Konrad B. Krauskopf,
Prof. Emeritus of Geochemistry, Stanford Univ. Arthur Beiser
ISBN: 0072418265 Copyright year: 2003
Book Preface
THE TEXT
The aim of The Physical Universe is to present, as simply and clearly as possible, the essentials of physics, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy to students whose main interests lie elsewhere.Because of the scope of these sciences and because we assume minimal preparation on the part of the reader, our choice of topics and how far to develop them had to be limited. The emphasis throughout is on the basic concepts of each discipline. We also try to show how scientists approach problems and why science is a never-ending quest rather than a fixed set of facts. The book concentrates on those aspects of the physical sciences most relevant to a nonscientist who wants to understand how the universe works and to know something about the connections between science and everyday life. We hope to equip readers to appreciate major developments in science as they arrive and to be able to act as informed citizens on matters that involve science and public policy.Two features of the book emphasize the human element. One is a series of 38 biographies of important contributors to the physical sciences from Archimedes to today. The other consists of essays by distinguished young scientists — Timothy C. Miller (a physicist), Cynthia M. Friend (a chemist), Andrea Donnellan (a geophysicist), and Wendy Freedman (an astronomer) — which give an idea of what a typical day at work involves for each of them and nicely conveys the excitement of being at the frontier of knowledge.ORGANIZATION
There are many possible ways to organize a book of this kind. We chose the one that provides the most logical progression of ideas, so that each new subject builds on the ones that came before. Our first concern in The Physical Universe is the scientific method, using as illustration the steps that led to today's picture of the universe and the earth's place in it. Next we consider motion and the influences that affect moving bodies. Gravity, energy, and momentum are examined and the theory of relativity is introduced. Matter in its three states next draws our attention, and we pursue this theme from the kinetic-molecular model to the laws of thermodynamics and the significance of entropy. A grounding in electricity and magnetism follows, and then an exploration of wave phenomena that includes the electromagnetic theory of light. We go on from there to the atomic nucleus and elementary particles, followed by a discussion of the quantum theories of light and of matter that lead to the modern view of atomic structure. The transition from physics to chemistry is made via the periodic table. A look at chemical bonds and how they act to hold together molecules, solids, and liquids is followed by a survey of chemical reactions, organic chemistry, and the chemistry of life. Our concern now shifts to the planet on which we live, and we begin by inquiring into the oceans of air and water that cover it. From there we proceed to the materials of the earth, to its ever-evolving crust, and to its no-longer-mysterious interior. After a brief narrative of the earth's geological history we go on to what we know about our nearest neighbors in space — planets and satellites, asteroids, meteoroids, and comets. Now the sun, the monarch of the solar system and the provider of nearly all our energy, claims our notice. We go on to broaden our astronomical sights to include the other stars, both individually and as members of the immense assemblies called galaxies. The evolution of the universe starting from the big bang is the last major subject, and we end with the origin of the earth and the likelihood that other inhabited planets exist in the universe and how we might communicate with them. Because physical scientists rely on experimental data as both the source and the test of their findings, we think it important to include a few quantitative discussions. However, they are kept simple and supplement rather than dominate the presentation. Although the mathematical level of the book has been kept low, a little algebra is needed and is reviewed in the Math Refresher. Powers-of-ten notation for small and large numbers is carefully explained. This section is self-contained and can provide all the math background needed.PEDAGOGICAL FEATURES
A variety of aids are provided in The Physical Universe to help the reader master the text.Important Terms and Ideas The meanings of important terms are given at the end of each chapter; this also serves as a chapter summary. A list of the formulas needed to solve problems based on the chapter material is also given where appropriate. There are 1561 exercises on all levels of difficulty, averaging nearly 90 per chapter. They are of three kinds:Multiple-Choice Exercises An average chapter has 36 multiple-choice exercises (with answers) that act as a quick, painless check on understanding. Correct answers provide reinforcement and encouragement; incorrect ones identify areas of weakness.Questions Some of the questions are meant to find out how well the reader has understood the chapter material. Others ask the reader to apply what he or she has learned to new situations. Answers to the odd-numbered questions are given at the back of the book.Problems The physics and chemistry chapters include problems that range from quite easy to moderately challenging. Although not essential, being able to work out such problems signifies a real grasp of these subjects. Outline solutions (not just answers) for the odd-numbered problems are given at the back of the book.THIS EDITION
With one exception, experience has shown that the previous organization of The Physical Universe worked well in the classroom. The exception was in the arrangement of topics in Chapter 6 on Waves, which was reorganized to provide a more effective treatment of this subject. Otherwise the overall plan of the book was unchanged. The rest of the revision came under three headings:1. The contents were brought up to date, particularly with respect to energy supply, global warming, the solar system, and the structure and evolution of the universe. Recent findings and ideas were also incorporated where appropriate elsewhere. 2. The coverage was expanded by adding new material on a variety of subjects. This was mainly done with the help of 23 new sidebars (brief accounts of topics ancillary to the main text). 3. The illustrations, both line drawings and photographs, are full partners to the text and provide a visual pathway to understanding scientific observations and principles for students unaccustomed to abstract arguments. Sixty new illustrations were added for this edition.ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In preparing this edition of The Physical Universe, we had the benefit of suggestions by:
William K. Adeniyi, North Carolina A&T State University
Brian Adrian, Bethany College
Jose D'Arruda, University of North Carolina – Pembroke
Frederick Floodstrand, Arkansas State University
Andrea M. Gorman Gelder, University of Maine at Presque Isle
Kenny Hebert, Carl Albert State College
Lauree Lane, Tennessee State University
Benjamin K. Malphrus, Morehead State University
Jeff Robertson, Arkansas Technical University
David A. Slimmer, Lander University
Frederick R. Smith, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Wytse van Dijk, Redeemer College
Peter van Keken, University of Michigan
Heather L. Woolverton, University of Central Arkansas
Reviewers of the previous editions include:
Z. Altounian, McGill University
I. J. Aluka, Prairie View A&M University
Louis G. Arnold, Otterbein College
Robert Backes, Pittsburg State University
Terry Bradfield, Northeastern State University
Jeanne M. Buccigross, College of Mount St. Joseph
Korey Champe, Bakersfiled Junior College
Edward S. Chang, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Tu-nan Chang, University of Southern California
Michael R. Cohen, Shippensburg University
Whitman Cross II, Towson State University
William C. Culver, St. Persburg Junior College
John Encarnación, Saint Louis University
Bernd Enders, College of Marin
Terry Engelder, Pennsylvania State University
William Gregg, Louisiana State University
Austin F. Gulliver, Brandon University
Esmail Hejazifar, Wilmington College
Jean-Francois Henry, Northern Virginia Community College
J. Horacio Hoyos, St. Persburg Junior College
Garry Noe, Virginia Wesleyan College
John Oakes, Marian College
Patrick Owens, Winthrop University
Patrick Papin, San Diego State University
James D. Patterson, Florida Institute of Technology
A. G. Unil Perera, Georgia State University
Brian L. Pickering, North Central Michigan College
Jerry Polson, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Charles Rop, University of Toledo
Klaus Rossberg, Oklahoma City University
Jack Ryan, South Arkansas Community College
Eric Schulman, University of Virginia
Regina Schulte-Ladbeck, University of Pittsburgh
Pam Smith, Colwley County Community College
John H. Summerfield, Missouri Southern State College
Sergio E. Ulloa, Ohio University
Daniel A. Veith, Nicholls State University
William J. Wallace, San Diego State University
Sylvia Washington, Elgin Community College We are grateful to Nancy Woods of Des Moines Area Community College for compiling the Videolists in the Instructor's Manual/Test Bank for The Physical Universe. Finally, we want to thank our friends at McGraw-Hill for their skilled and dedicated help in producing this edition.Konrad B. Krauskopf Arthur Beiser
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2003 McGraw-Hill Higher Education