Thinking about Physics (eBook)

Roger G. Newton (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2021
209 Seiten
Princeton University Press (Verlag)
978-0-691-22339-1 (ISBN)

Infos

Physical scientists are problem solvers. They are comfortable "e;doing"e; science: they find problems, solve them, and explain their solutions. Roger Newton believes that his fellow physicists might be too comfortable with their roles as solvers of problems. He argues that physicists should spend more time thinking about physics. If they did, he believes, they would become even more skilled at solving problems and "e;doing"e; science. As Newton points out in this thought-provoking book, problem solving is always influenced by the theoretical assumptions of the problem solver. Too often, though, he believes, physicists haven't subjected their assumptions to thorough scrutiny. Newton's goal is to provide a framework within which the fundamental theories of modern physics can be explored, interpreted, and understood. "e;Surely physics is more than a collection of experimental results, assembled to satisfy the curiosity of appreciative experts,"e; Newton writes. Physics, according to Newton, has moved beyond the describing and naming of curious phenomena, which is the goal of some other branches of science. Physicists have spent a great part of the twentieth century searching for explanations of experimental findings. Newton agrees that experimental facts are vital to the study of physics, but only because they lead to the development of a theory that can explain them. Facts, he argues, should undergird theory. Newton's explanatory sweep is both broad and deep. He covers such topics as quantum mechanics, classical mechanics, field theory, thermodynamics, the role of mathematics in physics, and the concepts of probability and causality. For Newton the fundamental entity in quantum theory is the field, from which physicists can explain the particle-like and wave-like properties that are observed in experiments. He grounds his explanations in the quantum field. Although this is not designed as a stand-alone textbook, it is essential reading for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, professors, and researchers. This is a clear, concise, up-to-date book about the concepts and theories that underlie the study of contemporary physics. Readers will find that they will become better-informed physicists and, therefore, better thinkers and problem solvers too.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 12.1.2021
• Zusatzinfo: 9 line illus.
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Angewandte Physik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Hochenergiephysik / Teilchenphysik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Thermodynamik
• Schlagworte: Absolute time and space • absorber theory • accidental degeneracy • action at a distance • active tranformation • Ad hoc hypothesis • Angular momentum • Anthropic Principle • arrow of time • associated production • Atomism • axial vector • Bayesian probabilities • Bell experiments • Bell's theorem • beta decay • Butterfly effect • Calculation • Causality • chaos theory • Classical definition of probability • classical mechanics • Classical physics • Coarse graining • Configuration space • conservation law • Continuous spectrum • conventionalist stratagem • Copenhagen Interpretation • cosmological constant • Creation and annihilation operators • Density Operator • Deterministic Chaos • Dirac equation • effective field theory • Eightfold Way (physics) • Electromagnetic field • Electromagnetic radiation • elementary particle • energy level • EPR experiment • Equations of motion • Explanation • exponential decay law • Fermi–Dirac statistics • ferromagnetism • Fluid Dynamics • Gamma-space • Gauge Invariance • Gauge Theory • Gravitational constant • Gravity • group representations • Harmonic oscillator • Heisenberg picture • Higgs boson • H-Theorem • Hubble's law • ideal gas • idealism • infrared divergencies • Integral equations • Interpretations of quantum mechanics • intrinsic parity • Ising Model • J. J. Thomson • Julian Schwinger • KdV equation • Kuhn, Thomas • lattice field theory • Laws of Motion • local theories • Lorentz covariance • Lorentz transformation • macrostate • Many-worlds interpretation • mathematician • Mathematics • Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution • Maxwell's equations • Meson • Microstates • Microstate (statistical mechanics) • Minkowski space • Modern Physics • Molecule • Multiplicative quantum number • Murray Gell-Mann • negative energy • Newtonian laws • Newton's law of universal gravitation • Niels Bohr • nonlinear system • nuclear physics • Nucleon • paradigm • Paradigm Shift • perturbation theory • Perturbation theory (quantum mechanics) • Phase space • Photon • physical cosmology • physicist • physics beyond the standard model • Pierre Duhem • Positronium • Prediction • predissociation • Probability • propensity • pseudo-scalar • Pseudoscalar • Quantum Cosmology • quantum electrodynamics • quantum entanglement • quantum field theory • Quantum geometry • quantum mechanics • quantum system • Quantum Zeno effect • renormalization • Richard Feynman • scattering • Schrödinger equation • second law of thermodynamics • solitary wave • Soliton • Special relativity • Statistical Mechanics • Stephen Hawking • strangeness • Symmetry (Physics) • Tachyon • theoretical physics • theory • Theory of everything • Theory of relativity • The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences • Thomas Kuhn • Toy model • Ultimate fate of the universe • Unitarity (physics) • Variable (mathematics) • Virtual particle • Wave function collapse • Weak Interaction
• ISBN-10: 0-691-22339-4 / 0691223394
• ISBN-13: 978-0-691-22339-1 / 9780691223391