Concepts of Modern Physics [Hardcover]

Arthur Beiser (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0070048142 | ISBN-13: 978-0070048140 | Publication Date: September 1, 1994 | Edition: 5th

This text is written for a one-semester Modern Physics course and is designed for students who already have a grounding in basic physics and calculus. Relativity and quantum ideas are cosidered first to provide a framework for understanding the physics of atoms and nuclei. The theory of the atom is then developed, with emphasis on quantum-mechanical notions. This is followed by a discussion of the properties of aggregates of atoms, which includes a look at statistical mechanics. Finally, atomic nuclei and elementary particles are examined. New features include: second colour for emphasis; twice as many photographs; twice as many worked examples; and 25% more questions.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill College; 5th edition (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070048142
• ISBN-13: 978-0070048140
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #731,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Inconsistencies and Typos, January 16, 2002

By 

"ksadya" (San Diego, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Concepts of Modern Physics (Hardcover)

...While understanding can come from this book, the numerous typos distract, confuse, and degrade the quality of it. Examples of this include the following: on page 7, the definitions for t_0 and t should be switched (although it's all relative); on pages 39, 40, and 41, there are occasions where a prime ' is either lacking or misplaced; on page 43, a variable dz' should be replaced by dx'. Page 137, example 4.5 (b) gives contradictory exponents. The correct exponents are ^2 throughout. The answer is also wrong! (should be 2.47x10^15 Hz)
These are just a few occasions that I have noticed and have spent hours struggling with.

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Useless book alert!, May 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Concepts of Modern Physics (Hardcover)

Pick another book like Serway's, or Tipler's, or even Modern Atomic and Nuclear Physics, for a legitimate introduction to this subject. Beiser's lazy treatment of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and the Bohr atom amounts to little more than throwing out a few formulas and examples. The same goes for the transformations in special relativity - Tipler's treatment is superior. Even the Schaum's book in modern physics is better on this topic. His treatment of quantum mechanics was obviously meant to be ignored - hence the leaving out of important conceptual and explanatory material that, say, Modern Atomic and Nuclear Physics puts in. Overall, it is worthless in comparison to the previously mentioned books.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, some key aspects lacking, June 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Concepts of Modern Physics (Hardcover)

At first I thought this book was very good and very well explained. Then I realised that sometimes he doesn't tell us the whole story, leaving out certain calculations and stuff. First year textbooks are known to do this, but looking back at my first year textbooks, I found them to be more "complete". It is a good starter book for Modern Physics, however, after that you will need something thicker.