Understanding physics [Book] / Michael Mansfield and Colm O'Sullivan.

Includes index.

Machine generated contents note: Preface -- 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 variables: general linear motion -- 2.7 Angular motion: the radian -- 2.8 The role of mathematics in physics -- Worked examples -- Problems -- 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: power -- 3.8 Energy in simple harmonic motion -- 3.9 Dissipative forces: damped harmonic motion -- 3.10 Forced oscillations -- 3.11 Nonlinear dynamics: chaos -- Worked examples -- Problems -- 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 -- 4.11 Angular quantities as vectors: the cross product -- Worked examples -- Problems -- 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 Motion in a constant uniform field: projectiles -- 5.6 Mechanical work and energy -- 5.7 Energy in a constant uniform field -- 5.8 Energy in an inverse square law field -- 5.9 Moment of a force: angular momentum -- 5.10 Planetary motion: circular orbits -- 5.11 Planetary motion: elliptical orbits and Kepler's laws -- Worked examples -- Problems -- 6 Many-body interactions -- 6.1 Newton's third law -- 6.2 The principle of conservation of momentum -- 6.3 Mechanical energy of a system 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 a system of particles -- 6.9 Conservation principles in physics -- Worked examples -- Problems -- 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 -- 7.12 Summary: connection between rotational and translational motions -- Worked examples -- Problems -- 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 noninertial frame: centrifugal force -- 8.5 Motion in a rotating frame: the Coriolis force -- 8.6 The Foucault pendulum -- 8.7 Practical criteria for inertial frames: the local view -- Worked examples -- Problems -- 9 Special relativity -- 9.1 The velocity of light -- 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 -- 9.8 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

"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"-- Provided by publisher.

"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"-- Provided by publisher.

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