The Basis of Modern Physics

Fülszöveg

The Basis of Modern Physics
John M Irvine
Modern physics is concerned with those branches of physics which, for their theoretical interpretations, depend upon ideas developed during the twentieth century. These ideas are necessary to explain observations made beyond the normal limits of the macroscopic world. For example, when we consider systems moving with speeds approaching that of light, we require the theory of relativity in place of our usual concepts of space and time; when we discuss the structure of the atom we need quantum theory instead of the mechanics of Newton.
In this elementary introduction to modern physics, Dr Irvine sets the stage by giving us an account of the results of classical physics—from the laws of classical mechanics to Maxwell's electromagnetic theory. He then considers Einstein's special theory of relativity, together with some of its startling predictions.
While many simple accounts of relativity are available, simple treatments of quantum... Tovább

Fülszöveg

The Basis of Modern Physics
John M Irvine
Modern physics is concerned with those branches of physics which, for their theoretical interpretations, depend upon ideas developed during the twentieth century. These ideas are necessary to explain observations made beyond the normal limits of the macroscopic world. For example, when we consider systems moving with speeds approaching that of light, we require the theory of relativity in place of our usual concepts of space and time; when we discuss the structure of the atom we need quantum theory instead of the mechanics of Newton.
In this elementary introduction to modern physics, Dr Irvine sets the stage by giving us an account of the results of classical physics—from the laws of classical mechanics to Maxwell's electromagnetic theory. He then considers Einstein's special theory of relativity, together with some of its startling predictions.
While many simple accounts of relativity are available, simple treatments of quantum theory are less common, and this has led the author to deal with the latter at greater length than is usual in books of this size. He therefore includes three chapters concerned respectively with the problem of the interaction of the electromagnetic field with matter, the old quantum theory, and modern quantum mechanics. He concludes with a collection of problems, some partially solved and some very far from solution, which face modern physicists.
John Maxwell Irvine is Lecturer in Theoretical Physics at Manchester University. Vissza