Portland Public Library

Physics demystified, Stan Gibilisco

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Physics demystified

bibliography

670378834

Stan Gibilisco

"Demystified" series New York, N.Y

Written in a step-by-step format, this practical guide begins by covering classical physics, including mass, force, motion, momentum, work, energy, and power, as well as the temperature and states of matter. Electricity, magnetism, and electronics are discussed as are waves, particles, space, and time. Detailed examples, concise explanations, and worked problems make it easy to understand the material, and end-of-chapter quizzes and a final exam help reinforce learningOverview: Understanding physics just got a whole lot easier! Stumped trying to make sense of physics? Here' s your solution. Physics DeMYSTiFieD, Second Edition helps you grasp the essential concepts with relative ease. Written in a step-by-step format, this practical guide begins by covering classical physics, including mass, force, motion, momentum, work, energy, and power, as well as the temperature and states of matter. Electricity, magnetism, and electronics are discussed as are waves, particles, space, and time. Detailed examples, concise explanations, and worked problems make it easy to understand the material, and end-of-chapter quizzes and a final exam help reinforce learning. It's a no brainer! You'll learn about: Scientific notation, units, and constants. -- Newton's Laws of Motion. -- Kirchhoff's Laws. -- Alternating current and semiconductors. -- Optics. -- Relativity theory. Simple enough for a beginner, but challenging enough for an advanced student, Physics DeMYSTiFieD, Second Edition helps you master this challenging subject. Stan Gibilisco is a technical writer and editor with more than 30 years of experience. He has authored or co-authored more than 50 nonfiction books in the fields of electronics, general science, mathematics, and computing. Stan's book, the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Personal Computing (McGraw-Hill, 1995), was named as a "Best Reference of 1996" by the ALA. He is considered the "father" of the Demystified series

Classical physics. Review of scientific notation ; Units and constants ; Mass, force, and motion ; Momentum, work, energy, and power ; Particles of matter ; Basic states of matter ; Temperature, pressure, and changes of state -- Electricity, magnetism, and electronics. Direct current ; Alternating current ; Magnetism ; More about alternating current ; Semiconductors -- Waves, particles, space, and time. Wave phenomena ; Forms of radiation ; Optics ; Relativity theoryAcknowledgments -- How to use this book -- Part 1: Classical Physics: -- Review of scientific notation: -- Subscripts and superscripts -- Power-of-10 notation -- Rules for use -- Approximation, error, and precedence -- Significant figures -- Quiz -- Units and constants: -- Systems of units -- Base units -- Derived units -- Constants -- Unit conversions -- Quiz -- Mass, force, and motion: -- Mass -- Force -- Displacement -- Speed -- Velocity -- Acceleration -- Newton's law of motion -- Quiz -- Momentum, work, energy, and power: -- Momentum -- Collisions -- Work -- Energy -- Power -- Quiz -- Particles of matter: -- Early theories -- Nucleus -- Outside the nucleus -- Energy from matter -- Compounds -- Quiz -- Basic states of matter: -- Solid phase -- Liquid phase -- Gaseous phase -- Quiz -- Temperature, pressure, and changes of state: -- What is heat? -- Temperature -- Some effects of temperature -- Temperature and states of matter -- Quiz -- Test: Part 1 -- Part 2: Electricity, Magnetism, And Electronics: -- Direct current: -- What electricity does -- Electrical diagrams -- Voltage/current/resistance circuits -- How resistances combine -- Kirchhoff's laws -- Quiz -- Alternating current: -- Definition of alternating current -- Waveforms -- Fractions of a cycle -- Amplitude -- Phase angle -- Quiz -- Magnetism: -- Geomagnetism -- Magnetic force -- Magnetic field strength -- Electromagnets -- Magnetic materials-- Magnetic machines -- Quiz -- More about alternating current: -- Inductance -- Inductive reactance -- Capacitance -- Capacitive reactance -- Graphs of complex impedance -- Quiz -- Semiconductors: -- Diode -- Bipolar transistor -- How a bipolar transistor amplifies signals -- Field-effect transistor -- How a JFET amplifies signals -- MOSFET -- Integrated circuits -- Quiz -- Test: Part 2 -- Part 3: Waves, Particles, Space, And Time: -- Wave phenomena: -- Intangible waves -- Fundamental properties -- Wave interaction -- Wave mysteries -- Particle or wave? -- Quiz -- Forms of radiation: -- Electromagnetic fields -- ELF fields -- RF fields -- Beyond the radio spectrum -- Radioactivity -- Quiz -- Optics: -- How light behaves -- Lenses and mirrors -- Refracting telescopes -- Reflecting telescopes -- Telescope specifications -- Compound microscope -- Quiz -- Relativity theory: -- Telling time -- Time dilation -- Spatial distortion -- Mass distortion -- General relativity -- Quiz -- Test: Part 3 -- Final exam -- Answers to quizzes, tests, and final exam -- Suggested additional reading -- Index