Lightning (Dover Books on Physics) [Paperback]

Martin A. Uman (Author), Physics (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Books on Physics | Publication Date: February 17, 2011

Complete and comprehensive, this text for advanced undergraduates in physics and engineering features exceptional clarity and minimum of mathematic notation. The expert and up-to-date treatment covers lightning phenomena and terminology, lightning photography, lightning spectroscopy, electrical and magnetic field measurements and current measurements, and more. Five appendixes. 140 figures and tables.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (February 17, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486645754
• ISBN-13: 978-0486645759
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #371,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still useful, even though out-of-date, November 16, 2002

By 

Dr. Lee D. Carlson (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lightning (Dover Books on Physics) (Paperback)

First published in 1969 and thus out of date due to the extensive research in lightning since then, this book can nevertheless serve as an introduction to the knowledge that was known at the time of publication. My interest in the book stemmed from a sideline interest in ball lightning, a phenomenon which I have never observed, but the accounts of it have some peculiarities from a physics standpoint that are very interesting. Unfortunately, the author only discusses ball lightning in one of the Appendices, and the discussion is very short. The author does discuss in this context the St. Elmo's fire phenomenon.

Even though the book is out of date, it could still serve as a source for homework problems for an instructor teaching a course in electromagnetic theory, whether in physics or engineering. In addition, the author has more recent books on lightning that could be consulted in addition to this one. Lightning is a great example of an electromagnetic phenomenon that everyone is familiar with, and that has lots of interesting physics, some of the understanding of which is still a hot topic of research. For someone like me who is just just curious about the physics of lightning, this book and other ones by the author are of great help, and motivate further reading on the subject.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laymans Book on Lightning, December 9, 2005

By 

Dew - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lightning (Dover Books on Physics) (Paperback)

This book has some updates to the 1969 copy. Although it is out-of-date compared to today's information on the subject it is still a gem. It has a minimun amount of mathematics, therefore it can be understood by the layman to the undergraduate level. Anyone who has a fascination for this subject will find that this book is of value. It is a classic in my eyes.

This book includes and introduction to lightning on subjects such as thunderclouds, the steeped leader, the return stroke, the dart leader, discharges and other lightning forms.

There are some photographs as well. These range from early studies, the Boy Camera, and photographs from countries such as South Africa, the U.S., and some more recent photo's from Switzerland.

You will also learn about electric and magnetic field measurements, which includes field changes due to cloud to ground lightning, discharge lowering charge to earth.

There is some history in this book on theories; experimental techniques and the lightning spectroscopy; thunder and the discharge processes.

5.0 out of 5 stars lightning physics, March 6, 2011

By 

mikeo - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lightning (Dover Books on Physics) (Paperback)

The second book I ordered in the series from Martin Uman. Whilst some of the mathematical equations are things I am not educated in, they are without doubt most helpful in the context of the publication and their reasons for inclusion. I would highly recommend this particular publication to accompany anyone researching or interested in the technical aspects of lightning. 5 stars!