Physics : Concepts and Connections

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ISBN: 9780130953810 | 0130953814
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 6/1/1998

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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.

PREFACE

xiii

(8)

FLOW CHART OF TOPICS

xxi

PART ONE PRELUDE: OF STARS AND ATOMS

(62)

CHAPTER 1 The Way of Science: Experience and Ideas

(34)

1.1 Stardust: an invitation to science (read this section even if Chapter 1 is omitted)

(2)

1.2 Observing the night sky

(4)

1.3 Ancient Greek theories: an Earth-centered universe

(7)

1.4 Copernicus's theory: a sun-centered universe

(5)

1.5 Kepler's theory: a sun-focused universe

(3)

1.6 The scientific revolution: a dialogue between nature and mind

(5)

1.7 The Copernican revolution: dawn of the modern age

(3)

Summary, review, projects, discussion, exercises, problems

(5)

CHAPTER 2 Atoms: The Nature of Things

(27)

2.1 The Greek atom: the smallest pieces

(3)

2.2 Atoms and molecules

(2)

2.3 Metric distances and powers of 10

(2)

2.4 The atom's explanatory power: the odor of violets

(3)

2.5 The smallness of atoms: we all are breathing one another

(3)

2.6 Atomic materialism: atoms and empty space

(3)

2.7 Three atomic models: Greek, planetary, and quantum

(2)

2.8 Chemistry and life: what did atoms ever do for you?

(3)

Summary, review, projects, discussion, exercises, problems

(6)

PART TWO THE NEWTONIAN UNIVERSE: A CLOCKWORK KINGDOM

(74)

CHAPTER 3 How Things Move: Galileo Asks the Right Questions

(22)

3.1 Aristotelian physics: a commonsense view

(1)

3.2 How do we know? difficulties with Aristotelian physics

(2)

3.3 The law of inertia: the foundation of Newtonian physics

(4)

3.4 Measuring motion: speed and velocity

(3)

3.5 Measuring motion: acceleration

(2)

3.6 Galileo's law of falling

(4)

Summary, review, projects, discussion, exercises, problems

(5)

CHAPTER 4 Why Things Move As They Do

(23)

4.1 Force: why things accelerate

(2)

4.2 Connecting force and acceleration

(2)

4.3 Newton's law of motion: centerpiece of Newtonian physics

(3)

4.4 Weight: gravity's force on a body

(2)

4.5 The law of force pairs: you can't do just one thing

(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

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Physics : Concepts and Connections

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