Best of
Physics

2015

The Universe in Your Hand: A Journey Through Space, Time, and Beyond


Christophe Galfard - 2015
    Frizzle were a physics student of Stephen Hawking, she might have written THE UNIVERSE IN YOUR HAND, a wild tour through the reaches of time and space, from the interior of a proton to the Big Bang to the rough suburbs of a black hole. It's friendly, excitable, erudite, and cosmic."—Jordan Ellenberg, New York Times besteselling author of How Not To Be WrongQuantum physics, black holes, string theory, the Big Bang, dark matter, dark energy, parallel universes: even if we are interested in these fundamental concepts of our world, their language is the language of math. Which means that despite our best intentions of finally grasping, say, Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, most of us are quickly brought up short by a snarl of nasty equations or an incomprehensible graph.Christophe Galfard's mission in life is to spread modern scientific ideas to the general public in entertaining ways. Using his considerable skills as a brilliant theoretical physicist and successful young adult author, The Universe in Your Hand employs the immediacy of simple, direct language to show us, not explain to us, the theories that underpin everything we know about our universe. To understand what happens to a dying star, we are asked to picture ourselves floating in space in front of it. To get acquainted with the quantum world, we are shrunk to the size of an atom and then taken on a journey. Employing everyday similes and metaphors, addressing the reader directly, and writing stories rather than equations renders these astoundingly complex ideas in an immediate and visceral way.Utterly captivating and entirely unique, The Universe in Your Hand will find its place among other classics in the field.

Hidden In Plain Sight 5: Atom


Andrew H. Thomas - 2015
     Solve the 100-year-old mystery which the great physicist, Paul Dirac, believed linked atoms to the secret of the entire universe.

The Higgs Boson and Beyond


Sean Carroll - 2015
    The hunt for the Higgs was the subject of wide media attention due to the cost of the project, the complexity of the experiment, and the importance of its result. And, when it was announced with great fanfare in 2012 that physicists has succeeded in creating and identifying this all-important new particle, the discovery was celebrated around the world.And yet, virtually no one who read that news could tell you what, exactly, the Higgs boson was, and why its discovery was so important that we had to spend 10 billion dollars and build the single largest and most complex device in the history of mankind in order to find it. When you understand the details, this story ranks as one of the most thrilling in the history of modern science.Award-winning theoretical physicist Sean Carroll, a brilliant researcher as well as a gifted speaker who excels in explaining scientific concepts to the public, is perfectly positioned to tell this story. In this 12-lecture masterpiece of scientific reporting, you'll learn everything you need to know to fully grasp the significance of this discovery, including the basics of quantum mechanics; the four forces that comprise the Standard Model of particle physics; how these forces are transmitted by fields and particles; and the importance of symmetry in physics.You also get an in-depth view of the Large Hadron Collider - the largest machine ever built, and the device responsible for finally revealing the concept of the Higgs boson as reality. By the end, you'll understand how the Higgs boson verifies the final piece in the Standard Model of particle physics, and how its discovery validates and deepens our understanding of the universe.

Physics From Symmetry


Jakob Schwichtenberg - 2015
    It starts by introducing, in a completely self-contained way, all mathematical tools needed to use symmetry ideas in physics. Thereafter, these tools are put into action and by using symmetry constraints, the fundamental equations of Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Field Theory, Electromagnetism, and Classical Mechanics are derived.As a result, the reader is able to understand the basic assumptions behind, and the connections between the modern theories of physics. The book concludes with first applications of the previously derived equations.

Light: The Visible Spectrum and Beyond


Kimberly K. Arcand - 2015
    Here, Kim Arcand and Megan Watzke present the subject of light as never before. Organized along the order of the electromagnetic spectrum, each chapter focuses on a different type of light. From radio waves, harnessed for telecommunications, to X-rays, which let us peer inside the human body and view areas around black holes in deep space, Arcand and Watzke show us all the important ways light impacts us. An introductory chapter describes what light is and how it behaves, while hundreds of full-color photographs and illustrations demonstrate concepts and make for a stunning book that's a joy to read and browse.

Idiot's Guides: Quantum Physics


Marc Humphrey - 2015
    Idiot's Guides: Quantum Physics makes this very complex topic easy to understand. It skips the complicated math and dives right into all the concepts, paradoxes, thought experiments, and implications that make quantum mechacs so fascinating to armchair science buffs. Topics covered include:- Quantum vs. classical physics- A look at the smallest known particles- How the tiniest particles behave both as particles and waves- The famous double-slit experiment- Quantum wave function- The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle- How particles can be in multiple places at once- Quantum entanglement- The Schrodinger's cat thought experiment- Competing interpretations of quantum physics- The Copenhagen interpretation and need for an observer- The role of consciousness in quantum theory- The Many Worlds interpretation and parallel universes- Building a quantum computer- Quantum gravity and the search for a theory of everything

Black Hole: How an Idea Abandoned by Newtonians, Hated by Einstein, and Gambled On by Hawking Became Loved


Marcia Bartusiak - 2015
    The weirdly alien notion of a space-time abyss from which nothing escapes—not even light—seemed to confound all logic. This engrossing book tells the story of the fierce black hole debates and the contributions of Einstein and Hawking and other leading thinkers who completely altered our view of the universe. Renowned science writer Marcia Bartusiak shows how the black hole helped revive Einstein’s greatest achievement, the general theory of relativity, after decades during which it had been pushed into the shadows. Not until astronomers discovered such surprising new phenomena as neutron stars and black holes did the once-sedate universe transform into an Einsteinian cosmos, filled with sources of titanic energy that can be understood only in the light of relativity. This book celebrates the hundredth anniversary of general relativity, uncovers how the black hole really got its name, and recounts the scientists’ frustrating, exhilarating, and at times humorous battles over the acceptance of one of history’s most dazzling ideas.

The Hunt for Vulcan: ...And How Albert Einstein Destroyed a Planet, Discovered Relativity, and Deciphered the Universe


Thomas Levenson - 2015
    November 2015 is the 100th anniversary of Einstein’s discovery of the General Theory of Relativity.Levenson, head of MIT’s Science Writing Program, tells the captivating, unusual, and nearly-forgotten backstory behind Einstein’s invention of the Theory of Relativity, which completely changed the course of science forever. For over 50 years before Einstein developed his theory, the world’s top astronomers spent countless hours and energy searching for a planet, which came to be named Vulcan, that had to exist, it was thought, given Isaac Newton’s theories of gravity. Indeed, in the two centuries since Newton’s death, his theory had essentially become accepted as fact. It took Einstein’s genius to realize the mystery of the missing planet wasn’t a problem of measurements or math but of Newton’s theory of gravity itself. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity proved that Vulcan did not and could not exist, and that the decades-long search for it had merely been a quirk of operating under the wrong set of assumptions about the universe. Thomas Levenson tells this unique story, one of the strangest episodes in the history of science, with elegant simplicity, fast-paced drama, and lively characters sure to capture the attention of a wide group of readers.

Nuclear Physics: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)


Frank Close - 2015
    J. Thomson's discovery of the electron at the end of the 19th century, which implied the existence of a positive charge in the atom to make it neutral. In this Very Short Introduction Frank Close gives an account of how this area of physics has progressed, including the recognition of how heavy nuclei are built up in the cores of stars and in supernovae, the identificationof quarks and gluons, and the development of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Exploring key concepts such as the stability of different configurations of protons and neutrons in nuclei, Frank Close shows how nuclear physics brings the physics of the stars to Earth and provides us with important applications,particularly in medicine.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

13.8: The Quest to Find the True Age of the Universe and the Theory of Everything


John Gribbin - 2015
    The general theory of relativity describes the behavior of very large things, and quantum theory the behavior of very small things. In this landmark book, John Gribbin—one of the best-known science writers of the past thirty years—presents his own version of the Holy Grail of physics, the search that has been going on for decades to find a unified “Theory of Everything” that combines these ideas into one mathematical package, a single equation that could be printed on a T-shirt, containing the answer to life, the Universe, and everything. With his inimitable mixture of science, history, and biography, Gribbin shows how—despite skepticism among many physicists—these two great theories are very compatible, and point to a deep truth about the nature of our existence. The answer lies, intriguingly, with the age of the universe: 13.8 billion years.

Planck: Driven by Vision, Broken by War


Brandon R. Brown - 2015
    But Planck's story is not well known, especially in the United States. A German physicist working during the firsthalf of the twentieth century, his library, personal journals, notebooks, and letters were all destroyed with his home in World War II. What remains, other than his contributions to science, are handwritten letters in German shorthand, and tributes from other scientists of the time.In Planck: Driven by Vision, Broken by War, Brandon R. Brown interweaves the voices and writings of Planck, his family, and his contemporaries--with many passages appearing in English for the first time--to create a portrait of a groundbreaking physicist working in the midst of war. Planck spentmuch of his adult life grappling with the identity crisis of being an influential German with ideas that ran counter to his government. During the later part of his life, he survived bombings and battlefields, surgeries and blood transfusions, all the while performing his influential work amidst aviolent and crumbling Nazi bureaucracy. When his son was accused of treason, Planck tried to use his standing as a German national treasure, and wrote directly to Hitler to spare his son's life. Brown tells the story of Planck's friendship with the far more outspoken Albert Einstein, and shows howhis work fits within the explosion of technology and science that occurred during his life.This story of a brilliant man living in a dangerous time gives Max Planck his rightful place in the history of science, and it shows how war-torn Germany deeply impacted his life and work.

Hidden In Plain Sight 4: The uncertain universe


Andrew H. Thomas - 2015
    However, several revolutionary discoveries in the twentieth century revealed that there is a fundamental uncertainty at the heart of reality. Take a tour of chaos theory, the uncertainty principle, and read the saga of the South Pole and the Multiverse. Discover how uncertainty is the only certainty.

Science But Not As We Know It: Cutting Edge Concepts Made Simple


Ben Gilliland - 2015
    Finally get to grips with these difficult concepts by reading Ben Gilliland's unique take on them.Science But Not As We Know It takes complex scientific ideas and breaks them down for the non-scientist, from explaining the size of the Universe, to how black holes work, Schroedinger's cat and the Higgs boson. Difficult ideas and theories are compared to everyday things we are familiar with - forces become armies and electrons have personalities.This book will have you saying 'I get it now!' over and over again. You no longer have to be a rocket scientist to understand rocket science.

Professor Povey's Perplexing Problems: Pre-University Physics and Maths Puzzles with Solutions


Thomas Povey - 2015
    A tour de force of imagination and exposition, he guides us through uncompromisingly challenging territory that expands our minds and encourages a playful and exploratory approach to study. "The puzzles," he says, "are like toys. We should pick up the one we most enjoy, and play with it."Whether you are an aspiring scientist or an old-hand, pitting yourself against these problems will test your ability to think, and inspire you with curiosity and enthusiasm for physics. Presented with charm and wit, the questions span the gap between high-school and university-entrance standard material. Detailed answers are lightened with a fascinating and refreshing blend of scientific history, application and personal anecdote.On this delightful and idiosyncratic romp through pre-university maths and physics, the author shows us that behind every single one of these questions lies a new way of thinking about subjects we thought we had understood. He argues that engaging with the unfamiliar is key to forming deeper insights and developing intellectual independence. Professor Povey's Perplexing Problems is a manifesto that science should be playful, and a celebration of the curious.

Advanced Theoretical Physics


Nick Lucid - 2015
    That’s what this book is: all the super important bits you should know before entering graduate physics. This book is not intended for anyone without at least background in basic calculus and introductory physics, but if you like a challenge, then go for it!Inside, you’ll find mathematical topics like vector calculus and tensor analysis as well as physics topics like electrodynamics, relativity, and quantum mechanics. Historical context is also given throughout the text to give you a deeper insight into each topic and to show how long it took the scientific community to develop the ideas, which can make you feel a little better about maybe not understanding it right away.

The Lego Power Functions Idea Book, Vol. 2: Cars and Contraptions


Yoshihito Isogawa - 2015
    You'll find hundreds of clever, buildable mechanisms, each one demonstrating a key building technique or mechanical principle.You'll learn to build four-wheel drive cars, adorable walking 'bots, steerable tanks, robotic inchworms, and cars that can follow the edge of a table!Each model includes a list of required parts and colorful photographs that guide you through the build without the need for step-by-step instructions. As you build, you'll explore the principles of gear systems, power translation, differentials, suspensions, and more.

Barron's AP Physics 1 and 2


Jonathan Wolf - 2015
    Taken over a two year period, these courses replace the old Physics B course. Course content revolves about the 7 “Big Ideas” of physics, which encompass core scientific principles, theories, and processes of discipline. Barron’s AP Physics 1 and 2 offers in-depth review for both exams and includes:Four practice tests reflecting the new AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 examsDiagnostic tests that help students to target areas where they need more studyPractice questions and review that cover all test areasThe book can be purchased alone or with an optional CD-ROM that presents two additional full-length practice tests with automatic scoring and fully explained answers.

Ten Physicists Who Transformed Our Understanding of Reality


Brian Clegg - 2015
    Structured chronologically, the book will begin with Sir Isaac Newton in 1642 and proceed through Paul Dirac in 1902.

The Mathematics Of Quantum Mechanics


Martin Laforest - 2015
    

NOT A BOOK: The Science of Information: From Language to Black Holes


NOT A BOOK - 2015
    

Easy Things to See With a Small Telescope: A Beginner's Guide to Over 60 Easy-to-Find Night Sky Sights (The Easy Astronomy Guides Book 2)


Richard J. Bartlett - 2015
    Objects such as:* Stunning multiple stars* Star clusters* Nebulae* And the Andromeda Galaxy!Each object has its own page which includes a map, a view of the area through your finderscope and a depiction of the object through the eyepiece.There’s also a realistic description of every object based upon the author’s own notes written over years of observations.Additionally, there are useful tips and tricks designed to make your start in astronomy easier and pages to record your observations.If you’re new to astronomy and own a small telescope, this book is an invaluable introduction to the night sky.Praise for other books by Richard J. Bartlett:"This is my third book from Mr. Bartlett and this one is as good as the others. I recommend it to all the beginners in my astronomy club." By Darren C. Bly on August 15, 2015 reviewing "2016: The Night Sky Sights" "Lots of wonderful information. A great reference guide and easy to follow. Every star gazer should have one with them" - By janine on November 18, 2015 reviewing "2015 An Astronomical Year" "This is a superb book, well laid out and easy to follow even if you are a complete novice or keen astronomer." by mr Fletcher on October 26, 2014 reviewing "The Astronomical Almanac, 2015-2019"

University Physics with Modern Physics Plus Mastering Physics with Etext -- Access Card Package


Hugh D. Young - 2015
    

Maths for Beginners


Manish Thakur - 2015
    It covers all types of Triangles, Squares, Rectangle, Paralellogram, Circle and important formulaes on Mensuration.

The Road to Relativity: The History and Meaning of Einstein's the Foundation of General Relativity, Featuring the Original Manuscript of Einstein's Masterpiece


Hanoch Gutfreund - 2015
    Written in 1915, this remarkable document is a watershed in the history of physics and an enduring testament to the elegance and precision of Einstein's thought. Presented here is a beautiful facsimile of Einstein's original handwritten manuscript, along with its English translation and an insightful page-by-page commentary that places the work in historical and scientific context. Hanoch Gutfreund and J�rgen Renn's concise introduction traces Einstein's intellectual odyssey from special to general relativity, and their essay The Charm of a Manuscript provides a delightful meditation on the varied afterlife of Einstein's text. Featuring a foreword by John Stachel, this handsome edition also includes a biographical glossary of the figures discussed in the book, a comprehensive bibliography, suggestions for further reading, and numerous photos and illustrations throughout.

Worlds Within Worlds: The Story of Nuclear Energy, Volume 2 (of 3)


Isaac Asimov - 2015
    Worlds Within Worlds: The Story of Nuclear Energy, Volume 2 (of 3) by Isaac Asimov

A Dictionary of Physics


Jonathan Law - 2015
    It also defines many terms from the related fields of astronomy, astrophysics, and physical chemistry. With over 200 new entries and full revision of the existing text, A Dictionary of Physics is as essential a reference tool as before.The dictionary is generously illustrated with over 120 diagrams, graphs, and tables and it also contains biographies of important scientists. Recommended web links are also included to provide useful and relevant extra information, and are accessible and kept up to date via the Dictionary of Physics companion web page. Appendices include SI units, the solar system, and the electromagnetic spectrum, plus a list of Nobel Prize winners and a chronology of key dates in physics.This fully revised and updated A-Z is an ideal introduction to the subject for anyone with an interest in physics, and it remains an indispensable reference work for students of physics and physics-related subjects (either at school or at university), and professionals.

Space Flight for Beginners


Andrew Motes - 2015
    This book shows how easy it is to understand space flight and orbital mechanics. In this book you'll learn how gravitational and centripetal forces cancel to enable orbits. You'll learn how orbits are classified and how to do orbital transfers. You'll even learn to do space mission design for interplanetary missions. Finally, you'll lean how to simulate orbits on your computer. You'll be surprised how easy it really is. With this book you also get the author's computer code for simulating orbits.

Before the Big Bang


John Gribbin - 2015
    Before the Big Bang, there was a tiny fraction of a second during which a process called inflation expanded a seed much smaller than the nucleus of an atom into a fireball the size of a basketball -- the Big Bang itself. From this fireball, the Universe as we know it developed. The origin of the seed from which the Universe began is not known with certainty, but as John Gribbin explains the most likely explanation is that it was a fluctuation of quantum energy in an eternal sea of cosmic energy. And that means that other seeds must surely have inflated to become other universes, bubbles in the cosmic sea. It is even possible that a collision between our universe and another bubble on the sea of eternity may have left an imprint on the cosmic background radiation, the echo of the Big Bang itself. John Gribbin is an award winning science writer best known for his book In Search of Schrodinger's Cat. He studied astrophysics under Fred Hoyle in Cambridge, and is now a Visiting Fellow in Astronomy at the University of Sussex.

Feynman Lectures Simplified 2D: Magnetic Matter, Elasticity, Fluids, & Curved Spacetime (Everyone's Guide to the Feynman Lectures on Physics Book 8)


Robert L. Piccioni - 2015
    The topics we explore include:• Principle of Least Action• Tensors in 3-D and 4-D Spacetime• Magnetic Materials• Diamagnetism & Paramagnetism• Ferromagnetism• Elasticity & Elastic Matter• Viscosity & Liquid Flow• Gravity and Curved Spacetime

We Can Do It!: A Problem Solving Graphic Novel Guide for General Physics


Scott Calvin - 2015
    Instead of just providing brief answers to sample questions or discussions of physics concepts without showing how to apply them to difficult problems, We Can Do It! stresses how to approach problems, what to do if you get stuck, and techniques that can be applied broadly.Features:--Detailed, step-by-step solutions for more than fifty college-level exam problems.--Graphic novel (cartoon) format--Formula sheet, units sheet, and technique-choice flowchart--Task Tags indexing problems by technique (e.g. momentum), no matter what chapter they appear in--A t-rex on a trampoline!

Introduction to the Ads/Cft Correspondence


Horaƫiu Năstase - 2015
    Without assuming anything beyond an introductory course in quantum field theory, it begins by guiding the reader through the basic concepts of field theory and gauge theory, general relativity, supersymmetry, supergravity, string theory and conformal field theory, before moving on to give a clear and rigorous account of AdS/CFT correspondence. The final section discusses the more specialised applications, including QCD, quark-gluon plasma and condensed matter. This book is self-contained and learner-focused, featuring numerous exercises and examples. It is essential reading for both students and researchers across the fields of particle, nuclear and condensed matter physics.

The Elements of STATISTICS & DYNAMICS Part-II Dynamics


Sidney Luxton Loney - 2015
    These classic texts have been designed so as to work as elementary textbooks which play a crucial role in building the concepts from scratch as in-depth knowledge of concepts is necessary for students preparing for various entrance examinations.This book on Elements of Statics and Dynamics Part 2 Dynamics deals with graphically represented concepts of Dynamics.The book has been divided into 13 chapters namely Velocity Acceleration Motion Under Gravity The Laws of Motion The Laws of Motion Application to Simple Problems Impulse Work Energy Projectiles Collision of Elastic Bodies The Hodograph Normal Accelerations Motion on a Smooth Curve Under the Action of Gravity Simple Harmonic Motion Pendulums Units Dimensions and Vectors each containing ample number of solved examples for better understanding of the concepts discussed in the chapter. Each chapter contains theoretical explanation of the concepts along with solved questions.At the end of each chapter unsolved practice exercises have been provided to help aspirants revise the concepts discussed in the chapter. Each chapter consists of a large number of topic wise problems. Answers and Solutions to the practice exercises covered in each chapter have been given at the end of the book.Hope this book on Elements of Statics and Dynamics Part 2 Dynamics from the Classic Text Series will help the readers get in-depth insight intothe various concepts of Dynamics Part 2 .

From Special Relativity to Feynman Diagrams: A Course in Theoretical Particle Physics for Beginners


Riccardo D'Auria - 2015
    

Worlds Within Worlds: The Story of Nuclear Energy, Volume 1 (of 3)


Isaac Asimov - 2015
    Worlds Within Worlds: The Story of Nuclear Energy, Volume 1 (of 3) by Isaac Asimov

Electricity and Magnetism for Mathematicians: A Guided Path from Maxwell's Equations to Yang-Mills


Thomas A. Garrity - 2015
    These equations led to the prediction of radio waves, the realization that light is a type of electromagnetic wave, and the discovery of the special theory of relativity. In fact, almost all current descriptions of the fundamental laws of the universe can be viewed as deep generalizations of Maxwell's equations. Even more surprising is that these equations and their generalizations have led to some of the most important mathematical discoveries of the past thirty years. It seems that the mathematics behind Maxwell's equations is endless. The goal of this book is to explain to mathematicians the underlying physics behind electricity and magnetism and to show their connections to mathematics. Starting with Maxwell's equations, the reader is led to such topics as the special theory of relativity, differential forms, quantum mechanics, manifolds, tangent bundles, connections, and curvature.

The Physics Devotional: Celebrating the Wisdom and Beauty of Physics


Clifford A. Pickover - 2015
    It has become more exciting, more mysterious, more violent, and more extreme as our knowledge concerning it has suddenly expanded. And the most exciting, most mysterious, most violent, and most extreme phenomena of all has the simplest, plainest, calmest, and mildest name-nothing more than a black hole.”—Isaac Asimov, The Collapsing Universe, 1977From Clifford Pickover—the ingenious author of the phenomenally successful The Math Book and The Physics Book—comes an inspirational volume that celebrates the beauty and wisdom of physics. This gorgeous compendium features a physics quotation and stunning art on every page, along with biographical facts and birthdays of notable physicists like Christiaan Huygens, Niels Bohr, Enrico Fermi, Richard Feynman, and Max Planck. Attractive and thought provoking, The Physics Devotional makes a wonderful gift for science and math enthusiasts.

Understanding Our Unseen Reality:Solving Quantum Riddles


Ruth E. Kastner - 2015
    It provides rational, scientific support for the idea that there may well be more to our reality than meets the eye…Accessible and engaging for readers with no prior knowledge of quantum physics, author Ruth Kastner draws on the popular transactional interpretation of quantum mechanics to explain our ‘quantum reality.’ Her book focuses on modern-day examples and deals with big philosophical questions as well as ideas from physics.If you have any interest in quantum physics, this book is for you — whether you be a physics student or academic, or simply an inquisitive reader who wants to delve deeper into the reality of the world around you. Dr Ruth Kastner has received two National Science Foundation awards for the study of interpretational issues in quantum theory.

AdS/CFT Duality User Guide (Lecture Notes in Physics)


Makoto Natsuume - 2015
    In recent years, it has been shown that one prediction of AdS/CFT is indeed close to the experimental result of the real quark–gluon plasma. Since then, the AdS/CFT duality has been applied to various fields of physics; examples are QCD, nuclear physics, condensed-matter physics, and nonequilibrium physics.  The aim of this book is to provide background materials such as string theory, black holes, nuclear physics, condensed-matter physics, and nonequilibrium physics as well as key applications of the AdS/CFT duality in a single volume. The emphasis throughout the book is on a pedagogical and intuitive approach focusing on the underlying physical concepts. It also includes step-by-step computations for important results, which are useful for beginners. This book will be a valuable reference work for graduate students and researchers in particle physics, general relativity, nuclear physics, nonequilibrium physics, and condensed-matter physics.

A Student's Guide to Numerical Methods


I.H. Hutchinson - 2015
    It provides accessible self-contained explanations of mathematical principles, avoiding intimidating formal proofs. Worked examples and targeted exercises enable the student to master the realities of using numerical techniques for common needs such as solution of ordinary and partial differential equations, fitting experimental data, and simulation using particle and Monte Carlo methods. Topics are carefully selected and structured to build understanding, and illustrate key principles such as: accuracy, stability, order of convergence, iterative refinement, and computational effort estimation. Enrichment sections and in-depth footnotes form a springboard to more advanced material and provide additional background. Whether used for self-study, or as the basis of an accelerated introductory class, this compact textbook provides a thorough grounding in computational physics and engineering.

Super Cool Forces and Motion Activities with Max Axiom


Agnieszka Biskup - 2015
    With clear step-by-step, photo-illustrated instructions, these projects will not only teach core-curriculum science concepts, but also amaze aspiring young scientists.

Idiot's Guides: Physics


Paul V. Pancella - 2015
    Idiot's Guides: Physics is a brand new book on the topic with new content and new authors who break down the complex topics of physics and make them easy to understand. Readers will learn from numerous examples and problems that teach all of the fundamentals of physics-- Newton's laws, the basics of thermodynamics, mass, energy and work, inertia, velocity and acceleration, displacement, and more!

Constructor theory of information


David Deutsch - 2015
    propose a theory of information expressed solely in terms of which transformations of physical systems are possible and which are impossible—i.e. in constructor-theoretic terms. It includes conjectured, exact laws of physics expressing the regularities that allow information to be physically instantiated. Although these laws are directly about information, independently of the details of particular physical instantiations, information is not regarded as an a priori mathematical or logical concept, but as something whose nature and properties are determined by the laws of physics alone. This theory solves a problem at the foundations of existing information theory, namely that information and distinguishability are each defined in terms of the other. It also explains the relationship between classical and quantum information, and reveals the single, constructor-theoretic property underlying the most distinctive phenomena associated with the latter, including the lack of in-principle distinguishability of some states, the impossibility of cloning, the existence of pairs of variables that cannot simultaneously have sharp values, the fact that measurement processes can be both deterministic and unpredictable, the irreducible perturbation caused by measurement, and locally inaccessible information (as in entangled systems).

Combo of Electrodynamics and Quantum Mechanics by David J Griffiths


David J. Griffiths - 2015
    

The Collected Works of Albert Einstein: The Complete Works PergamonMedia (Highlights of World Literature)


Albert Einstein - 2015
    This comprehensive eBook presents the complete works or all the significant works - the Œuvre - of this famous and brilliant writer in one ebook - easy-to-read and easy-to-navigate: • Relativity: the Special and General Theory by Albert Einstein• The Meaning of Relativity by Albert Einstein• Relativity: The Special and General Theory by Albert Einstein• Relativity: The Special and the General Theory by Albert Einstein• Äther und Relativitäts-Theorie + Geometrie und Erfahrung by Albert Einstein

Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion


Francis F. Chen - 2015
    In a wholly lucid manner the work covers single-particle motions, fluid equations for plasmas, wave motions, diffusion and resistivity, Landau damping, plasma instabilities and nonlinear problems. For students, this outstanding text offers a painless introduction to this important field; for teachers, a large collection of problems; and for researchers, a concise review of the fundamentals as well as original treatments of a number of topics never before explained so clearly. This revised edition contains new material on kinetic effects, including Bernstein waves and the plasma dispersion function, and on nonlinear wave equations and solitons. For the third edition, updates was made throughout each existing chapter, and two new chapters were added; Ch 9 on Special Plasmas and Ch 10 on Plasma Applications (including Atmospheric Plasmas). "

New Head Start to A-level Physics (CGP A-Level Physics)


CGP Books - 2015
    It recaps all the crucial topics you’ll need to remember from GCSE, with crystal-clear study notes and examples, plus practice questions to test your understanding. We’ve also included introductions to some of the key topics you’ll meet at A-Level. It’s the perfect way to hit the ground running at the start of the course, whichever exam board you’re studying!<\p>