A Student's Guide Through the Great Physics Texts: Volume IV: Heat, Atoms and QuantaThis book provides a chronological introduction to modern atomic theory, which represented an attempt to reconcile the ancient doctrine of atomism with careful experiments—performed during the 19th century—on the flow of heat through substances and across empty space. Included herein are selections from classic texts such as Carnot’s Reflection on the Motive Power of Fire, Clausius’ Mechanical Theory of Heat, Rutherford’s Nuclear Constitution of Atoms, Planck’s Atomic Theory of Matter and Heisenberg’s Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Theory. Each chapter begins with a short introduction followed by a reading selection. Carefully crafted study questions draw out key points in the text and focus the reader’s attention on the author’s methods, analysis and conclusions. Numerical and laboratory exercises at the end of each chapter test the reader’s ability to understand and apply key concepts from the text. Heat, Radiation and Quanta is the last of four volumes in A Student’s Guide through the Great Physics Texts. The book comes from a four-semester undergraduate physics curriculum designed to encourage a critical and circumspect approach to natural science while at the same time preparing students for advanced coursework in physics. This book is particularly suitable as a college-level textbook for students of the natural sciences, history or philosophy. It might also serve as a textbook for advanced high-school or home-schooled students, or as a thematically-organized source-book for scholars and motivated lay-readers. In studying the classic scientific texts included herein, the reader will be drawn toward a lifetime of contemplation. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 15 | |
| 28 | |
| 45 | |
Chapter 5 Engines as Thermometers | 55 |
Chapter 6 The Second Law of Thermodynamics | 69 |
Chapter 7 Work Heat and Irreversibility | 81 |
Concepts and Conventions | 92 |
Chapter 19 Radioactivity | 263 |
Chapter 20 Atomic Fission | 278 |
Chapter 21 Nuclear Structure | 295 |
Chapter 22 The Discovery of the Neutron | 309 |
Chapter 23 Neutron Scattering | 321 |
Chapter 24 XRay Diffraction | 331 |
Chapter 25 Compton Scattering | 344 |
Chapter 26 Electron Scattering and Diffraction | 355 |
Chapter 9 Energy and Entropy | 99 |
Chapter 10 The Kinetic Theory of Gases | 113 |
Chapter 11 Molecules and Maxwells Demon | 127 |
Chapter 12 The Diffusion Equation | 143 |
Chapter 13 Radiant Heat | 163 |
Chapter 14 From Positivism to Objectivity | 180 |
Chapter 15 Entropy Probability and Atomism | 197 |
Chapter 16 Corpuscles of Light | 213 |
Chapter 17 The Discovery of the Electron | 231 |
Chapter 18 The Birth of Nuclear Physics | 247 |
Chapter 27 Matter Waves | 365 |
Chapter 28 Bohrs Atomic Model | 376 |
Chapter 29 Atomic Spectra and Quantum Numbers | 393 |
Chapter 30 The Periodic Table of the Elements | 408 |
Chapter 31 Wave Mechanics | 423 |
Chapter 32 The Quantum Paradox | 443 |
Bibliography | 457 |
Index | 459 |
Other editions - View all
A Student's Guide Through the Great Physics Texts: Volume IV: Heat, Atoms ... Kerry Kuehn No preview available - 2019 |
A Student's Guide Through the Great Physics Texts: Volume IV: Heat, Atoms ... Kerry Kuehn No preview available - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
according actinium atomic nucleus atomic number beam beryllium body calculated caloric Carnot charge Clausius collision condition consider constant corresponding crystal deflected deflexion depend determine diffraction direction disgregation effect electric field electron electron volts elements emission emitted entropy equation equilibrium ergon experimental experiments expression force Fourier gases given H atoms heat-engine helium hydrogen initial irreversible isotopes J.J. Thomson kinetic energy kinetic theory light magnetic magnitude mass mathematical measured mechanical theory method molecules motion motive power nature neutron nitrogen nuclear nucleus observed obtained orbit particles phenomena physics Planck Planck’s constant plate position pressure principle produced properties proton quantity of heat quantum number quantum theory radiation radioactive radium rays reversible Rutherford scattering Schrödinger second law spectra spectrum Student’s Guide substance suppose surface temperature theoretical theory of heat thermal thermodynamics transformation Undergraduate Lecture Notes velocity volume wave wave-length wavelength x-rays