The Science of Radio

The Science of Radio explains the working and charts the development of the ordinary AM radio receiver, which has become an integral part of our lives in the 80 years since its invention. As well as showing the reader the growth of technology in this century, the story of AM radio can provide a unique insight into the basics of electrical engineering, making the primary concepts and applications visual and comprehensible.
Taking a "top down" approach to the subject, Nahin starts with a broad overview of radio as a sociological and technological phenomenon, then describes specific advances in research that made radio possible, moving through deeper levels of technical detail as the story progresses. Readers will see how various concepts and theories are combined to achieve specific practical results. And the book's "just in time" method of introducing mathematical and physical theory only as needed to understand a topic, helps readers gain a firm grasp of often elusive material. By focusing specifically on the workings of AM radio, The Science of Radio offers both a fascinating history of radio as an information and entertainment medium and a practical, applications-oriented introduction to electrical engineering.
This second edition, written the same witty and accessible style as the first, also includes illustrative examples based on the popular MATLAB and Electronics Workbench programs now commonly used in engineering courses, as well as new technical material on differential amplifiers, more end-of-chapters problems, and additional historical discussion.

From the reviews:

"… The notes and problems at the end of each chapter are very helpful. There are many quotable passages … In the final analysis, the book is definitely worth owning … It is an extremely well written – but unusual – book that I highly recommend for all physicists."  The Physics Teacher

 

FROM THE REVIEWS:

ELECTRONIC DESIGN NEWS
"Even though this 296-page textbook targets sophomore EE students, it has a place in the libraries of experienced Electrical Engineers. It does a good job not only of teaching the underlying theory of radio, but also of entertaining readers.”

CHOICE MAGAZINE
”Intended as a companion for students familiar with college physics and calculus and studying electrical engineering using AM radio theory, Nahin’s work takes a unique teaching approach.  The 21 chapters are divided into four sections, sprinkled with humorous cartoons to pique reader interest…The work contains many fascinating ideas…Upper-division undergraduate; faculty; professional.”

THE PHYSICS TEACHER
"The book is unorthodox in many ways, from its presentation of the sophisticated mathematics of radio within the general chronology of the discovery and advance of radio art and technology to the inclusion of problems at the end of the appendices (I’m not certain I’ve ever seen that before!)…He never talks down to the reader (an elegant vocabulary is used) and seldom will a reader be bored. The notes and problems at the end of each chapter are very helpful. There are many quotable passages…In the final analysis, the book is definitely worth owning…It is an extremely well written – but unusual – book that I highly recommend for all physicists.”

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