Table Of Content
The Basics of Physics
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The Basics of Physics
Rusty L. Myers
Basics of the Hard Sciences
Robert E. Krebs, Series Editor
GREENWOOD PRESS
Westport, Connecticut • London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Myers, Rusty [Richard] L.
The basics of physics / Rusty L. Myers.
p. cm. — (Basics of the hard sciences)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-313-32857-9 (alk. paper)
1. Physics—Textbooks. I. Title. II. Series.
QC21.3.M94 2006
530—dc22 2005030786
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.
Copyright © 2006 by Rusty L. Myers
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2005030786
ISBN: 0-313-32857-9
First published in 2006
Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
www.greenwood.com
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this book complies with the
Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 21
While the physics experiments ("activities") listed in chapter 16 of this volume have been exhaustively tested
for safety, the author and publisher cannot be held liable for any injury or damage that may occur during the
performance of these experiments.
Contents
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Chapter 1 Physics and Its Early Foundations 1
Introduction: What Is Physics? 1
Divisions of Physics 2
The Philosophical Foundation of Physics 4
Plato 6
Aristotle 7
Ptolemy 9
Physics in the Dark and Middle Ages 10
Physics in the Middle Ages 12
Summary 14
Chapter 2 The Development of Classical Physics 15
Introduction 15
The Copernican System 15
Brahe and Kepler 17
Galileo 21
Newton 27
Summary 29
Chapter 3 Translational Motion 31
Introduction 31
Scalars and Vectors 31
Speed and Velocity 31
Acceleration 34
General Formulas for Kinematics 35
Acceleration Due to Gravity 36
vi Contents
40
Newton's Laws of Motion
Gravity and Weight 41
43
Newton's Third Law
Momentum and Impulse 44
44
The Conservation of Momentum
Friction 46
Summary 47
Chapter 4 Rotational Motion 49
Introduction 49
49
Uniform Circular Motion
Centripetal Acceleration and Force 51
Orbital Motion, Gravity, and Apparent Weight 54
Artificial Gravity 55
Angular Acceleration 57
Rotational Dynamics 58
Balancing and Center of Mass 61
Angular Momentum 63
64
Summary of Translational and Circular Motion Eq
Chapter 5 Work, Energy, and Heat 67
Introduction 67
System and Surroundings 67
Potential, Kinetic, and Internal Energy 68
Work 69
Heat and Temperature 70
Units for Energy, Work, and Heat 74
74
Conservation of Energy
76
Machines
78
Thermodynamics
Power 82
82
Summary
85
Chapter 6 Heat
85
Introduction
Heat and Temperature Change 85
88
Heat and Phase Changes
Phase Diagrams 90
91
Thermal Expansion of Substances
94
Heat Transfer
987
Applications of Heat Transfer
99
Summary
101
Chapter 7 Matter
101
Introduction
101
Solids
Contents vii
X-ray Diffraction 102
Amorphous Solids 104
Elasticity of Solids 105
Fluids 107
Atmospheric and Hydrostatic Pressure 110
The Gas Laws 113
The Ideal Gas Law 115
Pascal's Principle 116
Buoyancy and the Archimedes Principle 117
Fluid Dynamics 119
Material Science 122
Summary 125
Chapter 8 Vibrations, Waves, and Sound 127
Introduction 127
Simple Harmonic Motion 127
Waves 129
Sound 134
Music 137
Acoustics 141
The Ear and Hearing 145
Summary 145
Chapter 9 Light and Optics 147
Introduction 147
A Brief History of Light 148
Behavior of Light 151
Reflection 151
Refraction 156
Dispersion and Scattering 161
Diffraction 163
Polarization 164
Summary 167
Chapter 10 Quantum Physics 169
Introduction 169
Blackbody Radiation 169
The Photoelectric Effect 171
The Compton Effect 172
Wave-Particle Duality 172
The Schrodinger Equation and the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle 174
A Brief History of Atomic Thought 175
The Divisible Atom 177
Atomic Structure 180
Quantum Mechanics 183
Summary 187
viii Contents
Chapter 11 A Modern View of the Atom 189
Introduction 189
Particle Detectors and Accelerators 189
Fundamental Particles, Forces, and the Standard Model 193
The Standard Cosmological Model 200
Summary 202
Chapter 12 Nuclear Physics 205
Introduction 205
Atomic Mass, Atomic Numbers, and Isotopes 205
Nuclear Stability and Radioactivity 207
Radioactive Decay and Nuclear Reactions 208
Half-Life and Radiometric Dating 210
Nuclear Binding Energy, Fission, and Fusion 213
Fusion and Stellar Evolution 219
Transmutation 220
Radiation Units and Detection 221
Biological Effects of Radiation 224
Summary 227
Chapter 13 Electricity 229
Introduction 229
History 229
Electrostatics 233
Conductors and Insulators 235
Coulomb's Law and the Electric Field 236
The Electric Potential 237
Electric Current and Circuits 239
Electric Power 245
Batteries 245
Home Electricity and Electrical Safety 249
Summary 253
Chapter 14 Magnetism and Electromagnetism 255
Introduction 255
The Magnetic Field and Source of Magnetism 256
Magnetic Force on a Moving Charge 259
Electromagnetic Induction 261
Mutual Inductance and Self-Inductance 264
Electromagnetic Applications 265
Geomagnetism 268
Maxwell's Equations 270
Summary 271
Chapter 15 Relativity 273
Introduction 273
The Speed of Light 273
Contents ix
The Michelson-Morley Experiment 277
Reference Frames 280
Special Theory of Relativity 282
Time 283
Length Contraction 287
Mass, Momentum, and Energy 287
General Relativity 288
Summary 292
Chapter 16 Physics Experiments 295
Introduction 295
The Scientific Method 295
Physics Experimentation 298
Physics Activities 299
Summary 318
Chapter 17 Physics as a Career and Physics Jobs 319
Introduction 319
Physics-Related Fields 320
Physics Work 322
Education 323
Physics Organizations 325
Job Outlook 325
Summary 326
Glossary 327
Selected Symbols, Abbreviations, and Units 339
Table of Elements 343
Conversion Tables 345
Nobel Prize Winners in Physics 351
Selected Bibliography and Internet Resources 357
Index 361
