Most know Richard Feynman for the hilarious anecdotes and exploits in his best-selling books Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! and What DoYou Care What Other People Think? But not always obvious in those stories was his brilliance as a pure scientist—one of the century's greatest physicists. With this book and CD, we hear the voice of the great Feynman in all his ingenuity, insight, and acumen for argument. This breathtaking lecture—"The Motion of the Planets Around the Sun"—uses nothing more advanced than high-school geometry to explain why the planets orbit the sun elliptically rather than in perfect circles, and conclusively demonstrates the astonishing fact that has mystified and intrigued thinkers since Newton: Nature obeys mathematics. David and Judith Goodstein give us a beautifully written short memoir of life with Feynman, provide meticulous commentary on the lecture itself, and relate the exciting story of their effort to chase down one of Feynman's most original and scintillating lectures.

    Taken literally, it implies that there are many universes “parallel” to the one we see around us. This multiplicity of universes, according to Deutsch, turns out to be the key to achieving a new worldview, one which synthesizes the theories of evolution, computation, and knowledge with quantum physics. Considered jointly, these four strands of explanation reveal a unified fabric of reality that is both objective and comprehensible, the subject of this daring, challenging book. The Fabric of Reality explains and connects many topics at the leading edge of current research and thinking, such as quantum computers (which work by effectively collaborating with their counterparts in other universes), the physics of time travel, the comprehensibility of nature and the physical limits of virtual reality, the significance of human life, and the ultimate fate of the universe. Here, for scientist and layperson alike, for philosopher, science-fiction reader, biologist, and computer expert, is a startlingly complete and rational synthesis of disciplines, and a new, optimistic message about existence.

    Feynman gave his famous course on computation at the California Institute of Technology, he asked Tony Hey to adapt his lecture notes into a book. Although led by Feynman, the course also featured, as occasional guest speakers, some of the most brilliant men in science at that time, including Marvin Minsky, Charles Bennett, and John Hopfield. Although the lectures are now thirteen years old, most of the material is timeless and presents a “Feynmanesque” overview of many standard and some not-so-standard topics in computer science such as reversible logic gates and quantum computers.

    But was he right? Can the quantum theory of fields and Einstein's general theory of relativity, the two most accurate and successful theories in all of physics, be united in a single quantum theory of gravity? Can quantum and cosmos ever be combined? On this issue, two of the world's most famous physicists--Stephen Hawking ("A Brief History of Time") and Roger Penrose ("The Emperor's New Mind" and "Shadows of the Mind")--disagree. Here they explain their positions in a work based on six lectures with a final debate, all originally presented at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences at the University of Cambridge.How could quantum gravity, a theory that could explain the earlier moments of the big bang and the physics of the enigmatic objects known as black holes, be constructed? Why does our patch of the universe look just as Einstein predicted, with no hint of quantum effects in sight? What strange quantum processes can cause black holes to evaporate, and what happens to all the information that they swallow? Why does time go forward, not backward?In this book, the two opponents touch on all these questions. Penrose, like Einstein, refuses to believe that quantum mechanics is a final theory. Hawking thinks otherwise, and argues that general relativity simply cannot account for how the universe began. Only a quantum theory of gravity, coupled with the no-boundary hypothesis, can ever hope to explain adequately what little we can observe about our universe. Penrose, playing the realist to Hawking's positivist, thinks that the universe is unbounded and will expand forever. The universe can be understood, he argues, in terms of the geometry of light cones, the compression and distortion of spacetime, and by the use of twistor theory. With the final debate, the reader will come to realize how much Hawking and Penrose diverge in their opinions of the ultimate quest to combine quantum mechanics and relativity, and how differently they have tried to comprehend the incomprehensible.

    Braving the sexism of the scientific world, she joined the prestigious Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Chemistry and became a prominent member of the international physics community. Of Jewish origin, Meitner fled Nazi Germany for Stockholm in 1938 and later moved to Cambridge, England. Her career was shattered when she fled Germany, and her scientific reputation was damaged when Hahn took full credit—and the 1944 Nobel Prize—for the work they had done together on nuclear fission. Ruth Sime's absorbing book is the definitive biography of Lise Meitner, the story of a brilliant woman whose extraordinary life illustrates not only the dramatic scientific progress but also the injustice and destruction that have marked the twentieth century.

    Volume 2 provides an up-to-date and self-contained account of the methods of quantum field theory, and how they have led to an understanding of the weak, strong, and electromagnetic interactions of the elementary particles. The presentation of modern mathematical methods is throughout interwoven with accounts of the problems of elementary particle physics and condensed matter physics to which they have been applied. Exercises are included at the end of each chapter.

    In this revised edition, Vogel continues to combine humor and clear explanations as he addresses biologists and general readers interested in biological fluid mechanics, offering updates on the field over the last dozen years and expanding the coverage of the biological literature. His discussion of the relationship between fluid flow and biological design now includes sections on jet propulsion, biological pumps, swimming, blood flow, and surface waves, and on acceleration reaction and Murray's law. This edition contains an extensive bibliography for readers interested in designing their own experiments.

    Computer simulators are continuously confronted with questions concerning the choice of a particular technique for a given application. A wide variety of tools exist, so the choice of technique requires a good understanding of the basic principles. More importantly, such understanding may greatly improve the efficiency of a simulation program. The implementation of simulation methods is illustrated in pseudocodes and their practical use in the case studies used in the text.Since the first edition only five years ago, the simulation world has changed significantly -- current techniques have matured and new ones have appeared. This new edition deals with these new developments; in particular, there are sections on:Transition path sampling and diffusive barrier crossing to simulaterare events Dissipative particle dynamic as a course-grained simulation technique Novel schemes to compute the long-ranged forces Hamiltonian and non-Hamiltonian dynamics in the context constant-temperature and constant-pressure molecular dynamics simulations Multiple-time step algorithms as an alternative for constraints Defects in solids The pruned-enriched Rosenbluth sampling, recoil-growth, and concerted rotations for complex molecules Parallel tempering for glassy HamiltoniansExamples are included that highlight current applications and the codes of case studies are available on the World Wide Web. Several new examples have been added since the first edition to illustrate recent applications. Questions are included in this new edition. No prior knowledge of computer simulation is assumed.

    Presents the history of physics through abbreviated biographies which concentrate on the personalities of the physicists and their scientific accomplishments. Offers remarkably clear explanations of such topics as Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, curved space and the famous puzzle known as "Schrodinger's Cat." Includes a handy timeline of modern discoveries in physics, a glossary of important terms, illustrations and portraits of each of the physicists.

    While the text covers the standard range of material from kinematics to quantum physics, Hecht has carefully limited the math required to basic calculus and very basic vector analysis. He omits obscure, high-level topics while focusing on helping students understand the fundamental concepts of modern-day physics. Calculus and vector analysis are both painstakingly developed as tools, and then used only insofar as they illuminate the physics. Hecht deliberately paces comfortably, justifies where each topic is going, stops to take stock of where the students have been, and points out the marvelous unity of the discourse. Informed by a 20th century perspective and a commitment to providing a conceptual overview of the discipline, Hecht's CALCULUS 2/e keeps students involved and focused.

    The initial chapters deal with the quantum mechanics of systems having many degrees of freedom and with classical Lagrangian field theory. Subsequently, both the traditional method of canonical quantization and the modern approach using path integrals are studied. The material is presented in considerable detail and accompanied by a large number of worked examples and exercises.

    It provides an accessible account of most of the current, important mathematical tools required in physics. The book bridges the gap between an introductory physics course and more advanced courses in classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, and thermal and statistical physics. It contains a large number of worked examples to illustrate the mathematical techniques developed and to show their relevance to physics. The highly organized coverage allows instructors to teach the basics in one semester. The book could also be used in courses in engineering, astronomy, and mathematics.

    The first volume introduces the foundations of quantum field theory, the second volume examines modern applications, and finally, the third volume presents supersymmetry, an area of theoretical physics likely to be at the center of progress in the physics of elementary particles and gravitation. The development is fresh and logical throughout, with each step carefully motivated by what has preceded. The presentation of modern mathematical methods is interwoven with accounts of applications in both elementary particle and condensed matter physics. The three volumes contain much original material, and are enhanced with examples and insights drawn from the author's experience as a leader of elementary particle research. Hb ISBN (1995) Vol.1 0-521-55001-7 Hb ISBN (1996) Vol.2 0-521-55002-5 Hb ISBN (1996) Vols. 1 & 2 Set 0-521-58555-4 Hb ISBN (2000) Vol.3 0-521-66000-9 HB ISBN (2000) Vols. l-3 Set 0-521-78082-9

    Containing 32 pages of new entries, and now with biographies of key scientists, A Dictionary of Physics covers all of the most commonly encountered terms and concepts of physics. There are over 3,500 clear and concise entries, including topics such as group theory, particle-beam experiments, radioisotope imaging, and spherical harmonics. Longer feature articles on important topics, such as crystal defects, magnetic resonance imaging, and the solar system are also provided. Chronologies chart discoveries in the main fields of physics, including atomic theory, cosmology, and microscopy. Comprehensive and up-to-date, this is the ideal reference tool for students of physics.

    Book by Bond, Mikki

    This book is written in a friendly, easy-to-understand style that beginners and nontechnical readers will enjoy. Even if you already have a foundation in basic electronics, you will enjoy the small module format of each chapter—allowing readers to digest (or skim) “bite-sized” chunks of learning material. Real-world examples and clear illustrations make the study of electronics interesting and fun! A handful of small “kitchen table” projects are included to help bring abstract concepts to life. Now including digital electronics!Who needs this book?Students with basic math skills (add, subtract, multiply and divide). An inexpensive calculator is all you need!Radio Amateurs and Experimenters interested in gaining a more complete understanding of basic electronic principles. Use this book before studying more complicated tutorials.Learners, young or old, eager to unlock the mysteries of electronic circuitAbout ARRL: Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim, ARRL (American Radio Relay League) is the national association for Amateur Radio in the US. Today, with more than 161,000 members, ARRL is the largest organization of radio amateurs in the world. ARRL's mission is based on five pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology, and Membership.

    Teaching Physics is a combination of the previous Guide to Introductory Physics Teaching, and Homework and Test Questions for Introductory Physics Teaching. Both works have been edited to incorporate suggestions and feedback received after the first publication. Added to this combination is a monograph intended to illustrate how certain misleading aspects, widely prevalent in existing text presentations, can be rectified in introductory teaching of the energy concepts. This is intended as a guide and resource for active teachers at college and high school level.

    First, the Fermi theory of beta decay is presented, followed by a discussion of parity violation, clarifying the importance of symmetries. Then the concept of a spontaneously broken gauge theory is introduced, and all necessary mathematical tools are carefully developed. The "standard model" of unified electroweak interactions is thoroughly discussed including current developments. The final chapter contains an introduction to unified theories of strong and electroweak interactions. Numerous solved examples and problems make this volume uniquely suited as a text for an advanced course. This third edition has been carefully revised.

    Simple explanations lead the reader logically from the basics of laser action to advanced topics in laser physics and engineering in this comprehensive introduction to the physical and engineering principles of laser operation and design. Direct explanations, examples, and many homework problems make this book invaluable to undergraduate and first-year graduate students taking courses on lasers. Summaries of key types of lasers, use of unique theoretical descriptions, and an extensive bibliography also recommend this volume to researchers.

    . . in sections on physical principles, atomic and nuclear structure, radioactivity, biological effects of radiation, and instrumentation. This one-of-a-kind guide spans the entire scope of the field and offers a problem-solving approach that will serve you throughout your career.Features: A thorough overview of need-to-know topics, from a review of physical principles to a useful look at the interaction of radiation with matterMore than 380 "Homework Problems" and 175+ "Example Problems"Essential background material on quantitative risk assessment for radiation exposureAuthoritative radiation safety and environmental health coverage that supports the International Commission on Radiological Protection's standards for specific populationsHigh-yield appendices to expand your comprehension of chapter materialNEW! Essential coverage of non-ionizing radiation, lasers and microwaves, computer use in dose calculation, and dose limit recommendations

    Effectively diagrammed and with an emphasis on logical structure, Leo Sartori's rigorous but simple presentation will guide interested readers through concepts of relative time and relative space.Sartori covers general relativity and cosmology, but focuses on Einstein's theory. He tracks its history and implications. He explores illuminating paradoxes, including the famous twin paradox, the "pole-in-the-barn" paradox, and the Loedel diagram, which is an accessible, graphic approach to relativity. Students of the history and philosophy of science will welcome this concise introduction to the central concept of modern physics.

    The treatment is self-contained, pedagogical, and exhaustive, and includes a great deal of background material on quantum field theory, statistical mechanics, Lie algebras and affine Lie algebras. The many exercises, with a wide spectrum of difficulty and subjects, complement and in many cases extend the text. The text is thus not only an excellent tool for classroom teaching but also for individual study. Intended primarily for graduate students and researchers in theoretical high-energy physics, mathematical physics, condensed matter theory, statistical physics, the book will also be of interest in other areas of theoretical physics and mathematics. It will prepare the reader for original research in this very active field of theoretical and mathematical physics.

    The author has designed the problems to develop each core topic in a simple and coherent way, and he provides full solutions to make this book completely self-contained. The first half of the book covers the core subjects of astrophysical processes, gravitational dynamics, radiative processes, fluid mechanics and general relativity. The second half uses these concepts to develop modern cosmology; topics include the Friedmann model and thermal history, the dynamics of dark matter and baryons in an expanding universe, the physics of high-redshift objects and the very early universe. This unique self-study textbook will be of key interest to graduate students and researchers in cosmology, astrophysics, relativity and theoretical physics. It is particularly well suited to graduate-level courses.

    In particular, it discusses the extended Higgs sectors required by those recent theoretical approaches that go beyond the Standard Model, including supersymmetry and superstring-inspired models.

    It emphasizes the principles behind techniques used in various aspects of shield analysis and presents these principles in many different contexts. This approach is intended to provide a strong base of understanding in order to facilitate use of the large shielding codes that have come to dominate shielding design and analysis. An assumption is made that the reader has an understanding of mathematics through basic calculus and vector analysis as well as a knowledge of the nuclear physics of radioactive decay. For most chapters, problem sets are provided.

    This collection offers a connected narrative of the developments in mathematics and physics in which the author was involved, beginning with his professional life as a student of G H Hardy.

    While sometimes contradictory, the views expressed here reflect the lively nature of the debate within science about the nature of reality and the implications of quantum theory.

    Physical properties are a key for combined interpretation techniques. The study of rock physics provides an interdisciplinary treatment of physical properties, whether related to geophysical, geotechnical, hydrological or geological methodology.The book is a comprehensive and concise systematic presentation of the physical properties of rocks. It is focussed on the problems of applied geophysics with respect to exploration and the expanding field of applications in engineering and mining geophysics, geotechnics, hydrology and environmental problems, and the properties under the conditions of the upper earth crust. This volume contains theoretical and experimental results relating to the main geophysical properties - density, magnetic properties, natural radioactivity, elastic and anelastic properties, electrical and thermal. It also presents the correlation between the individual properties as a basis of modern interpretation methods, including relationships between geophysical and geotechnical properties.

    It arose in the work of one of the greatest mathematicians of the late 19th century, Henri Poincare, on a problem in celestial mechanics: the three body problem. This ancient problem - to describe the paths of three bodies in mutual gravitational interaction - is one of those which is simple to pose but impossible to solve precisely. Poincare's famous memoir on the three body problem arose from his entry in King Oscar of Sweden's 60th birthday competition. His essay won the prize and was set up in print as a paper in Acta Mathematica when it was found to contain a deep and critical error. In correcting this error Poincare discovered mathematical chaos, as is now clear from the author's study of a copy of the original memoir annotated by Poincare himself, recently discovered in the Institut Mittag-Leffler in Stockholm. Poincare and the Three Body Problem opens with a discussion of the development of the three body problem itself and Poincare's related earlier work.