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The Handy Physics Answer Book , livre ebook

Visible Ink Press - Paul W Zitzewitz

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385 pages

English

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Description

Eschewing the usual mathematical explanations for physics phenomena, this approachable reference explains complicated scientific concepts in plain English that everyone can understand. Tackling the big issues such as gravity, magnetism, sound, and what really happens in the Large Hadron Collider, this engaging look at physics also spells out why cats always land on their feet, why people appear to have red eyes in photographs, and the real danger of looking at an eclipse.

For everyone who ever wondered how a light bulb works or how squirrels avoid electrocution on the power lines, this handbook supplies answers on the physics of everyday life and examines the developments in the exploration of subatomic particles. In addition to the question-and-answer section, an addendum of facts about physicists explains what the Nobel prize is and who has won it, and tells the story of the scientist who was incarcerated for agreeing with Copernicus.

Answers more than eight hundred questions about physics, ranging from everyday life applications to the latest explorations in the field.

Sujets

Sciences et techniques

Physics

Science

Physique

Physical attractiveness

Informations

Publié par	Visible Ink Press
Date de parution	01 février 2011
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781578593552
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	3 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0950€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

About the Author

Paul W. Zitzewitz graduated from Carleton College with a B.A. in physics and received his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University, also in physics. After postdoctoral posi tions at the University of Western Ontario and Corning Glass Works, he joined the faculty at the University of Michigan— Dearborn, where he taught and did research on positrons and positronium for more than 35 years.

During his career the university awarded him distin guished faculty awards in research, service, and teaching and named him emeritus professor of physics and science educa tion in 2009. Zitzewitz has been active in local, state, and national physics teachers organizations, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers, and has been honored as a Fellow of the American Physical Society for his work in physics education.

Zitzewitz is presently treasurer and member of the executive board of the Ameri can Association of Physics Teachers. He is the author of the high school physics text bookPhysics: Principles and Problemsand is a contributing author to four middle school physical science textbooks.

Zitzewitz enjoys classical music and opera and attending plays. His hobbies are collecting stamps of scientists (especially physicists), genealogy, and computers. He and his wife live in Northville, Michigan, but enjoy their summer cottage in Traverse City, especially when their children and grandchildren visit.

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Please visit the Handy series website at handyanswers.com

THE HANDY PHYSICS ANSWER BOOK

S E C O N D E D I T I O N

Paul W. Zitzewitz, PhD

Detroit

THE HANDY PHYSICS ANSWER BOOK

This publication is a creative work fully protected by all applicable copy right laws, as well as by misappropriation, trade secret, unfair competi tion, and other applicable laws.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a maga zine, newspaper, or website.

All rights to this publication will be vigorously defended.

Visible Ink Press® 43311 Joy Rd., #414 Canton, MI 481872075

Visible Ink Press is a registered trademark of Visible Ink Press LLC.

Most Visible Ink Press books are available at special quantity discounts when purchased in bulk by corporations, organizations, or groups. Cus tomized printings, special imprints, messages, and excerpts can be pro duced to meet your needs. For more information, contact Special Markets Director, Visible Ink Press, www.visibleink.com, or 7346673211.

Managing Editor: Kevin S. Hile Art Director: Mary Claire Krzewinski Typesetting: Marco Di Vita Indexing: Shoshana Hurwitz Proofreader: Sarah Hermsen ISBN 9781578593057

Cover images: iStock.

Library of Congress CataloguinginPublication Data

Zitzewitz, Paul W. The handy physics answer book / Paul W. Zitzewitz. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 9781578593057 1. PhysicsMiscellanea. I. Title. QC75.Z58 2011 530dc22 2010047248

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSvii INTRODUCTIONix BIBLIOGRAPHY…323 SYMBOLS…327 GLOSSARY…331 INDEX…359

TH E BAS I C S … 1 Measurement … Careers in Physics … Famous Physicists … The Nobel Prize

M OTI O N AN D ITS CAU S E S … 25

Force and Newton’s Laws of Motion

M O M E NTU M AN D E N E RGY … 55

Momentum … Energy

STATI C S … 83

Center of Gravity … Statics … Bridges and Other “Static” Structures

F LU I D S … 95 Water Pressure … Blood Pressure … Atmospheric Pressure … Sinking and Floating: Buoyancy … Fluid Dynamics: Hydraulics and Pneumatics … Aerodynamics … The Sound Barrier … Supersonic Flight

TH E RMAL P HYS I C S … 117

Thermal Energy … Temperature and Its Measurement … Absolute Zero … States of Matter … Heat … Thermodynamics

WAVE S … 137 Water Waves … Electromagnetic Waves … Communicating with

Electromagnetic Waves … Putting Information on Electromagnetic Waves … Microwaves … The Principle of Superposition … Resonance … Impedance … The Doppler Effect … Radar … NEXRAD Doppler Radar … Radio Astronomy

S O U N D … 165 Speed of Sound … Hearing … Ultrasonics and Infrasonics … Intensity of Sound … Acoustics … Musical Acoustics … Noise Pollution

LI G HT … 187 The Speed of Light … Polarization of Light … Opaque, Transparent, and Translucent Materials … Shadows … Reflection … Mirrors … Refraction … Lenses … Fiber Optics … Diffraction and Interference … Color … Rainbows … Eyesight … Cameras … Telescopes

E LE CTRI C IT Y … 231 Leyden Jars and Capacitors … Van de Graaf Generators … Lightning …

Safety Precautions … Current Electricity … Resistance … Superconductors … Ohm’s Law … Electric Power and Its Uses … Circuits … AC/DC … Series/Parallel Circuits … Electrical Outlets

MAG N ETI S M … 261

Electromagnetism … Electromagnetic Technology … Magnetic Fields in Space

WHAT I S TH E WO RLD MAD E O F? … 273

AT TH E H EART O F TH E ATO M … 289

U NAN SWE RE D Q U E STI O N S … 309

Beyond the Proton and Neutron … Entanglement, Teleportation, and Quantum Computing

Acknowledgments

I want to express my thanks to a large number of others who have asked questions and challenged answers over a long career. These include students in my classes—from future elementary teachers, engineers, and physicists; members of the research group at the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor; colleagues at the University of Michigan— Dearborn in physics, the natural sciences department, and the Inquiry Institute; high school teachers in the Detroit area and the state of Michigan; and fellow members of the American Association of Physics Teachers. I owe them all a deep debt of gratitude.

Of course, the most persistent challenges have come from my children and grand children, who have many times asked, “But why?” My parents supported and encouraged my early interests in physics, chemistry, and electronics, and for that I am extremely grateful. More than anyone, however, I would like to thank my wife, Barb, who is my best friend and colleague. She has encouraged and supported me throughout our life together.

This second edition of theHandy Physics Answer Bookis based on the first edi tion, written by P. Erik Gundersen. The new edition has adopted the structure and style of the first. Some questions and answers have not been changed, but many oth ers have been updated and new ones have been added. Erik’s work has been a tremen dous help in writing this edition. I would also like to thank Roger Jänecke and Kevin Hile at Visible Ink Press for their encouragement and help during the writing of this book. While the book has been carefully researched and proofread, I take responsibili ty for any remaining errors.

Paul W. Zitzewitz Northville, Michigan November, 2010

vii

viii

PHOTO CREDITS

Photos and illustrations inThe Handy Physics Answer Bookwere provided by the fol lowing sources: AP Images/NBCU Photo Bank:page 12. CERN:pages 297, 310 iStock.com:pages 2, 4, 6, 10, 11, 26, 28, 30, 35, 39, 41, 46, 47, 51, 58, 59, 63, 69, 72, 81, 89, 92, 97, 100, 103, 104, 106, 108, 111, 114, 119, 122, 124, 133, 141, 144, 149, 151, 155, 157, 161, 164, 168, 171, 172, 176, 178, 182, 188, 189, 193, 195, 199, 203, 206, 208, 213, 215, 218, 225, 227, 230, 232, 236, 238, 244, 246, 251, 254, 257, 262, 267, 269, 277, 280, 286, 300, 303, 306. Kevin Hile:pages 61, 62, 64, 65, 73, 74, 76, 77, 79, 84, 85, 90, 96, 131, 132, 134, 147, 148, 148, 154, 211, 263, 276, 276, 279, 281, 283, 293, 312, 317. Library of Congress:pages 239, 240, 291. NASA:pages 201, 264, 320.

INTRODUCTION

Why don’t skyscrapers sway in the wind? How does a groundfault interrupter work? What’s the ultimate fate of the universe? Who developed our understanding of the nature of the atom? Physics is full of questions. Some are about the most fundamental ideas on which the universe is based, others involve everyday applications of physics, many are just fun. Most have answers, although those answers may have been differ ent in the past and may be different in the future.

TheHandy Physics Answer Bookis written for you to explore these and other questions and to ponder over their answers. It should lead you to ask further ques tions and search for other answers. Eschewing the usual mathematical explanations for physics phenomena, this approachable reference explains complicated scientific concepts in plain English that everyone can understand.

But it contains more. Physics has been developed by people over more than two thousand years. They come from diverse backgrounds from a wide range of cultures. Some made only one contribution, others made important advances over many years in several different areas. The names of some will be familiar: Einstein, Newton, Galileo, Franklin, Curie, Feynman. Others you may not have heard of: Alhazen, Goeppert Meyer, Cornell, Heaviside. A complete list of physics Nobel Prize winners is included.

TheHandy Physics Answer Bookdoes not have to be read from beginning to end. Look through the index for a topic that interests you. Or, open it at random and pick a question that has always puzzled you. If a scientific term is not familiar, refer to the glossary at the end of the book. While the book describes concepts much more than equations, it does use symbols to represent physics quantities. If you’re not familiar with a symbol, there is a helpful dictionary, at the end of this book, as well as a glos sary of terms.

Does an answer leave you wanting more information? Look at the bibliography for a book or Website; then visit a library, bookstore, or access the Web.

But above all, enjoy your adventure!