Problems in Physics

342 Pages·1980·21.5 MB·English

by  A. A. Pinsky

A. A. ITHHCKHA
no
3A~Aql1 <I>1l3MRE
H3AATEJIbCTBO «HAYHA» MOCHBA
PROBLEMS
in PHYSICS
A.A. PINSKY
Translated from the Russian
by
Mark Samokhvalov, Cando Se. (Tech.)
MIR PUBLISHERS MOSCOW
First published 1980
Revised from the 1977 Russian edition
© lIaAaTeJILCTBo «Hayxa», 1977
© English translation, Mir Publishers, 1980
PREFACE
The two volumes of the "Fundamentals of Physics"·,
published in two editions, have been translated into Polish
and English and have gained popularity among senior form
students of secondary schools where physics is studied at an
advanced level, among college freshmen and among instruc
tors and teachers of physics. At the same time, reviews and
numerous letters from readers have stressed the need for a
system of problems adapted to the theoretical material
contained in the book which would enable the reader to
consolidate and to check his knowledge of the material stud
ied, and to develop skills in the creative application of the
theory to specific physical problems.
,This book offers the reader over 750 problems concerning
the same subject matter as is treated in the two volumes of
the "Fundamentals of Physics". The order of presentation of
the theoretical material is also the same.
~ The availability of a great number of problem books based
on the traditional school physics curriculum prompted us
to enlarge those sections which are absent from traditional
problem books, namelythe dynamicsofarotatingrigid body,
the elements of the theory of relativity and of quantum and
statistical physics, of solid-state physics, wave optics, atom
IC and nuclearphysics, etc. Problems dealing with astrophys
ics illustrate the application of the laws of physics to ce
lestial bodies.
~~,I.The book contains a few problems requiring elementary
skill in differentiating and integrating, as well as some prob
lems to be solved with the aid of numerical methods,·which
nowadays are being increasingly used.
• B. M. Yavorsky and A. A. Pinsky. Fundamentals 0/ Physics,
v. I and II, Mir Publishers, Moscow, 1975.
6 Preface
As well as the practice exercises there are some rather
sophisticated problems requiring a deep knowledge of the
theory.
Most of the problems are provided with sufficiently de
tailed solutions.
Whether a problem book should be provided with detailed
solutions, or only the answers should be supplied, is a con
troversial question. True, the temptation to look into a
ready-made solution is quite strong. However we hope
that the reader wants to learn to solve the problems himself,
and so he will turn to read the solutions only in extreme
circumstances. On the other hand, having in mind that the
majority of readers will work withthebook on their own, we
feel obliged to offer them help when they are unable to cope
with a problem. Note that the solutions provided are not
always the only ones possible. We shall be grateful to any
reader who suggests more elegant or original solutions.
Reference data required for the solution of the problems
is presented in the appendices. They augment the data con
tained in the corresponding chapters of the series "Funda
mentals of Physics".
The collection ofproblems may serve as an aid for students
preparing for examinations in physics. It may be used in
physico-mathematical schools or for extra-curricular work
in physics. The problems will be useful to students studying
to become physics teachers, to students at technical col
leges, and to physics teachers in schools, technical schools
and secondary vocational schools.
The author expresses his sincere gratitude to Prof.
N. N. Malov and Prof. B. M. Yavorsky and also to Yu.
A. Selesnev, Ya. F. Lerner and M. M. Samokhvalov. Their
valuable remarks enabled the author to make corrections to
the manuscript.
A. A. Pinsky