Reviews (34)

A Proper Introduction To Physics For The Layman
Six Easy Pieces is an excellent introduction to one of today's most intriguing scientific fields. Feynman presents physics in a series of easily understandable lectures that are appealing to the layman, in that it presents theories and concepts through simple example. Despite the age of his work, much of what is taught and discussed in the book is still relevant and accepted in physics today.

The book centers on the basic principles and operations of the following topics:
1 - Atoms In Motion
2 - Basic Physics
3 - The Relation of Physics to Other Sciences
4 - Conservation of Energy
5 - The Theory of Gravitation
6 - Quantum Behavior

Within each topic lesser subtopics are addressed, more specifically subtopics that are rooted to or based in one of the overall topics. The teaching style exhibited by Feynman is well thought out and should appeal to the majority of readers. However, Six Easy Pieces is meant as an introduction for the layman and is not suggested for those already experienced in the field.

In closing, Six Easy Pieces is an excellent introduction to the topic of physics, however it is just that - an introduction. Therefore, it is highly recommended for the layman, but not for the physicist.

Six Elegantly Explained Concepts
This book consists of what the editors consider to be six of the easier lessons from Richard Feynman's Lectures on Physics, a three volume work adapted from a series of freshman and sophomore level lectures given at Caltech in the 1960s. Each piece elegantly explains its intended topic without complicated or in depth mathematics. The reader will obtain the gist of the principles behind theses physical phenomena. Feynman whole heartedly admits to the limits of scientific knowledge of his time and in doing so very much dates his lectures. They nonetheless contain rich morsels of the knowledge of physics which will benefit the modern reader. This book is not intended to be an overview of physics. It assumes the reader has some basic education in some subjects, and a previous knowledge of elementary physics greatly helps to understand the pieces. More than anything, it is Feynman's style of teaching that is conveyed through the work's pages. The greatest joy in reading Six East Pieces is to experience Feynman's intuitive knowledge of physics and his subtly elegant conveyance of this topic.

An introduction to Physics and Feynman's wit
Feynman has condensed the contents of his presentations to 1st year Physics students at CalTech. The information about the six topics is simply put and without a prerequisite deep mathematic understanding. These more advanced lessons are available in the Feynman Lectures on Physics. If you would like a basic Physics understanding and would like learning it from a teacher with wit and verve, this is a great resource. The six topics are about atoms, basic Physics, Physics relations to other sciences, energy, gravity, and Quantum Mechanics.

When read with "Surely you must be joking, Mr. Feynman", this book is far more interesting. It will highlight Feynman's wit and prepare you for its appearance in his lecture.

Master Delivery
Feynman is one of my favorite American heros. It is hard not to admire any one aspect of his life. Above all, he was a great teacher obviously. The book is a collection of his lectures for introductory physics, may be a little too elementary for some. Note that, nowadays such topics are delivered to students at earlier ages since Feynman first started these lectures. Still, how he uses daily language and examples to explain and highlight the basic principles of physics is impressive. More importantly, he is very open and clear about exactly what is known and explainable and what we really do not know yet. This comes in very handy in the last chapter on quantum physics, which I enjoyed the most.

Great Introduction to Physics
I love reading Feynman. I am not going to write a long review of this book. If you are interested enough in physics to be at this page, then reading this book is a no brainer. I will say that I read QED first, and that is Feynman's masterpiece. This work suffers by comparison only in that he is addressing underclassman and trying to get them interested in the big picture, whereas QED is the big picture. The great thing about this book is its conversational tone. You can almost imagine yourself in a classroom headed by the most brilliant physics teacher or our time. That's worth something, I'd say. Enjoy. ... Read more

Book Description

A comprehensive and practical reference on radiation protection. Describes radiation basics, external and internal dosimetry and biological effects of ionizing radiation. Demonstrates the fundamentals and calculations as they are applied to various health physics fields. Over 375 worked examples, presented within the context of diverse scenarios, aid readers in testing their knowledge as well as applying the concepts to actual situations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Review for those preparing for CHP Part II Exam
Nice problem set. Good explanation. Covers wide range of areas ... Read more

Book Description

Why did the stock market crash more than 500 points on a single Monday in 1987? Why do ancient species often remain stable in the fossil record for millions of years and then suddenly disappear? In a world where nice guys often finish last, why do humans value trust and cooperation? At first glance these questions don't appear to have anything in common, but in fact every one of these statements refers to a complex system. The science of complexity studies how single elements, such as a species or a stock, spontaneously organize into complicated structures like ecosystems and economies; stars become galaxies, and snowflakes avalanches almost as if these systems were obeying a hidden yearning for order.

Drawing from diverse fields, scientific luminaries such as Nobel Laureates Murray Gell-Mann and Kenneth Arrow are studying complexity at a think tank called The Santa Fe Institute. The revolutionary new discoveries researchers have made there could change the face of every science from biology to cosmology to economics. M. Mitchell Waldrop's groundbreaking bestseller takes readers into the hearts and minds of these scientists to tell the story behind this scientific revolution as it unfolds. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

this book should get 6 stars
In one word, this book was awesome. Waldrop's account of the development of the science of complexity is both compelling and spell-binding. His historical account of the Sante Fe Institute and its members was an inspiring story. Written like a novel, this book was very simple to read and understand and very easy to follow. Even the casual reader could follow its simplifying explanations of the complicated theories invovled in the science of complexity. This book is also a great follow-on to James Gleick's "Chaos - Making a New Science". I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in complex adaptive systems theory, especially its applications in the realm of economics. Waldrop's work here is outstanding!!!

A must read!
This book is not about a mathematical explanation of complexity. This book will not teach you how to construct a neural network or create autonomous cellular automata.

This book is about the process that some of the world's best scientists went through to realize why a theory like complexity is needed. The book will give any reader a deeper understanding for, and appreciation of how such a broad and information rich topic like complexity is becoming better understood. Insights are also given into how this new understanding of emergent behavior may soon be applied to what were once considered unsolvable problems of Economics, Artificial Life, Biology, Physics, etc.

Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos is the story of a group of humans trying to understand the very nature of nature itself, a superhuman task. An exciting drama that just happens to be about cutting edge science instead of science fiction.

Wonderful reading for every science enthusiast!
The cover of the book says " If you liked Chaos, you will love complexity". I just finished reading the book, that validated the claim. While Chaos is written as story of discovery of a new science, Complexity excels as a saga of men who ventured into previously unchartered domains addressing for the first time issues like:

What is life? What is driving force that caused cells to appear from a primordal soup of all elements, when the probability of so happening is infinitesimal? What causes evolution? Do nice guys finish last? What makes evolution, coevolution, adaptation, extinction work? Why do we organize ourselves into families, cultures, nations?

Why do stock markets crash, boom? What controls the emergence of economies? Why can USSR go from one of strongest nations/economies to the state of divided helplessness in less than a few years?

Why are we here? What is life? Artificial Life? Are we still evolving? What is the cause of increasing complexity?

On mundane level: What is non-linearity? What is Chaos? If this science is all that important, why did we wait this long for recognizing it?

What are the paradigms in which sociology and physics settle into same patterns? How neural networks were born, brought up and mastered?

This novel/book is as much about these questions as it is about the scientists who engaged in unravelling many of these mysteries. It speaks about their failures and successes, their approach, ethic and driving force, their fears, fights and friendships. For most part it reads like a thriller, and by the time you are done, you find yourself searching for another book on Chaos, complexity, life at the edge of chaos, genetic algorithms, artificial intelligence. After just 358 pages, your imagination and knowledge of science leaps from Newton's linear models to the twentyfirst century stuff.

Good for Science groupies - no description of theory here!
I found it impossible to tolerate the hundreds and hundreds of pages of oggeling the great men of science and the mundane minutia of thier careers, personalities and personal lives. There's not a single equation or chart in the whole book.
Look elsewhere if you want to get up to speed on the "new science".

Easy to Read, Powerful To Ponder
Complexity is one of those rare science books that manages to teach the reader a great deal without boring them to tears. Using the Santa Fe Institute and many of it's founding players as the backdrop for the story, Waldrop tells stories about people, while exploring their science. The result is a book that is fun to read, and that makes you think at a deep, deep level.

The gist of complexity is the notion that nature really does explore, all by itself, the continously evolving boundary between order and chaos. If you've ever explored the boundaries of fractal patterns, such as the Mandelbrot Set, you've seen a visual example of complexity at work. When you're done, you realize that you have a better intuitive understanding of how the universe operates, how evolution works, and how societies organize themselves...all without having to solve a single mathematical equation! I loved it!

This is one of those books that reshaped my world view, and it is one that I highly recommend to any reader, regardless of their scientific background. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

very clear introduction to solid state physics
A dated but very clear and useful introduction to this subject. One of my favorite textbooks.

Old, but still best
Whenever you think about learning Solid State Physics, or the first stage of Condensed Matter Physics for college level, the Ashcroft/Mermin book is always the first textbook that you should chose. It covers almost everything basic carefully.
But a couple of things make the evaluation lower.
First, and obviously, the book is too old. It was published 18 years ago and never got any new edition. During this long long long time, Solid State Physics has already changed much. Semiconductors are already the most important topics and the discoveries of high Tc Superconductivity and Quantum Hall Effect in low dimensional systems have already largely switched people's interest in physics of Solid to a regime stressed on interactions and disorders... Many books start trying to put these topics together, but nothing better than seeing a new version of Ashcroft/Mermin with the new topics well integrated in.
The other one is about the presentation of this book. I just taught the class of Solid State Physics last year for the first time, and it turns out the presentation of the book is not so friendly to everyone. The chaptors of Nearly free electrons and Tight Binding model of the Band Theory are made fairly long, while not constructed in the best way, resulting in the puzzle of many students. Of course, if you study carefully, you still can get the ideas, but a lot of time is wasted. Considering the importance of these chaptors, this really pulls back the evaluation of the book. My suggestion is, when you study Solid State Physics, have more books as your reference, don't stick only on A/M when you feel troubled, although the A/M is still the best one in general.
I really hope the new edition of this book comes out soon, but considering the age of the authors, it may never happen.

Only for serious people
The books, despite being older than me, is still THE text book in solid state (same way as Led Zep is king of classical rock). Comprehensive, NO look-up-in-the-text kind of problems and thorough. People always wonder why there is no second edition of this book, simply because there isn't a single book which can meet its high standard.

Apart from that, you need a good teacher to teach this book. I took course in advanced solid state and used the same book, didn't even had a feeling of k-space. But later was blessed to take the course again with Aschroft. Not only he is an excellent researcher, but extra-ordinary teacher. Rediscovering solid state again was fulfilling with one of the best teacher and one of the best book to follow.

Excellent book.
If you do want to have a set of clear concepts on solid state
physics, this book is a good choice.

Poorly Written and Presented
The book is not easily read. The subject-matter is no more difficult than the Kittel version but the author does a poor job of displaying the material. It is often esoteric and incomprehensible. In addition to a poorly-written text, the assigned problems are not even related to what is covered in the text. The author has made the unfortunate assumption that he is the only one who will every read the text. There a very few students who could ever learn from this book. ... Read more

Book Description

A kitchen is no different from most science laboratories and cookery may properly be regarded as an experimental science. Food preparation and cookery involve many processes that are well described by the physical sciences. Understanding the chemistry and physics of cooking should lead to improvements in performance in the kitchen. For those of us who wish to know why certain recipes work and perhaps more importantly why others fail, appreciating the underlying physical processes will inevitably help in unraveling the mysteries of the "art" of good cooking. Dr. Peter Barham has long been involved in popularizing science in Great Britain where he has lectured and been on radio and television shows on the science of food. In 1999, he won the IOP Prize for Promoting the Public Awareness of Physics.

FROM THE REVIEWS:

"This year, at last, we have a book which shows how a practical understanding of physics and chemistry can improve culinary performance . . .[Barham] first explains, in a lucid non-textbooky way, the principles behind taste, flavour and the main methods of food preparation, and then gives fool-proof basic recipes for dishes from roast leg of lab to chocolate soufflé." -FINANCIAL TIMES WEEKEND

"This book is full of interesting and relevant facts that clarify the techniques of cooking that lead to the texture, taste and aroma of good cuisine. As a physicist the author introduces the importance of models in preparing food, and their modification as a result of testing (tasting)." -THE PHYSICIST

"Focuses quite specifically on the physics and food chemistry of practical domestic cooking in terms of real recipes. Industrial food technologists and process engineers will not find design equations or process flowsheets. Instead they, and those with more immediate home cooking interests, will find a clear, fascinating, informative and serviceable description of the scientific phenomena occurring during domestic cooking, and how to exploit an understanding thereof to achieve results consistently, adapt recipes confidently and adeptly rescue catastrophes. Each chapter starts with an overview of the scientific issues relevant to that food group, e.g. toughness of meat, thickening of sauces, collapse of sponge cakes and soufflés. This is followed by actual recipes, with the purpose behind each ingredient and technique explained, and each recipe followed by a table describing some common problems, causes and solutions. Each chapter then ends with suggested experiments to illustrate some of the scientific principles exploited in the chapter." -FOOD & DRINK NEWSLETTER

"Will be stimulating for amateur cooks with an interest in following recipes and understanding how they work. They will find anecdotes and, sprinkled throughout the book, scientific points of information...The book is a pleasant read and is an invitation to become better acquainted with the science of cooking." -NATURE

"You do not have to be a chemist or a physicist to cook a meal, any more than you need a qualification in engineering to drive a car; but in both cases a little technical knowledge can help when things go wrong. That is the reasoning behind this odd volume that combines an explanation of the scientific principles of cooking with a down-to-earth guide to kitchen utensils, ... some experiments to try at home, and a random collection of around 40 recipes." -THE ECONOMIST

"A physicist at Bristol University, Barham combines a love of science with a passion for cooking (and food) into this small and enjoyable book...Even if you prefer not to turn your kitchen into a laboratory, you will find this book worthwhile." -SCIENCE ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great stuff for the science-minded cook
Fascinating exploration into the physics of cooking, written in an engaging and detailed style. Probably better for the scientist who cooks than for the cook who's into science, since the language is sometimes a little dense for the layperson. Worth working through, though.

One caveat: the author is British, and recipes, measurements, and terms are geared for the British/European cook. This means you'll find a complete explanation of sausage rolls and nothing about popcorn. Just FYI.

Interesting, but contains a mistake
The author does a good job describing the scientific (especially biochemical) basis behind cooking. However, he makes a fundamental mistake regarding thermodynamics when he states that metals tend to have higher heat capacities than water, and therefore take longer to heat up in an oven at a fixed temperature. This is wrong for two major reasons: a) metals tend to have lower heat capacities than water, not higher, and b) metals have extraordinarily high thermal conductivities, speeding their heating rates up dramatically. Anybody can verify that a piece of metal will heat up much more quickly than an equal mass of water in an oven at a fixed temperature. Perhaps it shouldn't, but mistakes like this one make me suspicious of the validity of the rest of the work.

Great, but everything is metric!
I know we in the US are behind in catching up to the metric system, but certainly our sheer population and market size dictate that an edition edited for our us should be released. Other than this, the book is excellent as an introduction to the subject of food science. I will argue though, that science is never a substitute for the masters. Cooking can be viewed as a science (like here), or an art (as in the great chefs collections).

chemistry 101
Don't buy this book if you're looking for a cookbook. The recipes listed in this book are bare bones basic, with no flare. I felt like I was back in chemistry 101 while reading this book, and could only read a little at a time in order to digest all that was presented. Barham gives an excellent description and portrayal of fats, sugars, starches, gluten, proteins, etc., but doesn't flesh out his recipes at all. Each item in his recipes is there for a purpose, and he explains each of their purposes. But I felt that after the basics were presented, he could have added some extra ingredients to jazz up the dishes a little. This could have shown what the 'unnecessary' ingredients do to enhance a dish and how they alter the chemical composition.
After reading his book though, I feel as though I truly understand the processes going on in my kitchen, and somehow, it has taken away the 'art' of cooking. I can't just go play in my kitchen now - I feel like I'm doing a chemistry experiment:)
The book is presented in the metric system, along with British terms that make it hard to follow every now and then.
I would really recommend this book to upper high school students as well as college freshman for the practical chemistry application.

Gets right to the science with little digression
I recently purchased "On Food and Cooking", hoping to find a good, comprehensive book on food science. While there was a lot of good detail in that book, much of the detail was buried among less interesting historical digressions, and the space taken up by those digressions seemed to be depriving me of some details I really did care about.

In contrast, "The Science of Cooking" makes no pretense of being encyclopedic in its coverage of food science. Instead, the focus is directly on the chemical and physical processes at work in the kitchen. As such, it succeeds admirably, and much of the information that seemed "missing" from "On Food and Cooking" here seems simply absent because it is outside the scope of the work.

While the introductory material gets a little condescending at times (I mean, who actually needs to be told what an atom is?), and some of the sidebars get overly technical for most people (do you really care about differential equations?), such sections are easily ignored. The few really queasy technical discussions are even set in a different background color to let you know they may not be for the faint-of-heart (and the rest of those colored sidebars are quite readable and interesting on their own).

Be aware that the author is a scientist, not a chef. This book is tightly focused on chemical and physical effects of ingredients. Things like flavor and food safety are not part of the discussion, beyond a few passing mentions. Most notably, the author repeatedly demonstrates a lack of understanding of the effects of salt on flavor, and talks of things like clarifying cold stocks with raw egg whites without a discussion of slmonella (which is admittedly perceived as less of a problem in the author's native Britain).

The book is organized like a textbook, with sidebars, tables, and even little experiments at the end of each chapter. There are useful conversion tables, and charts on various topics. It is easy to skip over what you find uninteresting and to skip directly to the information you need when using the book for reference.

The information here is valuable, concise, and well-presented. You'll find yourself understanding things like the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats (and why you should care as a cook), how foams form (and why they collapse), why and how cooking affects flavor and texture, etc.

I was able to read through this book very quickly and easily, while learning (and even retaining) more information than I normally would from a non-fiction book of this sort. This book is definitely an excellent overview of the processes involved in cooking, and indeed, probably contains as much information as most of us are ever likely to use on the subject.

Why 4 stars and not 5, you ask? There are some important omissions that bothered me. The most glaring examples are that there's no discussion of osmotic pressure, or the role of pH in various processes, topics that "On Food and Cooking" covered admirably. The section on cooking utensils and appliances is largely a waste of space, in part because the author is British and doesn't have access to many of the alternatives that have become common in serious American kitchens. Be warned, the book is very British in its use of language. You will need to know that "hob" is a British English for "stove", for example. Also, all of the recipes use metric weights and volumes, so should you actually wish to follow them (not something I'd particularly recommend), you'll need an accurate metric food scale and measuring cups. ... Read more

Book Description

Presenting a comprehensive description of the theory and physics of high-intensity ultrasound, this book also deals with a wide range of problems associated with the industrial applications of ultrasound, mainly in the areas of metallurgy and mineral processing.
The book is divided into three sections, and Part I introduces the reader to the theory and physics of high-intensity ultrasound. Part II considers the design of ultrasonic generators, mechanoacoustic radiators and other vibrational systems, as well as the control of acoustic parameters when vibrations are passed into a processed medium. Finally, Part III describes problems associated with various uses of high-intensity ultrasound in metallurgy. The applications of high-intensity ultrasound for metal shaping, thermal and thermochemical treatment, welding, cutting, refining, and surface hardening are also discussed here.
This comprehensive monograph will provide an invaluable source of information, which has been largely unavailable in ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Good Introduction
Wolfson and Pasachoff's "Physics" is a great book, either for a class (in which case you really don't have much choice of which book you buy) or for self-study. I found the book to be a very good way to learn the basics of calculus-based physics, even without much outside instruction. It is clear and self-contained, with enough examples and problems to work on. It covers a broad range of topic in limited depth, making it great for an independent enthusiast or a student, including not only simple mechanics and electormagnetism, but also introductions to thermodynamics, waves and optics, and moden physics and relativity. Also, there are plenty of examples of real-world applications, showing industrial and everyday uses of the content covered and effectivly relating abstract material to real life. All in all an effective text and an interesting read.

Recommended Textbook
Hey, this book helped me learn physics and get an A+ for the first quarter... but the main thing is what I have learned (not greade, of course) ), and as far as learning goes I found this text to be very helpful. It contains all the most needed equations, lots of examples, the text is easy to read and understand. Even though physics may not be your favourite subject, this book will not add to your suffering. I would recommend the study guide and solutions manual to it if you are the kind of person who does not like to read the chapters but only grasp the most relevant material.

A great book!
I found this book to be a wonderful guide to freshmen physics. I have only the second volume on E&M and modern physics. I particularly like the little things such as the reminder that phenomena like reflection and refraction can be explained using Maxwell's equations. I believe that this gives the student a preview of things to come in later classes. Perhaps there are not as many examples as in Halliday & Resnick, but there are plenty of applications to the real world. It gives just a taste of quantum mechanics but that may be enough for freshmen. The color layout is an optical feast. I like the "Got it" sections which periodically test the reader's physical knowledge at the completion of each concept. I do think that the questions should have an answer key though. All in all a great book!

Not too bad, but not real good either...
This is a pretty good book for showing the derivation of formulas, but it doesn't spend enough time explaining the concepts. Also, it has good examples for simple problems, but needs examples for the more complex problems. Also the "questions" section at the end does not provide answers, which makes them totally useless as a learning tool.

Good, yet needs more sample problems...
This textbook, is a good guidline for the beginner in Physics. The diagrams are useful, and is not too wordy. However an abscence of sample problems is the only downfall to this text. ... Read more

Book Description

The third edition of Physics: Concepts and Connections is expressly for readers who want to better understand the universe and their role in it. Its non-technical language is ideal for readers looking for a basic overview of physics.Topics covered include force, gravity, energy, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics.For those with an interest in physics. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Review of Physics by Art Hobson
There is a place for science books for nonmajors.But I
oppose the dumbing down of physics classes that seems to be
taking place in many colleges. I think that at least a weak
version of Whorf's hypothesis is true: what you can think is
limited to some degree by the languages you know. (See
Language in Mind, Gentner and Goldin-Meadow, MIT Press 2003)
If a student doesn't learn math then she will not be able to
think all the thoughts she needs to when it comes to physics.
R. Jones, Professor of Physics, Emporia State University

Physics for NON-Pysics type person
If you ever thought you were interested in physics or the way things work in the world around you, but thought you weren't smart enough, well - this is a text that shows that you are smart enough.It talks in human terms & doesn't talk down to you either.It shows that formulas are just shorthand for terms like 'ASAP'='As Soon As Possible' & so you use the shorthand to take less time and/or space.It contains plenty of 'WOW' factors also, which I really like.After each chapter, it has experiments to try & quizzes with answers to every other one for self-evaluation comprehension.

Physics for NON-Pysics type person
If you ever thought you were interested in physics or the way things work in the world around you, but thought you weren't smart enough, well - this is a text that shows that you are smart enough.It talks in human terms & doesn't talk down to you either.It shows that formulas are just shorthand for terms like 'ASAP'='As Soon As Possible' & so you use the shorthand to take less time and/or space.It contains plenty of 'WOW' factors also, which I really like.After each chapter, it has experiments to try & quizzes with answers to every other one for self-evaluation comprehension.

Great book that makes physics understandable.
Art Hobson owns the gift of great teachers and authors. He understands, communicates, and visualizes. His writing is smoth, devoid of the wrinkles and creases that can jar assimilation. His book covers the precipitouschanges in the world of physics as it climbed three great cliffs, fromAristotle, through Newton, then theEinstein revolution. Along the way hetouches on the effects of these changes on our civilization. The difficultsubject is brought to the level of understanding by anyone willing todevote some effort to reading, not necessarily studying the book. It's"physics made easier" by clever diagrams that portray conceptsthat words would not convey. The left margins of each page are adorned byquips and often wry statements of the great physicists and philosophers.The book is a treat, a great teacher, a perfect gift for anyone interestedin the "who, what, where, how" of things and us. The"why" is left to the imagination of each reader. ... Read more

Book Description

The "Handbook of Physics" is a complete desktop reference for scientists, engineers, and students. A veritable toolbox for everyday use in problem solving, homework, examinations, and practical applications of physics, it provides quick and easy access to a wealth of information including not only the fundamental formulas of physics but also a wide variety of experimental methods used in practice. Compiled by professional scientists, engineers, and lecturers who are experts in the day-to-day use of physics, the "Handbook" covers topics from classical mechanics to elementary particles, electric circuits to error analysis. The previous editions in German are renowned for their clarity and completeness. Each chapter contains: - all the important concepts, formulas, rules and theorems - numerous examples and practical applications - suggestions for problem solving, hints, and cross references - measurement techniques and important sources of errors - numerous tables of standard values and material properties Access to information is direct and swift through the user-friendly layout, structured table of contents, and extensive index. Like the companion "Handbook of Mathematics and Computational Science" compiled by Harris and Stocker, the "Handbook of Physics" is an invaluable tool for college and graduate students and researchers and practitioners in all fields of engineering and natural science. ... Read more

Book Description

This Third Edition of Glassman's classic text clearly defines the role of chemistry, physics, and fluid mechanics as applied to the complex topic of combustion. Glassman's insightful introductory text emphasizes underlying physical and chemical principles, and encompasses engine technology, fire safety, materials synthesis, detonation phenomena, hydrocarbon fuel oxidation mechanisms, and environmental considerations. Combustion has been rewritten to integrate the text, figures, and appendixes, detailing available combustion codes, making it not only an excellent introductory text but also an important reference source for professionals in the field.

Key Features
* Explains complex combustion phenomena with physical insight rather than extensive mathematics
* Clarifies postulates in the text using extensive computational results in figures
* Lists modern combustion programs indicating usage and availability
* Relates combustion concepts to practical applications ... Read more

Reviews (1)

nice deal
this is the right book for combustion with in depth subject. go for it! ... Read more

Book Description

This fascinating book explains why the materials we can see and touch behave as they do. In a completely nontechnical style, using only basic arithmetic, the author explains how the properties of materials result from the way they are composed of atoms and why it is they have the properties they do: for example, why copper and rubies are colored, why metals conduct heat better than glass, why magnets attract an iron nail but not a brass pin, and how superconductors are able to conduct electricity without resistance.The book is intended for general readers, and uses mainly words, pictures and analogies, with only a minimum of very simple mathematics.The author explains how it is possible to understand the basic properties of matter, and translates the technical jargon of physics into a language that can be understood by anyone with an interest in science who wants to know why the world around us behaves in the way that it does. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Very Clear
This book provides a clear and interesting description of how quantum mechanics explains the workings and properties of light and matter. Learn why copper is the color it is and why glass is transparent to light, among other things. These explanations are provided in a mostly non-mathematical way but at the same time are not fluff. Its nice to see a book explain how quantum theory effects everyday life instead of the usual round of mystical pronouncements. I was actually surprised at how engaging the book was, actually at times I could hardly put it down. Hard to believe getting all that interested into why things are the way they are but if you are interested in physics and engineering you will find this an enjoyable book. I would like to see the author write more books on other aspects of physics and quantum theory.

The Little Big Book
Most people may find certain aspects of Physics as overbearing , too confusing,and mathematically FORBIDING.Anybody who has studied Physics knows that Quantum Physics is the foundation of modern physics.I found this book inviting,imformative,and very helpful in my self study of modern physics ,without the mazes of mathematical formulations,matrics,transformations,and operators overcoming my train of thought. The skill of the author as a writer makes this book a smooth and educating read.I recommend this book to anybody interested in physics.

very smooth explanations
This is very interesting book about somee selected concepts and physics of the materials. There are no formulas, everything is in narrative format. Author starts with crystal structures, particle wave concepts, atom, some quantum mechanical concepts and than application of quantum concepts to heat transfer, magnetism, conduction, electric current and super conductivity.Author provides very nice descriptive pictures and diagrams. Any one who wants to read more about similar subjects with more formulas, still easy reading could also profit from " Understanding Properties of Matter by De posta".

Quantum Mechanics made Understandable
I am a network engineer with little rememberance of my college physics. I'm in the process of reacquainting myself with physics and picked up this book. I found it exceptionally interesting, understandable, well explained, and well illustrated. The development is exceptionally smooth, starting from first principles and carefully building concepts. It was sophisticated enough so that there is real meat, not just fluff. I feel it has prepared me to dive into more rigorous QM textbooks because I have an understanding of some of the consequences of QM.

Great for my journey on a Self Directed education
I agree with Mr. Anderson somewhat. It is a very good introduction to solid state physics. It is friendly, attractive, and it has faithfully kept my interest. 'The Nature of Solids' complements this well. See my 'Listmania Lists' or 'Shared Purchases' in my 'About IndiAndy' section of Amazon for good, attractive and friendly books of this spirit. ... Read more

Book Description

For decades, proponents of artificial intelligence have argued that computers will soon be doing everything that a human mind can do. Admittedly, computers now play chess at the grandmaster level, but do they understand the game as we do?Can a computer eventually do everything a human mind can do? In this absorbing and frequently contentious book, Roger Penrose--eminent physicist and winner, with Stephen Hawking, of the prestigious Wolf prize--puts forward his view that there are some facets of human thinking that can never be emulated by a machine. Penrose examines what physics and mathematics can tell us about how the mind works, what they can't, and what we need to know to understand the physical processes of consciousness. He is among a growing number of physicists who think Einstein wasn't being stubborn when he said his "little finger" told him that quantum mechanics is incomplete, and he concludes that laws even deeper than quantum mechanics are essential for the operation of a mind.To support this contention, Penrose takes the reader on a dazzling tour that covers such topics as complex numbers, Turing machines, complexity theory, quantum mechanics, formal systems, Godel undecidability, phase spaces, Hilbert spaces, black holes, white holes, Hawking radiation, entropy, quasicrystals, the structure of the brain, and scores of other subjects. The Emperor's New Mind will appeal to anyone with a serious interest in modern physics and itsrelation to philosophical issues, as well as to physicists, mathematicians, philosophers and those on either side of the AI debate. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Inconclusive, but worth its weight in transistors
To all those who wish to dismiss this book: Let's give Roger Penrose a break. After all, he's pretty smart (ahem!), and even if he turns out to be incorrect in suggesting that consciousness can be explained physically using physics we don't have yet, the book is a vigorous and entertaining attempt to put forth the case. He states up front that _we don't have the physics yet_, so where's the controversy?

I find the claim that Penrose simply rejects the view that the mind is a (computational) system, because no system can be both consistent and complete, a little misleading and certainly no substitute for reading the book. To address this on just one front, there is also a positive side to Penrose's argument, namely, that the mathematical insight needed to recognize undecidability and related arguments as legitimate--an insight he tries to defend against competing philosophies of math--would itself appear to lie outside the realm of computation.

As for the idea that ENM is a poor man's GEB, I see the two books as completely different in motivation. In GEB, Goedel is central in leading to the conclusion that some sort of self-reference lies at the heart of intelligence. In ENM, Goedel is important in flushing out regions of mathematical thought that appear to be non-computational, but the overarching suggestion is that consciousness will someday be explained using as-yet-undiscovered physics.

For me, the attractiveness of both books lies in their "vigor with rigor," that combination of mastery, humility, and generosity one longs for in science writing.

The argument is 25 years old and invalid.
Ok so here is Penrose's argument:

1: Acourding to Gödels theorem no system is 100% consistent and complete
2:An algorithm is a system
3:Therefore the human mind is not representable by an algorithm.

There you have it folks! Its the book in a nutshell. Penrose simply ignores the fact that the exact same argument can be used to show that a human mind cannot be 100% consistent and complete. He also ignores the fact that humans make mistakes, and so the entire argument in the book falls. A more detailed explanation why this argument is invalid is to be found in Hofstadter's excelent book "Gödel Escher Bash an Eternal Golden Braid" which was first published in 1979.

As when it comes to Penrose's idea that Quantum Mechanics plays a part in the human mind, he has no proof or justification whatsoever. It sounds cool and Quantum Mechanics is a hot topic right now, but with the level of justification that Penrose has put forward he could just as well have claimed that one can determine someones personality from the dents in the persons skull.

"Poor man's GEB" is half-right
I don't think I can finish the book in its entirety--partly because it's clumsy and difficult and partly because Penrose has given me no reason to buy into the big-picture arguments he makes on consciousness.

Whether his motivation is theism or simply a "science is presumptuous and arrogant" mindset, it seems to me that Penrose fundamentally operates in a nonscientific manner here. He takes an incompletely-understood effect (human consciousness), rejects the simplest explanation (materialism), and crafts a clouded and speculative alternative explanation instead.

Whatever happened to Occam's Razor? Do we really need to invoke such esoteric explanations for human consciousness? And at what biological level does Penrose believe that algorithmic, materialist processes stop accounting for the observed level of awareness--bacterium? Insect? Chimpanzee?

Another reader characterized this book as "a poor man's Gödel, Escher, Bach." I agree, in that it reiterates many of the topics that Hofstadter's brilliant work covered nearly a decade earlier. There are at least two huge differences, though: first, the magic of GEB is the remarkable way that Hofstadter tied everything together into his grand thesis. In contrast, Penrose throws in ideas like non-periodic tiling but does not manage to integrate them into his whole. Of course, the huge difference is that GEB was a great ode to the limitlessness of conscious reason (whether human or not), while this book seems like little more than a rear-guard lament.

Granted, some will still read my review as an arrogant, presumptuous, and ill-informed diatribe. Well, I'll stick to science and progressivism. We still haven't lost a knowledge battle--there are just some we haven't won yet.

The Emperor's New Mind.
Roger Penrose, "one of the world's most knowledgeable and creative mathematical physicists," presents in his 1989 Emperor's New Mind one of the most intriguing and substantive popularizations of mathematical logic and physical theory that has ever been published. As a reader of many books written by scientists, I will say that few compare with this one. Penrose wrestles with what he sees as some of science's most inadequate or poorly developed (although popularly accepted) ideas. As certain physical theories are found wanting, his grapplings extend to some of the deepest questions of metaphysics. Of the deepest questions, Penrose says, "To ask for definitive answers to such grandiose questions would, of course, be a tall order. Such answers I cannot provide; nor can anyone else, though some may try to impress us with their guesses." While he speaks respectfully of individuals with whom he has certain differences of opinion, the "some" in that statement might be taken to be Hawking, Dawkins, Dennett, to suggest a few. The author here tends toward a more humble and questioning approach. Penrose's puzzlings are complex and his positions are sometimes misrepresented by even his admirers. A case in point may be the fact that he finds cosmic inflation theories to have less explanatory power than others claim for them -- this doesn't mean he necessarily rejects inflation, rather he doubts claims that inflation actually helps explain the specialness of the early universe. Positivists may be disposed to discount the problem but there appears to be good reason for Penrose's skepticism. However this is not treated in this volume.
Rigorously building a case against the fundamental arguments for strong AI, Penrose begins with what for him is to ultimately be 'le coup de grâce', considerations and arguments from mathematical logic. If the human mind works non-algorithmically, then we know of no way to digitize/program its processes. The mind does in fact function non-algorithmically, a fact demonstrated without much difficulty. It learns in intuitive, non-linear, and mysteriously creative ways. The idea that some non-algorithmic approach might achieve a program equivalent to the human mind is not supported by any "useful" (or better) physical theory and is not mathematically tenable. Strong AI is thus relegated to a mere ideological preference and to sci-fi. In his mathematical considerations, Penrose is most interested in the work of Turing and Gödel and in the Platonic essence of mathematics itself. Concluding that the human mind cannot be reduced to an algorithm (or any set of algorithms), Penrose next questions whether the mind might be reducible physically. Here he finds the questions and answers less well defined than he has in mathematics. His tour of classical and quantum physics features interpretations and ideas that many readers may have not encountered (which makes the text fun). The problem of "correct quantum gravity" (that is, the incompleteness [or incorrectness?] of relativity and quantum theories) is one that Penrose and other theoreticians have struggled with for decades. Penrose wonders if this mysterious and conspicuously missing physical theory might be related to the also conspicuously missing science of mind ("the mind-body problem"). This speculation on his part is the theme also of his more recent books. As Erwin Schrödinger (like Einstein and Gödel, Platonists all) seems to be one whose ideas are of particular interest to Penrose, I will cite Schrödinger's view: "Consciousness cannot be accounted for in physical terms. For consciousness is absolutely fundamental. It cannot be accounted for in terms of anything else." But Penrose doesn't quite argue this view, although it would seem an obvious conclusion from his best arguments! Here is a classic example of how we may know something without knowing everything: we can know that the human mind cannot be reduced to an algorithm -- or algorithm of algorithms -- and yet it is not known that we can even know what exactly mind is. Particularly so if, as Schrödinger says, mind is irreducible.
The chapter on cosmology is excellent, as one might expect of a Roger Penrose. The consideration of the "specialness" of the initial [cosmological] conditions and of the relationship of this specialness to the second law of thermodynamics is also fascinating as it is precisely the second law that lends the "arrow of time" its apparent non-symmetrical aspect -- in other words, defines physical "reality" as we experience it. In this sense, the second law connects the human mind to the cosmos (which is interesting but does nothing to help us "reduce" mind).
Penrose suggests, and I cannot find any reason to disagree, that all scientific theories can be assigned to one of three broad categories, which he calls: (1.) SUPERB, (2.) USEFUL, (3.) TENTATIVE. All SUPERB theories (there are roughly a dozen) stand within the purvey of physics, and: "It is remarkable that all the SUPERB theories of Nature have proved to be extraordinarily fertile as sources of mathematical ideas. There is a deep and beautiful mystery in this fact: that these superbly accurate theories are also extraordinarily fruitful simply as mathematics. No doubt this is telling us something profound about the connections between the real world of our physical experiences and the Platonic world of mathematics." Over time, theories (particularly those that do not feature such mathematical beauty) may tend to move between the categories. Theories held to be SUPERB for centuries have dropped completely from the current categories, theories have faded and re-emerged. . . "we should not be too complacent that the pictures that we have formed at any one time are not to be overturned by some later and deeper view."
Some readers will not like the fact that, after extensive rumination on very difficult and deep questions (like "what is mind?"), the author doesn't conclude with a pretense that he, or anyone else, has definitive answers. This reader appreciated the integrity of Penrose's questionings and of his conclusions (or lack of conclusions). I will misappropriate one of Penrose's terms -- as a text examining mathematics, physics, and the human mind, this volume is SUPERB.

Great Science, Vision Lacking
Penrose is going after all those who thing that a computer will someday be able to "think" like we do. In other words, he does not believe that - because of some rather esoteric quantum effects - that our electr-organic brain can be replicated by electro-silicate.

This does not mean that computers will not be able to mimic, to respond, to act in a way that one has no idea if the person they are talking to is a machine or human. All this is possible, even probable. But Penrose is on a mission to raise human consciousness above machine performance - or rather, to demonstrate that it is of a different kind rather than a different order.

My only problem with his analysis is that we simply cannot know what may or may not happen in the future as technologies merge and grow and intertwine. With current technology there is not a chance that a PC will some day "recognize itself". But that is not the question really; everyone knows this. The real question is what does it mean to be human, what is consciousness, and can these characteristics, traits and components be reborn outside of organic matter?

Interesting, sometimes difficult read. ... Read more

Book Description

Plasma engineering is a rapidly expanding area of science and technology with increasing numbers of engineers using plasma processes over a wide range of applications. An essential tool for understanding this dynamic field, Plasma Physics and Engineering provides a clear fundamental introduction to virtually all aspects of modern plasma science and technology.These areas include: plasma chemistry and engineering, combustion, chemical physics, lasers, electronics and new methods of material treatment, fuel conversion and environmental control.

The book contains an extensive database on plasma kinetics and thermodynamics, many helpful numerical formulas for practical calculations, and a large number of problems and concept questions.As a foundational text, Plasma Physics and Engineeringis ideal for senior undergraduate and graduate students in mechanical, chemical and electrical engineering, as well as for scientists and engineers studying phenomena taking place in cold and thermal discharge plasmas, in combustion, and laser systems. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

book for plasma engineers
This book focuses on the most important and fundamental issues of
plasma physics and applications in today's industry. It provides an
excellent introduction and overview of plasma. It covers almost all
aspects of plasma physics and engineering and has a lot of useful
examples.

In this book, author gave a thorough consideration of the theory of
breakdown phenomena leading to formation of different plasma
discharges and finally covered, in considerable depth, the physics and
main features behind the major discharges intensively used in
cutting-edge technologies. Along with the well known material, the
most interesting and important innovations in area of plasma physics
are also gathered and discussed.

It is extremely useful as reference and textbook. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in plasma. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Classic but dated & expensive - paperback coming soon
In response to questions from colleagues and students i'm posting this review.
This was the standard text many years ago.
Many current topics on mathematical Quantization and Stochastic Optimization are conspicuously abscent.
The publisher is working on a two Volume Paperback edition that will be available shortly, so save your money and buy this 2-vol set for one fifth the price.

A hard but superb book.
Current physics students had less mathematical trainings than those did several decades ago, when computer wasn't popular. So this book is probably too hard to read through and to work on its problems. But if you force yourself, you will begin to appreciate the beauty of mathematics. The chapter about Green's function is escpecially good, never had a so vivid lecture on Green's function before. Actually, when I read this book, I felt Green's function is the kernel and the main bone of this book. It appears almost in every chapter.

The price is pretty high, but if you choose physics as your career, it's worth to have this book, both for academic and entertaining purposes.

THE classic text
The classic text, still excellent, tho' somewhat dated. Well worth having because (a) the physical viewpoint is helpful for theorists and easier for experimentalists, (b) the older viewpoint is different from that of more modern texts, and still worthwhile; multiple viewpoints increase understanding. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is based on the modern conceptual understanding of crystal fields. It clarifies several issues that have historically produced confusion in this area, particularly the effects of covalency and ligand polarization on the energy spectra of magnetic ions. This comprehensive volume provides readers with clear instructions and a set of computer programs for the phenomenological analysis of energy spectra of magnetic ions insolids. Readers are shown how to employ a hierarchy of parametrized models to extract as much information as possible from observed lanthanide and actinide spectra. All computer programs included in the volume are freely available on the Internet. It will be of particular interest to graduate students and researchers working in the development of opto-electronic systems and magnetic materials. ... Read more

Book Description

This graduate textbook designed for students in physics, chemistry and materials science provides a modern treatment of the theory of solids dealing with the physics of electron and phonon states in crystals and how they determine the structure and properties of solids.The first part of the book deals with electrons and atoms in a crystal, and the second part extends the discussion to defects in crystals and to structures without crystalline symmetry. There are numerous exercises throughout and appendices to provide the necessary background. ... Read more

Book Description

Core concepts and topics in beginning physics are presented in this succinct and readable text. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must read
This is just an excellent book. With questions that all early physics students ask and are usually shunned for asking them. Is the electric field a real entity? What is the difference between a real quantity and a math tool that gives us the right answer. Spactiotemperal locality is covered very well, the mix of physics and philosophy is superb. The last chapter on quantum mechanics could be expanded and perhaps the author can do a seperate book on that topic. This book is a must for all students of physics and philosophy. ... Read more

Book Description

A revision of the leading text on experimental physics.The feature of this book that has made it one of the most loved texts on the subject is that it goes far beyond a mere description of key experiments in physics.The author successfully provides the reader with an understanding and appreciation of the 'physics' behind the experiments.The second edition will be an extensive revision introducing many new devices, including the use of computers and software programs, that have come into use since the publication of the first edition.In addition the important areas of condensed matter physics and optical physics will be added, including two entirely new chapters on lasers and optics.

ú Modern analysis and acquisition techniques
ú Integration with matlab for data analysis and display
ú New experiments include fundamentals of lasers ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent experimental reference!!!
I purchased this book with hopes of gaining some insight into the theoretical aspects of the modern physics experiments I was working on in a junior laboratory. I must say that this book has been invaluable. The author masterfully details the most fundamental experiments in modern physics, making the material accessible to beginning undergrad students, yet still theoretically rich enough for advanced experimental practice.

Most modern physics experiments can more than likely be referenced somewhere in this book, which serves as a lab manual complete with data samples and example analysis. For myself, the analysis techniques employed in the experiments contained within this book were the most helpful. Any physics student with experience in an advanced lab would agree that data and error analysis are the most critical part of any lab, making this book ideal as a reference.

I give this book five stars, but I must admit only one disappointment with its binding. I read a review, prior to buying this text, stating that the hardcover binding is somewhat prone to wearing out quickly, and indeed I think I have seen the beginning of this demise. However, I have made extensive use of the book, which has undoubtedly contributed to this problem.

Otherwise, I have gotten every cent's worth out of this book! ... Read more