The Joy of PhysicsFor those who have always wanted to discover the joy of physics, this is the book that they''ve been waiting for. Many people remember their struggles with physics in high school and have wished for the right opportunity to gain an appreciation of this significant area of knowledge. Now is their chance not only to understand physics, but to do physics. The author provides the general reader with a fun-filled, entertaining, and truly educational tour of this all-important science. What makes the study of physics so worthwhile? The author says that, despite its reputation for difficulty, physics has an enormously ambitious goal, which appeals to people''s innate curiosity: to understand the workings of the entire universe, from the smallest quarks to the largest galaxies. Learning and comprehending as much as we can about the inner and outer workings of the universe is what evokes the joy of physics. Taking a hands-on approach, he invites the reader to share the joy. Easy, practical experiments pepper the book and connect the ideas of physics with the reality of the universe. The yo-yo, flying disc, shake flashlight, laser pointer, LED, and even a microwave experiment with an edible result add to the fun.Complete with lively, memorable cartoons by Sidney Harris-America''s premier science cartoonist-this book reveals the inherent fun, intellectual pleasure, and supreme importance of a subject that we can now finally tackle and enjoy. |
Contents
FOREWORD | 11 |
EXPERIMENTS | 19 |
HOW THINGS MOVEPOSITION VELOCITY | 27 |
Weight Til the Sun Shines Nellie | 33 |
Dropsy | 43 |
Horizontal Globalization | 53 |
Outgoing Incoming | 64 |
OOPS COLLISIONS | 75 |
WHO LET THE CHARGES OUT? | 207 |
Resistance Is Futile | 218 |
DoItYourself Magnet | 227 |
Batteryless Voltage | 240 |
All Shook Up | 247 |
LEDs Lead the Way | 265 |
Bent Light | 274 |
Spreading the Beam | 290 |
You Say You Want a Revolution? | 82 |
Mo YoYo | 92 |
TeeterTotter | 105 |
Stretchy Spring | 113 |
Gaze Intently at the Swinging YoYo | 119 |
Magic Spring Tricks | 130 |
Dive Dive | 144 |
Soda Bottle Crush | 159 |
Kitchen Physics | 170 |
Static Cling | 190 |
EINSTEINS PRODIGIOUS EFFORTS一 | 299 |
LASER not Phasor | 311 |
ATOMS INNARDS NUCLEAR PHYSICS | 323 |
DOWN TO THE NITTYGRITTY | 333 |
BUT WAIT Theres Even MORE | 343 |
AFTERWORD | 353 |
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES | 431 |
ILLUSTRATION CREDITS | 441 |
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Common terms and phrases
acceleration angle angular applied atoms ball battery body's Briefly explain called capacitor center of mass chapter charge circuit coefficient coil collision colors constant current flows Daniel Bernoulli diffraction diffraction grating direction distance Earth Edison Einstein elastic collision electrical electromagnetic electrons equation Equipment needed example experiment experimental Experimentino Explain briefly fluid force free body diagram friction gravitational happens heat energy Higgs horizontal Hubble ideas inductor interaction joules kinetic energy laser length lens List and explain magnetic field mathematics measure meter mirror molecules moment of inertia momentum motion move neutrons Newton nucleus orbit oscillate particles percent physicists physics position potential energy pressure problem protons quarks resistance resistor result rotation sound speed of light spin spot Standard Model string temperature Tesla theory tion torque turn unit universe velocity vibrating voltage wave wavelength wire yo-yo zero