This engaging text takes the reader along the trail of light from Newton's particles to Einstein's relativity. Like the best detective stories, it presents clues and encourages the reader to draw conclusions before the answers are revealed. The first seven chapters cover the behavior of light, Newton's particle theory, waves and an electromagnetic wave theory of light, the photon, and wave-particle duality. Baierlein goes on to develop the special theory of relativity, showing how time dilation and length contraction are consequences of the two simple principles underlying the theory. An extensive chapter derives the equation E = mc2 clearly from first principles and then explores its consequences.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
' ... I find Baierlein's approach highly congenial. Indeed I expect that some of the fascinating stories I learned from him and, more importantly, some of the excellent tricks he has taught me (particularly several neat and simple gedanken experiments that lead to relativistic momentum) will make my own course very much better. I can offer no higher praise. N. David Mermin, American Journal of Physics
'The exposition is absolutely sound and lucid. The discussion is never allowed to get too abstract, being filled with fine descriptions of modern experimental demonstrations of the fundamental relativistic effects. I could quite happily teach a course from this book, and I can recommend it warmly.' American Journal of Physics
'The book has many excellent features ... includes some recent and quite interesting experiments not found in other textbooks ... This is a fine textbook that should give students a real 'feel' for what physics is and how it progresses ... It also makes these topics, which are inherently difficult, as easy as possible for students to grasp.' Joseph F. Mulligan, JCST
'Although written for classroom use, an excellent introduction to some of the important ideas of modern physics that should be both interesting and accessible to the proverbial intelligent general reader ... Highly recommended for all college and university libraries.' K. L. Schick, Choice
'... a pleasure ... it is a must for every library.' Peter Borcherds, European Journal of Physics
'This undergraduate text is an excellent introduction to some of the important ideas of modern physics that should be both interesting and accessible also to the general reader.' GLASS Science and Technology
'The exposition is absolutely sound and lucid. The discussion is never allowed to get too abstract, being filled with fine descriptions of modern experimental demonstrations of the fundamental relativistic effects. I could quite happily teach a course from this book, and I can recommend it warmly.' American Journal of Physics
'The book has many excellent features ... includes some recent and quite interesting experiments not found in other textbooks ... This is a fine textbook that should give students a real 'feel' for what physics is and how it progresses ... It also makes these topics, which are inherently difficult, as easy as possible for students to grasp.' Joseph F. Mulligan, JCST
'Although written for classroom use, an excellent introduction to some of the important ideas of modern physics that should be both interesting and accessible to the proverbial intelligent general reader ... Highly recommended for all college and university libraries.' K. L. Schick, Choice
'... a pleasure ... it is a must for every library.' Peter Borcherds, European Journal of Physics
'This undergraduate text is an excellent introduction to some of the important ideas of modern physics that should be both interesting and accessible also to the general reader.' GLASS Science and Technology
Book Description
This undergraduate text takes the reader along the trail of light from Newton's particles to Einstein's relativity. Like the best detective stories, it presents clues and encourages the reader to draw conclusions before the answers are revealed. The first seven chapters describe how light behaves, develop Newton's particle theory, introduce waves and an electromagnetic wave theory of light, discover the photon, and culminate in the wave-particle duality. The book grew out of a popular one-semester course for non-science students.
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book on modern physics for the layman,
By A Customer
This review is from: Newton to Einstein: The Trail of Light: An Excursion to the Wave-Particle Duality and the Special Theory of Relativity (Hardcover)
This book is clear and very interesting. It teaches the general idea of light and modern physics. It can be too simplistic at times for technically minded people.
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Inside This Book
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How should we begin? Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
combining velocities, relativistic rule, rotatable mirror, nuclear potential energy, transmission axis, ripple tank, electrical potential energy, traveling pattern, adjacent crests, crest line, return angle, slit separation, time dilation, charged rod, source overlaps, refracted beam, moving board, length contraction, net pull, uranium nuclei Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Albert Einstein, Royal Society, United States, Isaac Newton, James Clerk Maxwell, Patent Office, American Journal of Physics, Heinrich Hertz, Mount Washington, Thomas Young, Alfred Nobel, San Francisco, Cambridge University Press, Harvard University Press, President Roosevelt, Trinity College, American Association of Physics Teachers, Autobiographical Notes, Dover Publications, Physical Review Letters, Robert Millikan New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
How should we begin? Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
combining velocities, relativistic rule, rotatable mirror, nuclear potential energy, transmission axis, ripple tank, electrical potential energy, traveling pattern, adjacent crests, crest line, return angle, slit separation, time dilation, charged rod, source overlaps, refracted beam, moving board, length contraction, net pull, uranium nuclei Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Albert Einstein, Royal Society, United States, Isaac Newton, James Clerk Maxwell, Patent Office, American Journal of Physics, Heinrich Hertz, Mount Washington, Thomas Young, Alfred Nobel, San Francisco, Cambridge University Press, Harvard University Press, President Roosevelt, Trinity College, American Association of Physics Teachers, Autobiographical Notes, Dover Publications, Physical Review Letters, Robert Millikan New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 30
books:
See all 30 books this book cites
4
books
cite this book:
- Relativity and Its Roots by Banesh Hoffmann on 4 pages
- The Principle of Relativity (Dover Books on Physics) by Albert Einstein on 4 pages
- Ideas and Opinions by Albert Einstein in Front Matter, page 195, and page 207
- The Nature of Light and Colour in the Open Air (Dover Books on Earth Sciences) by M. Minnaert on page 100, and page 103
- The Voice of the Dolphins: And Other Stories (Stanford Nuclear Age Series) by Leo Szilard on page 266, and page 270
See all 30 books this book cites
- Schrodinger's Kittens and the Search for Reality: Solving the Quantum Mysteries by John Gribbin on page 6, and Back Matter
- Lightbook: The Practice of Lighting Design by Ulrike Brandi in Back Matter
- Thermal Physics by Ralph Baierlein in Front Matter
- Reasoning about Luck: Probability and its Uses in Physics by Vinay Ambegaokar on page 223
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