Radically Modern Introductory Physics Text II (Raymond)
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The idea for a “radically modern” introductory physics course arose out of frustration with the standard two-semester treatment of the subject. It is basically impossible to incorporate a significant amount of “modern physics” (meaning post-19th century!) in that format. It seemed to us that largely skipping the “interesting stuff” that has transpired since the days of Einstein and Bohr was like teaching biology without any reference to DNA. We felt at the time (and still feel) that an introductory physics course for non-majors should make an attempt to cover the great accomplishments of physics in the 20th century, since they form such an important part of our scientific culture.
The writing style of the text is quite terse. This partially reflects its origin in a set of lecture notes, but it also focuses the students’ attention on what is really important. Given this structure, a knowledgeable instructor able to offer one-on-one time with students (as in our recitation sections) is essential for student success. The text is most likely to be useful in a sophomore-level course introducing physics majors to the broad world of physics viewed from a modern perspective.
Front Matter
13: Newton’s Law of Gravitation
14: Forces in Relativity
15: Electromagnetic Forces
16: Generation of Electromagnetic Fields
17: Capacitors, Inductors, and Resistors
18: Measuring the Very Small
19: Atoms
20: The Standard Model
21: Atomic Nuclei
22: Heat, Temperature, and Friction
23: Entropy
24: The Ideal Gas and Heat Engines
25: Constants, Units, and Conversions
Back Matter