EUREKA!: Physics of Particles, Matter and the UniverseThis is an accessible introduction to the subject of physics, and how it underpins our understanding of the physical world today. Starting with an initial description of what physics represents from the micro- to the macroscopic, Roger Blin-Stoyle takes the reader on a tour of Newton's Laws, the nature of matter, explaining how the physical world works and how physics may affect our future understanding. The treatment avoids detailed mathematics, and at all times relates the concepts introduced to the reader's everyday experience. The author makes effective use of simple, line drawings to illustrate the concepts introduced. Topics are presented with clarity and precision. The author's enthusiasm for his subject, and his desire to make it comprehensible to the widest possible audience are evident. It is a good foundation for exploring the more exotic aspects of physics, as presented by, for example, Close, Davies and Hawking. Suggestions for further reading are included as an appendix. |
Contents
UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD AROUND US | 1 |
12 The Nature of Understanding | 2 |
13 The Problem of Complexity | 4 |
14 Conceptual Models in Physical Theory | 7 |
15 Human Experience of the Physical World | 8 |
16 Moving Forward | 10 |
EVERYDAY EXPERIENCE OF MOTION AND ENERGY | 11 |
22 Force Mass and Acceleration | 13 |
67 Moving Forward | 102 |
EINSTEINS RELATIVITY THEORY | 103 |
72 Simultaneity | 106 |
73 Time Dilation | 107 |
74 Length Contraction | 109 |
75 Mass and Energy | 111 |
76 Relativistic Quantum Mechanics | 113 |
77 General Relativity | 117 |
23 Momentum and Angular Momentum | 16 |
24 Work and Energy | 19 |
25 Oscillating Systems | 22 |
26 Wave Motion | 25 |
27 Moving Forward | 30 |
THE NATURE AND BEHAVIOUR OF MATTER | 31 |
32 The Particulate Nature of Gases Liquids and Solids | 34 |
33 Internal Energy Heat and Temperature | 36 |
34 The Second Law of Thermodynamics | 39 |
35 Solids and their Behaviour | 41 |
36 Liquids and their Behaviour | 44 |
37 Gases and their Behaviour | 46 |
38 Moving Forward | 47 |
EVERYDAY EXPERIENCE OF ELECTRIMAGNETISM | 48 |
42 Electric Potential and Electric Current | 50 |
43 Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction | 53 |
44 Electromagnetic Radiation | 56 |
45 The Reflection and Refraction of Light | 59 |
46 The Interference and Diffraction of Light | 62 |
47 Moving Forward | 64 |
QUANTUM PHYSICS AND THE ATOM | 65 |
52 The Rise of Quantum Mechanics | 68 |
53 Waves and Particles | 72 |
54 Using Quantum Mechanics | 76 |
55 Atomic Structure | 79 |
56 Atomic Radiation | 81 |
57 Moving Forward | 84 |
PROPERTIES OF MATTERSOME QUANTUM EXPLANATIONS | 85 |
62 Conductors and Insulators | 88 |
63 Semiconductors | 91 |
64 Superconductivity | 95 |
65 Magnetism in Solids | 97 |
66 Superfluidity | 100 |
78 Moving Forward | 122 |
THE ATOMIC NUCLEUS | 123 |
82 General Properties of Nuclei | 125 |
83 The Nuclear Force | 128 |
84 Nuclear Models | 133 |
85 Nuclear Reactions | 136 |
86 Radioactivity | 139 |
87 Nuclear Physicsa Few Remarks | 143 |
88 Moving Forward | 144 |
THE FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUENTS OF MATTER | 145 |
92 Intrinsic Particle Properties and Conservation Laws | 148 |
93 Understanding the Nature of Hadrons | 152 |
94 The Weak Interaction | 157 |
95 The Electroweak Interaction and Unification | 161 |
96 Moving Forward | 165 |
ASTROPHYSICS AND COSMOLOGY | 166 |
102 Electromagnetic Radiation in the Universe | 169 |
103 The Expanding Universe and the Big Bang | 171 |
104 The Early Stages of the Universe and the Formation of Stars | 175 |
105 The Lives of Stars | 178 |
106 Problems and Conjectures | 181 |
107 Moving Forward | 184 |
REFLECTIONS ON PHYSICS AND PHYSICISTS | 185 |
112 Theories of Everything | 188 |
113 The Anthropic Principle | 190 |
114 Reductionism Complexity Determinism and Chaos | 192 |
115 Advancing Physics and Technology | 195 |
116 What about Physicists? | 198 |
GLOSSARY | 200 |
Fundamental Physical Constants | 202 |
Physical Terms | 203 |
219 | |
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Common terms and phrases
acceleration angular momentum antiparticles atomic nucleus attractive force band baryon basic behaviour beta-decay big bang body component conservation laws decay denoted density direction discussed distance earth effect electric and magnetic electric charge electric current electromagnetic interaction electromagnetic radiation electrons elementary particles emission emitted energy levels example exclusion principle experience frame of reference frequency galaxy gauge bosons gluons gravitational force hadrons heat helium hydrogen increase inertial frame interatomic kinetic energy known leptons liquid magnetic field mass matter measured mesons motion nature negative charge neutrino neutrons and protons nuclear force nucleons observed orbit oscillating physical physicists pion positive charge positron potential difference potential energy properties protons quantum mechanics quarks radioactive relativity repulsive rotating semiconductor shown in figure simply solid space speed of light spin stars strong interaction structure surface temperature theory travelling uncertainty understanding understood in terms universe vibrating W-boson wave wavefunction wavelength weak interaction wire zero