Download PDF Physics in Our World PARTICLES and the UNIVERSE by Kyle Kirkland

Sinopsis

The physics of Newton dominated physics for more than 200 years. In Newton’s viewpoint, forces caused changes in motion, which could be precisely determined and calculated, and concepts such as space and time were absolute, the same for everyone. Physicists continued to accept this point of view until, in the 20th century, exceptions began to appear. With improved instruments and more imaginative theories, people began to probe objects and events that were not encountered in everyday life—tiny particles inside an atom, immense objects such as the entire universe, and small or large objects moving at exceptionally fast speeds. Laws described by Newton failed to hold true in many cases. New laws, and occasionally entirely new concepts, were needed. The new laws reduce to the old laws in familiar situations but increase their scope and accuracy.
 

Particles and the Universe documents the phenomena in which Newton’s physics failed and explains “modern” physics that formed the basis for a new set of laws. One thing that did not change was the scientific method—observations lead to theories, which must be tested for accuracy. Each chapter of Particles and the Universe delves into the observations, theories, and tests of a particular topic :

• nuclear physics
• quantum mechanics
• particle physics
• relativity
• cosmology, the study of the universe

Nuclear physics investigates the properties and behavior of the central portion, or nucleus, of the atom. This branch of physics has had perhaps the biggest impact on the world in the 20th century because it evolved into knowledge that helped build the most destructive weapons people have ever known. The atomic bombs that ended World War II in 1945, and the weapons race that followed, changed the course of history. But applications of nuclear physics have also provided enormous energy for peaceful

 

Content

1. NUCLEAR PHYSICS: RADIOACTIVITY, WEAPONS, AND REACTORS
2. QUANTUM MECHANICS
3. PARTICLE PHYSICS
4. RELATIVITY
5. COSMOLOGY

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