- ISBN: 9781119519508 | 1119519500
- Cover: Paperback
- Copyright: 8/24/2020
An updated and thoroughly revised third edition of the foundational text offering an introduction to physics with a comprehensive interactive website
The revised and updated third edition of Understanding Physics presents a comprehensive introduction to college-level physics. Written with today's students in mind, this compact text covers the core material required within an introductory course in a clear and engaging way. The authors – noted experts on the topic – offer an understanding of the physical universe and present the mathematical tools used in physics.
The book covers all the material required in an introductory physics course. Each topic is introduced from first principles so that the text is suitable for students without a prior background in physics. At the same time the book is designed to enable students to proceed easily to subsequent courses in physics and may be used to support such courses. Relativity and quantum mechanics are introduced at an earlier stage than is usually found in introductory textbooks and are integrated with the more 'classical' material from which they have evolved.
Worked examples and links to problems, designed to be both illustrative and challenging, are included throughout. The links to over 600 problems and their solutions, as well as links to more advanced sections, interactive problems, simulations and videos may be made by typing in the URL’s which are noted throughout the text or by scanning the micro QR codes given alongside the URL’s, see: http://up.ucc.ie
This new edition of this essential text:
- Offers an introduction to the principles for each topic presented
- Presents a comprehensive yet concise introduction to physics covering a wide range of material
- Features a revised treatment of electromagnetism, specifically the more detailed treatment of electric and magnetic materials
- Puts emphasis on the relationship between microscopic and macroscopic perspectives
- Is structured as a foundation course for undergraduate students in physics, materials science and engineering
- Has been rewritten to conform with the revised definitions of SI base units which came into force in May 2019
Written for first year physics students, the revised and updated third edition of Understanding Physics offers a foundation text and interactive website for undergraduate students in physics, materials science and engineering.
Michael Mansfield, PhD, is Emeritus Professor in the Department of Physics, University College Cork, Ireland.
Colm O’Sullivan, PhD, is Emeritus Professor in the Physics Department, University College Cork, Ireland.
Preface
The Understanding Physics website
Problems
1 Understanding the physical universe
1.1 The programme of physics
1.2 The building blocks of matter
1.3 Matter in bulk
1.4 The fundamental interactions
1.5 Exploring the physical universe: the scientific method
1.6 The role of physics: its scope and applications
2 Using mathematical tools in physics
2.1 Applying the scientific method
2.2 The use of variables to represent displacement and time
2.3 Representation of data
2.4 The use of differentiation in analysis: velocity and acceleration in linear motion
2.5 The use of integration in analysis
2.6 Maximum and minimum values of physical quantities: general linear motion
2.7 Angular motion: the radian
2.8 The role of mathematics in physics
Worked examples
Chapter 2 problems (up.ucc.ie/2/)
3 The causes of motion: dynamics
3.1 The concept of force
3.2 The first law of dynamics (Newton's first law)
3.3 The fundamental dynamical principle (Newton's second law)
3.4 Systems of units: SI
3.5 Time dependent forces: oscillatory motion
3.6 Simple harmonic motion
3.7 Mechanical work and energy
3.8 Plots of potential energy functions
3.9 Power
3.10 Energy in simple harmonic motion
3.11 Dissipative forces: damped harmonic motion
3.11.1 Trial solution technique for solving the damped harmonic motion equation (up.ucc.ie/3/11/)
3.12 Forced oscillations (up.ucc.ie/3/12/)
3.13 Non-linear dynamics: chaos (up.ucc.ie/3/13/)
3.14 Phase space representation of dynamical systems (up.ucc.ie/3/14/)
Worked examples
Chapter 3 problems (up.ucc.ie/3/)
4 Motion in two and three dimensions
4.1 Vector physical quantities
4.2 Vector algebra
4.3 Velocity and acceleration vectors
4.4 Force as a vector quantity: vector form of the laws of dynamics
4.5 Constraint forces
4.6 Friction
4.7 Motion in a circle: centripetal force
4.8 Motion in a circle at constant speed
4.9 Tangential and radial components of acceleration
4.10 Hybrid motion: the simple pendulum
4.10.1 Large angle corrections for the simple pendulum (up.ucc.ie/4/10/)
4.11 Angular quantities as vectors: the cross product
Worked examples
Chapter 4 problems (up.ucc.ie/4/)
5 Force fields
5.1 Newton's law of universal gravitation
5.2 Force fields
5.3 The concept of flux
5.4 Gauss’ law for gravitation
5.5 Applications of Gauss’ law
5.6 Motion in a constant uniform field: projectiles
5.7 Mechanical work and energy
5.8 Power
5.9 Energy in a constant uniform field
5.10 Energy in an inverse square law field
5.11 Moment of a force: angular momentum
5.12 Planetary motion: circular orbits
5.13 Planetary motion: elliptical orbits and Kepler's laws
5.13.1 Conservation of the Runge-Lens vector (up.ucc.ie/5/13/)
Worked examples
Chapter 5 problems (up.ucc.ie/5/)
6 Many-body interactions
6.1 Newton's third law
6.2 The principle of conservation of momentum
6.3 Mechanical energy of systems of particles
6.4 Particle decay
6.5 Particle collisions
6.6 The centre of mass of a system
6.7 The two-body problem: reduced mass
6.8 Angular momentum of systems of particles
6.9 Conservation principles in physics
Worked examples
Chapter 6 problems (up.ucc.ie/6/)
7 Rigid body dynamics
7.1 Rigid bodies
7.2 Rigid bodies in equilibrium: statics
7.3 Torque
7.4 Dynamics of rigid bodies
7.5 Measurement of torque: the torsion balance
7.6 Rotation of a rigid body about a fixed axis: moment of inertia
7.7 Calculation of moments of inertia: the parallel axis theorem
7.8 Conservation of angular momentum of rigid bodies
7.9 Conservation of mechanical energy in rigid body systems
7.10 Work done by a torque: torsional oscillations: rotational power
7.11 Gyroscopic motion
7.11.1 Precessional angular velocity of a top (up.ucc.ie/7/11/)
7.12 Summary- connection between rotational and translational motions
Worked examples
Chapter 7 problems (up.ucc.ie/7/)
8 Relative motion
8.1 Applicability of Newton's laws of motion: inertial reference frames
8.2 The Galilean transformation
8.3 The CM (centre-of-mass) reference frame
8.4 Example of a non-inertial frame: centrifugal force
8.5 Motion in a rotating frame: the Coriolis force
8.6 The Foucault pendulum
8.6.1 Precession of a Foucault pendulum (up.ucc.ie/8/6/)
8.7 Practical criteria for inertial frames: the local view
Worked examples
Chapter 8 problems (up.ucc.ie/8/)
9 Special relativity
9.1 The velocity of light
9.1.1 The Michelson-Morley experiment (up.ucc.ie/9/1/)
9.2 The Principle of Relativity
9.3 Consequences of the Principle of Relativity
9.4 The Lorentz transformation
9.5 The Fitzgerald-Lorentz contraction
9.6 Time dilation
9.7 Paradoxes in special relativity
9.7.1 Simultaneity: quantitative analysis of the twin paradox (up.ucc.ie/9/7/)
9.8 Relativistic transformation of velocity
9.9 Momentum in relativistic mechanics
9.10 Four-vectors: the energy-momentum 4-vector
9.11 Energy-momentum transformations: relativistic energy conservation
9.11.1 The force transformations (up.ucc.ie/9/11/)
9.12 Relativistic energy: mass-energy equivalence
9.13 Units in relativistic mechanics
9.14 Mass-energy equivalence in practice
9.15 General relativity
Worked examples
Chapter 9 problems (up.ucc.ie/9/)
10 Continuum mechanics: mechanical properties of materials: microscopic models of matter
10.1 Dynamics of continuous media
10.2 Elastic properties of solids
10.3 Fluids at rest
10.4 Elastic properties of fluids
10.5 Pressure in gases
10.6 Archimedes' principle
10.7 Fluid dynamics; the Bernoulli equation
10.8 Viscosity
10.9 Surface properties of liquids
10.10 Boyle's law (Mariotte's law)
10.11 A microscopic theory of gases
10.12 The SI unit of amount of matter; the mole
10.13 Interatomic forces: modifications to the kinetic theory of gases
10.14 Microscopic models of condensed matter systems
Worked examples
Chapter 10 problems (up.ucc.ie/10/)
11 Thermal physics
11.1 Friction and heating
11.2 The SI unit of thermodynamic temperature; the kelvin
11.3 Heat capacities of thermal systems
11.4 Comparison of specific heat capacities: calorimetry
11.5 Thermal conductivity
11.6 Convection
11.7 Thermal radiation
11.8 Thermal expansion
11.9 The first law of thermodynamics
11.10 Change of phase: latent heat
11.11 The equation of state of an ideal gas
11.12 Isothermal, isobaric and adiabatic processes: free expansion
11.13 The Carnot cycle
11.14 Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics
11.15 The Helmholtz and Gibbs functions
Worked examples
Chapter 11 problems (up.ucc.ie/11/)
12 Microscopic models of thermal systems: kinetic theory of matter
12.1 Microscopic interpretation of temperature
12.2 Polyatomic molecules: principle of equipartition of energy
12.3 Ideal gas in a gravitational field: the ‘law of atmospheres’
12.4 Ensemble averages and distribution functions
12.5 The distribution of molecular velocities in an ideal gas
12.6 Distribution of molecular speeds
12.7 Distribution of molecular energies; Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics
12.8 Microscopic interpretation of temperature and heat capacity in solids
Worked examples
Chapter 12 problems (up.ucc.ie/12/)
13 Wave Motion
13.1 Characteristics of wave motion
13.2 Representation of a wave which is travelling in one dimension
13.3 Energy and power in a wave motion
13.4 Plane and spherical waves
13.5 Huygen’s principle: the laws of reflection and refraction
13.6 Interference between waves:
13.7 Interference of waves passing through openings: diffraction
13.8 Standing waves
13.8.1 Standing waves in three dimensional cavity (up.ucc.ie/13/8/)
13.9 The Doppler effect
13.10 The wave equation
13.11 Waves along a string
13.12 Waves in elastic media: longitudinal waves in a solid rod
13.13 Waves in elastic media: sound waves in gases
13.14 Superposition of two waves of slightly different frequencies:
wave and group velocities
13.15 Other waveforms: Fourier analysis
Worked examples
Chapter 13 problems (up.ucc.ie/13/)
14 Introduction to quantum mechanics
14.1 Physics at the beginning of the twentieth century
14.2 The blackbody radiation problem; Planck’s quantum hypothesis
14.3 The specific heat capacity of gases
14.4 The specific heat capacity of solids
14.5 The photoelectric effect
14.5.1 Example of an experiment to study the photoelectric effect (up.ucc.ie/14/5/)
14.4 The X-ray continuum
14.7 The Compton effect: the photon model
14.8 The de Broglie hypothesis: wave-particle duality
14.9 Interpretation of wave-particle duality
14.10 The Heisenberg uncertainty principle
14.11 The wavefunction: expectation values
14.12 The Schrödinger (wave mechanical) method
14.12.1 Expectation value of momentum (up.ucc.ie/14/12/)
14.13 The free particle
14.14 The time-independent Schrödinger equation: eigenfunctions and eigenvalues
14.14.1 Derivation of the Ehrenfest theorem (up.ucc.ie/14/14/)
14.15 The infinite square potential well
14.16 Potential steps
14.17 Other potential wells and barriers
14.18 The simple harmonic oscillator
14.18.1 Ground state of the simple harmonic oscillator (up.ucc.ie/14/18/)
14.19 Further implications of quantum mechanics
Worked examples
Chapter 14 problems (up.ucc.ie/14/)
15 Electric currents
15.1 Electric currents
15.2 The electric current model; electric charge
15.3 The unit of electric current; the ampere
15.4 Heating effect revisited: electrical resistance
15.5 Strength of a power supply: emf
15.6 Resistance of a circuit
15.7 Potential difference
15.8 Effect of internal resistance
15.9 Comparison of emfs: the potentiometer
15.10 Multiloop circuits
15.11 Kirchhoff's rules
15.12 Comparison of resistances: the Wheatstone bridge
15.13 Power supplies connected in parallel
15.14 Resistivity and conductivity
15.15 Variation of resistance with temperature
Worked examples
Chapter 15 problems (up.ucc.ie/15/)
16 Electric fields
16.1 Electric charge at rest
16.2 Electric fields: electric field strength
16.3 Force between point charges: Coulomb's law
16.4 Electric flux and electric flux density
16.5 Electric fields due to systems of charges
16.6 The electric dipole
16.7 Gauss’ law for electrostatics
16.8 Applications of Gauss’s law
16.9 Potential difference in electric fields
16.10 Electric potential
16.11 Equipotential surfaces
16.12 Determination of electric field strength from electric potential
16.13 Acceleration of charged particles
16.14 The laws of electrostatics in differential form (up.ucc.ie/16/14)
Worked examples
Chapter 16 problems (up.ucc.ie/16/)
17 Electric fields in materials
17.1 Conductors in electric fields
17.2 Insulators in electric fields; polarisation
17.3 Electric susceptibility
17.4 Boundaries between dielectric media
17.5 Ferroelectricity and paraelectricity; permanently polarised materials
17.6 Uniformly polarised rod; the ‘bar electret’
17.7 Microscopic models of electric polarisation
17.8 Capacitors
17.9 Examples of capacitors with simple geometry
17.10 Energy stored in an electric field
17.11 Capacitors in series and in parallel
17.12 Charge and discharge of a capacitor through a resistance
17.13 Measurement of permittivity
Worked examples
Chapter 17 problems (up.ucc.ie/17/)
18 Magnetic fields
18.1 Magnetism
18.2 The work of Ampère, Biot and Savart
18.3 Magnetic pole strength
18.4 Magnetic field strength
18.5 Ampère's law
18.6 The Biot-Savart law
18.7 Applications of the Biot-Savart law
18.8 Magnetic flux and magnetic flux density
18.9 Magnetic fields of permanent magnets; magnetic dipoles
18.10 Forces between magnets; Gauss’ law for magnetism
18.11 The laws of magnetostatics in differential form (up.ucc.ie/18/11/)
Worked examples
Chapter 18 problems (up.ucc.ie/18/)
19 Electric currents and moving charges in magnetic fields
19.1 Forces between currents magnets
19.2 The force between two long parallel wires
19.3 Current loop in a magnetic field
19.4 Magnetic fields due to moving charges
19.5 Force on a moving electric charge in a magnetic field
19.6 Applications of moving charges in uniform magnetic fields; the classical Hall effect
19.7 Charge in a combined electric and magnetic field; the Lorentz force
19.8 Magnetic dipole moments of charged particles in closed orbits
19.9 Polarisation of magnetic materials; magnetisation, magnetic susceptibility
19.10 Paramagnetism and diamagnetism
19.11 Boundaries between magnetic media
19.12 Ferromagnetism; the magnetic needle revisited
19.13 Moving coil meters and electric motors
19.14 Electric and magnetic fields in moving reference frames (up.ucc.ie/19/14/)
Worked examples
Chapter 19 problems (up.ucc.ie/19)
20 Electromagnetic induction: time-varying emfs
20.1 The principle of electromagnetic induction
20.2 Simple applications of electromagnetic induction
20.3 Self-inductance
20.4 The series L-R circuit
20.5 Discharge of a capacitor through an inductor and resistor
20.6 Time-varying emfs: mutual inductance: transformers
20.7 Alternating current (a.c.)
20.8 Alternating current transformers
20.9 Resistance, capacitance and inductance in a.c. circuits
20.10 The series L-C-R circuit: phasor diagrams
20.11 Power in an a.c. circuit
Worked examples
Chapter 20 problems (up.ucc.ie/20/)
21 Maxwell’s equations; Electromagnetic radiation
21.1 Reconsideration of the laws of electromagnetism: Maxwell's equations
21.2 Plane electromagnetic waves
21.3 Experimental observation of electromagnetic radiation
21.4 The electromagnetic spectrum
21.5 Polarization of electromagnetic waves
21.6 Energy, momentum and angular momentum in electromagnetic waves
21.7 The photon model revisited
21.8 Reflection of electromagnetic waves at an interface between non-conducting media (up.ucc.ie/21/8/)
21.9 Electromagnetic waves in a conducting medium (up.ucc.ie/21/9/)
21.10 Invariance of electromagnetism under the Lorentz transformation (up.ucc.ie/21/10/)
21.11 Maxwell’s equations in differential form (up.ucc.ie/21/11/)
Worked examples
Chapter 21 problems (up.ucc.ie/21/)
22 Wave optics
22.1 Electromagnetic nature of light
22.2 Coherence: the laser
22.3 Diffraction at a single slit
22.4 Two slit interference and diffraction: Young's double slit experiment
22.5 Multiple slit interference: the diffraction grating
22.6 Diffraction of X-rays: Bragg scattering
22.7 The SI unit of luminous intensity, the candela
Worked examples
Chapter 22 problems (up.ucc.ie/22/)
23 Geometrical optics
23.1 The ray model: geometric optics
23.2 Reflection of light
23.3 Image formation by spherical mirrors
23.4 Refraction of light
23.5 Refraction at successive plane interfaces
23.6 Image formation by spherical lenses
23.7 Image formation of extended objects: magnification
23.8 Dispersion of light
Worked examples
Chapter 23 problems (up.ucc.ie/23/)
24 Atomic Physics
24.1 Atomic models
24.2 The spectrum of hydrogen: the Rydberg formula
24.3 The Bohr postulates
24.4 The Bohr theory of the hydrogen atom
24.5 The quantum mechanical (Schrödinger) solution of the one-electron atom
24.5.1 The angular and radial equations for a one-electron atom (up.ucc.ie/24/5/1/)
24.5.2 The radial solutions of the lowest energy state of hydrogen (up.ucc.ie/24/5/2/)
24.6 Interpretation of the one-electron atom eigenfunctions
24.7 Intensities of spectral lines: selection rules
24.7.1 Radiation from an accelerated charge (up.ucc.ie/24/7/1/)
24.7.2 Expectation value of the electric dipole moment (up.ucc.ie/24/7/2/)
24.8 Quantisation of angular momentum
24.8.1 The angular momentum quantisation equations (up.ucc.ie/24/8/)
24.9 Magnetic effects in one-electron atoms: the Zeeman effect
24.10 The Stern-Gerlach experiment: electron spin
24.10.1 The Zeeman effect (up.ucc.ie/24/10)
24.11 The spin-orbit interaction
24.11.1 The Thomas precession (up.ucc.ie/24/11/)
24.12 Identical particles in quantum mechanics: the Pauli exclusion principle
24.13 The periodic table: multielectron atoms
24.14 The theory of multielectron atoms
24.15 Further uses of the solutions of the one-electron
Worked examples
Chapter 24 problems (up.ucc.ie/24/)
25 Electrons in solids: quantum statistics
25.1 Bonding in molecules and solids
25.2 The classical free electron model of solids
25.3 The quantum mechanical free electron model of solids: Fermi energy
25.4 The electron energy distribution at 0 K
25.5 Electron energy distributions at T > 0 K
25.5.1 The quantum distribution functions (up.ucc.ie/24/5/)
25.6 Specific heat and conductivity in the quantum free electron model
25.7 Quantum statistics: systems of bosons
25.8 Superconductivity
Worked examples
Chapter 25 problems (up.ucc.ie/25/)
26 Semiconductors
26.1 The band theory of solids
26.2 Conductors, insulators and semiconductors
26.3 Intrinsic and extrinsic (doped) semiconductors
26.4 Junctions in conductors
26.5 Junction in semiconductors; the p-n junction
26.6 Biased p-n junctions; the semiconductor diode
26.7 Photodiodes, particle detectors and solar cells
26.8 Light emitting diodes; semiconductor lasers
26. 9 The tunnel diode
26.10 Transistors
Worked examples
Chapter 26 problems (up.ucc.ie/26/)
27 Nuclear and particle physics
27.1 Properties of atomic nuclei
27.2 Nuclear binding energies
27.3 Nuclear models
27.4 Radioactivity
27.5 -, - and -decay
27.6 Detection of radiation: units of radioactivity
27.7 Nuclear reactions
27.8 Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion
27.9 Fission reactors
27.10 Thermonuclear fusion
27.11 Sub-nuclear particles
27.12 The quark model
Worked examples
Chapter 27 problems (up.ucc.ie/27/)
Appendix A: Mathematical rules and formulas
Appendix B: Some fundamental physical constants
Appendix C: Some astrophysical and geophysical data
Appendix D: The 2019 revision of SI
Bibliography
Index
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