
Understanding Physics
Wiley (Publisher)
2nd Edition
Published on 26. November 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
694 pages
978-0-470-74637-0 (ISBN)
Description
Understanding Physics - Second edition is a comprehensive, yet compact, introductory physics textbook aimed at physics undergraduates and also at engineers and other scientists taking a general physics course. Written with today's students in mind, this text covers the core material required by an introductory course in a clear and refreshing way. A second colour is used throughout to enhance learning and understanding. 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.
Mathematical methods (in particular, calculus and vector analysis) are introduced within the text as the need arises and are presented in the context of the physical problems which they are used to analyse. Particular aims of the book are to demonstrate to students that the easiest, most concise and least ambiguous way to express and describe phenomena in physics is by using the language of mathematics and that, at this level, the total amount of mathematics required is neither large nor particularly demanding.
'Modern physics' topics (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. This book encourages students to develop an intuition for relativistic and quantum concepts at as early a stage as is practicable.
The text takes a reflective approach towards the scientific method at all stages and, in keeping with the title of the text, emphasis is placed on understanding of, and insight into, the material presented.
More details
Edition
2. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 27.6 cm
Width: 21.7 cm
Thickness: 3.7 cm
Weight
1756 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-470-74637-0 (9780470746370)
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Michael Mansfield | Colm O'Sullivan
Understanding Physics
Book
11/2010
2nd Edition
Wiley
€182.00
Article exhausted; check different version
Previous edition
Michael Mansfield | Colm O'Sullivan
Understanding Physics
Book
10/2006
Wiley
€37.08
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Michael Mansfield is a professor in the Department of Physics at University College Cork (Ireland). Professor Mansfield was awarded a BSc and a PhD by Imperial College London (UK) and a DSc by the National University of Ireland. He has held research and teaching appointments at universities and research institutes in Italy, Germany, UK, and Ireland. At University College Cork, he heads an atomic and molecular / plasma physics diagnostics research programme. He has published more than 60 research and review papers in this area. He is a member of the Institute of Physics and the Irish Fusion Association.
Colm O'Sullivan is Associate Professor (Emeritus) in the Physics Department, University College Cork, Ireland. He was educated at the National University of Ireland and received his PhD at the Catholic University of America, Washington DC (USA). His research interests include cosmic ray astrophysics and physics Education. Professor O'Sullivan is also involved in the EU Leonardo da Vinci 2 (Community Vocational Training Action Programme). The main objective of the ComLab project is to integrate different tools in science and technology teaching. He is co-author with Michael Mansfield of the textbook Understanding Physics published by Wiley / Praxis (January 1998).
Colm O'Sullivan is Associate Professor (Emeritus) in the Physics Department, University College Cork, Ireland. He was educated at the National University of Ireland and received his PhD at the Catholic University of America, Washington DC (USA). His research interests include cosmic ray astrophysics and physics Education. Professor O'Sullivan is also involved in the EU Leonardo da Vinci 2 (Community Vocational Training Action Programme). The main objective of the ComLab project is to integrate different tools in science and technology teaching. He is co-author with Michael Mansfield of the textbook Understanding Physics published by Wiley / Praxis (January 1998).
Content
Preface
1 Understanding the physical universe
2 Using mathematical tools in physics
Worked examples
Problems
3 The causes of motion: dynamics
Worked examples
Problems
4 Motion in two and three dimensions
Worked examples
Problems
5 Force fields
Worked examples
Problems
6 Many-body interactions
Worked examples
Problems
7 Rigid body dynamics
Worked examples
Problems
8 Relative motion
Worked examples
Problems
9 Special relativity
Worked examples
Problems
10 Continuum mechanics: mechanical properties of materials
Worked examples
Problems
11 Thermal physics
Worked examples
Problems
12 Wave Motion
Worked examples
Problems
13 Introduction to quantum mechanics
Worked examples
Problems
14 Electric currents
Worked examples
Problems
15 Electric fields
* Capacitors
* Capacitors in series and in parallel
* Charge and discharge of a capacitor through a resistor
Worked examples
Problems
16 Magnetic fields
Worked examples
Problems
17 Electromagnetic induction: time-varying emfs
Worked examples
Problems
18 Maxwell's equations: electromagnetic radiation
Worked examples
Problems
19 Optics
Worked examples
Problems
20 Atomic physics
Worked examples
Problems
21 Electrons in solids: quantum statistics
Worked examples
Problems
22 Nuclear physics, particle physics and astrophysics
Worked examples
Problems
Answers to problems
Appendix A: Mathematical rules and formulas
Appendix B: Some fundamental physical constants
Appendix C: Some astrophysical and geophysical data
Bibliography
Index
Inside front cover: Summary of notations used in text
Inside back cover: The periodic table (Appendix D)