Basic Concepts in Physics: From the Cosmos to Quarks

This book is a comprehensive undergraduate-level overview of classical and modern physics, suitable for students and physics teachers. It covers Newtons laws, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, relativity, quantum mechanics, and cosmology, with exercises and problems. It also includes new topics such as extra-solar planets, quantum logic, and gravitational waves.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 452 pages
Publication date: 02 June 2022
Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG

This book is the second edition of an exceptional undergraduate-level overview of classical and modern physics, designed specifically for students of physics and related subjects, as well as an invaluable resource for physics teachers. Spanning twelve chapters, it begins with Newtons laws of motion and proceeds to cover a wide range of topics, including thermodynamics and statistical physics, electrodynamics, special and general relativity, quantum mechanics, and cosmology. The writing is clear and accessible, making the theoretical discussions understandable to anyone with a solid foundation in standard mathematics.

A significant addition in this second edition is a comprehensive set of exercises and problems distributed throughout the book. These exercises serve multiple purposes, some complementing the text to enhance understanding, while others offer valuable tools for tackling new or more advanced topics. Furthermore, several chapters have been updated to include new topics, such as the discovery of extra-solar planets through the wobble of their mother stars, a discussion of the Landauer principle linking information erasure to entropy increase, quantum logic, first-order quantum corrections to the ideal gas equation of state due to the Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics, gravitational lensing as a theoretical application of special and general relativity, and the discovery of gravitational waves, one of the most significant achievements in the field of physical sciences.

Professional scientists, teachers, and researchers alike will find this book an indispensable addition to their bookshelves. It serves as a valuable refresher on a wide range of topics, providing a solid foundation for expanding one's knowledge in new or unfamiliar fields. Whether you are a student seeking to deepen your understanding of physics or a professional looking to advance your expertise, this book is an essential resource that will undoubtedly contribute to your success.

Weight: 712g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783662623152
Edition number: 2nd ed. 2021