Waubonsee Community College

Fundamentals of physics, R. Shankar

eng

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Fundamentals of physics

861677238

R. Shankar

Open Yale courses series

Explains the fundamental concepts of Newtonian mechanics, special relativity, waves, fluids, thermodynamics, and statistical mechanics. Provides an introduction for college-level students of physics, chemistry, and engineering, for AP Physics students, and for general readers interested in advances in the sciences

1. The structure of mechanics : Kinematics and dynamics ; Average and instantaneous quantities ; Motion at constant acceleration -- 2. Motion in higher dimensions : Vectors in d=2 ; Unit vectors ; Choice of axes and basis vectors ; Derivatives of the position vector r ; Application to circular motion ; Projectile motion -- 3. Newton's laws I : Introduction to Newton's laws of motion ; Newton's second law ; Two halves of the second law ; Newton's third law ; Weight and weightlessness -- 4. Newton's laws II : A solved example ; Never the whole story ; Motion in d=2 ; Friction: static and kinetic ; Inclined plane ; Coupled masses ; Circular motion, loop-the-loop -- 5. Law of conservation of energy : Introduction to energy ; The work-energy theorem and power ; Friction and the work-energy theorem -- 6. Conservation of energy in d=2 : Calculus review ; Work done in d+2 ; Work done in d=2 and the dot product ; Conservative and non-conservative forces ; Conservative forces ; Application to gravitational potential energy -- 7. The Kepler problem : Kepler's laws ; The law of universal gravity ; Details of the orbits ; Law of conservation of energy far from the earth ; Choosing the constant in U -- 8. Multi-particle dynamics : The two-body problem ; The center of mass ; Law of conservation of momentum ; Rocket science ; Elastic and inelastic collisions ; Scattering in higher dimensions -- 9. Rotational dynamics I : Introduction to rigid bodies ; Angle of rotation, the radian ; Rotation at constant angular acceleration ; Rotational inertia, momentum, and energy ; Torque and the work-energy theorem ; Calculating the moment of inertia -- 10. Rotational dynamics II : The parallel axis theorem ; Kinetic energy for a general N-body system ; Simultaneous translations and rotations ; Conservation of energy ; Advanced rotations ; Conservation of angular momentum ; Angular momentum of the figure skater -- 11. Rotational dynamics III : Static equilibrium ; The seesaw ; A hanging sign ; The leaning ladder ; Rigid-body dynamics in 3d ; The gyroscope -- 12. Special relativity I: the Lorentz transformation : Galilean and Newtonian relativity ; Proof of Galilean relativity ; Enter Einstein ; The postulates ; The Lorentz transformation -- 13. Special relativity II: some consequences : Summary of the Lorentz transformation ; The velocity transformation law ; Relativity of simultaneity ; Time dilation ; More paradox -- 14. Special relativity III: past, present, and future : Past, present, and future in relativity ; Geometry of spacetime ; Rapidity ; Four-vectors ; Proper time -- 15. Four-momentum : Relativistic scattering -- 16. Mathematical methods : Taylor series of a function ; Examples and issues with the Taylor series ; Taylor series of some popular functions ; Trigonometric and exponential functions ; Properties of complex numbers ; Polar form of complex numbers -- 17. Simple harmonic motion : More examples of oscillations ; Superposition of solutions ; Conditions on solutions to the harmonic oscillator ; Exponential functions as generic solutions ; Damped oscillations: a classification ; Driven oscillator -- 18. Waves I : The wave equation ; Solutions of the wave equation ; Frequency and period -- 19. Waves II : Wave energy and power transmitted ; Doppler effect ; Superposition of waves ; Interference: double-slit experiment ; Standing waves and musical instruments -- 20. Fluids : Introduction to fluid dynamics and statics ; The hydraulic press ; Archimedes' principle ; Bernoulli's equation ; Applications of Bernoulli's equation -- 21. Heat : Equilibrium and the zeroth law: temperature ; Calibrating temperature ; Absolute zero and the Kelvin scale ; Heat and specific heat ; Phase change ; Radiation, convection, and conduction ; Heat as molecular kinetic energy -- 22. Thermodynamics I : Boltzmann's constant and Avogadro's number ; Microscopic definition of absolute temperature ; Statistical properties of matter and radiation ; Thermodynamic processes ; Quasi-static processes ; The first law of thermodynamics -- 23. Thermodynamics II : Cycles and state variables ; Adiabatic processes ; The second law of thermodynamics ; The Carnot engine -- 24. Entropy and irreversibility : Entropy ; The second law: law of increasing entropy ; Statistical mechanics and entropy ; Entropy of an ideal gas: full microscopic analysis ; Maximum entropy principle illustrated ; The Gibbs formalism ; The third law of thermodynamics