The Complete Idiot's Guide to Physics, 2nd Edition

by Dennis, Johnnie T.; Moring, Gary F.

• ISBN13: 9781592575312
• ISBN10: 1592575315
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-08-01
• Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.

Summary

This guide is a force to be reckoned with … As an easy, approachable companion to an oft-dreaded subject, this guide is intended for high school and college students who are required to take physics. Offering easy-to-understand instruction, it follows a standard non-calculus-based physics curriculum. • Clearer, more approachable, solved practice problems plus revised text and figures • Author and physics teacher Johnnie Dennis won the National Teacher of the Year award, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor for high school teachers • In any given year, research shows that between 420,000 and 2.5 million college students have to take at least one physics course to earn their degree

Author Biography

Johnnie T. Dennis was selected as the 1970 National Teacher of the Year. There has not been another physics teacher selected for this award since. After a 40-year career, he is now retired.
Gary Moring is the author of The Complete Idiot-'s Guide to Understanding Einstein and The Complete Idiot-'s Guide to Theories of the Universe. He teaches physics and the history and philosophy of science at the University of Phoenix in Northern California. He has received numerous awards for teaching excellence. He has also been a curriculum consultant for the University.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Motion Near the Surface of the Earth	1	(50)
1 Mathematics, the Language of Physics	3	(12)
Why All of This Is Important	4	(1)
Making Measurements	5	(2)
Recording Measurements	7	(2)
Significant Figures	7	(1)
Defining Equations	8	(1)
Scientific Notation	9	(2)
Coefficients and Exponents	10	(1)
Multiplying and Dividing in Scientific Notation	11	(1)
It's About Time, Too!	11	(1)
A Few Additional Rules to Keep in Mind	12	(1)
Putting It All Together	13	(1)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	14	(1)
2 Movement in One Dimension	15	(6)
It All Starts with Position	16	(4)
Changes in Movement	17	(2)
Using Algebra to Calculate Velocity	19	(1)
Describing Uniform Motion	20	(2)
Unit Analysis	21	(1)
Understanding Acceleration	22	(2)
Describing Uniformly Accelerated Motion	24	(2)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	26
3 Introduction to Vectors	21	(20)
Vectors—Geometry in Motion	28	(9)
Vectors and Scalars	30	(1)
Vector Addition	31	(4)
Subtracting Vectors	35	(1)
Multiplication in Vector Algebra	36	(1)
Components of Vectors	37	(1)
Position and Displacement	38	(1)
Understanding Velocity	39	(1)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	40	(1)
4 Motion in Two Dimensions	41	(10)
The Keys to the Kingdom	41	(1)
Displacement Revisited	42	(2)
Motion in the x-y Plane	44	(2)
Understanding the Velocity of a Boat	46	(2)
Uniform Circular Motion	48	(4)
Speed and Velocity in a Circular Path	48	(1)
Centripetal Acceleration	49	(3)
So What's the Angle?	52	(1)
Crankshafts and Merry-Go-Rounds	53	(1)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	54
Part 2: How and Why Things Move	51	(66)
5 Forces and Motion	59	(12)
The Three Laws of Motion	60	(2)
Pushes and Pulls	61	(1)
Action and Reaction	61	(1)
The Basics	62	(1)
The Vector Nature of Force	63	(2)
Components of Forces	65	(1)
Net Force and Uniform Motion	66	(2)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	68	(3)
6 Free Fall and Gravity	71	(12)
Uniform Accelerated Motion	72	(3)
Free Fall and Friction	73	(1)
Terminal Velocity	74	(1)
Describing the Motion of a Falling Object	75	(3)
More on Weight and Mass	78	(3)
Understanding the Gravitational Field	79	(2)
Understanding Force Fields	81	(1)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	81	(2)
7 Projectile Motion	83	(8)
Early Ideas of Projectiles and Falling Objects	84	(1)
Instantaneous Velocity	85	(2)
What Happens When an. Object Is Thrown Vertically Upward?	87	(2)
Two Motions: Uniformly Accelerated (Vertical) and Uniform (Horizontal)	89	(5)
A Graphical Solution to Projectile Motion	89	(3)
Launching a Projectile Vertically Upward	92	(2)
A Baseball from Center Field	94	(1)
The Hang Time of a Punt	95	(1)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	96
8 Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation	91	(26)
How Is Force Related to Mass and Distance?	98	(2)
Simple Harmonic Motion	100	(8)
Equilibrium and Simple Harmonic Motion in a Spring	103	(2)
A Simple Pendulum	105	(3)
The Motion of Heavenly Bodies	108	(1)
Gravitational Force Between Any Two Bodies	109	(2)
The Acceleration of Satellites of the Earth	111	(3)
Measuring the Mass of the Earth	114	(1)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	115	(2)
Part 3: Work and Energy	117	(68)
9 Work and Power	119	(16)
Work in Motion	119	(2)
Work and Force	121	(5)
Example 1: Calculating Work Using a Horizontal Force	123	(1)
Example 2: Calculation of Work Using a Component of the Force	123	(1)
Example 3: Calculating Work Using Lifting Force	124	(1)
Example 4: Calculating Work Using the Force of Friction	125	(1)
Simple Machines	126	(6)
The Inclined Plane	128	(1)
The Lever	129	(3)
Work, Power, and Time	132	(2)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	134	(1)
10 Kinetic Energy	135	(14)
What Has Kinetic Energy?	135	(1)
Work and Kinetic Energy	136	(5)
Example 1: Motion on an Inclined Plane	138	(2)
Example 2: Kinetic Energy of an Object Moving in a Circular Path	140	(1)
Kinetic Energy of Falling Objects	141	(2)
Where Does Kinetic Energy Go?	143	(1)
The Kinetic Energy of a Projectile	144	(1)
Bernoulli's Principle	145	(2)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	147	(2)
11 Potential Energy	149	(16)
When Does an Object Have Potential Energy?	150	(2)
Work and Potential Energy	152	(2)
Potential Energy of Objects Above the Earth	154	(5)
Instantaneous Velocity of a Projectile	155	(2)
Orbital Velocity	157	(2)
Transfer of Potential Energy	159	(2)
Hooke's Law	161	(2)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	163	(2)
12 Conservation of Energy and Momentum	165	(20)
How Conservation Laws Work	166	(2)
The Law of Conservation of Energy	168	(1)
Impulse and Momentum	169	(1)
Understanding the Relationship Between Impulse and Momentum	170	(1)
Conservation of Momentum	171	(7)
Example 1: Conserving Momentum	173	(2)
Example 2: A Total Momentum of Zero	175	(1)
Example 3: Momentum of a Combination	176	(2)
Head-On Collisions	178	(5)
Understanding Elasticity	179	(2)
Understanding Inelasticity	181	(2)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	183	(2)
Part 4: Meat, Sound, and States of Matter	185	(74)
13 Solids, Liquids, and Gases	181	(20)
Solids	188	(3)
Liquids	191	(3)
Example 1: High-Heel Pressure	193	(1)
Example 2: Swimming Pool Pressure	194	(1)
Gases	194	(2)
Changing State	196	(1)
Boyle's Law	197	(2)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	199	(2)
14 Pressure	201	(22)
A Brief History of Hydraulics	201	(2)
A Simple Hydraulic Machine	203	(2)
Pressure and a Simple Machine	205	(1)
Liquid Pressure and Depth	205	(8)
Pressure and Total Force	207	(1)
Total Force	208	(1)
Pressure and Buoyant Force	209	(4)
Gas Pressure and Altitude	213	(5)
Sipping Liquids Through a Straw	214	(2)
Air Pressure and Buoyant Force	216	(2)
How Does a Baseball Curve?	218	(2)
Pressure and Thermal Energy	220	(1)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	221	(2)
15 Heat Energy	223	(18)
Temperature and Thermometers	224	(5)
The Mystery Behind Heat	225	(2)
Temperature Scales	227	(2)
Specific Heat and the Second Law of Thermodynamics	229	(3)
The Law of Entropy	230	(2)
Latent Heat of Vaporization and Fusion	232	(6)
Transfer of Heat	238	(1)
Transfer of Heat by Conduction	238	(1)
Transfer of Heat by Convection	238	(1)
Transfer of Heat by Radiation	239	(1)
How Will the Universe End?	239	(1)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	240	(1)
16 Sound Energy	241	(18)
Vibrating Strings	241	(1)
Where Does Sound Come From?	242	(3)
Types of Waves	245	(1)
Transverse Waves	245	(1)
Longitudinal Waves	245	(1)
Properties of Waves	246	(2)
Newton and the Speed of Sound	248	(1)
Wavelength and Frequency	249	(3)
Characteristics of Sound	252	(3)
Interference and Reflection of Sound	253	(1)
Sound and Temperature	254	(1)
Resonance	255	(3)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	258	(1)
Part 5: The Anatomy of Atoms, Electricity, and Light	259	(94)
17 Atoms, Ions, and Isotopes	261	(14)
The Structure of the Atom	262	(3)
Thomson's Atomic Model	262	(1)
Alpha Particles and Protons	263	(1)
The Atomic Model of Niels Bohr	264	(1)
Isotopes and the Same Element	265	(3)
The Formation of Ions	268	(2)
Another Source of Ions	269	(1)
Rutherford's Radioactive Particles	269	(1)
The Formation of Molecules	270	(3)
Other Ways to Form Molecules	271	(1)
Metals Exchange Electrons	272	(1)
Movement of Atoms and Their Components	273	(1)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	274	(1)
18 Electricity at Rest	275	(18)
Early Ideas About Electricity	276	(1)
Static Electricity	277	(3)
Electric Charge and Atomic Structure	277	(1)
Conductors and Insulators	278	(1)
Charging an Object	279	(1)
Coulomb's Law	280	(1)
Detectors of Static Charge	281	(1)
Charge by Induction and Conduction	282	(5)
Charging by Induction	285	(2)
Electric Fields and Capacitors	287	(4)
Generating Much Larger Amounts of Charge	288	(1)
Charging and Discharging a Capacitor	288	(3)
Lightning and Charged Rain Clouds	291	(1)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	291	(2)
19 Electricity in Motion	293	(18)
Volts, Amps, and Ohms	293	(3)
Electromagnetism and Amps	294	(1)
Ohm's Law	295	(1)
Electric Potential Energy	296	(3)
Magnetic Fields and Induction	299	(2)
Potential Difference	301	(1)
Resistance	302	(8)
Resistance and the Unit of Opposition	302	(1)
Components of an Electric Circuit	303	(1)
Series Circuits	304	(2)
Parallel Circuits	306	(1)
Series-Parallel Circuits	307	(2)
Resistors and Power Rating	309	(1)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	310	(1)
20 Light as Particles in Motion	311	(22)
Is Light a Particle or a Wave?	311	(2)
The Inverse Square Law	313	(2)
Direction and Speed of Light	315	(1)
Reflection	316	(5)
Reflection and Spherical Mirrors	319	(2)
Refraction	321	(10)
Mathematics of Snell's Law	322	(2)
The Critical Angle of Incidence	324	(2)
Snell's Law for Two Other Media	326	(3)
The Double Convex Lens or Converging Lens	329	(1)
Testing the Particle Model	330	(1)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	331	(2)
21 Light as Waves	333	(20)
Thomas Young's Experiment	334	(1)
Wavelengths and Frequency	335	(4)
Spectral Lines	336	(2)
Light and Paint	338	(1)
Light and the Doppler Effect	339	(1)
The Electromagnetic Spectrum	340	(1)
Refraction	341	(3)
Diffraction	344	(1)
Interference	345	(5)
Calculating the Wavelength Using an Interference Pattern	347	(1)
An Interference Pattern of Light	348	(2)
A Final Word	350	(1)
Problems for the Budding Rocket Scientist	351
Appendixes
Glossary	353	(12)
Physics Phun Answers	365	(6)
Solutions to Budding Rocket Scientist Problems	371	(10)
Index	381