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Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 2/E
John Taylor, University of Colorado, Boulder
Chris Zafiratos, University of Colorado, Boulder
Michael A. Dubson, University of Colorado, Boulder

ISBN-10: 013805715X
ISBN-13:  9780138057152

Publisher:  Addison-Wesley
Copyright:  2004
Format:  Cloth; 736 pp
Published:  05/30/2003
Status: Instock


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Description

For freshman/sophomore-level courses in Modern Physics taken by students in the physical sciences and engineering.

Designed specifically for students at the freshman/sophomore level, this introduction to modern physics is refreshingly contemporary—offering a highly motivating blend of exceptional readability enlivened with humor, flexibility in both breadth and depth of coverage, and an abundance of high-quality worked examples and hands-on practice problems.


Features

  • NEW - New chapter on statistical mechanics—Ch. 15.
  • NEW - New chapter on solid-state devices—Ch. 14.

    • Provides greatly expanded and improved treatment of the many solid state devices that make possible today's life-styles— transistors, integrated circuits, charge-coupled devices, etc.

  • NEW - Additional topics—e.g., the kinetic theory of gases; perturbation theory and a simple, but rigorous, derivation of transition probabilities; more examples of applications of modern physics (the Global Positioning System, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, etc.).

    • Gives students insight into current, up-to-date developments and applications of modern physics.

  • NEW - Expanded chapter-end problems—Features more than a hundred new problems (for a total of nearly 930). Problems range from straightforward problems involving just one main concept, to challenging problem that may involve several ideas and lengthy calculations. Problems are grouped according to the section to which they relate.

    • Gives students plenty of hands-on practice and provides instructors with a wide range of problems to choose from.

  • NEW - Additional simple “computer problems”—In the chapter-end problem sets. These problems act as elementary exercises in using software such as Mathcad, Mathematica, etc. (though no problems require the use of any particular software).

    • Encourages students to use whatever software is available to get additional insights—a skill that has become central for every student of science.

  • NEW - More biographies of famous physicists—Nearly doubled. Includes pictures made at the approximate time of the subject's greatest contributions.

    • Helps bring the subject matter to life.

  • NEW - Chapter-end checklist summaries—With guidance for finding the full treatment of each topic.

    • Helps students check their understanding of what they have just learned, and guides them back to what they need to revisit.

  • NEW - More high-quality worked examples.

    • Nearly 95 clearly-worked-out examples illustrate important principles, allowing students to follow step-by-step through problem solutions.

  • An exceptionally clear account of modern physics—Explains clearly the reasoning behind those ideas that can be explained at the freshman-sophomore level (e.g., the derivation of the Lorentz transformation) and states clearly and honestly those principles whose proofs have to be left to a more advanced course or text (e.g., the 3D central-force problem).

    • Avoids in-depth coverage of topics for which today's typical sophomore is completely unprepared, yet alerts students to the depth of coverage they might encounter in future courses.

  • Flexibility in depth of coverage.

    • While avoiding in-depth coverage of topics that would be out of reach for most sophomores (giving instead only brief verbal descriptions, but no detailed equations), the text does allow interested students and instructors to pursue such topics in several end-of-chapter problems.

  • Flexibility in breadth of coverage—Parts III and IV are arranged “cafeteria style,” with the chapters nearly independent of one another. Throughout the text, sections that can be safely omitted are clearly flagged with stars and descriptions of their importance.

    • Allows instructors to easily cover topics as desired to best fit their particular courses.

  • The derivation of atomic transition probabilities—Hinges on a uniquely simple (but rigorously correct) treatment of time-dependent perturbation theory.

    • Provides a unique approach to correct understanding of atomic transitions.

  • Clear, simple, optional discussion of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation.

    • Gives students a chance to expand understanding of Quantum Theory.

  • Historical perspective—Although the text is not bound by the historical development, there are many historical references.

    • Conveys a sense of how science evolves and of its human origins.


New To This Edition

  • New chapter on statistical mechanics—Ch. 15.
  • New chapter on solid-state devices—Ch. 14.

    • Provides greatly expanded and improved treatment of the many solid state devices that make possible today's life-styles— transistors, integrated circuits, charge-coupled devices, etc.

  • Additional topics—e.g., the kinetic theory of gases; perturbation theory and a simple, but rigorous, derivation of transition probabilities; more examples of applications of modern physics (the Global Positioning System, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, etc.).

    • Gives students insight into current, up-to-date developments and applications of modern physics.

  • Expanded chapter-end problems—Features more than a hundred new problems (for a total of nearly 930). Problems range from straightforward problems involving just one main concept, to challenging problem that may involve several ideas and lengthy calculations. Problems are grouped according to the section to which they relate.

    • Gives students plenty of hands-on practice and provides instructors with a wide range of problems to choose from.

  • Additional simple “computer problems”—In the chapter-end problem sets. These problems act as elementary exercises in using software such as Mathcad, Mathematica, etc. (though no problems require the use of any particular software).

    • Encourages students to use whatever software is available to get additional insights—a skill that has become central for every student of science.

  • More biographies of famous physicists—Nearly doubled. Includes pictures made at the approximate time of the subject's greatest contributions.

    • Helps bring the subject matter to life.

  • Chapter-end checklist summaries—With guidance for finding the full treatment of each topic.

    • Helps students check their understanding of what they have just learned, and guides them back to what they need to revisit.

  • More high-quality worked examples.

    • Nearly 95 clearly-worked-out examples illustrate important principles, allowing students to follow step-by-step through problem solutions.


Table of Contents

I. RELATIVITY.

 1. The Space and Time of Relativity.

 2. Relativistic Mechanics.

II. QUANTUM MECHANICS.

 3. Atoms.

 4. Quantization of Light.

 5. Quantization of Atomic Energy Levels.

 6. Matter Waves.

 7. The Schrödinger Equation in One Dimension.

 8. The Three-Dimensional Schrödinger Equation.

 9. Electron Spin.

10. Multielectron Atoms; the Pauli Principle and the Periodic Table.

11. Atomic Transitions and Radiation.

III. SYSTEMS WITH TWO OR MORE ATOMS.

12. Molecules.

13. Solids - Theory.

14. Solids - Applications.

15. Statistical Mechanics.

IV. SUBATOMIC PHYSICS.

16. The Structure of Atomic Nuclei.

17. Radioactivity and Nuclear Reactions.

18. Elementary Particles.

APPENDIXES.

A. Physical Constants.

B. Useful Mathematical Relations.

C. Alphabetical List of the Elements.

D. Atomic and Nuclear Data.

Suggestions for Further Reading.

Picture Credits and References.

Answers to Odd-Numbered Problems.

Index.



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Websites and Online Courses

Companion Website for Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 2/E
Taylor
©2004  |  Addison-Wesley  |  Website; 0 pp  |  Live
ISBN-10: 0130475939  |  ISBN-13: 9780130475930
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In this section:

Companion Website for Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 2/E
Taylor
©2004  |  Addison-Wesley  |  Website; 0 pp  |  Live
ISBN-10: 0130475939  |  ISBN-13: 9780130475930
More Info

Instructor's Manual, 2/E
Taylor
©2004  |  Addison-Wesley  |  Paper; 252 pp  |  Instock
ISBN-10: 013859869X  |  ISBN-13: 9780138598693
More Info

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Websites and online courses

Companion Website for Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 2/E
Taylor
©2004  |  Addison-Wesley  |  Website; 0 pp  |  Live
ISBN-10: 0130475939  |  ISBN-13: 9780130475930
More Info


For the Physics & Astronomy Discipline

Astronomy Media Workbook (Download only with SkyGazer 5.0), 7/E
LoPresto
©2012  |  Addison-Wesley  |  On-line Supplement  |  Live
ISBN-10: 0321741242  |  ISBN-13: 9780321741240

Show Downloadable Files
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Websites and Online Courses

Companion Website for Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 2/E
Taylor
©2004  |  Addison-Wesley  |  Website; 0 pp  |  Live
ISBN-10: 0130475939  |  ISBN-13: 9780130475930
More Info

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Package ISBN-10: 0131888285 | ISBN-13: 9780131888289
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This package contains:

Taylor, Zafiratos & Dubson | ©2004 | Addison-Wesley | Cloth; 736 pp
Belloni, Christian & Cox | ©2006 | Addison-Wesley | Paper Bound w/CD-ROM; 224 pp


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