About the Book
Key Message: This book aims to explain physics in a readable and interesting manner that is accessible and clear, and to teach readers by anticipating their needs and difficulties without oversimplifying. Physics is a description of reality, and thus each topic begins with concrete observations and experiences that readers can directly relate to. We then move on to the generalizations and more formal treatment of the topic. Not only does this make the material more interesting and easier to understand, but it is closer to the way physics is actually practiced.
Key Topics: INTRODUCTION, MEASUREMENT, ESTIMATING, DESCRIBING MOTION: KINEMATICS IN ONE DIMENSION, KINEMATICS IN TWO OR THREE DIMENSIONS; VECTORS, DYNAMICS: NEWTON'S LAWS OF MOTION, USING NEWTON'S LAWS: FRICTION, CIRCULAR MOTION, DRAG FORCES, GRAVITATION AND NEWTON'S6 SYNTHESIS, WORK AND ENERGY, CONSERVATION OF ENERGY, LINEAR MOMENTUM, ROTATIONAL MOTION, ANGULAR MOMENTUM; GENERAL ROTATION, STATIC EQUILIBRIUM; ELASTICITY AND FRACTURE, FLUIDS, OSCILLATIONS, WAVE MOTION, SOUND, TEMPERATURE, THERMAL EXPANSION, AND THE IDEAL GAS LAW KINETIC THEORY OF GASES, HEAT AND THE FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS, SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS ELECTRIC CHARGE AND ELECTRIC FIELD, GAUSS'S LAW, ELECTRIC POTENTIAL, CAPACITANCE, DIELECTRICS, ELECTRIC ENERGY STORAGE, ELECTRIC CURRENTS AND RESISTANCE, DC CIRCUITS, MAGNETISM, SOURCES OF MAGNETIC FIELD, ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION AND FARADAY'S LAW, INDUCTANCE, ELECTROMAGNETIC OSCILLATIONS, AND AC CIRCUITS MAXWELL'S EQUATIONS AND ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, LIGHT: REFLECTION AND REFRACTION, LENSES AND OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS, THE WAVE NATURE OF LIGHT; INTERFERENCE, DIFFRACTION AND POLARIZATION, SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY EARLY QUANTUM THEORY AND MODELS OF THE ATOM, QUANTUM MECHANICS
Market Description: This book is written for readers interested in learning the basics of physics.
About the Author:
Douglas C. Giancoli obtained his BA in physics (summa cum laude) from UC Berkeley, his MS in physics at MIT, and his PhD in elementary particle physics back at the UC Berkeley. He spent 2 years as a post-doctoral fellow at UC Berkeley's Virus lab developing skills in molecular biology and biophysics. His mentors include Nobel winners Emilio Segrè and Donald Glaser. He has taught a wide range of undergraduate courses, traditional as well as innovative ones, and continues to update his textbooks meticulously, seeking ways to better provide an understanding of physics for students. Doug's favorite spare-time activity is the outdoors, especially climbing peaks. He says climbing peaks is like learning physics: it takes effort and the rewards are great.
