EUREKA!: Physics of Particles, Matter and the Universe

Front Cover
CRC Press, Jul 1, 1997 - Science - 226 pages
This 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.
 

Selected pages

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
INDEX
219
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

References to this book

Bibliographic information