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Fundamentals of Physics is renowned for its superior problem-solving skills development, reasoning skills development, and emphasis on conceptual understanding. In this course, interactive pathways of online learning alternate between short content presentations such as video or readings and carefully guided student engagements to simulate a discourse style of teaching 24/7.
Robert Resnick is professor emeritus at Rensselaer and the former Edward P. Hamilton Distinguished Professor of Science Education, 1974-93. Together with his co-author David Halliday, he revolutionized physics education with their now famous textbook on general physics, still one of the most highly regarded texts in the field today.
Jearl Walker, professor of physics at Cleveland State University, received his BS in physics from MIT in 1967 and his PhD in physics from University of Maryland in 1973. His book The Flying Circus of Physics was published 30 years ago, has been translated into at least 10 languages, and is still being sold world wide. For 16 years he toured his Flying Circus talk throughout the U.S. and Canada, introducing such physics stunts as the bed-of-nails demonstration and the walking-on-hot-coals demonstration to countless physics teachers, who then proceeded to hurt themselves when they repeated the stunts in their own classrooms. These talks led to his PBS television show Kinetic Karnival which ran nationally for years and which earned an Emmy.
1 Measurement 1
1-1 Measuring Things, Including Lengths 1
1-2 Time 5
1-3 Mass 6
Review & Summary 8 Problems 8
2 Motion Along A Straight Line 13
2-1 Position, Displacement, and Average Velocity 13
2-2 Instantaneous Velocity and Speed 18
2-3 Acceleration 20
2-4 Constant Acceleration 23
2-5 Free-Fall Acceleration 27
2-6 Graphical Integration in Motion Analysis 29
Review & Summary 30
Questions 31
Problems 32
3 Vectors 40
3-1 Vectors and Their Components 40
3-2 Unit Vectors, Adding Vectors By Components 46
3-3 Multiplying Vectors 50
Review & Summary 55 Questions 56 Problems 57
4 Motion in Two and Three Dimensions 62
4-1 Position and Displacement 62
4-2 Average Velocity and Instantaneous Velocity 64
4-3 Average Acceleration and Instantaneous Acceleration 67
4-4 Projectile Motion 70
4-5 Uniform Circular Motion 76
4-6 Relative Motion in One Dimension 78
4-7 Relative Motion in Two Dimensions 80
Review & Summary 81 Questions 82 Problems 84
5 Force and Motion—I 94
5-1 Newton’s First and Second Laws 94
5-2 Some Particular Forces 102
5-3 Applying Newton’s Laws 106
Review & Summary 114 Questions 114 Problems 116
6 Force and Motion—II 124
6-1 Friction 124
6-2 The Drag Force and Terminal Speed 130
6-3 Uniform Circular Motion 133
Review & Summary 138
Questions 139
Problems 140
7 Kinetic Energy and Work 149
7-1 Kinetic Energy 149
7-2 Work and Kinetic Energy 151
7-3 Work Done By the Gravitational Force 155
7-4 Work Done By A Spring Force 159
7-5 Work Done By A General Variable Force 162
7-6 Power 166
Review & Summary 168
Questions 169
Problems 170
8 Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy 177
8-1 Potential Energy 177
8-2 Conservation of Mechanical Energy 184
8-3 Reading A Potential Energy Curve 187
8-4 Work Done on A System By An External Force 191
8-5 Conservation of Energy 195
Review & Summary 199
Questions 200
Problems 202
9 Center of Mass and Linear Momentum 214
9-1 Center of Mass 214
9-2 Newton’s Second Law for A System of Particles 220
9-3 Linear Momentum 224
9-4 Collision and Impulse 226
9-5 Conservation of Linear Momentum 230
9-6 Momentum and Kinetic Energy in Collisions 233
9-7 Elastic Collisions in One Dimension 237
9-8 Collisions in Two Dimensions 240
9-9 Systems With Varying Mass: A Rocket 241
Review & Summary 243
Questions 245
Problems 246
10 Rotation 257
10-1 Rotational Variables 257
10-2 Rotation With Constant Angular Acceleration 266
10-3 Relating the Linear and Angular Variables 268
10-4 Kinetic Energy of Rotation 271
10-5 Calculating the Rotational Inertia 273
10-6 Torque 277
10-7 Newton’s Second Law for Rotation 279
10-8 Work and Rotational Kinetic Energy 282
Review & Summary 285
Questions 286
Problems 287
11 Rolling, Torque, and Angular Momentum 295
11-1 Rolling As Translation and Rotation Combined 295
11-2 Forces and Kinetic Energy of Rolling 298
11-3 The Yo-Yo 301
11-4 Torque Revisited 302
11-5 Angular Momentum 305
11-6 Newton’s Second Law in Angular Form 307
11-7 Angular Momentum of A Rigid Body 310
11-8 Conservation of Angular Momentum 312
11-9 Precession of A Gyroscope 317
Review & Summary 318
Questions 319
Problems 320
12 Equilibrium and Elasticity 327
12-1 Equilibrium 327
12-2 Some Examples of Static Equilibrium 332
12-3 Elasticity 338
Review & Summary 343
Questions 343
Problems 345
13 Gravitation 354
13-1 Newton’s Law of Gravitation 354
13-2 Gravitation and the Principle of Superposition 357
13-3 Gravitation Near Earth’s Surface 359
13-4 Gravitation Inside Earth 362
13-5 Gravitational Potential Energy 364
13-6 Planets and Satellites: Kepler’s Laws 368
13-7 Satellites: Orbits and Energy 371
13-8 Einstein and Gravitation 374
Review & Summary 376
Questions 377
Problems 378
14 Fluids 386
14-1 Fluids, Density, and Pressure 386
14-2 Fluids At Rest 388
14-3 Measuring Pressure 392
14-4 Pascal’s Principle 393
14-5 Archimedes’ Principle 394
14-6 The Equation of Continuity 398
14-7 Bernoulli’s Equation 401
Review & Summary 405
Questions 405
Problems 406
15 Oscillations 413
15-1 Simple Harmonic Motion 413
15-2 Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion 421
15-3 An Angular Simple Harmonic Oscillator 423
15-4 Pendulums, Circular Motion 424
15-5 Damped Simple Harmonic Motion 430
15-6 Forced Oscillations and Resonance 432
Review & Summary 434
Questions 434
Problems 436
16 Waves—I 444
16-1 Transverse Waves 444
16-2 Wave Speed on A Stretched String 452
16-3 Energy and Power of A Wave Traveling Along A String 454
16-4 The Wave Equation 456
16-5 Interference of Waves 458
16-6 Phasors 462
16-7 Standing Waves and Resonance 465
Review & Summary 470
Questions 471
Problems 472
17 Waves—II 479
17-1 Speed of Sound 479
17-2 Traveling Sound Waves 482
17-3 Interference 485
17-4 Intensity and Sound Level 488
17-5 Sources of Musical Sound 492
17-6 Beats 496
17-7 The Doppler Effect 498
17-8 Supersonic Speeds, Shock Waves 503
Review & Summary 504
Questions 505
Problems 506
18 Temperature, Heat, and the First Law of Thermodynamics 514
18-1 Temperature 514
18-2 The Celsius and Fahrenheit Scales 518
18-3 Thermal Expansion 520
18-4 Absorption of Heat 522
18-5 The First Law of Thermodynamics 528
18-6 Heat Transfer Mechanisms 534
Review & Summary 538
Questions 540
Problems 541
19 The Kinetic Theory of Gases 549
19-1 Avogadro’s Number 549
19-2 Ideal Gases 550
19-3 Pressure, Temperature, and Rms Speed 554
19-4 Translational Kinetic Energy 557
19-5 Mean Free Path 558
19-6 The Distribution of Molecular Speeds 560
19-7 The Molar Specific Heats of An Ideal Gas 564
19-8 Degrees of Freedom and Molar Specific Heats 568
19-9 The Adiabatic Expansion of An Ideal Gas 571
Review & Summary 575
Questions 576
Problems 577
20 Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics 583
20-1 Entropy 583
20-2 Entropy in the Real World: Engines 590
20-3 Refrigerators and Real Engines 595
20-4 A Statistical View of Entropy 598
Review & Summary 602
Questions 603
Problems 604
21 Coulomb’s Law 609
21-1 Coulomb’s Law 609
21-2 Charge Is Quantized 619
21-3 Charge Is Conserved 621
Review & Summary 622
Questions 623
Problems 624
22 Electric Fields 630
22-1 The Electric Field 630
22-2 The Electric Field Due To A Charged Particle 633
22-3 The Electric Field Due To A Dipole 635
22-4 The Electric Field Due To A Line of Charge 638
22-5 The Electric Field Due To A Charged Disk 643
22-6 A Point Charge in An Electric Field 645
22-7 A Dipole in An Electric Field 647
Review & Summary 650
Questions 651
Problems 652
23 Gauss’ Law 659
23-1 Electric Flux 659
23-2 Gauss’ Law 664
23-3 A Charged Isolated Conductor 668
23-4 Applying Gauss’ Law: Cylindrical Symmetry 671
23-5 Applying Gauss’ Law: Planar Symmetry 673
23-6 Applying Gauss’ Law: Spherical Symmetry 675
Review & Summary 677
Questions 677
Problems 679
24 Electric Potential 685
24-1 Electric Potential 685
24-2 Equipotential Surfaces and the Electric Field 690
24-3 Potential Due To A Charged Particle 694
24-4 Potential Due To An Electric Dipole 697
24-5 Potential Due To A Continuous Charge Distribution 698
24-6 Calculating the Field from the Potential 701
24-7 Electric Potential Energy of A System of Charged Particles 703
24-8 Potential of A Charged Isolated Conductor 706
Review & Summary 707
Questions 708
Problems 710
25 Capacitance 717
25-1 Capacitance 717
25-2 Calculating the Capacitance 719
25-3 Capacitors in Parallel and in Series 723
25-4 Energy Stored in An Electric Field 728
25-5 Capacitor With A Dielectric 731
25-6 Dielectrics and Gauss’ Law 735
Review & Summary 738
Questions 738
Problems 739
26 Current and Resistance 745
26-1 Electric Current 745
26-2 Current Density 748
26-3 Resistance and Resistivity 752
26-4 Ohm’s Law 756
26-5 Power, Semiconductors, Superconductors 760
Review & Summary 763
Questions 764
Problems 765
27 Circuits 771
27-1 Single-Loop Circuits 771
27-2 Multiloop Circuits 781
27-3 The Ammeter and the Voltmeter 788
27-4 Rc Circuits 788
Review & Summary 793
Questions 793
Problems 795
28 Magnetic Fields 803
28-1 Magnetic Fields and the Definition of B→ 803
28-2 Crossed Fields: Discovery of the Electron 808
28-3 Crossed Fields: The Hall Effect 810
28-4 A Circulating Charged Particle 814
28-5 Cyclotrons and Synchrotrons 817
28-6 Magnetic Force on A Current-Carrying Wire 820
28-7 Torque on A Current Loop 822
28-8 The Magnetic Dipole Moment 824
Review & Summary 827
Questions 827
Problems 829
29 Magnetic Fields Due To Currents 836
29-1 Magnetic Field Due To A Current 836
29-2 Force Between Two Parallel Currents 842
29-3 Ampere’s Law 844
29-4 Solenoids and Toroids 848
29-5 A Current-Carrying Coil As A Magnetic Dipole 851
Review & Summary 854
Questions 855
Problems 856
30 Induction and Inductance 864
30-1 Faraday’s Law and Lenz’s Law 864
30-2 Induction and Energy Transfers 871
30-3 Induced Electric Fields 874
30-4 Inductors and Inductance 879
30-5 Self-Induction 881
30-6 Rl Circuits 882
30-7 Energy Stored in A Magnetic Field 887
30-8 Energy Density of A Magnetic Field 889
30-9 Mutual Induction 890
Review & Summary 893
Questions 893
Problems 895
31 Electromagnetic Oscillations and Alternating Current 903
31-1 Lc Oscillations 903
31-2 Damped Oscillations in An Rlc Circuit 910
31-3 Forced Oscillations of Three Simple Circuits 912
31-4 The Series Rlc Circuit 921
31-5 Power in Alternating-Current Circuits 927
31-6 Transformers 930
Review & Summary 933 Questions 934 Problems 935
32 Maxwell’s Equations; Magnetism Of Matter 941
32-1 Gauss’ Law for Magnetic Fields 941
32-2 Induced Magnetic Fields 943
32-3 Displacement Current 946
32-4 Magnets 950
32-5 Magnetism and Electrons 952
32-6 Diamagnetism 957
32-7 Paramagnetism 959
32-8 Ferromagnetism 961
Review & Summary 964
Questions 965
Problems 967
33 Electromagnetic Waves 972
33-1 Electromagnetic Waves 972
33-2 Energy Transport and the Poynting Vector 980
33-3 Radiation Pressure 983
33-4 Polarization 985
33-5 Reflection and Refraction 990
33-6 Total Internal Reflection 996
33-7 Polarization By Reflection 997
Review & Summary 999
Questions 1000
Problems 1001
34 Images 1010
34-1 Images and Plane Mirrors 1010
34-2 Spherical Mirrors 1014
34-3 Spherical Refracting Surfaces 1020
34-4 Thin Lenses 1023
34-5 Optical Instruments 1030
34-6 Three Proofs 1033
Review & Summary 1036
Questions 1037
Problems 1038
35 Interference 1047
35-1 Light As A Wave 1047
35-2 Young’s Interference Experiment 1053
35-3 Interference and Double-Slit Intensity 1059
35-4 Interference from Thin Films 1063
35-5 Michelson’s Interferometer 1070
Review & Summary 1072
Questions 1072
Problems 1074
36 Diffraction 1081
36-1 Single-Slit Diffraction 1081
36-2 Intensity in Single-Slit Diffraction 1086
36-3 Diffraction By A Circular Aperture 1090
36-4 Diffraction By A Double Slit 1094
36-5 Diffraction Gratings 1098
36-6 Gratings: Dispersion and Resolving Power 1101
36-7 X-Ray Diffraction 1104
Review & Summary 1107
Questions 1107
Problems 1108
37 Relativity 1116
37-1 Simultaneity and Time Dilation 1116
37-2 The Relativity of Length 1125
37-3 The Lorentz Transformation 1129
37-4 The Relativity of Velocities 1133
37-5 Doppler Effect for Light 1134
37-6 Momentum and Energy 1137
Review & Summary 1143
Questions 1144
Problems 1145
38 Photons and Matter Waves 1153
38-1 The Photon, the Quantum of Light 1153
38-2 The Photoelectric Effect 1155
38-3 Photons, Momentum, Compton Scattering, Light Interference 1158
38-4 The Birth of Quantum Physics 1164
38-5 Electrons and Matter Waves 1166
38-6 Schrödinger’s Equation 1170
38-7 Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle 1172
38-8 Reflection from A Potential Step 1174
38-9 Tunneling Through A Potential Barrier 1176
Review & Summary 1179
Questions 1180
Problems 1181
39 More About Matter Waves 1186
39-1 Energies of A Trapped Electron 1186
39-2 Wave Functions of A Trapped Electron 1191
39-3 An Electron in A Finite Well 1195
39-4 Two- and Three-Dimensional Electron Traps 1197
39-5 The Hydrogen Atom 1201
Review & Summary 1213
Questions 1213
Problems 1214
40 All About Atoms 1219
40-1 Properties of Atoms 1219
40-2 The Stern–Gerlach Experiment 1226
40-3 Magnetic Resonance 1229
40-4 Exclusion Principle and Multiple Electrons in A Trap 1230
40-5 Building the Periodic Table 1234
40-6 X Rays and the Ordering of the Elements 1236
40-7 Lasers 1240
Review & Summary 1245
Questions 1246
Problems 1247
41 Conduction of Electricity in Solids 1252
41-1 The Electrical Properties of Metals 1252
41-2 Semiconductors and Doping 1261
41-3 The P-N Junction and the Transistor 1265
Review & Summary 1271
Questions 1272
Problems 1272
42 Nuclear Physics 1276
42-1 Discovering the Nucleus 1276
42-2 Some Nuclear Properties 1279
42-3 Radioactive Decay 1286
42-4 Alpha Decay 1289
42-5 Beta Decay 1292
42-6 Radioactive Dating 1295
42-7 Measuring Radiation Dosage 1296
42-8 Nuclear Models 1297
Review & Summary 1300
Questions 1301
Problems 1302
43 Energy from the Nucleus 1309
43-1 Nuclear Fission 1309
43-2 The Nuclear Reactor 1316
43-3 A Natural Nuclear Reactor 1320
43-4 Thermonuclear Fusion: The Basic Process 1322
43-5 Thermonuclear Fusion in the Sun and Other Stars 1324
43-6 Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion 1326
Review & Summary 1329
Questions 1329
Problems 1330
44 Quarks, Leptons, and the Big Bang 1334
44-1 General Properties of Elementary Particles 1334
44-2 Leptons, Hadrons, and Strangeness 1343
44-3 Quarks and Messenger Particles 1349
44-4 Cosmology 1355
Review & Summary 1362
Questions 1362
Problems 1363
Appendices
A The International System of Units (SI) A-1
B Some Fundamental Constants of Physics A-3
C Some Astronomical Data A-4
D Conversion Factors A-5
E Mathematical Formulas A-9
F Properties of the Elements A-12
G Periodic Table of the Elements A-15
Answers
To Checkpoints and Odd-Numbered Questions and Problems AN-1
Index I-1
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