Van der Waals Forces: A Handbook for Biologists, Chemists, Engineers, and Physicists [Hardcover]

V. Adrian Parsegian (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521839068 | ISBN-13: 978-0521839068 | Publication Date: December 5, 2005

This should prove to be the definitive work explaining van der Waals forces, how to calculate them and take account of their impact under any circumstances and conditions. These weak intermolecular forces are of truly pervasive impact, and biologists, chemists, physicists, and engineers will profit greatly from the thorough grounding in these fundamental forces. Parsegian has organized his book at three successive levels of mathematical sophistication, to satisfy the needs and interests of readers at all levels of preparation. The Prelude and Level 1 are intended to give everyone an overview in words and pictures of the modern theory of van der Waals forces. Level 2 gives the formulae and a wide range of algorithms to let readers compute the van der Waals forces under virtually any physical or physiological conditions. Level 3 offers a rigorous basic formulation of the theory.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a highly original work that offers a welcome, stimulating, and useful addition to the literature...I can easily imagine Van der Waals Forces becoming an integral part of the personal libraries of the many types of scientists for whom it was written."
Physics Today, William M. Gelbart, UCLA

"Writing from decades of experience, Parsegian ... has succeeded in putting together a thoroughly informative, useful, delightful handbook that is rapidly gaining recognition as the ultimate guide and reference text in the field."
Daniel ben-Avraham, Journal of Statistical Physics

"It what will be for a long time the definitive work on van der Waals forces, Parsegian has written a book that should give pause to those who would have scientific writing be as dry -- and boring -- as dust."
Physics in Canada

"An excellent handbook for anyone who needs to calculate van der Waals interactions...Van der Waals Forces is an outstanding volume and the authoritative work on the topic. May the (van der Waals) Force be with you - or at least on your book shelf."
Keller Autumn, The Quarterly Review of Biology

"In this book, one finds all needed information when the attractive interaction becomes the core question in an experiment involving colloids, including those attracting interest for biophysicists such as bilayers, vesicles, etc. This book-unique in this domain-regroups information very dispersed in primary literature."
Th. Zemb, Institut de Chimie Séparative de Marcoule

"The author of this is to be applauded for making the mathematics of this topic clear and as straightforward as possible while making it clear that the mathematics is essential to understanding it. It is clear from the care that has gone into developing the treatment of the mathematics that is presented that the author enjoys this topic and wants others to enjoy it too. I think that he succeeds in this aim. This book will be a useful introduction the field of van der Waals forces for both theory and experimental graduate students. It will also prove to be a useful reference book for looking up formula an will be kept in easy reach of this reviewers desk."
Contemporary Physics

Book Description

This should prove to be the definitive work explaining van der Waals forces, how to calculate them and take account of their impact under any circumstances and conditions. These weak intermolecular forces are of truly pervasive impact, and biologists, chemists, physicists and engineers will profit greatly from the thorough grounding in these fundamental forces that this book offers. Parsegian has organized his book at three successive levels of mathematical sophistication, to satisfy the needs and interests of readers at all levels of preparation.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 398 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (December 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521839068
• ISBN-13: 978-0521839068
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,030,400 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaching and Research and Van der Waals forces, September 14, 2006

By 

J. Adin MANN (Cleveland, OH, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Van der Waals Forces: A Handbook for Biologists, Chemists, Engineers, and Physicists (Paperback)

I teach courses covering the fundamentals of surface and colloid engineering. The Parsegian textbook is ideal for either teaching a segment of 6 to 9 lectures or teaching an entire course on Van der Waals forces - I have done both. Moreover, there is also advanced material included that is important for applications that range from biomembrane physics to wetting phenomena. Even the price is right!
This is an excellent book in every way.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every science library should have two copies of this book., February 9, 2006

By 

Kevin Cahill (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Van der Waals Forces: A Handbook for Biologists, Chemists, Engineers, and Physicists (Paperback)

This book is the best ever written about Van der Waals forces. Parsegian is the world's expert on this subject, which is essential for an understanding of physical biology and much of chemistry, engineering, and physics. Parsegian writes superbly and clearly. His book is fun to read. Every biologist and every biophysicist should get a copy. Every science library should have at least two copies of this book.