The pendulum: a case study in physics is a unique book in several ways. Firstly, it is a comprehensive quantitative study of one physical system, the pendulum, from the viewpoint of elementary and more advanced classical physics, modern chaotic dynamics, and quantum mechanics. In addition, coupled pendulums and pendulum analogs of superconducting devices are also discussed. Secondly, this book treats the physics of the pendulum within a historical and cultural context, showing, for example, that the pendulum has been intimately connected with studies of the earth's density, the earth's motion, and timekeeping. While primarily a physics book, the work provides significant added interest through the use of relevant cultural and historical vignettes. This approach offers an alternative to the usual modern physics courses. The text is amply illustrated and augmented by exercises at the end of each chapter.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
`In this well-illustrated treatment of the study of pendulum, Baker (Bryn Athyn College of the New Church) and Blackburn (Wilfrid Laurier U.) provide fascinating information about the history of the pendulum and what scientists thought it did, the revolution wrought by Foucault, the special cases of the torsion pendulum, the chaotic pendulum, the quantum pendulum, and coupled pendulums, the effects of superconductivity, and the most familiar to most of us, the pendulum clock. They include information on special interests in the appendices, such as the inverted pendulum and the longnow clock.' SciTech Book News
`One of the delightful aspects of this book is its attention to historical detail. Not only does this add greatly to the enjoyment of reading it, it also gives a vivid impression of progress in our knowledge of the physical world, all too often absent in more focused and specialized works.' Contemporary Physics
`The Pendulum presents insights and unusual approaches that will broaden the experience of undergraduate physics students.' Kenneth S. Krane, Physics Today
`One of the delightful aspects of this book is its attention to historical detail. Not only does this add greatly to the enjoyment of reading it, it also gives a vivid impression of progress in our knowledge of the physical world, all too often absent in more focused and specialized works.' Contemporary Physics
`The Pendulum presents insights and unusual approaches that will broaden the experience of undergraduate physics students.' Kenneth S. Krane, Physics Today
About the Author
Gregory L. Baker is Professor of Physics at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, Pennsylvania, USA. James A. Blackburn is Professor of Physics at Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario, Canada.
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More About the Author
Gregory L. Baker was born and educated in Toronto, receiving his B.Sc., M.Sc, and Ph.D. degrees in physics from the University of Toronto. In 1970 he joined the faculty of Bryn Athyn College of the New Church in Pennsylvania where he spent 37 years teaching physics and mathematics. His scholarly interests include chaotic dynamics - particularly the chaotic pendulum, the relationship between religion and science, and stochastic processes. Greg has collaborated with other scholars on major projects, and also worked as a partime consultant for several years. Mostly retired now, he teaches one course, and continues to write. Greg's other vocation is music. He sings with an oratorio society and and his church choir, and occasionally solos. Once a month, he plays the keyboard for the Sunday service at a local church. Greg and his wife Margaret have four married children and seven grandchildren. Life is good.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent comprehensive study of pendulums,
By Bob from New York (Near New York, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Pendulum: A Case Study in Physics (Hardcover)
The science of the pendulum is relevant far beyond clocks and swings. Simple harmonic motion is all around us and provides the basis to understand quantum mechanics.This provides a historical approach with progressively more challenging mathematics. An excellent survey
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Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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foliot beam, linearized pendulum, macroscopic pendulum, chaotic pendulum, quantum pendulum, parametric pendulum, laminar times, cycloidal cheeks, synchronization machine, coupled pendulums, synchronization manifold, suspension fiber, real pendulum, nonlinear pendulum, maximum angular displacement, torsion pendulum, phase orbit, driven pendulum, forcing motion, parametric pumping, angular amplitude, junction phase, single pendulum, forcing cycle, mgr sin Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
American Association of Physics Teachers, Kamerlingh Onnes, Time Fig, Science Museum, Cambridge University Press, Horologium Oscillatorium, Paris Observatory, American Physical Society, Christiaan Huygens, National Maritime Museum, Princeton University Press, Von Sterneck, Charles Augustin Coulomb, South Pole, North Pole, Angle Fig, Robert Hooke, Santiago de Compostela, Position Fig, Boerhaave Museum Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
foliot beam, linearized pendulum, macroscopic pendulum, chaotic pendulum, quantum pendulum, parametric pendulum, laminar times, cycloidal cheeks, synchronization machine, coupled pendulums, synchronization manifold, suspension fiber, real pendulum, nonlinear pendulum, maximum angular displacement, torsion pendulum, phase orbit, driven pendulum, forcing motion, parametric pumping, angular amplitude, junction phase, single pendulum, forcing cycle, mgr sin Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
American Association of Physics Teachers, Kamerlingh Onnes, Time Fig, Science Museum, Cambridge University Press, Horologium Oscillatorium, Paris Observatory, American Physical Society, Christiaan Huygens, National Maritime Museum, Princeton University Press, Von Sterneck, Charles Augustin Coulomb, South Pole, North Pole, Angle Fig, Robert Hooke, Santiago de Compostela, Position Fig, Boerhaave Museum Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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