Understanding Physics (Motion, Sound, and Heat / Light, Magnetism, and Electricity / The Electron, Proton, and Neutron) [3 in 1, 1993 Barnes & Noble reprintrd ed.] 0880292512, 9780880292511

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NDERSTANDING

ASIMOV 3

VOLUMES IN ONE:

• Motion, Sound & Heat • Light, Magnetism & Electricity • The Electron, Proton & Neutro

1

UNDERSTANDING PHYSICS 3 VOLUMES IN 1 ISAAC ASIMOV Mysterious objects

quarks and quasars,

like

strange mathematical symbols and complex speculations about the beginnings of the uni-

verse—all these

seem

make

the world of physics

be an exotic, even forbidding, realm. Yet everyday things we take for granted, from bicycles to microwave ovens, are the result of the development of this central branch of to

modern science.

Renowned science authority Dr. Isaac Asimov has taken the basic concepts of physics and grouped them selling

Sound and Heat Magnetism and Electricity The Electron, Proton and Neutron.

•

Motion,

•

Light,

•

All

logically into three best-

volumes.

three are presented

plete

and unabridged,

in

this edition

com-

allowing the reader to

trace the fascinating story of

modern phys-

ics—the human search for rules that govern and describe the universe.

From

Galileo's refutation of

Greek theories

which, unchallenged, held sway for over 2,000 years, to modern conjectures about the creation of time, matter and space, this lively

and entertaining history enables the

general reader to understand the develop-

ment of physics not only as a series of logical progressions but also as an exiting drama of the human spirit's quest for knowledge. The solving of one set of problems leads inevitably to the challenge of

new questions.

each of the volumes, Dr. Asimov concenon the development of specific concepts and places them against the appropriate historical background. Volume One, Motion, Sound and Heat, traces the theoretical exploration of these concepts from an essentially Newtonian viewpoint. In

trates

(continued on back flap)

a

Digitized by the Internet Archive in

2012

http://archive.org/details/understandingphyOOisaa

UNDERSTANDING PHYSICS

ISAAC ASIMOV

UNDERSTANDING PHYSICS 3 Volumes in Motion, Sound, Light, Magnetism,

1

and Heat

and Electricity

The Electron, Proton, and Neutron

Barnes SvNoble

BOOKS NEW YORK

Copyright

©

1966 by Isaac

Asimov

All rights reserved.

This edition published by Barnes

& Noble,

Inc.,

by arrangement with Walker and Company. 1993 Barnes

ISBN

Books

0-88029-251-2

Printed and

M

& Noble

bound

in the

United States of America

23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15

UNDERSTANDING PHYSICS

VOLUME I

Motion, Sound and Heat

1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

—The Search

1

for

Knowledge

From Philosophy The Greek View Flaws

2

—

in

to Physics

of

3

Theory

7

Falling Bodies Inclined Planes

3

1

Motion

1

Acceleration

13

Free Fall

18

—The Laws

of

Motion

Inertia

23

Forces and Vectors

Mass

26 30

Action and Reaction

33

—

A

Gravitation

Combination of Forces Motion of the Moon The Gravitational Constant

37 41

47

5_Weight

6

The Shape of the Earth Beyond the Earth

53 57

Escape Velocity

61

—Momentum 65 67 72 74 79

Impulse Conservation of Momentum Rotational Motion

Torque Conservation of Angular

7

Momentum

—Work and Energy The Lever

84 89 93 97

Multiplying Force

Mechanical Energy Conservation of Energy

8

—

Vibration Simple Harmonic Motion

101

Period of Vibration

103 08

The Pendulum

1

-Liquids

Cohesion and Adhesion

115 119 125

Viscosity

130

Pressure

Buoyancy

—Gases

10

135

Density

Gas Pressure Boyle's

1

Law

138

143

1—Sound Water Waves Sound Waves

Loudness

148 154 158

Velocity of Sound The Musical Scale Modifications of Sound Reflection of Sound

62 67 173 177

12—Pitch

13

1 1

—Temperature Hot and Cold

181

Temperature Scales Expansion Absolute Temperature

188

185

192

14—Heat r/j