Physics Books

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Book SynopsisWhat happened before the primordial fire of the Big Bang: a theory about the ultimate origin of the universe.In the beginning was the Big Bang: an unimaginably hot fire almost fourteen billion years ago in which the first elements were forged. The physical theory of the hot nascent universe—the Big Bang—was one of the most consequential developments in twentieth-century science. And yet it leaves many questions unanswered: Why is the universe so big? Why is it so old? What is the origin of structure in the cosmos? In An Infinity of Worlds, physicist Will Kinney explains a more recent theory that may hold the answers to these questions and even explain the ultimate origins of the universe: cosmic inflation, before the primordial fire of the Big Bang.Kinney argues that cosmic inflation is a transformational idea in cosmology, changing our picture of the basic structure of the cosmos and raising unavoidable questions about what we mean by a scientific theory. He explains that inflation is a remarkable unification of inner space and outer space, in which the physics of the very large (the cosmos) meets the physics of the very small (elementary particles and fields), closing in a full circle at the first moment of time. With quantum uncertainty its fundamental feature, this new picture of cosmic origins introduces the possibility that the origin of the universe was of a quantum nature. Kinney considers the consequences of eternal cosmic inflation. Can we come to terms with the possibility that our entire observable universe is one of infinitely many, forever hidden from our view?

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Book SynopsisWhat are the mysterious numbers that unlock the secrets of the universe?In Fantastic Numbers and Where to Find Them, leading theoretical physicist and YouTube star Antonio Padilla takes us on an irreverent cosmic tour of nine of the most extraordinary numbers in physics. These include Graham''s number, which is so large that if you thought about it in the wrong way, your head would collapse into a singularity; TREE(3), whose finite value could never be reached before the universe reset itself; and 10^{-120}, which measures the desperately unlikely balance of energy the universe needs to exist. . .Leading us down the rabbit hole to the inner workings of reality, Padilla demonstrates how these unusual numbers are the key to unlocking such mind-bending phenomena as black holes, entropy and the problem of the cosmological constant, which shows that our two best ways of understanding the universe contradict one another. Combining cutting-edge science with anTrade ReviewAn exceptional compilation of modern mathematics and its real-world applications... A fast-paced and dramatic telling of the history of mathematics that is ultimately concerned with convincing us why we should care... Perusing this book will leave readers with awe, enough fun facts for many cocktail parties, and a deep appreciation for mathematicians like Padilla who can explain how understanding a googolplex leads us to the existence of doppelgängers -- Brianne Kane * Scientific American *An irreverent tour of extraordinary numbers in physics, big, small and bafflingly infinite. Be amazed as physicist and YouTube star Tony Padilla reveals the inner workings of reality * New Scientist *This delightful book purports to be about numbers, but is really a window onto the astonishing scope and scale of the universe in which we live. You will be amazed at the mind-bending ideas science has proposed in order to grasp reality, and be impressed that our minds are able to bend that far -- Sean Carroll, author of SOMETHING DEEPLY HIDDENThis is an extraordinary book. Tony Padilla has been able to weave a remarkable set of mathematical facts into a mesmerising story that kept me gripped throughout. He has an intensity and passion that I haven't seen for a long time in popular science -- Pedro G. Ferreira, author of THE PERFECT THEORYIt was said of the famous Indian mathematician Ramanujan that he knew every number as his personal friend. If you'd like to get to know some of the most charismatic of these characters then Antonio Padilla has written a beautiful Who's Who of the world of numbers and their role in the make-up of our universe -- Marcus du Sautoy, author of THINKING BETTER

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Book Synopsis'A quite delightful book on the joys, and universality, of physics. Czerski's enthusiasm is infectious because she brings our humdrum everyday world to life, showing us that it is just as fascinating as anything that can be seen by the Hubble Telescope or created at the Large Hadron Collider.' - Jim Al-KhaliliOur world is full of patterns. If you pour milk into your tea and give it a stir, you'll see a swirl, a spiral of two fluids, before the two liquids mix completely. The same pattern is found elsewhere too. Look down on the Earth from space, and you'll find similar swirls in the clouds, made where warm air and cold air waltz. In Storm in a Teacup, Helen Czerski links the little things we see every day with the big world we live in. Each chapter begins with something small - popcorn, coffee stains and refrigerator magnets - and uses it to explain some of the most important science and technology of our time. This is physics as the toolbox of science - a toolbox we need in order to make sense of what is around us and arrive at decisions about the future, from medical advances to solving our future energy needs. It is also physics as the toy box of science: physics as fun, as never before.Trade ReviewIf you've ever felt like understanding how things work is just too big a mountain to climb then read this book. It'll carry you gently to the peak and show you how stunning and beautiful the view is. It is rare that someone can explain that which seems endlessly complex and makes you feel like in fact you'd understood it all along. Helen Czerski's book does just that.Fun, fascinating and brilliantly well written - 'Right there, in my teacup, I can see the storm.' Me too and I know what it is now. * Marcus Brigstocke *This book is charming, accessible and enthusiastic. Helen invites you in to see the world through a her eyes and understand how a physicist thinks. It's a wonderful way to discover the hidden scientific connections behind the ordinary and everyday. * Dr Hannah Fry *Helen Czerski's absorbing Storm in a Teacup stands head and shoulders above other popular science books. The little fascinations we left behind in childhood are but her jumping-off points for the really, really big picture ... Hers if the kind of self-assured, endearing nerdishness that doesn't wait to see if you're on board: she pulls you along, anticipating your head-scratching at every fluorescing scorpion and swirling drop of milk in your teacup. * The Irish Times *In a friendly, chatty style that includes anecdotes from her personal and professional life, Czerski manages to make spilled coffee fascinating; tree growth astonishing; telecommunications intuitive. * Physics World *[Helen Czerski] has a formidable knack for explaining mind-bending concepts in easy-to-understand language ... the book to read this week. * Science Focus *Helen Czerski has a remarkable knack for finding scientific wonders under every rock, alongside every raindrop, and inside every grain of sand.The written equivalent of a spectrum beaming out from a prism. Thanks to Helen’s brilliantly engaging book you’ll never consider anything to be mundane or ordinary again. * Jon Culshaw *

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Book Synopsis‘Fascinating’ – Brian Cox, Mail on Sunday Books of the Year Where are we? Who are we? Do our beliefs, hopes and dreams hold any significance out there in the void? Can human purpose and meaning ever fit into a scientific worldview? Award-winning author Sean Carroll brings his extraordinary intellect to bear on the realms of knowledge, the laws of nature and the most profound questions about life, death and our place in it all. From Darwin and Einstein to the origins of life, consciousness and the universe itself, Carroll combines cosmos-sprawling science and profound thought in a quest to explain our world. Destined to sit alongside the works of our greatest thinkers, The Big Picture demonstrates that while our lives may be forever dwarfed by the immensity of the universe, they can be redeemed by our capacity to comprehend it and give it meaning.Trade Review‘It’s very much in the tradition of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, which is one of my all-time favourite science books. Books like that are not only about science, they put science in the wider context of our society…they explain and present not only the things we’ve learned about a relatively esoteric subject, but link those discoveries to our experience. Learning about nature teaches us about ourselves and how we should behave. I think that the best science books make that connection.’ -- Professor Brian Cox, ‘science writers on the books that inspired them’, Guardian‘An extraordinarily ambitious synthesis of science and philosophy…The Big Picture impresses. Carroll is a lively and sympathetic author who writes as well about biology and philosophy as he does about his own field of physics.’ * Clive Cookson, Financial Times *‘Bold...rich in detail and absorbing.’ * Tim Radford, Guardian *‘Sean Carroll’s lucid The Big Picture reveals how the universe works and our place in it. Carroll, a philosophically sophisticated physicist, discusses consciousness without gimmicks, and deftly shows how current physics is so solid that it rules out ESP for ever.’ * Observer *‘A humane and compelling story for our increasingly secular age.’ * Manjit Kumar, Literary Review *‘A highly enjoyable and lucid tour through a wide range of topics…even if you don’t agree with what [Carroll] says, you are unlikely to be enraged by such an urbane and engaging lecturer; more likely, you will be enthralled.’ * Wall Street Journal *‘Language, philosophy, quantum mechanics, general relativity – they’re all in The Big Picture. Sean Carroll is a fantastically erudite and entertaining writer.’ -- Elizabeth Kolbert, author of New York Times bestseller The Sixth Extinction‘Weaving the threads of astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, and philosophy into a seamless narrative tapestry, Sean Carroll enthralls us with what we’ve figured out in the universe and humbles us with what we don’t yet understand. Yet in the end, it’s the meaning of it all that feeds your soul of curiosity.’ -- Neil deGrasse Tyson, host of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey‘Carroll beautifully articulates the world view suggested by contemporary naturalism. Thorny issues like free will, the direction of time, and the source of morality are clarified with elegance and insight... This is a book that should be read by everybody.’ -- Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics‘A tour de force that offers a comprehensive snapshot of the human situation in our infinitely strange universe, and it does this with highly accessible language and engaging storytelling.’ * Salon.com *‘Carroll’s new book reveals how physicists’ quest to better understand the fundamental laws of nature has led to astonishing insights into life, the universe, and everything.’ -- Sabine Hossenfelder, Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies‘[Carroll] sets out to show how various phenomena, including thought, choice, consciousness, and value, hang together with the scientific account of reality that has been developed in physics in the past 100 years. He attempts to do all this without relying on specialized jargon from philosophy and physics and succeeds spectacularly in achieving both aims.’ * Science *‘From the Big Bang to the meaning of human existence, The Big Picture is exactly that – a magisterial, yet deeply fascinating, grand tour through the issues that really matter. Blending science and philosophy, Sean Carroll gives us a humane perspective on the universe and our place in it. As gripping as it is important, The Big Picture can change the way you think about the world.’ -- Neil Shubin, author of Your Inner Fish‘Instead of feeling humbled and insignificant when gazing upward on a clear starry night, Carroll takes us by the hand and shows us how fantastic the inanimate physical Universe is and how special each animate human can be. It is lucid, spirited, and penetrating.’ -- Michael Gazzaniga, author of Who's in Charge? and Tales from Both Sides of the Brain‘In this timely exploration of the universe and its mysteries – both physical and metaphysical – Sean Carroll illuminates the world around us with clarity, beauty and, ultimately, with much needed wisdom.’ -- Deborah Blum, director, Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT, author of The Poisoner’s Handbook‘A nuanced inquiry into ‘how our desire to matter fits in with the nature of reality at its deepest levels,’ in which Carroll offers an assuring dose of what he calls "existential therapy" reconciling the various and often seemingly contradictory dimensions of our experience.’ -- Maria Popova, Brain Pickings‘Sean Carroll is a leading theoretical cosmologist with the added ability to write about his subject with unusual clarity, flare, and wit.’ -- Alan Lightman, author of The Accidental Universe and Einstein’s Dreams‘Carroll is the perfect guide to this wondrous journey of discovery. A brilliantly lucid exposition of profound philosophical and scientific issues...’ * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *

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Book SynopsisSidney Coleman (19372007) earned his doctorate at Caltech under Murray Gell-Mann. Before completing his thesis, he was hired by Harvard and remained there his entire career. A celebrated particle theorist, he is perhaps best known for his brilliant lectures, given at Harvard and in a series of summer school courses at Erice, Sicily. Three times in the 1960s he taught a graduate course on Special and General Relativity; this book is based on lecture notes taken by three of his students and compiled by the Editors.Trade Review'Sidney Coleman was one of the deepest thinkers and clearest teachers of modern physics. His Lectures on Relativity are a delight: brimming with insights, they invite us to survey Einstein's greatest scientific legacy with a modern theorist's toolkit.' David Kaiser, Professor of Physics and the History of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology'One important lesson my esteemed mentor, Sidney Coleman, imparted to me was that if one were to claim that one understood something, one should mean it. Coleman is the undisputed master of clear understanding. Apparently, many theoretical physicists never got the memo. I hope that the reader of this, and other, Coleman books will eventually get the message by osmosis.' A. Zee, Theoretical Physicist at University of California, Santa Barbara and the author of several books on physics, including Einstein Gravity in a Nutshell'It is a pleasure to read Sidney Coleman's Lectures on Relativity, characterized as one would expect by exceptional clarity and insight. They are surprisingly modern, to boot, including discussions of black holes and cosmology. Any fan of relativity would benefit from reading them.' Sean M. Carroll, California Institute of Technology'In Sidney Coleman's Lectures on Relativity, we get the benefit of Sidney's questions. There are hundreds of question marks here, some leading the reader to the next topic and some highlighting confusing subtleties. It is not the Socratic method exactly because most of the questions are addressed to the smartest person in the room – Sidney himself. But his supremely logical answers lead the reader through this important subject.' Howard Georgi, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics, Harvard UniversityTable of ContentsPreface. Part I. Special Relativity: 1. The geometry of special relativity; 2. Relativistic mechanics; 3. Relativistic electrodynamics. Part II. General Relativity: 4. The principle of equivalence; 5. Differential geometry; 6. Gravity; 7. The Schwarzschild solution; 8. Conservation and cosmology; Afterword; Appendix A – Compendium of formulas; Appendix B – Final exams. Index.

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Book SynopsisFrom the same author as the popular first edition, the second edition of this trusted, accessible physics textbook breaks down content into manageable chunks to help students with the transition from GCSE to A Level study. It has been fully revised and updated for the new A Level specifications for first teaching from September 2015, and is suitable for AQA, OCR, WJEC and Edexcel. The textbook provides plenty of examples and practice questions for consolidation of learning. Additional sections in the textbook provide help with revision and exam technique, practical skills and maths skills.

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Book SynopsisThe Physics is a foundational work of western philosophy, and the crucial one for understanding Aristotle's views on matter, form, essence, causation, movement, space, and time. This richly annotated, scrupulously accurate, and consistent translation makes it available to a contemporary English reader as no other does—in part because it fits together seamlessly with other closely associated works in the New Hackett Aristotle series, such as the Metaphysics, De Anima, and forthcoming De Caelo and On Coming to Be and Passing Away. Eventually the series will include all of Aristotle's works. Sequentially numbered endnotes provide the information most needed at each juncture, while a detailed Index of Terms indicates places where focused discussion of key notions occurs. An illuminating general Introduction describes the book that lies ahead, explaining what sort of work it is and what sorts of evidence it relies on.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2016 Praise for the first edition: "Dan Maoz aims to provide a concise guide to the subject for advanced science undergraduates. The essentials of modern astrophysics are covered, from traditional topics such as stellar remnants and galaxies to recent research including dark matter and dark energy, while training students in order-of-magnitude analysis."--Times Higher Education Praise for the first edition: "Maoz makes generous and excellent use of back-of-the-envelope calculations and approximations to the more complete theory, accurate enough to both illustrate the physics and to arrive at decent numerical answers... Lots of material is squeezed into this thin volume. The treatment of stellar physics is particularly insightful; other topics--galaxies and galactic structure and cosmology--are also very well done."--K. L. Schick, Choice Praise for the first edition: "The presentation of so much material ... is done very skillfully, with a judicious balance between mathematical discussion and physical argument. The pedagogic value of the text is greatly enhanced by the problems given at the end of each chapter. Altogether, the book lives well up to the publisher's declared aims."--Leon Mestel, Observatory Praise for the first edition: "This is, without a doubt, one of the best books that I have used for an introductory course in astrophysics over the past decade. The book is unique in providing a pedagogical and authoritative overview of all the important topics in present-day astrophysics with mathematical rigor. The equations are self-contained and well explained, and the results are derived in a concise, factual manner with careful attention to details. My students, teaching assistant, and I have all found the book to be outstanding."--Avi Loeb, Harvard University Praise for the first edition: "Astrophysics in a Nutshell introduces the serious student to the tools, diversity, and power of modern astrophysical theory. In one panoramic volume, both text and reference, the author presents and applies essential concepts and equations, introducing the methods by which we seek to understand the inner workings of the cosmos. It will make a useful addition to the libraries of novice and pundit alike."--Adam Burrows, Princeton University Praise for the first edition: "Astrophysics in a Nutshell is just that--a no-nonsense, fast-paced textbook that authoritatively covers the concepts underlying modern astronomy at an advanced undergraduate level. Dan Maoz does a remarkably good job of presenting the widest range of material that can be reasonably contained in a serious one-semester course. The book's scholarship is excellent and fully up to date."--Greg Laughlin, University of California, Santa Cruz Praise for the first edition: "I have nothing but praise for this textbook. It is a significant contribution to a field that is short on introductions to astronomy for science majors. Astrophysics in a Nutshell fills a basic need."--Lynne Hillenbrand, California Institute of Technology "The book is outstanding and belongs on al physics professors' desks and in all colleges and libraries."--ChoiceTable of ContentsPreface xii Constants and Units xvii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 1.1 Observational Techniques 2 Problems 8 Chapter 2: Stars: Basic Observations 10 2.1 Review of Blackbody Radiation 10 2.2 Measurement of Stellar Parameters 14 2.3 The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram 26 Problems 28 Chapter 3: Stellar Physics 30 3.1 Hydrostatic Equilibrium and the Virial Theorem 31 3.2 Mass Continuity 35 3.3 Radiative Energy Transport 35 3.4 Energy Conservation 40 3.5 The Equations of Stellar Structure 41 3.6 The Equation of State 42 3.7 Opacity 44 3.8 Scaling Relations on the Main Sequence 45 3.9 Nuclear Energy Production 47 3.10 Nuclear Reaction Rates 52 3.11 Solution of the Equations of Stellar Structure 57 3.12 Convection 57 Problems 60 Chapter 4: Stellar Evolution and Stellar Remnants 64 4.1 Stellar Evolution 64 4.2 White Dwarfs 69 4.3 Supernovae and Neutron Stars 82 4.4 Pulsars 89 4.5 Black Holes 96 4.6 Interacting Binaries 99 Problems 109 Chapter 5: Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium 115 5.1 Cloud Collapse and Star Formation 115 5.2 H II Regions 122 5.3 Components of the Interstellar Medium 133 5.4 Shocks, Supernova Remnants, and Cosmic Rays 136 Problems 153 Chapter 6: Extrasolar Planets 157 6.1 Planet Detection Methods 158 6.2 Planetary System Occurrence and Architecture 175 6.3 Planet Formation and Evolution 178 6.4 Habitable Zones and the Search for Life 180 Problems 182 Chapter 7: The Milky Way and Other Galaxies 185 7.1 Structure of the Milky Way 185 7.2 Galaxy Demographics 200 7.3 Active Galactic Nuclei and Quasars 203 7.4 Groups and Clusters of Galaxies 208 Problems 212 Chapter 8: Cosmology: Basic Observations 215 8.1 The Olbers Paradox 215 8.2 Extragalactic Distances 216 8.3 Hubble's Law 223 8.4 Age of the Universe from Cosmic Clocks 225 8.5 Isotropy of the Universe 226 Problems 227 Chapter 9: Big Bang Cosmology 228 9.1 The Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker Metric 228 9.2 The Friedmann Equations 231 9.3 History and Future of the Universe 234 9.4 A Newtonian Derivation of the Friedmann Equations 240 9.5 Dark Energy and the Accelerating Universe 242 Problems 245 Chapter 10: Tests and Probes of Big Bang Cosmology 247 10.1 Cosmological Redshift and Hubble's Law 247 10.2 The Cosmic Microwave Background 251 10.3 Anisotropy of the Microwave Background 255 10.4 Baron Acoustic Oscillations 261 10.5 Nucleosynthesis of the Light Elements 263 10.6 Quasars and Other Distant Sources as Cosmological Probes 266 Problems 269 Appendix 275 Index 239

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Book SynopsisProvides the mathematical methods that aspiring scientists and engineers are likely to encounter as students and beginning researchers. This book also provides mathematical relations and their proofs essential to the study of physics and related fields. It focuses on problem-solving skills and active learning, offering numerous chapter problems.Trade Review"...a thorough handbook about mathematics that is useful in physics."--MAA.org "This volume is a great collection of essential mathematical tools and techniques used to solve problems in physics, very useful to any student of physics or research professional in the field. It is concentrated to problem-solving art and offers a large amount of problems and exercises."--Zentralblatt MATH 1239Table of Contents1. Mathematical Preliminaries 2. Determinants and Matrices 3. Vector Analysis 4. Tensors and Differential Forms 5. Vector Spaces 6. Eigenvalue Problems 7. Ordinary Differential Equations 8. Partial Differential Equations 9. Green's Functions 10. Complex Variable Theory 11. Further Topics in Analysis 12. Gamma Function 13. Bessel Functions 14. Legendre Functions 15. Angular Momentum 16. Group Theory 17. More Special Functions 18. Fourier Series 19. Integral Transforms 20. Periodic Systems 21. Integral Equations 22. Mathieu Functions 23. Calculus of Variations 24. Probability and Statistics

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Book SynopsisThe Trouble with Physics is a groundbreaking account of the state of modern physics: of how we got from Einstein and Relativity through quantum mechanics to the strange and bizarre predictions of string theory, full of unseen dimensions and multiple universes.Lee Smolin not only provides a brilliant layman''s overview of current research as we attempt to build a ''theory of everything'', but also questions many of the assumptions that lie behind string theory. In doing so, he describes some of the daring, outlandish ideas that will propel research in years to come.

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Book SynopsisAn enthralling and accessible account of humanity’s quest to make sense of our physical world, told through interwoven tales of inspiration, tragedy, and triumph.How do the remarkable recent discoveries of the Higgs boson, dark matter, and dark energy connect with the equally revolutionary discoveries in centuries past? In Grace in All Simplicity, readers will delight in Cahn and Quigg's engaging prose and see how the infinite and the infinitesimal are joined. Today, physicists and astronomers are exploring distances from a billionth of a billionth of the human scale to the entire cosmos, and contemplating time intervals that range from less than a trillionth of a trillionth of a second out to far longer than the age of the universe. Leaving home in this metaphorical way requires devising new instruments that spectacularly expand our senses and conceiving original ways of thinking that expand our minds. This is at once an act of audacity and an exercise in humility. Grace in All Simplicity narrates the saga of how we have prospected for some of Nature’s most tightly held secrets, the basic constituents of matter and the fundamental forces that rule them. Our current understanding of the world (and universe) we inhabit is the result of curiosity, diligence, and daring, of abstraction and synthesis, and of an abiding faith in the value of exploration. In these pages we will meet scientists of both past and present. These men and women are professional scientists and amateurs, the eccentric and the conventional, performers and introverts. Scientists themselves, Cahn and Quigg convey their infectious joy as they search for new laws of nature. Join the adventure as scientists ascend mountain tops and descend into caverns deep underground, travel to the coldest places on Earth, and voyage back in time to near the birth of the Universe. Visit today’s great laboratories and the astounding instruments they house. Grace in All Simplicity is a thrilling voyage filled with improbable discoveries and the extraordinary community of people who make them. Together, we will travel the path to the Higgs boson, weigh the evidence for subliminal dark matter, and learn what makes scientists invoke a mysterious agent named "dark energy." We will behold the emergence of a compelling picture of matter and forces, simple in its structure, graceful in the interplay of its parts, but still tantalizingly incomplete.Trade Review“A fascinating and accessible description of the incredible revolution physicists have made in understanding the world's smallest pieces.” -- Scientific American"Cahn and Quigg’s joy at being able to share, and further, understanding of the Universe is catching and their sense of purpose inspiring. Their celebration of the 'elegance and economy' of particle physics, of scientific uncertainty and openness, of scientists and the science they explore, leaves the reader in a fever of gratitude. Grace in All Simplicity is an uplifting tale of science and scientific lives well lived. The book is a fantastic encapsulation of the brazen way science advances." -- Nature"A vibrant history traces the triumphs and missteps of quantum, nuclear, and particle physics. What a joy, to pick up Grace in All Simplicity and encounter stunning true-life tales of passionate researchers grappling with the challenges of the natural world in all its rawness and danger. It is such human touches, along with colorful analogies and descriptions, that make Grace in All Simplicity shine. The authors paint vibrant portraits of so many of the principals involved in the histories of quantum, nuclear, and particle physics, along with related fields, and describe their contributions with exceptional clarity." -- Science"Veteran physicists Quigg and Cahn produce a fascinating and accessible tour of the fundamental principles, particles, and processes that govern heaven and earth." -- Yale Alumni Magazine"The journey, from particle physics on the smallest scale to the grandest cosmological queries, has perhaps never been better told nor made more accessible." -- Harvard Magazine“In Grace in All Simplicity, Cahn and Quigg share with us their ring-side view of the discoveries that led to our current picture of our most fundamental physical laws. Ironically, the path taken that led to our emerging view of the Universe is neither simple or graceful, but spell-binding and charming in all its human complexities.” -- Professor Steven Chu, Nobel laureate, Professor of Physics, Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Environmental Science and Engineering, Stanford University“Cahn and Quigg highlight the connectedness of the underlying concepts and the ways experiment and theory interact over time. The payoff is a wonderful and engaging dive into the last century of revolutionary physics." -- Booklist“In this insightful and accessible book, Quigg and Cahn celebrate the people behind these discoveries, following their paths around the globe to explore the extraordinary experiments that probe the fundamental properties of the universe. The vast collective of minds that collaborate in this building, across space and time, is an astonishing feat itself—one driven by the most essential curiosity: that of our existence. A captivating book that reveals the interconnectedness of science’s most profound advances.” -- Kirkus Reviews“Cahn and Quigg regale us with non-stop fascinating stories about the quirky characters and inventive experiments that have built our understanding of the physical world and how it works. And those physicists, their experiments—and the rules of our universe that they discovered—really are quirky! A rare insider view into the dramatic developments of particle physics and cosmology.” -- Saul Perlmutter, Nobel Laureate in Physics, Professor of Physics at University of California, Berkeley“At heart, this book is a travelogue that takes readers on a journey through conceptual landscapes so exotic they challenge the imagination. It’s a highly engaging account of how successive generations of scientists broke through to the strange reality that underpins the familiar world we inhabit, beautifully capturing the wonder and fun of it all.” -- J. Madeleine Nash, former TIME senior science correspondent and author of El Niño: Unlocking the Secrets of the Master Weather-Maker

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Book SynopsisWhat are things made of?What is the sun?Why is there night and day, winter and summer?Why do bad things happen?Are we alone?Throughout history people all over the world have invented stories to answer profound questions such as these. Have you heard the tale of how the sun hatched out of an emu''s egg? Or what about the great catfish that carries the world on its back? Has anyone ever told you that earthquakes are caused by a sneezing giant? These fantastical myths are fun - but what is the real answer to such questions?The Magic of Reality, with its explanations of space, time, evolution and more, will inspire and amaze readers of all ages - young adults, adults, children, octogenarians. Teaming up with the renowned illustrator Dave McKean, Richard Dawkins answers all these questions and many more. In stunning words and pictures this book presents the real story of the world around us, taking us on an enthralling journey through Trade ReviewIt's the clearest and most beautifully written introduction to science I've ever read. Again and again I found myself saying "Oh! So that's how genes work!" (or stars, or tectonic plates, or all the other things he explains). Explanations I thought I knew were clarified; things I never understood were made clear for the first time -- Philip PullmanI wanted to write this book but I wasn't clever enough. Now I've read it, I am -- Ricky GervaisThe Magic of Reality provides a beautiful, accessible and wide ranging volume that addresses the questions that all of us have about the universe...written with the masterful and eloquently literate style of perhaps the best popular expositor of science, Richard Dawkins, and delightfully illustrated by Dave McKean. What more could anyone ask for? -- Lawrence Krauss, author of Quantum Man, and A Universe from NothingFrom the first sentence it reads with the force and fluency of a classic ... a luminous, authoritative prose that transcends age differences * The Times *A charming and free-ranging history of science * The Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisNobel Prize winner Werner Heisenberg''s classic account explains the central ideas of the quantum revolution, and his celebrated Uncertainty Principle. Heisenberg reveals how words and concepts familiar in daily life can lose their meaning in the world of relativity and quantum physics.This in turn has profound philosophical implications for the nature of reality.

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Book SynopsisAs a fundamental aspect of our knowledge of the physical world, quantum mechanics remains a vital subject in physics. This is a collection of the late Richard P Feynman's lectures. It is suitable for students of physics and those seeking an introduction to the field from the inimitable Richard Feynman.

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Book Synopsis* An introduction to physics in the context of societal problems as energy, pollution, climate change and finite resources of fossil fuels and uranium. * Emphasis in the book will be on physics, on the concepts and principles that help in understanding the ways to produce energy or to mitigate climate change.Table of Contents Preface xiii Acknowledgements xv 1 Introduction 1 1.1 A Sustainable Energy Supply 1 1.2 The Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change 3 1.3 Light Absorption in Nature as a Source of Energy 4 1.4 The Contribution of Science: Understanding, Modelling and Monitoring 5 Exercises 6 References 6 2 Light and Matter 7 2.1 The Solar Spectrum 7 2.1.1 Radiation from a Black Body 7 2.1.2 Emission Spectrum of the Sun 9 2.2 Interaction of Light with Matter 12 2.2.1 Electric Dipole Moments of Transitions 12 2.2.2 Einstein Coefficients 14 2.2.3 Absorption of a Beam of Light: Lambert-Beer’s Law 16 2.3 Ultraviolet Light and Biomolecules 19 2.3.1 Spectroscopy of Biomolecules 20 2.3.2 Damage to Life from Solar UV 21 2.3.3 The Ozone Filter as Protection 22 Exercises 28 References 28 3 Climate and Climate Change 31 3.1 The Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere 32 3.2 The Radiation Balance and the Greenhouse Effect 36 3.2.1 Simple Changes in the Radiation Balance 39 3.2.2 Radiation Transfer 41 3.2.3 A Simple Analytical Model 44 3.2.4 Radiative Forcing and Global Warming 45 3.2.5 The Greenhouse Gases 48 3.3 Dynamics in the Climate System 51 3.3.1 Horizontal Motion of Air 53 3.3.2 Vertical Motion of Ocean Waters 58 3.3.3 Horizontal Motion of Ocean Waters 59 3.4 Natural Climate Variability 59 3.5 Modelling Human-Induced Climate Change 62 3.5.1 The Carbon Cycle 63 3.5.2 Structure of Climate Modelling 66 3.5.3 Modelling the Atmosphere 67 3.5.4 A Hierarchy of Models 70 3.6 Analyses of IPCC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 70 3.7 Forecasts of Climate Change 70 Exercises 74 References 76 4 Heat Engines 77 4.1 Heat Transfer and Storage 78 4.1.1 Conduction 79 4.1.2 Convection 82 4.1.3 Radiation 82 4.1.4 Phase Change 83 4.1.5 The Solar Collector 84 4.1.6 The Heat Diffusion Equation 87 4.1.7 Heat Storage 90 4.2 Principles of Thermodynamics 91 4.2.1 First and Second Laws 91 4.2.2 Heat and Work; Carnot Efficiency 95 4.2.3 Efficiency of a ‘Real’ Heat Engine 97 4.2.4 Second Law Efficiency 98 4.2.5 Loss of Exergy in Combustion 101 4.3 Idealized Cycles 103 4.3.1 Carnot Cycle 103 4.3.2 Stirling Engine 104 4.3.3 Steam Engine 105 4.3.4 Internal Combustion 107 4.3.5 Refrigeration 110 4.4 Electricity as Energy Carrier 113 4.4.1 Varying Grid Load 114 4.4.2 Co-Generation of Heat and Electricity 115 4.4.3 Storage of Electric Energy 117 4.4.4 Transmission of Electric Power 123 4.5 Pollution from Heat Engines 125 4.5.1 Nitrogen Oxides Nox 125 4.5.2 So2 126 4.5.3 CO and CO2 126 4.5.4 Aerosols 127 4.5.5 Volatile Organic Compounds VOC 128 4.5.6 Thermal Pollution 129 4.5.7 Regulations 129 4.6 The Private Car 129 4.6.1 Power Needs 130 4.6.2 Automobile Fuels 131 4.6.3 Three-Way Catalytic Converter 132 4.6.4 Electric Car 133 4.6.5 Hybrid Car 134 4.7 Economics of Energy Conversion 134 4.7.1 Capital Costs 134 4.7.2 Learning Curve 138 Exercises 138 References 142 5 Renewable Energy 145 5.1 Electricity from the Sun 146 5.1.1 Varying Solar Input 146 5.1.2 Electricity from Solar Heat: Concentrating Solar Power CSP 150 5.1.3 Direct Conversion of Light into Electricity: Photovoltaics PV 152 5.2 Energy from the Wind 159 5.2.1 Betz Limit 160 5.2.2 Aerodynamics 162 5.2.3 Wind Farms 165 5.2.4 Vertical Wind Profile 165 5.2.5 Wind Statistics 167 5.2.6 State of the Art and Outlook 168 5.3 Energy from the Water 169 5.3.1 Power from Dams 169 5.3.2 Power from Flowing Rivers 170 5.3.3 Power from Waves 170 5.3.4 Power from the Tides 174 5.4 Bio Energy 175 5.4.1 Thermodynamics of Bio Energy 175 5.4.2 Stability 180 5.4.3 Solar Efficiency 180 5.4.4 Energy from Biomass 182 5.5 Physics of Photosynthesis 183 5.5.1 Basics of Photosynthesis 184 5.5.2 Light-Harvesting Antennas 185 5.5.3 Energy Transfer Mechanism 187 5.5.4 Charge Separation 190 5.5.5 Flexibility and Disorder 193 5.5.6 Photoprotection 193 5.5.7 Research Directions 195 5.6 Organic Photocells: the Grätzel Cell 196 5.6.1 The Principle 196 5.6.2 Efficiency 199 5.6.3 New Developments and the Future 202 5.6.4 Applications 203 5.7 Bio Solar Energy 203 5.7.1 Comparison of Biology and Technology 204 5.7.2 Legacy Biochemistry 207 5.7.3 Artificial Photosynthesis 209 5.7.4 Solar Fuels with Photosynthetic Microorganisms: Two Research Questions 213 5.7.5 Conclusion 213 Exercises 215 References 217 6 Nuclear Power 221 6.1 Nuclear Fission 222 6.1.1 Principles 222 6.1.2 Four Factor Formula 226 6.1.3 Reactor Equations 229 6.1.4 Stationary Reactor 231 6.1.5 Time Dependence of a Reactor 233 6.1.6 Reactor Safety 234 6.1.7 Nuclear Explosives 237 6.2 Nuclear Fusion 238 6.3 Radiation and Health 244 6.3.1 Definitions 244 6.3.2 Norms on Exposure to Radiation 245 6.3.3 Normal Use of Nuclear Power 247 6.3.4 Radiation from Nuclear Accidents 247 6.3.5 Health Aspects of Fusion 247 6.4 Managing the Fuel Cycle 248 6.4.1 Uranium Mines 249 6.4.2 Enrichment 249 6.4.3 Fuel Burnup 252 6.4.4 Reprocessing 252 6.4.5 Waste Management 253 6.4.6 Nonproliferation 256 6.5 Fourth Generation Nuclear Reactors 257 Exercises 258 References 259 7 Dispersion of Pollutants 261 7.1 Diffusion 262 7.1.1 Diffusion Equation 262 7.1.2 Point Source in Three Dimensions in Uniform Wind 267 7.1.3 Effect of Boundaries 269 7.2 Dispersion in Rivers 270 7.2.1 One-Dimensional Approximation 271 7.2.2 Influence of Turbulence 275 7.2.3 Example: A Calamity Model for the Rhine River 277 7.2.4 Continuous Point Emission 278 7.2.5 Two Numerical Examples 280 7.2.6 Improvements 281 7.2.7 Conclusion 282 7.3 Dispersion in Groundwater 282 7.3.1 Basic Definitions 283 7.3.2 Darcy’s Equations 286 7.3.3 Stationary Applications 290 7.3.4 Dupuit Approximation 295 7.3.5 Simple Flow in a Confined Aquifer 298 7.3.6 Time Dependence in a Confined Aquifer 301 7.3.7 Adsorption and Desorption of Pollutants 302 7.4 Mathematics of Fluid Dynamics 304 7.4.1 Stress Tensor 304 7.4.2 Equations of Motion 308 7.4.3 Newtonian Fluids 309 7.4.4 Navier-Stokes Equation 310 7.4.5 Reynolds Number 311 7.4.6 Turbulence 313 7.5 Gaussian Plumes in the Air 317 7.5.1 Statistical Analysis 319 7.5.2 Continuous Point Source 321 7.5.3 Gaussian Plume from a High Chimney 322 7.5.4 Empirical Determination of the Dispersion Coefficients 323 7.5.5 Semi-Empirical Determination of the Dispersion Parameters 324 7.5.6 Building a Chimney 325 7.6 Turbulent Jets and Plumes 326 7.6.1 Dimensional Analysis 328 7.6.2 Simple Jet 329 7.6.3 Simple Plume 331 Exercises 333 References 334 8 Monitoring with Light 337 8.1 Overview of Spectroscopy 337 8.1.1 Population of Energy Levels and Intensity of Absorption Lines 341 8.1.2 Transition Dipole Moment: Selection Rules 341 8.1.3 Linewidths 342 8.2 Atomic Spectra 345 8.2.1 One-Electron Atoms 345 8.2.2 Many-Electron Atoms 346 8.3 Molecular Spectra 347 8.3.1 Rotational Transitions 347 8.3.2 Vibrational Transitions 349 8.3.3 Electronic Transitions 353 8.4 Scattering 359 8.4.1 Raman Scattering 359 8.4.2 Resonance Raman Scattering 360 8.4.3 Rayleigh Scattering 361 8.4.4 Mie Scattering 362 8.4.5 Scattering in the Atmosphere 362 8.5 Remote Sensing by Satellites 362 8.5.1 ENVISAT Satellite 362 8.5.2 SCIAMACHY’s Operation 362 8.5.3 Analysis 364 8.5.4 Ozone Results 368 8.6 Remote Sensing by Lidar 368 8.6.1 Lidar Equation and DIAL 369 8.6.2 Range-Resolved Cloud and Aerosol Optical Properties 371 Exercises 376 References 377 9 The Context of Society 379 9.1 Using Energy Resources 380 9.1.1 Energy Consumption 380 9.1.2 Energy Consumption and Resources 382 9.1.3 Energy Efficiency 383 9.1.4 Comparing Energy Resources 384 9.1.5 Energy Options 387 9.1.6 Conclusion 388 9.2 Fresh Water 389 9.3 Risks 389 9.3.1 Small Concentrations of Harmful Chemicals 390 9.3.2 Acceptable Risks 392 9.3.3 Small Probability for a Large Harm 393 9.3.4 Dealing with Uncertainties 394 9.4 International Efforts 396 9.4.1 Protection of the Ozone Layer 396 9.4.2 Protection of Climate 396 9.5 Global Environmental Management 398 9.5.1 Self-Organized Criticality 398 9.5.2 Conclusion 401 9.6 Science and Society 401 9.6.1 Nature of Science 401 9.6.2 Control of Science 402 9.6.3 Aims of Science 402 9.6.4 A New Social Contract between Science and Society 404 Exercises and social questions 405 Social questions 405 References 406 Appendix A: Physical and Numerical Constants 409 Appendix B: Vector Algebra 411 Appendix C: Gauss, Delta and Error Functions 419 Appendix D: Experiments in a Student’s Lab 423 Appendix E: Web Sites 425 Appendix F: Omitted Parts of the Second Edition 427 Index 429

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Book SynopsisThis classic text emphasizes physical arguments and minimizes theoretical formalism. Topics include the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer and Ginzburg-Landau theories, magnetic properties of classic type II superconductors, the Josephson effect, more. 1996 edition.

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Book SynopsisThe lecture notes presented here in facsimile were prepared by the Nobel Prize winner, Enrico Fermi, for students taking his course at the University of Chicago in 1954. This edition includes a set of Fermi's assigned problems as compiled by one of his former students, Robert A. Schluter.Table of ContentsPreface to the First Edition 1: Optics - Mechanics Analogy 2: Schrodinger Equation 3: Simple One-Dimensional Problems 4: Linear Oscillator 5: W. K. B. Method 6: Spherical Harmonics 7: Central Forces 8: Hydrogen Atom 9: Orthogonality of Wave Functions 10: Linear Operators 11: Eigenvalues and Eigenfunction 12: Operators for Mass Point 13: Uncertainty Principle 14: Matrices 15: Hermitian Matrices - Eigenvalue Problems 16: Unitary Matrices - Transformations 17: Observables 18: The Angular Momentum 19: Time Dependence of Observables - Heisenberg Representation 20: Conservation Theorems 21: Time-Independent Perturbation Theory - Ritz Method 22: Case of Degeneracy or Quasi Degeneracy - Hydrogen Stark Effect 23: Time-Dependent Perturbation Theory - Born Approximation 24: Emission and Absorption of Radiation 25: Pauli Theory of Spin 26: Electron in Central Field 27: Anomalous Zeeman Effect 28: Addition of Angular Momentum Vectors 29: Atomic Multiplets 30: Systems with Identical Particles 31: Two-Electron System 32: Hydrogen Molecule 33: Collision Theory 34: Dirac's Theory of the Free Electron 35: Dirac Electron in Electromagnetic Field 36: Dirac Electron in Central Field - Hydrogen Atom 37: Transformations of Dirac Spinors Introduction to Problems for Notes on Quantum Mechanics Problems

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Book SynopsisCan we do better in space than we ve done here on Earth?

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisPublisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product.Understanding PHYSICS just got a whole lot EASIER!Stumped trying to make sense of physics? Here's your solution. Physics Demystified, Second Edition helps you grasp the essential concepts with ease.Written in a step-by-step format, this practical guide begins by covering classical physics, including mass, force, motion, momentum, work, energy, and power, as well as the temperature and states of matter. Electricity, magnetism, and electronics are discussed as are waves, particles, space, and time. Detailed examples, concise explanations, and worked problems make it easy to understand the material, and end-of-chapter quizzes and a final exam help reinforce learning.It's a no-brainer! You'll learn about:Table of ContentsAcknowledgments; How to Use This Book; Part I: Classical Physics; Chapter 0. Review of Scientific Notation; Chapter 1. Units and Constants; Chapter 2. Mass, Force, and Motion; Chapter 3. Momentum, Work, Energy, and Power; Chapter 4. Particles of Matter; Chapter 5. Basic States of Matter; Chapter 6. Temperature, Pressure, and Changes of State;Test: Part I; Part II: Electricity, Magnetism, and Electronics; Chapter 7. Direct Current; Chapter 8. Alternating Current; Chapter 9. Magnetism; Chapter 10. More About Alternating Current; Chapter 11. Semiconductors; Test: Part II; Part III: Waves, Particles, Space, and Time; Chapter 12. Wave Phenomena; Chapter 13. Forms of Radiation; Chapter 14. Optics; Chapter 15. Relativity Theory; Test: Part III; Final Exam; Answers to Quizzes, Tests, and Final Exam; Suggested Additional Reading; Index

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Book SynopsisContents 1. A A country boy 2. A Pins and string 3. A Philosophy 4. A Learning to juggle 5. A Blue and yellow make pink 6. A Saturn and statistics 7. A Cast of characters 8. A Spinning cells 9. A The beautiful equations 10. A The Laird at home 11. A The Cavendish 12. A Last days 13. A Maxwella s legacy 14.Trade Review"This is a wonderful, short biography that gives a vivid account of James Clerk Maxwell's life and work." (Materials Today, June 2004) "...an absorbing account of Maxwell's life and work" (Sunday Telegraph Review, 19th September 2004) "...provides the reader with the opportunity to understand Maxwell's contributions to modern science and technology." (The Mathematical Gazette, March 2005) "...a fascinating book about an inspiring man..." (Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, Vol.36, No.3, March 2005)Table of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgements. Chronology: principal events in Maxwell’s life. Cast of characters: Maxwell’s relations and close friends. Introduction. 1. A country boy: Glenlair 1831-1841. 2. Pins and string: Edinburgh Academy 1841-1847. 3. Philosophy: Edinburgh University 1847-1850 4. Learning to juggle: Cambridge 1850-1854. 5. Blue and yellow make pink: Cambridge 1854-1856. 6. Saturn and statistics: Aberdeen 1856-1860. 7. Spinning cells: London 1860-1862. 8. The beautiful equations: London 1862-1865. 9. The Laird at home: Glenlair 1865-1870. 10. The Cavendish: Cambridge 1870-1879. 11. Last days. 12. Maxwell’s legacy. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestseller from the author of The Order of Time and Reality Is Not What It Seems, Helgoland, and Anaximander“One of the year’s most entrancing books about science.”—The Wall Street Journal“Clear, elegant...a whirlwind tour of some of the biggest ideas in physics.”—The New York Times Book Review  This playful, entertaining, and mind-bending introduction to modern physics briskly explains Einstein's general relativity, quantum mechanics, elementary particles, gravity, black holes, the complex architecture of the universe, and the role humans play in this weird and wonderful world. Carlo Rovelli, a renowned theoretical physicist, is a delightfully poetic and philosophical scientific guide. He takes us to the frontiers of our knowledge: to the most minute reaches of the fabric of space, back to the origins of the cosmos, and into the workings of our minds. The book celebrates the joy of discovery.  “Here, on the edge of what we know, in contact with the ocean of the unknown, shines the mystery and the beauty of the world,” Rovelli writes. “And it’s breathtaking.”

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Book SynopsisExcellent coverage of kinematics, momentum principle, Newtonian fluid, rotating fluids, compressibility, and more. Geared toward advanced undergraduate and graduate students of mathematics and science; prerequisites include calculus and vector analysis. 1971 edition.

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Book SynopsisIntroduction to Quantum Mechanics is an introduction to the power and elegance of quantum mechanics. Assuming little in the way of prior knowledge, quantum concepts are carefully and precisely presented, and explored through numerous applications and problems.Trade Review“This review has long felt that the current selection of books lack rigor and do not address thoroughly enough how quantum is fundamentally done; this one does a good job...recommended.” (Choice, Vol. 41, No. 5, January 2004)Table of ContentsForeword. Editor's preface to the Manchester Physics Series. Author's Preface. Chapter 1. Planck's Constant in Action. Chapter 2. The Schrodinger Equation. Chapter 3. Position and Momentum. Chapter 4. Energy and Time. Chapter 5. Square Wells and Barriers. Chapter 6. The Harmonic Oscillator. Chapter 7. Observables and Operators. Chapter 8. Angular Momentum. Chapter 9. The Hydrogen Atom. Chapter 10. Identical Particles. Atoms. Hints to Selected problems. Further reading. Index. Physical constants and conversion factors.

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Book SynopsisIn this entertaining collection of intriguing, educational, and fun braintwisters, acclaimed author and physicist Christopher Jargodzki and physicist Franklin Potter join forces to explore the curiosities of physics and provide answers intriguing conundrums.Table of ContentsPreface ix Acknowledgments xiii To the Reader xv Chapter 1 Temperature Risin’ 1 Chapter 2 Color My World 1 3 Chapter 3 Splish! Splash! 25 Chapter 4 Fly like an Eagle 4 1 Chapter 5 Good Vibrations 53 Chapter 6 Opposites Attract 65 Chapter 7 Bodies in Motion 79 Chapter 8 Stairway to Heaven 101 Chapter 9 Life in the Fast Lane 1 1 1 Chapter 10 Born to Run 121 Chapter 1 1 Third Stone from the Sun 131 Chapter 12 Across the Universe 143 Answers Temperature Risin’ 155 Color My World 166 Splish! Splash! 1 7 5 Fly like an Eagle 185 Good Vibrations 194 Opposites Attract 209 Bodies in Motion 219 Stairway to Heaven 239 Life in the Fast Lane 247 Born to Run 255 Third Stone from the Sun 269 Across the Universe 283 Index 298

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Book SynopsisAs a fundamental aspect of our knowledge of the physical world, quantum mechanics remains a vital subject in physics. This is a collection of the late Richard P Feynman's lectures. It is suitable for students of physics and those seeking an introduction to the field from the inimitable Richard Feynman.

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Book SynopsisA Thorough But Understandable Introduction To Molecular Symmetry And Group Theory As Applied To Chemical Problems! In a friendly, easy--to--understand style, this new book invites the reader to discover by example the power of symmetry arguments for understanding theoretical problems in chemistry.Table of ContentsFundamental Concepts. Representations of Groups. Techniques and Relationships for Chemical Applications. Symmetry and Chemical Bonding. Equations for Wave Functions. Vibrational Spectroscopy. Transition Metal Complexes. Appendices. Index.

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Book SynopsisThe whole thing was basically an experiment, Richard Feynman said late in his career, looking back on the origins of his lectures. The experiment turned out to be hugely successful, spawning publications that have remained definitive and introductory to physics for decades. Ranging from the basic principles of Newtonian physics through such formidable theories as general relativity and quantum mechanics, Feynman''s lectures stand as a monument of clear exposition and deep insight.Timeless and collectible, the lectures are essential reading, not just for students of physics but for anyone seeking an introduction to the field from the inimitable Feynman.

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Book SynopsisThe mathematical methods employed by Newton in the Principia stimulated much debate among contemporaries. This book explains how Newton addressed these issues, taking into consideration the values that directed his research. It will be of interest to researchers and students in history and philosophy of science, physics, mathematics and astronomy.Trade Review'This is a clearly written and informative work that brings alive and throws new light on a compelling episode … It is an attractive book and accessible to a broad constituency.' June Barrow-Green, BSHM NewsletterFrom a translation of an article appeared in Il Sole-24 Ore: 'Guicciardini offers an original key to the reading of the Principia, which is the mature result of the research of a scholar, better known abroad than in Italy. He is among the greatest authorities in his field.' Umberto Bottazzini, Il Sole-24 Ore'This reviewer enjoyed reading Reading the Principia.' Applied Mechanics'The book is a first-rate contribution to the history of science.' E. Knobloch, Zentralblatt MATHTable of Contents1. Purpose of this book; Part I. Newton's Methods: 2. Newton's methods of series and fluxions; 3. The mathematical methods of the Principia; Part II. Three Readers: 4. Newton: between tradition and innovation; 5. Huygens: the Principia and proportion theory; 6. Leibniz: not equivalent in practice; Part III. Two Schools: 7. Britain: in the wake of the Principia; 8. Basel: challenging the Principia; 9. Conclusion: Newtonians, Leibnizians and Eulerians; References.

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Book SynopsisTable of Contents Introduction, Measurement, Estimating Describing Motion: Kinematics in One Dimension Kinematics in Two Dimensions; Vectors Dynamics: Newton’s Laws of Motion Circular Motion; Gravitation Work and Energy Linear Momentum Rotational Motion Static Equilibrium; Elasticity and Fracture Fluids Oscillations and Waves Sound Temperature and Kinetic Theory Heat The Laws of Thermodynamics Electric Charge and Electric Field Electric Potential Electric Currents DC Circuits Magnetism Electromagnetic Induction and Faraday’s Law Electromagnetic Waves Light: Geometric Optics The Wave Nature of Light Optical Instruments The Special Theory of Relativity Early Quantum Theory and Models of the Atom Quantum Mechanics of Atoms Molecules and Solids Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity Nuclear Energy; Effects and Uses of Radiation Elementary Particles Astrophysics and Cosmology

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Book SynopsisCircuits overloaded from electric circuit analysis? Many universities require that students pursuing a degree in electrical or computer engineering take an Electric Circuit Analysis course to determine who will "make the cut" and continue in the degree program.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Conventions Used in This Book 1 What You’re Not to Read 2 Foolish Assumptions 2 How This Book is Organized 2 Part I: Getting Started with Circuit Analysis 2 Part II: Applying Analytical Methods for Complex Circuits 3 Part III: Understanding Circuits with Transistors and Operational Amplifiers 3 Part IV: Applying Time-Varying Signals to First- and Second-Order Circuits 3 Part V: Advanced Techniques and Applications in Circuit Analysis 3 Part VI: The Part of Tens 3 Icons Used in This Book 4 Where to Go from Here 4 Part I: Getting Started with Circuit Analysis 5 Chapter 1: Introducing Circuit Analysis 7 Getting Started with Current and Voltage 7 Going with the flow with current 8 Recognizing potential differences with voltage 9 Staying grounded with zero voltage 9 Getting some direction with the passive sign convention 10 Beginning with the Basic Laws 11 Surveying the Analytical Methods for More-Complex Circuits 11 Introducing Transistors and Operational Amplifiers 12 Dealing with Time-Varying Signals, Capacitors, and Inductors 13 Avoiding Calculus with Advanced Techniques 13 Chapter 2: Clarifying Basic Circuit Concepts and Diagrams 15 Looking at Current-Voltage Relationships 15 Absorbing energy with resistors 16 Applying Ohm’s law to resistors 16 Calculating the power dissipated by resistors 18 Offering no resistance: Batteries and short circuits 18 Batteries: Providing power independently 19 Short circuits: No voltage, no power 19 Facing infinite resistance: Ideal current sources and open circuits 20 All or nothing: Combining open and short circuits with ideal switches 20 Mapping It All Out with Schematics 21 Going in circles with loops 22 Getting straight to the point with nodes 24 Chapter 3: Exploring Simple Circuits with Kirchhoff’s Laws 25 Presenting Kirchhoff’s Famous Circuit Laws 25 Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL): Conservation of energy 26 Identifying voltage rises and drops 26 Forming a KVL equation 27 Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL): Conservation of charge 29 Tracking incoming and outgoing current 29 Calculating KCL 30 Tackling Circuits with KVL, KCL, and Ohm’s Law 31 Getting batteries and resistors to work together 31 Starting with voltage 32 Bringing in current 32 Combining device equations with KVL 33 Summarizing the results 34 Sharing the same current in series circuits 34 Climbing the ladder with parallel circuits 36 Describing total resistance using conductance 37 Using a shortcut for two resistors in parallel 38 Finding equivalent resistor combinations 38 Combining series and parallel resistors 40 Chapter 4: Simplifying Circuit Analysis with Source Transformation and Division Techniques 41 Equivalent Circuits: Preparing for the Transformation 42 Transforming Sources in Circuits 45 Converting to a parallel circuit with a current source 45 Changing to a series circuit with a voltage source 47 Divvying It Up with the Voltage Divider 49 Getting a voltage divider equation for a series circuit 49 Figuring out voltages for a series circuit with two or more resistors 51 Finding voltages when you have multiple current sources 52 Using the voltage divider technique repeatedly 55 Cutting to the Chase Using the Current Divider Technique 57 Getting a current divider equation for a parallel circuit 57 Figuring out currents for parallel circuits 59 Finding currents when you have multiple voltage sources 60 Using the current divider technique repeatedly 63 Part II: Applying Analytical Methods for Complex Circuits 65 Chapter 5: Giving the Nod to Node-Voltage Analysis 67 Getting Acquainted with Node Voltages and Reference Nodes 67 Testing the Waters with Node Voltage Analysis 69 What goes in must come out: Starting with KCL at the nodes 70 Describing device currents in terms of node voltages with Ohm’s law 70 Putting a system of node voltage equations in matrix form 72 Solving for unknown node voltages 73 Applying the NVA Technique 74 Solving for unknown node voltageswith a current source 74 Dealing with three or more node equations 76 Working with Voltage Sources in Node-Voltage Analysis 80 Chapter 6: Getting in the Loop on Mesh Current Equations 83 Windowpanes: Looking at Meshes and Mesh Currents 83 Relating Device Currents to Mesh Currents 84 Generating the Mesh Current Equations 86 Finding the KVL equations first 87 Ohm’s law: Putting device voltages in terms of mesh currents 87 Substituting the device voltages into the KVL equations 88 Putting mesh current equations into matrix form 89 Solving for unknown currents and voltages 89 Crunching Numbers: Using Meshes to Analyze Circuits 90 Tackling two-mesh circuits 90 Analyzing circuits with three or more meshes 92 Chapter 7: Solving One Problem at a Time Using Superposition 95 Discovering How Superposition Works 95 Making sense of proportionality 96 Applying superposition in circuits 98 Adding the contributions of each independent source 100 Getting Rid of the Sources of Frustration 101 Short circuit: Removing a voltage source 101 Open circuit: Taking out a current source 102 Analyzing Circuits with Two Independent Sources 103 Knowing what to do when the sources are two voltage sources 103 Proceeding when the sources are two current sources 105 Dealing with one voltage source and one current source 107 Solving a Circuit with Three Independent Sources 108 Chapter 8: Applying Thévenin’s and Norton’s Theorems 113 Showing What You Can Do with Thévenin’s and Norton’s Theorems 114 Finding the Norton and Thévenin Equivalents for Complex Source Circuits 115 Applying Thévenin’s theorem 117 Finding the Thévenin equivalent of a circuit with a single independent voltage source 117 Applying Norton’s theorem 119 Using source transformation to find Thévenin or Norton 122 A shortcut: Finding Thévenin or Norton equivalents with source transformation 122 Finding the Thévenin equivalent of a circuit with multiple independent sources 122 Finding Thévenin or Norton with superposition 124 Gauging Maximum Power Transfer: A Practical Application of Both Theorems 127 Part III: Understanding Circuits with Transistors and Operational Amplifiers 131 Chapter 9: Dependent Sources and the Transistors That Involve Them 133 Understanding Linear Dependent Sources: Who Controls What 134 Classifying the types of dependent sources 134 Recognizing the relationship between dependent and independent sources 136 Analyzing Circuits with Dependent Sources 136 Applying node-voltage analysis 137 Using source transformation 138 Using the Thévenin technique 140 Describing a JFET Transistor with a Dependent Source 142 Examining the Three Personalities of Bipolar Transistors 145 Making signals louder with the common emitter circuit 146 Amplifying signals with a common base circuit 149 Isolating circuits with the common collector circuit 151 Chapter 10: Letting Operational Amplifiers Do the Tough Math Fast 155 The Ins and Outs of Op-Amp Circuits 155 Discovering how to draw op amps 156 Looking at the ideal op amp and its transfer characteristics 157 Modeling an op amp with a dependent source 158 Examining the essential equations for analyzing ideal op-amp circuits 159 Looking at Op-Amp Circuits 160 Analyzing a noninverting op amp 160 Following the leader with the voltage follower 162 Turning things around with the inverting amplifier 163 Adding it all up with the summer 164 What’s the difference? Using the op-amp subtractor 166 Increasing the Complexity of What You Can Do with Op Amps 168 Analyzing the instrumentation amplifier 168 Implementing mathematical equations electronically 170 Creating systems with op amps 171 Part IV: Applying Time-Varying Signals to First- and Second-Order Circuits 173 Chapter 11: Making Waves with Funky Functions 175 Spiking It Up with the Lean, Mean Impulse Function 176 Changing the strength of the impulse 178 Delaying an impulse 178 Evaluating impulse functions with integrals 179 Stepping It Up with a Step Function 180 Creating a time-shifted, weighted step function 181 Being out of step with shifted step functions 182 Building a ramp function with a step function 182 Pushing the Limits with the Exponential Function 184 Seeing the Signs with Sinusoidal Functions 186 Giving wavy functions a phase shift 187 Expanding the function and finding Fourier coefficients 189 Connecting sinusoidal functions to exponentials with Euler’s formula 190 Chapter 12: Spicing Up Circuit Analysis with Capacitors and Inductors 193 Storing Electrical Energy with Capacitors 193 Describing a capacitor 194 Charging a capacitor (credit cards not accepted) 195 Relating the current and voltage of a capacitor 195 Finding the power and energy of a capacitor 196 Calculating the total capacitance for parallel and series capacitors 199 Finding the equivalent capacitance of parallel capacitors 199 Finding the equivalent capacitance of capacitors in series 200 Storing Magnetic Energy with Inductors 200 Describing an inductor 201 Finding the energy storage of an attractive inductor 202 Calculating total inductance for series and parallel inductors 203 Finding the equivalent inductance for inductors in series 203 Finding the equivalent inductance for inductors in parallel 204 Calculus: Putting a Cap on Op-Amp Circuits 205 Creating an op-amp integrator 205 Deriving an op-amp differentiator 207 Using Op Amps to Solve Differential Equations Really Fast 208 Chapter 13: Tackling First-Order Circuits 211 Solving First-Order Circuits with Diff EQ 211 Guessing at the solution with the natural exponential function 213 Using the characteristic equation for a first-order equation 214 Analyzing a Series Circuit with a Single Resistor and Capacitor 215 Starting with the simple RC series circuit 215 Finding the zero-input response 217 Finding the zero-state response by focusing on the input source 219 Adding the zero-input and zero-state responses to find the total response 222 Analyzing a Parallel Circuit with a Single Resistor and Inductor 224 Starting with the simple RL parallel circuit 225 Calculating the zero-input response for an RL parallel circuit 226 Calculating the zero-state response for an RL parallel circuit 228 Adding the zero-input and zero-state responses to find the total response 230 Chapter 14: Analyzing Second-Order Circuits 233 Examining Second-Order Differential Equations with Constant Coefficients 233 Guessing at the elementary solutions: The natural exponential function 235 From calculus to algebra: Using the characteristic equation 236 Analyzing an RLC Series Circuit 236 Setting up a typical RLC series circuit 237 Determining the zero-input response 239 Calculating the zero-state response 242 Finishing up with the total response 245 Analyzing an RLC Parallel Circuit Using Duality 246 Setting up a typical RLC parallel circuit 247 Finding the zero-input response 249 Arriving at the zero-state response 250 Getting the total response 251 Part V: Advanced Techniques and Applications in Circuit Analysis 253 Chapter 15: Phasing in Phasors for Wave Functions 255 Taking a More Imaginative Turn with Phasors 256 Finding phasor forms 256 Examining the properties of phasors 258 Using Impedance to Expand Ohm’s Law to Capacitors and Inductors 259 Understanding impedance 260 Looking at phasor diagrams 261 Putting Ohm’s law for capacitors in phasor form 262 Putting Ohm’s law for inductors in phasor form 263 Tackling Circuits with Phasors 263 Using divider techniques in phasor form 264 Adding phasor outputs with superposition 266 Simplifying phasor analysis with Thévenin and Norton 268 Getting the nod for nodal analysis 270 Using mesh-current analysis with phasors 271 Chapter 16: Predicting Circuit Behavior with Laplace Transform Techniques 273 Getting Acquainted with the Laplace Transform and Key Transform Pairs 273 Getting Your Time Back with the Inverse Laplace Transform 276 Rewriting the transform with partial fraction expansion 276 Expanding Laplace transforms with complex poles 278 Dealing with transforms with multiple poles 280 Understanding Poles and Zeros of F(s) 282 Predicting the Circuit Response with Laplace Methods 285 Working out a first-order RC circuit 286 Working out a first-order RL circuit 290 Working out an RLC circuit 292 Chapter 17: Implementing Laplace Techniques for Circuit Analysis 295 Starting Easy with Basic Constraints 296 Connection constraints in the s-domain 296 Device constraints in the s-domain 297 Independent and dependent sources 297 Passive elements: Resistors, capacitors, and inductors 297 Op-amp devices 299 Impedance and admittance 299 Seeing How Basic Circuit Analysis Works in the s-Domain 300 Applying voltage division with series circuits 300 Turning to current division for parallel circuits 302 Conducting Complex Circuit Analysis in the s-Domain 303 Using node-voltage analysis 303 Using mesh-current analysis 304 Using superposition and proportionality 305 Using the Thévenin and Norton equivalents 309 Chapter 18: Focusing on the Frequency Responses 313 Describing the Frequency Response and Classy Filters 314 Low-pass filter 315 High-pass filter 316 Band-pass filters 316 Band-reject filters 317 Plotting Something: Showing Frequency Response à la Bode 318 Looking at a basic Bode plot 319 Poles, zeros, and scale factors: Picturing Bode plots from transfer functions 320 Turning the Corner: Making Low-Pass and High-Pass Filters with RC Circuits 325 First-order RC low-pass filter (LPF) 325 First-order RC high-pass filter (HPF) 326 Creating Band-Pass and Band-Reject Filters with RLC or RC Circuits 327 Getting serious with RLC series circuits 327 RLC series band-pass filter (BPF) 327 RLC series band-reject filter (BRF) 330 Climbing the ladder with RLC parallel circuits 330 RC only: Getting a pass with a band-pass and band-reject filter 332 Part VI: The Part of Tens 335 Chapter 19: Ten Practical Applications for Circuits 337 Potentiometers 337 Homemade Capacitors: Leyden Jars 338 Digital-to-Analog Conversion Using Op Amps 338 Two-Speaker Systems 338 Interface Techniques Using Resistors 338 Interface Techniques Using Op Amps 339 The Wheatstone Bridge 339 Accelerometers 339 Electronic Stud Finders 340 555 Timer Circuits 340 Chapter 20: Ten Technologies Affecting Circuits 341 Smartphone Touchscreens 341 Nanotechnology 341 Carbon Nanotubes 342 Microelectromechanical Systems 342 Supercapacitors 343 The Memristor 343 Superconducting Digital Electronics 343 Wide Bandgap Semiconductors 343 Flexible Electronics 344 Microelectronic Chips that Pair Up with Biological Cells 344 Index 345

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisRoger Penrose is one the world's foremost theoretical physicists, and the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2020. He has won numerous other prizes, including the Albert Einstein Medal, for his fundamental contributions to general relativity and cosmology. He is the bestselling author of The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe and Cycles of Time: An Extraordinary New View of the Universe. His other books include Fashion, Faith and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe, The Emperor's New Mind, Shadows of the Mind and, with Stephen Hawking, The Nature of Space and Time. He is the Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics Emeritus at the University of Oxford, and lives in Oxford.Trade ReviewPenrose has come closer than anyone to a rigorous discussion of the most intriguing problems of all: what are we? How do we think? And what is it that makes us human? * The Times *Clearly the product of a brilliant mind * Times Literary Supplement *His book may be the first accessible report to a general readership about the site, if not the actual substance, of the holy grail of consciousness - the precise point where quantum activity interacts with classical physical activity in the brain... His passionate attempt at popular exposition lends importance to a debate that he believes too crucial to be left to the specialists alone * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisAlready thoroughly familiar to the seasoned science fiction fan, hyperspace is that realm which enables a spaceship captain to take his ship on a physics-defying shortcut (or wormhole) to the outer shores of the Galaxy in less time than it takes a 747 to fly from New York to Tokyo. But might such notions be more than science fiction? Some physicists suggest a 10-dimensional hyperspace may actually exist, albeit at a scale almost too small to comprehend, smaller even than a quark; and that in spite of its tiny size, it may be the basis on which all the forces of nature will be united. Michio Kaku''s classic book describes the development of ideas about multidimensional space. In recent years, some theoretical physicists -the author among them - have argued that the Universe exists not merely in the four spacetime dimensions (3 of space + one of time) with which Einstein made us familiar, but rather as a ten-dimensional hyperspace. Once the domain of the science fiction writer or the occTrade ReviewIt is the best documentation for the layman of this history that I know of. * Adhemar Bultheel, European Mathmatical Society *Kaku has given us a far more than a thought-provoking, engaging read: it is a captivating tour of near-current thinking as to 'Theories of Everything' * Jonathan Cowie, Concatenation *Kaku's adventurous, tantalizing book should not be penalized for promising more than present technology can test. His intellectual perceptions will thrill lay readers, SF fans and the physics-literate. * Publishers Weekly *What's all the hype about hyperspace? Most of us have our hands full dealing with just one universe. But Kaku takes us confidently into another dimension, or ten, to see why physicists think that universes are parallel, plural, and positively fermented with wormholes! * John Barrow, author of Theories of Everything *he has written one of the best popular accounts of higher physics. * Jim Holt, Wall Street Journal *Hyperspace is beautifully written, making difficult scientific ideas seem accessible, almost easy. Kaku's journey through the ten dimensions is fascinating. * Danah Zohar, Independent *a venture into time travel and higher dimensional theories * Daily Telegraph *Absorbing, fluently written * The Independent on Sunday *Kaku's book covers the most difficult areas of modern physics ... Unusually for a book on these exciting questions, Kaku also gives a real feel for what it is like to work on them. * Focus *strikingly clear and well constructed ... provides a ... comprehensive selection of exercises at the end of every chapter * John Gribben, New Scientist *Table of ContentsPART I: ENTERING THE FIFTH DIMENSION; PART II: UNIFICATION IN TEN DIMENSION; PART III: WORMHOLES: GATEWAYS TO ANOTHER UNIVERSE?; PART IV: MASTERS OF HYPERSPACE

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Book SynopsisA Sunday Times Book of the Year From the author of the international bestseller How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog Your humble alarm clock, digital cameras, the smell of coffee, the glow of a grill, fibre broadband, smoke detectors… all hold secrets about quantum physics. Beginning at sunrise, Chad Orzel reveals the extraordinary science that underpins the simplest activities we all do every day, from making toast to shopping online. It’s all around us, the wonderful weirdness of quantum – you just have to know where to look.Trade Review‘[A] fine example of scientific passion.’ * Sunday Times, Books of the Year *‘Informative and friendly.’ * New York Times *‘Physics is everywhere and in everything, and no one explains physics better than Chad Orzel. This book is a meal for your mind.’ -- John Scalzi, author of The Rough Guide to the Universe‘Orzel is the perfect guide to the world of atoms and photons, demonstrating that even our morning breakfast rituals are not possible without the wonders of modern physics.’ -- James Kakalios, author of The Physics of Superheroes and The Physics of Everyday Things‘As Chad Orzel wonderfully shows in Breakfast with Einstein, a full gamut of our commonplace daily activities – from boiling water [on the stove]…to taking and exchanging photos with our electronic cameras and phones – depends on quantum rules… A must-read for anyone fascinated with how the quantum revolution explains how things work.’ -- Paul Halpern, author of The Quantum Labyrinth

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Book SynopsisThrough lively prose and photos, this revised edition of Uncorked unlocks the door to what champagne is all about.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2005 Best Book in the World on French Wine, Gourmand World Cookbook Awards Winner of the 2004 Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Physics and Astronomy, Association of American Publishers Praise for the previous edition: "[This] jewel-of-a-book makes the perfect companion gift to a bottle of bubbly... Written by a passionate, wine-loving physicist with just the proper level of jargon for non-scientists, the birth, rise and bursting of a Champagne bubble is scrutinized, rhapsodized, diagrammed, photographed and, finally, demystified... Knowing more about a bubble's lowly birth (formed from debris on the side of the glass) and ephemeral rise to fame will only serve to make you love it more."--Claudia Conlon, Wine News Praise for the previous edition: "This book presents the birth, life and death of a champagne bubble with such gusto, good humor and clarity that you will devour its delicious contents in one gulp. Whereas good champagne is to be sipped, this book is not. You will never experience the sensual elegance of champagne in quite the same way again once you have read this entertaining account of its history and 'fizzics.'"--Richard N. Zare, Nature Praise for the previous edition: "A highly entertaining introduction to the science of champagne bubbles... Uncorked is very readable, and Liger-Belair's clear and simple descriptions of the physics are superbly suitable for a general audience. The book is also very aesthetically pleasing, making it an ideal present for wine lovers and bores alike."--Stuart West, Science Praise for the previous edition: "Uncorked is an interesting, enjoyable read for anyone who has gazed too long upon a champagne-filled flute."--Gregory Mone, Popular Science Praise for the previous edition: "Liger-Belair, a physicist inspired to study bubbles by a brainstorm over a beer, delves into a champagne flute with a curiosity as strong as his microscope. The result is a book as informative as it is engaging, boosted by the gorgeous, up-close photos of bubbles in motion."--Tara Q. Thomas, Denver Post Praise for the previous edition: "A delightfully readable little book."--Joanna Simon, Sunday Times--London Praise for the previous edition: "[A] convivial examination of the party season's favorite tipple."--Paul Nettleton, Guardian Praise for the previous edition: "The ultimate guide to the 'fizzics' of sparkling wine."--Deborah Scoblionkov, Philadelphia InquirerTable of ContentsForeword ix 1 Introduction 1 2 The History of Champagne 7 3 The Making of Champagne 19 4 A Flute or a Goblet? 31 5 The Birth of a Bubble 37 6 The Bubble Rises 59 7 The Bubble Bursts 85 8 The Future of Champagne Wines 133 Afterword 143 Glossary 183 Bibliography 185 Acknowledgments 188 Index 189

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Book SynopsisReveals the simple techniques needed to estimate virtually anything and illustrates them using an eclectic array of problems. This title shows how to estimate everything from how closely you can orbit a neutron star without being pulled apart by gravity, to the fuel used to transport your food from the farm to the store.Trade Review"This follow-up to the popular Guesstimation offers more on the joy of mathematical estimation, and inspiration for the budding analyst."--Nature "The books do a wonderful job at helping the reader to master the craft."--Cut the Knot Insights "A delightful volume... I hope to be able to use many of the tricks I learned in the future. I also hope to teach some of them to students. This would make a great secondary textbook in many classes, ranging from quantitative literacy to a science methods class for future educators. A careful study of this book would certainly improve a student's ability to take a complicated question, break it down into solvable parts, and assemble the parts to find an answer. Because this is quite close to what I want my students to do when faced with a difficult problem in pure mathematics as well, I consider this to be a very valuable book indeed."--Dominic Klyve, MAA Reviews "Guesstimation 2.0: Solving Today's Problems on the Back of a Napkin succeeds where most popular science literature so often fails. This is because it provides its readers with a scientific tool they can use immediately in their everyday lives... [Makes] an excellent addition for the casual scientist, job interviewee, or anyone hoping to impress their friends at a party."--Gabriel Thoumi, Mongabay.com "Readers who enjoyed Weinstein's first volume will be pleased with this instalment."--Choice "Guesstimation 2.0 is a book that was made to mediate between fun and useful... Whether or not a fan of numbers, it's always cool to appear smart, therefore Guesstimation 2.0 is an excellent element to add to one's arsenal."--Sarthak Shankar, Organiser "Certainly a good read for any teacher who enjoys numbers and the world around us."--Mark Hughes, Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School "Guesstimation's problems are fun and engaging in character, and the solutions are intuitive and well explained. Each problem and solution stands independently, and is about four pages long, making the book ideal for passing a quick ten minutes, and easy to pick up and put down. If, like me, you like ill-posed questions to have concrete answers then Guesstimation is definitely a good place to hone your estimation skills!"--Fionntan Roukema, Mathematical SpectrumTable of ContentsAcknowledgments xi Preface xiii 1 How to Solve Problems 1 2 General Questions 11 *2.1 Who unrolled the toilet paper? 13 *2.2 Money height 17 *2.3 Blotting out the Sun 19 *2.4 Really extra-large popcorn 21 *2.5 Building volume 25 *2.6 Mass of money 29 *2.7 A baseball in a glass of beer 33 *2.8 Life on the phone 37 *2.9 Money under the bridge 41 *2.10 Monkeys and Shakespeare 45 *2.11 The titans of siren 49 *2.12 Airheads at the movies 53 *2.13 Heavy cars and heavier people 55 *2.14 Peeing in the pool 59 3 Recycling: What Really Matters? 63 *3.1 Water bottles 67 *3.2 99 bottles of beer on the wall ... 71 *3.3 Can the aluminum 75 *3.4 Paper or plastic? 79 *3.5 Paper doesn't grow on trees! 83 *3.6 The rain in Spain ... 87 *3.7 Bottom feeders 91 *3.8 You light up my life! 95 4 The Five Senses 101 *4.1 Don't stare at the Sun 103 *4.2 Men of vision 105 *4.3 Light a single candle 109 *4.4 Oh say can you see? 113 *4.5 Bigger eyes 117 *4.6 They're watching us! 121 *4.7 Beam the energy down, Scotty! 125 *4.8 Oh say can you hear? 131 *4.9 Heavy loads 135 5 Energy and Work 139 *5.1 Power up the stairs 143 *5.2 Power workout 145 *5.3 Water over the dam 149 *5.4 A hard nut to crack 153 *5.5 Mousetrap cars 155 *5.6 Push hard 159 *5.7 Pumping car tires 161 *5.8 Pumping bike tires 165 *5.9 Atomic bombs and confetti 169 6 Energy and Transportation 173 *6.1 Gas-powered humans 177 *6.2 Driving across country 181 *6.3 Keep on trucking 185 *6.4 Keep on biking 189 *6.5 Keep on training 193 *6.6 Keep on flying 197 *6.7 To pee or not to pee 201 *6.8 Solar-powered cars 205 *6.9 Put a doughnut in your tank 209 *6.10 Perk up your car 213 *6.11 Don't slow down 217 *6.12 Throwing tomatoes 219 7 Heavenly Bodies 223 *7.1 Orbiting the Sun 227 *7.2 Flying off the Earth 229 *7.3 The rings of Earth 233 *7.4 It is not in the stars to hold our destiny 237 *7.5 Orbiting a neutron star 241 *7.6 How high can we jump? 245 *7.7 Collapsing Sun 249 *7.8 Splitting the Moon 253 *7.9 Splitting a smaller moon 257 *7.10 Spinning faster and slower 263 *7.11 Shrinking Sun 267 *7.12 Spinning Earth 271 *7.13 The dinosaur killer and the day 273 *7.14 The Yellowstone volcano and the day 277 *7.15 The orbiting Moon 281 *7.16 The shortest day 283 8 Materials 289 *8.1 Stronger than spider silk 291 *8.2 Beanstalk to orbit 295 *8.3 Bolt failure 299 *8.4 Making mountains out of molecules 303 *8.5 Chopping down a tree 307 9 Radiation 311 *9.1 Nuclear neutrinos 315 *9.2 Neutrinos and you 319 *9.3 Solar neutrinos 323 *9.4 Supernovas can be dangerous 327 *9.5 Reviving ancient bacteria 331 *9.6 Decaying protons 335 *9.7 Journey to the center of the galaxy 337 Appendix A * Dealing with Large Numbers 341 * A.1 Large Numbers 341 * A.2 Precision, Lots of Digits, and Lying 343 * A.3 Numbers and Units 345 Appendix B * Pegs to Hang Things On 347 Bibliography 351 Index 355

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Book SynopsisFocuses on the physics of sound for the nonspecialist to empower readers with a hands-on, ears-open approach that includes production, analysis, and perception of sound. This book helps you discover how musical instruments really work, how pitch is perceived, and how sound can be amplified with no external power source.Trade Review"Why You Hear What You Hear ... has much to interest physicists and physics students... This book contains a lot of physical insight, and I think it will be the rare acoustician who does not enjoy reading it. I particularly liked the use of color coding to introduce (with a minimum of math) a graphical algorithm to represent autocorrelation. Also interesting are the author's diversions into history, including a story in which John William Strutt (Lord Rayleigh) and William Henry Bragg seem to have been mistaken about an echo transposed in pitch... Acousticians will enjoy its interesting perspectives, and physicists and engineers outside of acoustics will find it an attractive introduction to some important parts of the discipline."--Joe Wolfe, Physics Today "This book contains a lot of physical insight, and I think it will be the rare acoustician who does not enjoy reading it... Acousticians will enjoy its interesting perspectives, and physicists and engineers outside of acoustics will find it an attractive introduction to some important parts of the discipline."--Joe Wolfe, Acoustics Australia "This book by a distinguished professor of chemistry and physics at Harvard is a joy to read... I highly recommend this as a book to be read, preferably with the book's website on a computer nearby for easy and frequent reference."--Thomas D. Rossing, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America "This book is highly instructive for people with an interest in the wave aspects of sound, for anyone interested in how musical instruments fundamentally work and why they sound how they sound, and for those interested in the human perception of sound. It is richly illustrated in full color, printed on high-quality paper and at an excellent standard of bookmaking. It deserves a clear recommendation for a wide readership."--Manuel Vogel, Contemporary Physics

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Book SynopsisNow a major motion picture starring Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking and Felicity Jones as his wife Jane. It chronicles their relationship, from his early development of ALS to his success in physics In this compelling memoir, Jane Hawking, Stephen Hawking’s first wife, relates the inside story of their extraordinary marriage. As Stephen’s academic renown soared, his body was collapsing under the assaults of motor-neuron disease, and Jane’s candid account of trying to balance his twenty-four-hour care with the needs of their growing family will be inspirational to anyone dealing with family illness. The inner strength of the author and the self-evident character and achievements of her husband make for an incredible tale that is always presented with unflinching honesty; the author’s candour is no less evident when the marriage finally ends in a high-profile meltdown, with Stephen leaving Jane for one of his nurses, while Jane goes on to marry an old family friend. In this exceptionally open, moving and often funny memoir, Jane Hawking confronts not only the acutely complicated and painful dilemmas of her first marriage, but also the fault lines exposed in a relationship by the pervasive effects of fame and wealth. The result is a book about optimism, love and change that will resonate with readers everywhere.Trade ReviewA great read. * Daily Mail *Stephen Hawking may think in 11 dimensions, but his first wife has learnt to love in several. * The Sunday Times *What becomes of time when a marriage unravels? And what becomes of the woman who has located her whole self within its sphere? For Jane Hawking, the physics of love and loss are set in a private universe. * The Guardian *Jane describes the final, painful years of her marriage in candid detail. * The Independent *Jane Hawking’s harrowing and compelling account… rings very true. * Irish Times *This is not a vindictive book, although the agony she went through is palpable; if Stephen’s struggle to keep his mind clear is heroic, so is her determination to balance his escalating needs and those of their three children. * Independent on Sunday *Jane writes about her former husband with tenderness, respect and protectiveness. * Sunday Express *Jane Hawking has written a book about what it was like to be pivotal to her husband’s celebrated existence… but it is much more a shout from the outer darkness. * The Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisIncludes 275 solved problems.Table of ContentsBackground Material.Lagrange's Equations of Motion of a Single Particle.Lagrange's Equations of Motion for a System of Particles.Conservative Systems.Dissipative Forces.General Treatment of Moments and Products of Inertia.Lagrangian Treatment of Rigid Body Dynamics.The Euler Method of Rigid Body Dynamics.Small Oscillations about Positions of Equilibrium.Small Oscillations about Steady Motion.Forces of Constraint.Driving Forces Required to Establish Known Motions.Effects of Earth's Figure and Daily Rotation on Dynamical Problems.Application of Lagrange's Equations to Electrical and Electromechanical Systems.Hamilton's Equations of Motion.Hamilton's Principle.Basic Equations of Dynamics in Vector and Tensor Notation.Appendix: Relations between Direction Cosines.

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Book SynopsisThis uniquely comprehensive overview by a prominent CalTech physicist provides a modern, rigorous, and integrated treatment of the key physical principles and techniques related to gases, liquids, solids, and their phase transitions. Topics include thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, electronics in metals, Bose condensation, fluid structure, potential energy, Weiss molecular field theory, and many other subjects. 1975 edition.

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Book SynopsisMaxwell's equations are four of the most influential equations in science. In this book, each equation is the subject of an entire chapter, making it a wonderful resource for undergraduate and graduate courses in electromagnetism and electromagnetics. Audio podcasts and solutions to the problems are available at www.cambridge.org/9780521701471.Trade Review'Professor Fleisch is a great scientific communicator.' electronicdesign.com'… good examples and problems are given so the student can practice the skills being taught.' IEEE Microwave Magazine'… its virtue … is to address, through judicious selection of material and masterful repetition of important facts, the needs of a student who finds lectures and textbooks hard to understand, too complex, and besides the point of doing the assigned problems. … Students who are struggling with the material will love the Guide. The Guide is a well-written, concise, honest tool that delivers just what it promises.' American Journal of PhysicsTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Gauss's law for electric fields; 2. Gauss's law for magnetic fields; 3. Faraday's law; 4. The Ampere–Maxwell law; 5. From Maxwell's equations to the wave equation; Appendix; Further reading; Index.

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