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  • © 2014

From Aristotle to Schrödinger

The Curiosity of Physics

Authors:

  • Offers a novel historical approach to the core subjects encountered in physics at the undergraduate level
  • Provides physics students with a grounding in the history and conceptual development of the subject
  • Provides a useful supplement to standard texts on general physics
  • Introduces the required mathematical concepts in an accessible way

Part of the book series: Undergraduate Lecture Notes in Physics (ULNP)

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Table of contents (15 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
  2. The Language of Physics

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 1-12
  3. The Dawn of Science

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 13-23
  4. Astronomy Paves the Way

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 25-41
  5. Galileo: His Life and Work

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 43-54
  6. The Seventeenth Century: The Bloom of Science

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 55-82
  7. Isaac Newton

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 83-106
  8. Classical Mechanics

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 107-131
  9. The Beginnings of Chemistry

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 133-146
  10. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 147-187
  11. Electromagnetism

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 189-241
  12. Cathode Rays and X-rays

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 243-259
  13. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 261-296
  14. Quantum Mechanics

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 297-354
  15. Atoms, Molecules and Solids

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 355-441
  16. The Very Small and the Very Large

    • Antonis Modinos
    Pages 443-490
  17. Back Matter

    Pages 491-517

About this book

From Aristotle to Schrödinger: The Curiosity of Physics offers a novel introduction to the topics commonly encountered in the first two years of an undergraduate physics course, including classical mechanics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, electromagnetism, relativity, quantum mechanics, atomic and molecular physics, and astrophysics. The book presents physics as it evolved historically; it covers in considerable depth the development of the subject from ancient Greece to the present day. Though the emphasis is on the observations, experiments, theories, and applications of physics, there are additionally short sections on the life and times of the main protagonists of physics.

This book grew out of the author's long experience in giving undergraduate and graduate courses in classical physics and in quantum mechanics and its elementary applications. Although meant primarily for the student and teacher of physics, it will be of interest to other scientists andto historians of science, and to those who wish to know something about physics, how it started, and how it developed to its present day magnificence and sophistication.

Reviews

From the reviews:

“Intended for physics students (formal or informal) and for physics instructors at all levels, the book is a valuable supplement to standard textbooks since it focuses on key experiments, competing theories, and critical analysis that highlight how the core theories of physics have developed and changed over generations of reflective critiques. … Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty in physics; well-prepared general readers.” (J. R. Burciaga, Choice, Vol. 51 (10), June, 2014)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Emeritus Professor of Physics National Technical University of Athens,, Bury, United Kingdom

    Antonis Modinos

About the author

Antonis Modinos is Emeritus Professor of Physics at the National Technical University of Athens, Greece. During his career, he has taught a variety of subjects, in both physics and mathematics, at various levels, including Electromagnetism, Physical Electronics, and Mathematical Methods for Engineers and Physicists at the University of Salford, UK. He has published approximately 80 research papers (of which 4 are invited review articles) and two books, including Field, Thermionic, and Secondary Electron Emission Spectroscopy (Plenum Press, 1984); and Quantum Theory of Matter – A Novel Introduction (John Wiley & Songs, 1996).

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access