Physics : Concepts and Connections

by Hobson, Art

• ISBN13: 9780130953810
• ISBN10: 0130953814
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-06-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

For one-semester course in Physics for non-majors. Designed to help students achieve the science literacy that is essential for full participation as a citizen of our times, this text explores the grand principles of modern physics and their philosophical and societal connection to our culture and our individual lives. Non-technical and culturally sophisticated, it is a true alternative to standard technical texts and de-mathematized versions of the standard texts.

Table of Contents

PREFACE	xiii	(8)
FLOW CHART OF TOPICS	xxi
PART ONE PRELUDE: OF STARS AND ATOMS	1	(62)
CHAPTER 1 The Way of Science: Experience and Ideas	2	(34)
1.1 Stardust: an invitation to science (read this section even if Chapter 1 is omitted)	2	(2)
1.2 Observing the night sky	4	(4)
1.3 Ancient Greek theories: an Earth-centered universe	8	(7)
1.4 Copernicus's theory: a sun-centered universe	15	(5)
1.5 Kepler's theory: a sun-focused universe	20	(3)
1.6 The scientific revolution: a dialogue between nature and mind	23	(5)
1.7 The Copernican revolution: dawn of the modern age	28	(3)
Summary, review, projects, discussion, exercises, problems	31	(5)
CHAPTER 2 Atoms: The Nature of Things	36	(27)
2.1 The Greek atom: the smallest pieces	36	(3)
2.2 Atoms and molecules	39	(2)
2.3 Metric distances and powers of 10	41	(2)
2.4 The atom's explanatory power: the odor of violets	43	(3)
2.5 The smallness of atoms: we all are breathing one another	46	(3)
2.6 Atomic materialism: atoms and empty space	49	(3)
2.7 Three atomic models: Greek, planetary, and quantum	52	(2)
2.8 Chemistry and life: what did atoms ever do for you?	54	(3)
Summary, review, projects, discussion, exercises, problems	57	(6)
PART TWO THE NEWTONIAN UNIVERSE: A CLOCKWORK KINGDOM	63	(74)
CHAPTER 3 How Things Move: Galileo Asks the Right Questions	64	(22)
3.1 Aristotelian physics: a commonsense view	65	(1)
3.2 How do we know? difficulties with Aristotelian physics	66	(2)
3.3 The law of inertia: the foundation of Newtonian physics	68	(4)
3.4 Measuring motion: speed and velocity	72	(3)
3.5 Measuring motion: acceleration	75	(2)
3.6 Galileo's law of falling	77	(4)
Summary, review, projects, discussion, exercises, problems	81	(5)
CHAPTER 4 Why Things Move As They Do	86	(23)
4.1 Force: why things accelerate	87	(2)
4.2 Connecting force and acceleration	89	(2)
4.3 Newton's law of motion: centerpiece of Newtonian physics	91	(3)
4.4 Weight: gravity's force on a body	94	(2)
4.5 The law of force pairs: you can't do just one thing	96	(4)
4.6 Newton meets the automobile	100	(4)
4.7 Summary, review, projects, exercises, problems	104	(5)
CHAPTER 5 The Universe According to Newton	109	(28)
5.1 The idea of gravity: the apple and the moon	110	(3)
5.2 The law of gravity: moving the farthest star	113	(5)
5.3 Gravitational collapse: the birth and death of the solar system	118	(4)
5.4 Gravitational collapse: the deaths of more massive stars	122	(3)
5.5 The Newtonian worldview: a democratic, mechanical universe	125	(5)
5.6 Beyond Newton: limitations of Newtonian physics	130	(2)
Summary, review, project, discussion, exercises, problems	132	(5)
PART THREE TRANSITION TO THE NEW PHYSICS	137	(112)
CHAPTER 6 Conservation of Energy: You Can't Get Ahead-	138	(23)
6.1 Work: using a force to move something	139	(2)
6.2 Work and energy: a simple example	141	(1)
6.3 A quantitative look at energy	142	(1)
6.4 Energy: the ability to do work	143	(2)
6.5 The law of energy: energy is forever	145	(4)
6.6 Transformations of energy	149	(2)
6.7 Power: the quickness of energy transformation	151	(5)
Summary, review, projects, discussion, exercises, problems	156	(5)
CHAPTER 7 Second Law of Thermodynamics: And You Can't Even Break Even	161	(29)
7.1 Heating	162	(1)
7.2 Heat engines: using thermal energy to do work	163	(3)
7.3 Energy quality: things run down	166	(1)
7.4 The law of entropy: Why you can't break even	167	(4)
7.5 The automobile	171	(2)
7.6 Transportation efficiency	173	(2)
7.7 The steam-electric power plant	175	(3)
7.8 Resource use and exponential growth	178	(7)
Summary, review, projects, discussion, exercises, problems	185	(5)
CHAPTER 8 Light and Electromagnetism	190	(25)
8.1 Waves: something else that travels	190	(3)
8.2 Interference: a behaviour unique to waves	193	(3)
8.3 Light: particles or wave?	196	(5)
8.4 Electric force: part of the electromagnetic force	201	(1)
8.5 Magnetic force: the other part	202	(2)
8.6 The electric atom: the planetary model	204	(4)
8.7 The planetary atom: a useful theory	208	(3)
Summary, review, projects, exercises, problems	211	(4)
CHAPTER 9 Electromagnetic Waves	215	(34)
9.1 Force fields: a disturbance of space	216	(1)
9.2 The electromagnetic wave theory of light	217	(5)
9.3 The decline of the Newtonian universe	222	(1)
9.4 The complete spectrum	223	(4)
9.5 Solar radiation: the light from our star	227	(2)
9.6 Global ozone depletion	229	(7)
9.7 Global warming	236	(9)
Summary, review, projects, discussion, exercises, problems	245	(4)
PART FOUR THE POST-NEWTONIAN UNIVERSE: THE OBSERVER INTRUDES	249	(140)
CHAPTER 10 Relativity Theory	250	(24)
10.1 Einstein: rebel with a cause	251	(1)
10.2 Galilean relativity: relativity according to Newtonian physics	252	(3)
10.3 The principle of relativity: relativity according to Einstein	255	(1)
10.4 The constancy of lightspeed: strange but true	256	(3)
10.5 Einstein's logic, materialism, and the logic of science	259	(3)
10.6 The relativity of time: time is what humans measures on clocks	262	(5)
10.7 Time travel: you can't go home again	267	(3)
10.8 Summary, review, project, discussion, exercises, problems	270	(4)
CHAPTER 11 The Universe According to Einstein	274	(30)
11.1 The relativity of space: space is what humans measure with rulers	275	(2)
11.2 The relativity of velocity according to Einstein	277	(1)
11.3 The relativity of mass: inertia is relative	278	(4)
11.4 E=mc(2): energy has mass, and mass has energy	282	(4)
11.5 Relativity and the Newtonian worldview	286	(1)
11.6 Einstein's gravity	287	(6)
11.7 The shape and fate of the universe	293	(6)
Summary, review, project, discussion, exercises, problems	299	(5)
CHAPTER 12 Are We Alone? The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence	304	(26)
12.1 Are there other "good" places for life?	305	(5)
12.2 Does life develop on "good" planets? how did life develop on Earth?	310	(3)
12.3 Is intelligence a characteristic feature of life?	313	(2)
12.4 Does intelligent life develop technology?	315	(1)
12.5 Interstellar communication and travel: might we make contact?	316	(3)
12.6 Where is everybody? do technological civilizations endure?	319	(3)
12.7 Have we been visited? UFOs and pseudoscience	322	(4)
Summary, review, project, discussion, exercises, problems	326	(4)
CHAPTER 13 Quantum Theory	330	(26)
13.1 The post-Newtonian revolution	330	(2)
13.2 Quantization: the photoelectric effect	332	(4)
13.3 Radiation: waves or particles? the duality of nature	336	(3)
13.4 The electron wave interference effect	339	(6)
13.5 Matter: particles or waves? the quantum mystery	345	(2)
13.6 The psi field: nature doesn't know what she will do next	347	(3)
13.7 The quantum theory of matter and radiation	350	(2)
Summary, review, projects, discussion, exercises, problems	352	(4)
CHAPTER 14 The Universe According to Quantum Theory	356	(33)
14.1 How do we know? observing atomic spectra	357	(2)
14.2 The quantum atom	359	(7)
14.3 The uncertainty principle: a particle's realm of possibilities	366	(3)
14.4 Quantum jumps	369	(5)
14.5 The interconnectedness principle: spooky action at a distance	374	(4)
14.6 *What does it mean? quantum theory and reality	378	(3)
14.7 Toward a post-Newtonian worldview	381	(2)
Summary, review, projects, discussion, exercises, problems	383	(6)
PART FIVE WITHIN THE ATOM: FIRE OF THE NUCLEUS, FIRE OF THE SUN	389	(110)
CHAPTER 15 The Nucleus and Radioactivity: A New Force	390	(26)
15.1 Nuclear forces: the third glue	391	(1)
15.2 Nuclear energy and nuclear structure	392	(2)
15.3 Radioactive decay: spontaneous nuclear disintegration	394	(4)
15.4 Half-life: when does a nucleus decay?	398	(2)
15.5 *Radioactive dating: when did we come from?	400	(4)
15.6 *Human exposure to ionizing radiation	404	(3)
15.7 *Risk assessment: dealing with risk in a technological society	407	(4)
Summary, review, projects, discussion, exercises, problems	411	(5)
CHAPTER 16 Fusion and Fission: And A New Energy	416	(29)
16.1 Fusion: the fire in the sun	417	(3)
16.2 The nuclear energy curve	420	(2)
16.3 Creation of the universe and the atoms: we are star dust	422	(4)
16.4 *The discovery of fission: passage to a new age	426	(3)
16.5 The chain reaction: unlocking the strong force	429	(3)
16.6 *The Manhattan Project and fission weapons	432	(6)
16.7 Fusion weapons: star fire on Earth	438	(3)
Summary, review, project, discussion, exercises, problems	441	(4)
CHAPTER 17 The Energy Future	445	(27)
17.1 A brief history of energy	446	(2)
17.2 Energy use today and future possibilities	448	(4)
17.3 Nuclear power: how it works	452	(2)
17.4 Technology assessment: assessing the nonrenewables	454	(2)
17.5 Issues for nuclear power	456	(3)
17.6 Future energy options: renewables	459	(6)
17.7 Future energy options: conservation	465	(2)
Summary, review, projects, discussion, exercises, problems	467	(5)
CHAPTER 18 Quantum Fields: Relativity Meets the Quantum	472	(27)
18.1 Quantized fields: the reason there are particles	472	(2)
18.2 Quantum electrodynamics: the strange theory of electrons and light	474	(3)
18.3 Antimatter	477	(5)
18.4 Electroweak unification: neutrinos	482	(4)
18.5 Grand unification: quarks	486	(5)
18.6 Grander unification: gravity and the inflationary universe	491	(5)
Summary, review, discussion, exercises, problems	496	(3)
Epilogue: Summing Up	499	(3)
ANSWERS TO ODD-NUMBERED EXERCISES AND PROBLEMS	502	(11)
GLOSSARY	513	(13)
PHOTO CREDITS	526	(3)
INDEX	529
Chapters and sections marked by asterisks can be skipped without destroying the continuity of the remaining material