Physics : Concepts and Connections

by Hobson, Art

• ISBN13: 9780131879461
• ISBN10: 0131879464
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-01-01
• Publisher: Benjamin Cummings

Summary

In this briefer, streamlined revision, Art Hobson once again makes physics relevant and interesting for the casual reader. He introduces modern physics early on, maintaining the bookrs"s focus on the cultural and social context of physics. Updates and extensively revises chapters on relativity. Provides a more modern, straightforward treatment of quantum physics. Includes new and updated societal topics, such as nuclear terrorism. Adds new and revised "How Do We Know" subsections that emphasize the process of science. A reader-friendly reference for anyone interested in learning more about physics and how it affects our lives.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
About the Author	xvii
PART 1 PRELUDE OF STARS AND ATOMS	1	(50)
The Way of Science: Experience and Reason	2	(27)
Stardust: An Invitation to Science	2	(2)
Observing the Night Sky	4	(4)
Ancient Greek Theories: An Earth-Centered Universe	8	(6)
Copernicus's Theory: A Sun-Centered Universe	14	(3)
Kepler's Theory: A Sun-Focused Universe	17	(2)
Science: A Dialogue Between Nature and Mind	19	(4)
The Copernican Revolution: Dawn of the Modern Age	23	(6)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises	26	(3)
Atoms: The Nature of Things	29	(22)
The Greek Atom: The Smallest Pieces	29	(3)
Atoms and Molecules	32	(2)
The Atom's Explanatory Power: The Odor of Violets	34	(3)
Metric Distances and Powers of 10	37	(1)
The Incredible Smallness of Atoms	38	(3)
Atomic Materialism: Atoms and Empty Space	41	(2)
Three Atomic Models: Greek, Planetary, and Quantum	43	(1)
Chemistry and Life: What Did Atoms Ever Do for You?	44	(7)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises	47	(4)
PART 2 THE NEWTONIAN UNIVERSE: A CLOCKWORK KINGDOM	51	(64)
How Things Move: Galileo Asks the Right Questions	52	(18)
Aristotelian Physics: A Commonsense View	53	(1)
How Do We Know? Difficulties with Aristotelian Physics	53	(3)
The Law of Inertia: The Foundation of Newtonian Physics	56	(3)
Measuring Motion: Speed and Velocity	59	(2)
Measuring Motion: Acceleration	61	(2)
Falling	63	(7)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	66	(4)
Why Things Move as They Do	70	(20)
Force: Why Things Accelerate	71	(1)
Connecting Force and Acceleration	72	(3)
Newton's Law of Motion: Centerpiece of Newtonian Physics	75	(3)
Weight: Gravity's Force on a Body	78	(1)
The Law of Force Pairs: You Can't Do Just One Thing	79	(2)
Newton Meets the Automobile	81	(9)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	85	(5)
Newton's Universe	90	(25)
The Idea of Gravity: The Apple and the Moon	91	(3)
The Law of Gravity: Moving the Farthest Star	94	(5)
Gravitational Collapse: The Evolution of the Solar System	99	(3)
Gravitational Collapse: The Deaths of More Massive Stars	102	(4)
The Newtonian Worldview: A Democratic, Mechanical Universe	106	(2)
Beyond Newton: Limitations of Newtonian Physics	108	(7)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	110	(5)
PART 3 TRANSITION TO THE NEW PHYSICS	115	(104)
Conservation of Energy: You Can't Get Ahead	116	(19)
Work: Using a Force to Move Something	117	(1)
Work and Energy: A Simple Example	118	(1)
A Quantitative Look at Energy	119	(2)
Energy: The Ability to Do Work	121	(2)
The Law of Energy: Energy Is Forever	123	(2)
Transformations of Energy	125	(2)
Power: The Quickness of Energy Transformation	127	(8)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	130	(5)
Second Law of Thermodynamics: ---and You Can't Even Break Even	135	(27)
Heating	136	(1)
Heat Engines: Using Thermal Energy to Do Work	137	(3)
Energy Quality: Things Run Down	140	(1)
The Law of Entropy: Why You Can't Break Even	140	(3)
The Automobile	143	(4)
Transportation Efficiency	147	(2)
The Steam--Electric Power Plant	149	(3)
Resource Use and Exponential Growth	152	(10)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	157	(5)
Light and Electromagnetism	162	(28)
Waves: Something Else That Travels	163	(2)
Interference: A Behavior Unique to Waves	165	(3)
Light: Particles or Wave?	168	(3)
Electricity: Part of the Electromagnetic Force	171	(1)
Magnetism: The Other Part	172	(2)
The Electric Atom	174	(4)
The Planetary Model of the Atom: A Useful Theory	178	(3)
Force Fields: A Disturbance of Space	181	(9)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	185	(5)
Electromagnetic Radiation and Global Climate Change	190	(29)
The Electromagnetic Wave Theory of Light	190	(5)
The Decline of the Newtonian Universe	195	(1)
The Complete Spectrum	196	(3)
Solar Radiation: The Light from Our Star	199	(2)
Global Ozone Depletion: A Vulnerable Planet	201	(5)
Global Warming: Provoking the Beast	206	(13)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	215	(4)
PART 4 THE POST-NEWTONIAN UNIVERSE: THE OBSERVER INTRUDES	219	(134)
The Special Theory of Relativity	220	(28)
Einstein: Rebel with a Cause	221	(1)
Galilean Relativity: Relativity According to Newtonian Physics	222	(2)
The Principle of Relativity	224	(1)
The Constancy of Lightspeed: Strange But True	225	(4)
The Relativity of Time	229	(4)
Time Travel: You Can't Go Home Again	233	(2)
The Relativity of Space and Mass	235	(4)
E = mc2: Energy Has Mass, and Mass Has Energy	239	(9)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	243	(5)
The General Theory of Relativity and the New Cosmology	248	(24)
Einstein's Gravity: The General Theory of Relativity	249	(5)
The Big Bang	254	(2)
The Possible Geometries of the Universe	256	(2)
The Shape of the Universe	258	(1)
Dark Matter	259	(2)
The Accelerating Universe and Dark Energy	261	(3)
Cosmic Inflation and a Brief History of the Universe	264	(8)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises	269	(3)
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence	272	(26)
Are There Other ``Good'' Places for Life?	273	(3)
Does Life Originate on ``Good'' Planets?	276	(4)
Is Intelligence a Characteristic Feature of Life?	280	(2)
Does Intelligent Life Develop Technology?	282	(1)
Interstellar Communication and Travel: Might We Make Contact?	283	(3)
Fermi's Question: Where Is Everybody?	286	(3)
UFOs and Pseudoscience	289	(9)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	295	(3)
The Quantum Idea	298	(22)
The Post-Newtonian Revolution	298	(2)
The Quantization of Light	300	(4)
The Quantum World	304	(2)
Electron Interference: The Waviness of Matter	306	(6)
The Quantum Mystery of Matter	312	(1)
Nature Is Nonlocal, and Uncertain	313	(7)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	317	(3)
The Quantum Universe	320	(33)
The Uncertainty Principle: The Future Is Not Determined by the Past	320	(5)
The Effect of Observation	325	(5)
Quantum Nonlocality: Spooky Action at a Distance	330	(4)
What Does It Mean? Quantum Reality	334	(2)
Toward a Post-Newtonian Worldview	336	(2)
How Do We Know? Observing Atomic Spectra	338	(3)
The Quantum Atom	341	(12)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	348	(5)
PART 5 WITHIN THE ATOM: FIRE OF THE NUCLEUS, FIRE OF THE SUN	353	(116)
The Nucleus and Radioactivity: A New Force	354	(26)
Nuclear Forces: The Third Glue	355	(1)
Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Structure	356	(2)
Radioactive Decay: Spontaneous Nuclear Disintegration	358	(4)
Half-Life: When Does a Nucleus Decay?	362	(2)
Radioactive Dating: When Did We Come From?	364	(4)
Human Exposure to Ionizing Radiation	368	(4)
Risk Assessment: Dealing with Risk in a Technological Society	372	(8)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	376	(4)
Fusion and Fission:---and a New Energy	380	(28)
Fusion: Fire of the Sun	381	(3)
The Nuclear Energy Curve	384	(2)
The Origin of the Elements: We're Made of Star Stuff	386	(1)
The Discovery of Fission: Passage to a New Age	387	(4)
The Chain Reaction: Unlocking Nuclear Forces	391	(3)
The Manhattan Project and Fission Weapons	394	(5)
Fusion Weapons: Star Fire on Earth	399	(2)
Nuclear Terrorism	401	(7)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	404	(4)
The Energy Challenge	408	(31)
A Brief History of Energy	409	(3)
Energy Use Today and Tomorrow	412	(5)
Nuclear Power: How It Works	417	(3)
Technology Assessment: An Example	420	(3)
Issues for Nuclear Power	423	(3)
Future Energy Options: Renewables	426	(5)
Future Energy Options: Using Less	431	(8)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	435	(4)
Quantum Fields: Relativity Meets the Quantum	439	(30)
Quantized Fields: The Reason There Are Particles	439	(2)
Quantum Electrodynamics: The Strange Theory of Electrons and Light	441	(3)
Antimatter	444	(5)
Electroweak Unification and Neutrinos	449	(5)
The Strong Force and Quarks	454	(6)
Quantum Gravity: Physics at the Planck Scale	460	(9)
Answers, concepts, review, exercises, problems	466	(3)
Epilogue: Summing Up	469
Answers to Odd-Numbered Conceptual Exercises and Problems	1	(1)
Glossary	1	(1)
Photo Credits	1	(1)
Index	1