Science Channel, and his own popular Ask a Spaceman! podcast--he conveys the fun and wonder of delving deeply into the physical processes of the natural universe. He weaves together the past and future histories of our universe with grounded descriptions of essential modern-day physics as well as speculations based on the latest research in cosmology. Topics include our place in the Milky Way galaxy; the cosmic web--a vast web-like pattern in which galaxies are arranged; the origins of our universe in the big bang; the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy; how science has dramatically changed our relationship to the cosmos; conjectures about the future of reality as we know it; and more.For anyone who has ever stared at the starry night sky and wondered how we humans on Earth fit into the big picture, this book is an essential roadmap.




Tales of the Quantum


Book Description

This is a book about the quanta that make up our universe--the highly unified bundles of energy of which everything is made. It explains wave-particle duality, randomness, quantum states, non-locality, Schrodinger's cat, quantum jumps, and more, in everyday language for non-scientists and scientists who wish to fathom science's most fundamental theory.




Theory of Reflection of Electromagnetic and Particle Waves


Book Description

This book is written for scientists and engineers whose work involves wave reflec tion or transmission. Most of the book is written in the language of electromagnetic theory, but, as the title suggests, many of the results can be applied to particle waves, specifically to those satisfying the Schr6dinger equation. The mathematical connection between electromagnetic s (or TE) waves and quantum particle waves is established in Chapter 1. The main results for s waves are translated into quantum mechanical language in the Appendix. There is also a close analogy between acoustic waves and electromagnetic p (or TM) waves, as shown in Section 1-4. Thus the book, though primarily intended for those working in optics, microwaves and radio, will be of use to physicists, chemists and electrical engineers studying reflection and transmission of particles at potential barriers. The tech niques developed here can also be used by those working in acoustics, ocean ography and seismology. Chapter 1 is recommended for all readers: it introduces reflection phenomena, defines the notation, and previews (in Section 1-6) the contents of the rest of the book. This preview will not be duplicated here. We note only that applied topics do appear: two examples are the important phenomenon of attenuated total reflection in Chapter 8, and the reflectivity of multilayer dielectric mirrors in Chapter 12. The subject matter is restricted to linear classical electrodynamics in non-magnetic media, and the corresponding particle analogues.