A Student's Guide Through the Great Physics Texts
Volume I: The Heavens and The Earth
Authors: Kuehn, Kerry
Free Preview- Provides a comprehensive introduction to physics based on foundational texts in physics and astronomy
- Contains a coherent and self-contained general physics curriculum which can be readily implemented at the college or advanced high-school level
- Encourages a critical and circumspect approach to the study of natural science, while developing a suitable foundation for advanced coursework in physics
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- About this Textbook
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This book provides a chronological introduction to the sciences of astronomy and cosmology based on the reading and analysis of significant selections from classic texts, such as Ptolemy’s The Almagest, Kepler’s Epitome of Copernican Astronomy, Shapley’s Galaxies and Lemaître’s The Primeval Atom.
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 observational exercises at the end of each chapter test the reader’s ability to understand and apply key concepts from the text.
The Heavens and the Earth is the first of four volumes in A Student’s Guide Through the Great Physics Texts. This book grew out of 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 also serves as a textbook for advanced high-school 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.
- About the authors
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Kerry Kuehn is Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Wisconsin Lutheran College. He is a member of the American Physical Society and an Advisory Council member for NASA Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium and Fidelitas (WLC Honors Program).
He has designed and taught courses including "The Heavens and the Earth," "Space, Time and Motion," "Electricity, Magnetism and Light," and "Computerized Instrumentation and Design."
- Reviews
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“Kuehn (Wisconsin Lutheran College) attempts to cover the gamut of knowledge discerned by astronomers and physicists over many centuries, ranging from the distant skies to the atom. … Kuehn then elaborates on crucial questions and provides students with exercises and a few experimental/observational activities. … Copious notes, good references, diagrams and illustrations. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates and researchers/faculty.” (N. Sadanand, Choice, Vol. 52 (9), May, 2015)
- Table of contents (29 chapters)
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Nature, Number and Substance
Pages 1-8
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The Shape and Motion of the Heavens
Pages 9-15
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Harmony and Complexity
Pages 17-25
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Earth at the Center of the World
Pages 27-39
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The World of Ptolemy
Pages 41-60
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Table of contents (29 chapters)
- Download Preface 1 PDF (261.3 KB)
- Download Sample pages 1 PDF (301.2 KB)
- Download Table of contents PDF (250 KB)
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Bibliographic Information
- Bibliographic Information
-
- Book Title
- A Student's Guide Through the Great Physics Texts
- Book Subtitle
- Volume I: The Heavens and The Earth
- Authors
-
- Kerry Kuehn
- Series Title
- Undergraduate Lecture Notes in Physics
- Copyright
- 2015
- Publisher
- Springer-Verlag New York
- Copyright Holder
- Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
- eBook ISBN
- 978-1-4939-1360-2
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-1-4939-1360-2
- Hardcover ISBN
- 978-1-4939-1359-6
- Softcover ISBN
- 978-1-4939-5270-0
- Series ISSN
- 2192-4791
- Edition Number
- 1
- Number of Pages
- XXVII, 396
- Number of Illustrations
- 68 b/w illustrations, 11 illustrations in colour
- Topics
