Superstrings and Other Things

A Guide to Physics, Second Edition
2. New Auflage 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4398-1073-6
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Inc

Buch, Englisch, 567 Seiten, Format (B × H): 154 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 806 g

A research scientist at NASA working on planetary exploration, Carlos Calle has the opportunity to ponder what seems imponderable, but while that might make Dr. Calle unusual, what makes him truly special is his ability to translate the algebraic formulas and calculus-based logic into concepts that can be appreciated and held in awe by those in possession of tools no more sophisticated than curiosity and imagination.
Superstrings and Other Things: A Guide to Physics, Second Edition continues to take the interested on a uniquely accessible journey through physics. This guide explains the basic concepts of motion, energy, and gravity, right up through the latest theories about the structure of matter, the origin of the universe, and the beginning of time. Fully illustrated throughout, the book explores major discoveries and the scientists behind them, from Galileo, Newton, and Einstein, to Feynman and Hawking. Numerous examples of physics in everyday situations are provided and made tangible.
When Dr. Calle wrote the first edition of this bestseller, even he would have been surprised by the newest development in String Theory, the far reaching M-Theory. In addition to details about M-Theory, he adds a number of other surprises and updated material for this edition. Not only will you be rewarded with a basic understanding of the fundamental concepts of physics, but you will also come to have the chance to stand on the very edge of the breathtaking frontiers of physics today.

Offers non-science students and others access to the highest peaks of physics

Supports a truly conceptual approach to teaching physics without advanced math, emphazing concepts and ideas rather than equations

Provides up-to-date coverage of modern physics and showcases modern applications of physics in our everyday world
Now includes a Solutions Manual with qualifying course adoptions
Carlos I. Calle is a senior research physicist at NASA Kennedy Space Center and the founder and director of NASA’s Electrostatics and Surface Physics Laboratory. He is the recipient of numerous NASA awards for exceptional contributions to the space program and outstanding support of the Space Shuttle Program. With his laboratory staff, he has developed technologies for NASA’s lunar and Martian exploration programs and has also developed new testing techniques for several Space Shuttle systems. As a professor of physics during the early part of his career, he taught the whole range of college physics courses. He has published over 150 scientific papers and other popular books on physics.

Zielgruppe

General readers and scientists.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Calle, Carlos I.

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Physik Physik Allgemein Theoretische Physik, Mathematische Physik, Computerphysik
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Physik Allgemein Geschichte der Physik
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Allgemeines Populärwissenschaftliche Werke
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Physik Allgemein Experimentalphysik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Part I Introductory ConceptsChapter 1. Physics: The Fundamental Science What Is Physics?The Scientific Method: Learning from Our Mistakes Physics and Other Sciences Sizes of Things: Measurement Fundamental Units Physics and MathematicsPart II The Laws of MechanicsChapter 2. The Description of Motion Understanding Motion Uniform Motion Average Speed Instantaneous Speed Velocity: Speed and Direction Vectors AccelerationUniformly Accelerated MotionFalling Bodies The Motion of ProjectilesChapter 3. The Laws of Mechanics: Newton’s Laws of Motion The Concept of ForceThe Ancient Idea of Motion The Birth of Modern ScienceGalileo Formulates the Law of Inertia Newton’s First Law: The Law of Inertia Newton’s Second Law: The Law of Force Newton’s Third Law: The Law of Action and Reaction Chapter 4. Energy What Is Energy? The Concept of WorkUnits of Work and Energy The Concept of EnergyEnergy of MotionEnergy of Position Elastic Potential Energy The Work–Energy Theorem Conservative and Nonconservative ForcesChapter 5. Conservation of Energy and MomentumTransformation of Energy The Principle of Conservation of EnergyThe Energy of Mass Efficiency Power Impulse and Momentum Conservation of Momentum Elastic and Inelastic CollisionsCannons and RocketsChapter 6. Rotation and the Universal Law of Gravitation Rotational MotionTorque and Angular Momentum Centripetal Acceleration Satellites Origins of Our View of the UniverseKepler’s Laws of Planetary MotionNewton’s Law of Universal Gravitation Spacecraft and Orbital MotionPart III The Structure of MatterChapter 7. Atoms: Building Blocks of the UniverseThe Underlying Structure of Matter The Atomic Hypothesis Early Concept of the AtomFirst Models of the Atom Waves and Quanta The Bohr Model of the Atom CompoundsChapter 8. The Heart of the Atom: The Nucleus Raw Material: Protons and Neutrons The Composition of the NucleusThe Glue That Keeps the Nucleus Together Size and Shape of the NucleusNuclear Energy LevelsChapter 9. FluidsStates of Matter DensityPressure Atmospheric Pressure Pressure in a Liquid BuoyancySurface Tension and Capillarity Fluids in Motion The Human Cardiovascular System Part IV ThermodynamicsChapter 10. Heat and Temperature Heat as a Form of Energy Measuring Temperature Temperature and Heat Heat Capacity Heat of Fusion and Heat of Vaporization Evaporation and Boiling HumidityThermal Expansion The Unusual Expansion of Water Chapter 11. The Laws of Thermodynamics The Four Laws of ThermodynamicsThe Ideal Gas LawThe Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics The First Law of Thermodynamics The Second Law of ThermodynamicsThe Third Law of ThermodynamicsEntropy and the Origin of the Universe Entropy and the Arrow of Time Part V Electricity and MagnetismChapter 12. Electricity Electromagnetism Electric ChargeCoulomb’s LawThe Electric Field The Fundamental Charge Electric PotentialStoring Electrical Energy Chapter 13. Applied ElectricityConductors and Insulators Electric Current and Batteries Ohm’s LawSimple Electric Circuits Resistor CombinationsElectrical Energy and PowerSemiconductors Superconductors Chapter 14. Electromagnetism The Discovery of MagnetsThe Magnetic Field Electric Currents and Magnetism A Moving Charge in a Magnetic FieldParticle AcceleratorsMagnetism of the Earth The Source of Magnetism Faraday’s Law of Induction Motors and GeneratorsMaxwell’s EquationsPart VI WavesChapter 15. Wave MotionThe Nature of WavesProperties of Waves Diffraction The Principle of SuperpositionConstructive and Destructive InterferenceStanding Waves Resonance and Chaos Water Waves Seismic Waves Chapter 16. SoundThe Nature of SoundThe Speed of Sound Intensity of Sound Waves The EarThe Sound of Music Musical Instruments The Doppler EffectShockwaves Ultrasound Chapter 17. Optics Waves of Light Reflection of Light Reflection from Mirrors Curved Mirrors Refraction of LightLenses Total Internal Reflection Fiber Optics Optical Instruments The CameraThe TelescopeThe Human Eye Chapter 18. The Nature of Light The Wave Nature of Light The Speed of LightThe Electromagnetic Spectrum Color Spectra: The Signature of Atoms Young’s Experiment Polarization Lasers HolographyPart VII Modern PhysicsChapter 19. The Special Theory of Relativity Galilean RelativityThe Michelson–Morley ExperimentEinstein’s Postulates Time Dilation Simultaneity Length Contraction Addition of Velocities E = mc2Chapter 20. The General Theory of Relativity The Principle of Equivalence Warped Space–Time Continuum The Bending of Light The Perihelion of MercuryThe Gravitational Time DilationBlack HolesChapter 21. The Early Atomic Theory The Physics of the AtomBlack Body Radiation The Photoelectric Effect The Bohr Model of the Atom Revisited De Broglie’s Waves Quantum MechanicsChapter 22. Quantum MechanicsThe Beginnings of Quantum Mechanics The new mechanics of the atom Wave mechanics Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle The new physicsChapter 23. Nuclear Physics Beyond the atomRadioactivityAlpha decay Beta decay Gamma decay Half-life Nuclear Reactions Nuclear Energy: Fission and Fusion Nuclear fission Nuclear fusion Applications of Nuclear Physics Radioactive dating Biological effects of radioactivityChapter 24. Elementary ParticlesAntimatter The fundamental forcesExchange forces Pions Particle classification: Hadrons and leptons Conservation lawsStrange particles Quarks Particles with charmThree generations Chapter 25. Unifying PhysicsSymmetry Global and local symmetries The electroweak unificationThe color force An attempt at a third unificationThe Standard Model Chapter 26. Superstrings Supersymmetry Superstrings M-TheoryThe origin of the universe The first moments of the universe Appendix A: Powers of TenAppendix B: The ElementsAppendix C: Nobel Prize Winners in PhysicsAppendix D: Physics Timeline Appendix E: Discover What You Have Learned Glossary Index

Über Autor(innen)

Carlos I. Calle is a senior research physicist at NASA Kennedy Space Center and the founder and director of NASA’s Electrostatics and Surface Physics Laboratory. He is the recipient of numerous NASA awards for exceptional contributions to the space program and outstanding support of the Space Shuttle Program. With his laboratory staff, he has developed technologies for NASA’s lunar and Martian exploration programs and has also developed new testing techniques for several Space Shuttle systems. As a professor of physics during the early part of his career, he taught the whole range of college physics courses. He has published over 150 scientific papers and other popular books on physics.