States of Matter, States of Mind

by Barton; Allan F.M.

• ISBN13: 9780750304184
• ISBN10: 0750304189
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1997-01-01
• Publisher: CRC Press

Summary

This is an easy-to-read introduction to the way the physical world is put together and stays together. Written in an engaging manner it explains some of the intricate details and some of the grand schemes of life, the universe and everything by making analogies with common everyday examples. Guided from fundamental ideas and fundamental particles to the make-up of the Universe, a reader with an enquiring mind can develop a familiarity with some of the concepts that shape our understanding of matter and why it behaves in the way it does.

Table of Contents

PREFACE	vii
CHAPTER 1: STATES OF MATTER	1	(35)
1.1 Cake-Making	2	(3)
1.2 The Greeks Had a Word for It	5	(4)
1.3 Galloping Horses	9	(4)
1.4 Building a House	13	(1)
1.5 Hindsight and Foresight	14	(1)
1.6 Keep It Simple	15	(3)
1.7 Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast	18	(2)
1.8 Structure	20	(1)
1.9 Starting the Jigsaw Puzzle	21	(1)
1.10 Uneven Progress	22	(1)
1.11 Whimsicality	23	(1)
1.12 Misleading Models	23	(3)
1.13 Phases	26	(1)
1.14 How Small Are Atoms?	27	(5)
Endnotes	32	(4)
CHAPTER 2: LANGUAGE OF MATTER	36	(19)
2.1 Scientific Jargon	36	(2)
2.2 Perspective	38	(4)
2.3 How Long Is a Piece of String?	42	(2)
2.4 Condition Critical	44	(1)
2.5 Smaller and Smaller Probes	45	(1)
2.6 Limits and Dimensions	46	(3)
2.7 Microgravity	49	(1)
2.8 Symmetry	50	(2)
Endnotes	52	(3)
CHAPTER 3: PATTERNS IN MATTER	55	(24)
3.1 States	55	(1)
3.2 Dynamics	56	(3)
3.3 Newton's Model	59	(2)
3.4 Fields	61	(5)
3.5 Flow	66	(1)
3.6 Light	67	(1)
3.7 Chaos	68	(4)
3.8 Fractals	72	(1)
3.9 Scale	73	(1)
3.10 Dirty Systems	74	(2)
Endnotes	76	(3)
CHAPTER 4: UNUSUAL MATTER	79	(23)
4.1 Ultraviolet Catastrophe	79	(6)
4.2 Wave States	85	(5)
4.3 Wave in a Box	90	(1)
4.4 Heisenberg May Have Been Here!	91	(3)
4.5 Playing Cards and Four-Strokes	94	(2)
4.6 Quantum Leap	96	(3)
Endnotes	99	(3)
CHAPTER 5: THERMODYNAMIC MATTER	102	(22)
5.1 Energy Well Model	102	(3)
5.2 Thermodynamic Model	105	(5)
5.3 Absolute Zero	110	(1)
5.4 Energy and Entropy	111	(3)
5.5 Death and Taxes	114	(1)
5.6 Cussedness Model	115	(1)
5.7 Ordering	116	(2)
5.8 Phase Changes	118	(1)
5.9 Dynamic Models	119	(3)
Endnotes	122	(2)
CHAPTER 6: INTERACTING MATTER	124	(20)
6.1 Interactions	124	(2)
6.2 Probing Matter	126	(5)
6.3 Transformation	131	(3)
6.4 Changing Matter	134	(2)
6.5 Failure	136	(6)
Endnotes	142	(2)
CHAPTER 7: FUNDAMENTAL MATTER	144	(27)
7.1 Beyond the Atom	144	(2)
7.2 Bubble Chambers	146	(2)
7.3 Charge Integrity	148	(1)
7.4 Electron in a Box	149	(2)
7.5 Tunnelling	151	(2)
7.6 Delocalisation	153	(3)
7.7 Quantum Dots	156	(3)
7.8 Colourful Quarks	165	(1)
7.9 Virtual Reality	165	(1)
7.10 Isotopes	165	(3)
Endnotes	168	(3)
CHAPTER 8: ATOMIC MATTER	171	(20)
8.1 Atom Models	171	(3)
8.2 Quantum Mechanical Atom	174	(1)
8.3 Rydberg Atom	175	(1)
8.4 Quantum Chaos	176	(1)
8.5 Building an Atom	177	(2)
8.6 Periodic Elements	179	(3)
8.7 Noble Gases	182	(1)
8.8 Cooling Atoms	183	(1)
8.9 Trapping an Atom	184	(1)
8.10 Surface Images	184	(3)
8.11 Plasmas	187	(2)
Endnotes	189	(2)
CHAPTER 9: CHEMICAL MATTER	191	(28)
9.1 Amount	191	(1)
9.2 Molecules	192	(1)
9.3 Bond Models	193	(3)
9.4 Extended Bonding	196	(1)
9.5 Classifying Matter	196	(3)
9.6 Allotropes	199	(2)
9.7 Electronegativity	201	(1)
9.8 Giving, Taking and Sharing	201	(1)
9.9 Carbon Compounds	202	(3)
9.10 Microclusters	205	(1)
9.11 Nonexistent Compounds	206	(1)
9.12 Handedness	207	(3)
9.13 Aromatic Model	210	(1)
9.14 Fullerenes	211	(3)
9.15 Macromolecules	214	(2)
Endnotes	216	(3)
CHAPTER 10: MOLECULAR MATTER	219	(15)
10.1 Molecular Interactions	219	(4)
10.2 Fragile Molecules	223	(2)
10.3 Many-Body Problems	225	(1)
10.4 Computer Simulation	225	(1)
10.5 Ideal Gases	226	(2)
10.6 Hard Sphere Model	228	(1)
10.7 Molecular Speeds	229	(2)
10.8 Kinetic Fluid Model	231	(1)
Endnotes	232	(2)
CHAPTER 11: DISORDERED MATTER	234	(21)
11.1 Condensed States	234	(2)
11.2 Liquids	236	(1)
11.3 Superfluid Helium	237	(2)
11.4 Viscous Flow	239	(7)
11.5 Glasses	246	(2)
11.6 Turbulence	248	(2)
11.7 Granular Matter	250	(3)
Endnotes	253	(2)
CHAPTER 12: MIXED MATTER	255	(19)
12.1 Purity	255	(2)
12.2 Ideality	257	(1)
12.3 Collections	258	(1)
12.4 Phase Diagrams	258	(3)
12.5 Mixtures	261	(4)
12.6 Cohesion Parameters	265	(1)
12.7 Gases in Liquids	266	(2)
12.8 Chemical Processes	268	(2)
12.9 Catalysts and Enzymes	270	(3)
Endnotes	273	(1)
CHAPTER 13: ORDERED MATTER	274	(21)
13.1 Layer by Layer	274	(1)
13.2 Crystals	275	(4)
13.3 Nucleation	279	(1)
13.4 Electrical Conduction	280	(1)
13.5 Organic Conductors	281	(1)
13.6 Ceramics	282	(1)
13.7 Superconductors	283	(6)
13.8 Solid Solutions	289	(1)
13.9 Magnetic Matter	290	(3)
Endnotes	293	(2)
CHAPTER 14: INTERFACIAL MATTER	295	(21)
14.1 Windows	295	(1)
14.2 Interfacial Energy	296	(1)
14.3 Liquids Can Flow Uphill	297	(2)
14.4 Adsorption	299	(1)
14.5 Metal Surfaces	300	(1)
14.6 Thin Films	301	(1)
14.7 Surfactants	302	(3)
14.8 Bubbles	305	(1)
14.9 Foams	306	(1)
14.10 Aerogels	307	(2)
14.11 Sticky Solids	309	(2)
14.12 Sintering	311	(1)
14.13 Aggregates	311	(1)
14.14 Nanotribology	312	(1)
14.15 Adhesives	313	(2)
Endnotes	315	(1)
CHAPTER 15: SOFT MATTER	316	(26)
15.1 Soft Matter	316	(1)
15.2 Polymers	316	(3)
15.3 Polymer Solvents	319	(1)
15.4 Flowing Polymers	320	(4)
15.5 Gels	324	(1)
15.6 Colloids	325	(1)
15.7 Superpolymers	326	(1)
15.8 Liquid Crystals	327	(5)
15.9 Replication	332	(1)
15.10 Biological Matter	333	(2)
15.11 Biomolecular Machines	335	(2)
15.12 Life	337	(1)
15.13 Evolving Universes	338	(2)
Endnotes	340	(2)
POSTSCRIPT: STATES OF MIND	342	(1)
BIBLIOGRAPHY	343	(18)
INDEX	361