"Providing students with an introduction to the science of physics and its applications to everyday life, this volume traces its development from antiquity to the present. The author examines all aspects of physics--including motion, work, energy, heat, matter, light, and electricity, along with Quantum and Nuclear physics"--Page 4 of cover.

Physics and its early foundations. Introduction : what is physics? ; Divisions of physics ; The philosophical foundation of physics ; Plato ; Aristotle ; Ptolemy ; Physics in the Dark and Middle Ages ; Physics in the Middle Ages ; Summary -- The development of classical physics. Introduction ; The Copernican system ; Brahe and Kepler ; Galileo ; Newton ; Summary -- Translational motion. Introduction ; Scalars and vectors ; Speed and velocity ; Acceleration ; General formulas for kinematics ; Acceleration due to gravity ; Newton's laws of motion ; Gravity and weight ; Newton's third law ; Momentum and impulse ; The conservation of momentum ; Friction ; Summary -- Rotational motion. Introduction ; Uniform circular motion ; Centripetal acceleration and force ; Orbital motion, gravity, and apparent weight ; Artificial gravity ; Angular acceleration ; Rotational dynamics ; Balancing and center of mass ; Angular momentum ; Summary of translational and circular motion equations -- Work, energy, and heat. Introduction ; System and surroundings ; Potential, kinetic, and internal energy ; Work ; Heat and temperature ; Units for energy, work, and heat ; Conservation of energy ; Machines ; Thermodynamics ; Power ; Summary -- Heat. Introduction ; Heat and temperature change ; Heat and phase changes ; Phase diagrams ; Thermal expansion of substances ; Heat transfer ; Applications of heat transfer ; Summary -- Matter. Introduction ; Solids ; X-ray diffraction ; Amorphous solids ; Elasticity of solids ; Fluids ; Atmospheric and hydrostatic pressure ; The gas laws ; The ideal gas law ; Pascal's principle ; Buoyancy and the Archimedes principle ; Fluid dynamics ; Material science ; Summary -- Vibrations, waves, and sound. Introduction ; Simple harmonic motion ; Waves ; Sound ; Music ; Acoustics ; The ear and hearing ; Summary -- Light and optics. Introduction ; A brief history of light ; Behavior of light ; Reflection ; Refraction ; Dispersion and scattering ; Diffraction ; Polarization ; Summary -- Quantum physics. Introduction ; Blackbody radiation ; The photoelectric effect ; The Compton effect ; Wave-particle duality ; The Schrödinger equation and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle ; A brief history of atomic thought ; The divisible atom ; Atomic structure ; Quantum mechanics ; Summary -- A modern view of the atom. Introduction ; Particle detectors and accelerators ; Fundamental particles, forces, and the standard model ; The standard cosmological model ; Summary -- Nuclear physics. Introduction ; Atomic mass, atomic numbers, and isotopes ; Nuclear stability and radioactivity ; Radioactive decay and nuclear reactions ; Half-life and radiometric dating ; Nuclear binding energy, fission, and fusion ; Fusion and stellar evolution ; Transmutation ; Radiation units and detection ; Biological effects of radiation ; Summary -- Electricity. Introduction ; History ; Electrostatics ; Conductors and insulators ; Coulomb's law and the electric field ; The electric potential ; Electric current and circuits ; Electric power ; Batteries ; Home electricity and electrical safety ; Summary -- Magnetism and electromagnetism. Introduction ; The magnetic field and source of magnetism ; Magnetic force on a moving charge ; Electromagnetic induction ; Mutual inductance and self-inductance ; Electromagnetic applications ; Geomagnetism ; Maxwell's equations ; Summary -- Relativity. Introduction ; The speed of light ; The Michelson-Morley experiment ; Reference frames ; Special theory of relativity ; Time ; Length contraction ; Mass, momentum, and energy ; General relativity ; Summary -- Physics experiments. Introduction ; The scientific method ; Physics experimentation ; Physics activities ; Summary -- Physics as a career and physics jobs. Introduction ; Physics-related fields ; Physics work ; Education ; Physics organizations ; Job outlook ; Summary -- Glossary -- Selected symbols, abbreviations, and units -- Table of elements -- Conversion tables -- Nobel Prize winners in physics.