Great Ideas in Physics
Alan P. Lightman(Author)
McGraw-Hill Inc.,US (Publisher)
2nd Edition
Published on 1. September 1996
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-0-07-038048-6 (ISBN)
Description
This physics textbook for arts students provides a thorough understanding of a fundamental physical principle with widespread applications. It shows the effect of the humanities on science, and vice versa. This edition features an extended number of examples and exercises.
More details
Edition
2nd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
McGraw-Hill Education - Europe
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 230 mm
Weight
372 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-07-038048-6 (9780070380486)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Content
Part 1 The conservation of energy: conservation laws; gravitational energy; kinetic energy; units of length; conservation and human freedom; heat energy; the conservation of energy and limited lifetime of the world; reactions to possible violations of the conservation of energy. Part 2 The second law of thermodynamics: reversible and irreversible phenomena; states of a system and probabilty of configurations; mechanical energy and heat; the irrevesible flow of heat; doing work with heat; entropy and order; resistance to the implications of the second law; the second law applied to human society; the second law used to refute the theory of evolution. Part 3 The relativity of time: relativity in brief; science leading to the theory of relativity; the theory of relativity; abolition of absolute space and time; Einstein's approach to science; the influence of the theory of relativity on literature; relativity and sculpture. Part 4 The wave-particle duality of nature (quantum theory): waves; the photoelectric effect; the double-slit expermiment; the role of the observer and the nature of reality; quantum physics and language; the Heisenberg uncertainty principle and the demise of determinism in science; determinism, causality and choice in the quantum world.