The Physics of Stars (Manchester Physics Series) [Paperback]

A. C. Phillips (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471987980 | ISBN-13: 978-0471987987 | Publication Date: June 29, 1999 | Edition: 2

The Physics of Stars, Second Edition, is a concise introduction to the properties of stellar interiors and consequently the structure and evolution of stars. Strongly emphasising the basic physics, simple and uncomplicated theoretical models are used to illustrate clearly the connections between fundamental physics and stellar properties. This text does not intend to be encyclopaedic, rather it tends to focus on the most interesting and important aspects of stellar structure, evolution and nucleosynthesis. In the Second Edition, a new chapter on Helioseismology has been added, along with a list of physical constants and extra student problems. There is also new material on the Hertztsprung-Russell diagram, as well as a general updating of the entire text. It includes numerous problems at the end of each chapter aimed at both testing and extending student's knowledge.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Manchester Physics Series General Editors: D. J. Sandiford; F. Mandl; A. C. Phillips Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester Properties of Matter B. H. Flowers and E. Mendoza Optics Second Edition F. G. Smith and J. H. Thomson Statistical Physics Second Edition F. Mandl Electromagnetism Second Edition I. S. Grant and W. R. Phillips Statistics R. J. Barlow Solid State Physics Second Edition J. R. Hook and H. E. Hall Quantum Mechanics F. Mandl Particle Physics Second Edition B. R. Martin and G. Shaw The Physics of Stars Second Edition A.C. Phillips Computing for Scientists R. J. Barlow and A. R. Barnett The Physics of Stars, Second Edition provides a concise, self-contained account of how key aspects of stellar structure, evolution and nucleosynthesis can be understood in terms of fundamental physics. Beginning with an introduction to astrophysical concepts using elementary physics, the book progresses to consider stellar properties in terms of more advanced physical ideas all of which are carefully explained before they are applied. The result is a balanced presentation of both fundamental physics and astrophysics. A major strength of the book is that the author does not evade challenging concepts, but carefully explains them, enabling the reader to gain a fuller understanding of the theory. Carefully revised, this second edition now includes a chapter on Helioseismology. Review of the Second Edition "This book is.a superb textbook in terms of choice of content, its organisation and style of presentation. Phillips is one of the best of the currently available texts - its coverage, level, style and price are all in its favour." Dr M. Wilson Royal Holloway College, University of London Review of the First Edition "The title tells it all: This is a compact and well-organised book. and it achieves wonderful success in presenting the physics, of approximation, intuition and understanding. Its strengths are many." Physics Today "Phillips never lets the student out of his sight. And this student is encouraged, step-by-step, to reach a greater understanding of the subject. Every paragraph seems to be honed on tutorial experience, every equation is explained with wit great care, superfluous material is omitted and concepts are worked out from first principles. This is a university textbook par excellence, a classic that will be used for decades to come." New Scientist

Product Details

• Paperback: 262 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (June 29, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471987980
• ISBN-13: 978-0471987987
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clear and Concise presentation, December 1, 2002

By 

"jayjina" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Physics of Stars (Manchester Physics Series) (Paperback)

This book is one of the set texts for the Third Level Open University course, "The Energetic Universe" and provides a good introduction to the subject of Astrophysics.

Drawing upon a number of basic principles within Physics, such as heat transfer, the fundamental properties of matter, radiation physics, thermonuclear reactions, and nucleosynthesis, the author applies them to explain the birth, evolution and death of stars.

What I like about this book is that the emphasis is on the basic physical principles, bringing them together by means of well explained and simple theoretical models, and then applying them to the high energy systems of stellar structure. The Maths is kept to the necessary minimum, and several "rough" calculations are given to show the relevance of the models to observation.

The problems at the end of the chapters together with hints help to underpin the physical concepts covered. There is at the end of the book also a useful bibliography of other relevant reading.

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, concise treatment, August 26, 2009

By 

spumn - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Physics of Stars (Manchester Physics Series) (Paperback)

When a new text is written on the subject of stellar structure and evolution, comparison with Clayton's seminal, although aging, text is inevitable. Running a mere 200 or so pages, Phillips' entry is considerably shorter than Clayton's, and accordingly, covers fewer topics and in less detail. However, the rigor is comparable: Phillips writes at a graduate level, assuming the reader is already familiar with topics like calculus, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics. Only very high-level nuclear physics that would unduly burden the pace of the text is given on a take-it-or-leave-it basis.

In terms of its format, the text is essentially a series of long, mathematical derivations. Graphs and diagrams accompany the text where appropriate, but there are no pictures, and the text is in black and white.

Phillips' explanations are, generally, very lucid. Even if certain prerequisite subjects are somewhat lacking on the part of the reader, he or she will undoubtedly be able to follow the gist of Phillips' derivations. Phillips also frequently tests derived results against numerical or observational values, giving the reader a much-needed "reality check" in what can be a rather arcane subject. He is also good about analyzing pieces of a derived result, explaining not only the mathematical origin but also the physical significance of each term. Long derivations involving high-level math and physics can be dry and tedious, but by doing all these things, Phillips manages to be surprisingly readable throughout.

His treatment of stellar modelling is rather disappointing in today's age of powerful computers. Phillips briefly discusses numerical methods, but does not get into specifics. Few plots of numerically calculated results are even presented, which, again, is disappointing considering how simple the task can be nowadays. Even Prialnik's undergraduate text on stellar structure and evolution features at least a qualitative discussion of the numerical solutions obtained in recent decades. On the other hand, kudos to Phillips for including a chapter on helioseismology. I am not aware of another treatment of this subject that is as concise and readable as that presented here.

In the end, Phillips' "Physics of Stars" falls somewhere between Prialnik and Clayton. Like Prialnik, he offers a concise and readable treatment; like Clayton, he offers a mathematically rigorous treatment suitable even for graduate students well-versed in physics. The result is a joy to read.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astrophysics Library Mainstay and a Great Textbook, August 16, 2009

By 

DONALD B. Douglass "Rock Head 42" (West Chester, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Physics of Stars (Manchester Physics Series) (Paperback)

I am a graduate student of astrophysics having just completed an MA in Physical Science. "The Physics of Stars" strikes a nearly perfect balance of explanatory text plus the mathematics behind the phenomena of stars; I am going to recommend this book to my astrophysics professor as a central text for a seminar course on Stellar Processes. I am enjoying greatly reading this and working some of the problems at the chapter ends. I also recommend this book for the libraries of anyone who wants a deeper understanding of stellar formation, life cycle, interior dynamics. Publish date of the Second Edition is 1999 with a date on the foreword of November 1998.