What is Physics book: Definition and 183 Discussions

Physics (from Ancient Greek: φυσική (ἐπιστήμη), romanized: physikḗ (epistḗmē), lit. 'knowledge of nature', from φύσις phýsis 'nature') is the natural science that studies matter, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. Physics is one of the most fundamental scientific disciplines, and its main goal is to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines and, through its inclusion of astronomy, perhaps the oldest. Over much of the past two millennia, physics, chemistry, biology, and certain branches of mathematics were a part of natural philosophy, but during the Scientific Revolution in the 17th century these natural sciences emerged as unique research endeavors in their own right. Physics intersects with many interdisciplinary areas of research, such as biophysics and quantum chemistry, and the boundaries of physics are not rigidly defined. New ideas in physics often explain the fundamental mechanisms studied by other sciences and suggest new avenues of research in academic disciplines such as mathematics and philosophy.
Advances in physics often enable advances in new technologies. For example, advances in the understanding of electromagnetism, solid-state physics, and nuclear physics led directly to the development of new products that have dramatically transformed modern-day society, such as television, computers, domestic appliances, and nuclear weapons; advances in thermodynamics led to the development of industrialization; and advances in mechanics inspired the development of calculus.

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  1. H

    Can you recommend a physics book?

    I haven't taken physics since AP Physics in high school so something on that level would be great. know of any good books? thanks
  2. C

    Griffiths particle physics book

    if i read griffiths particle physics book will I have enough knowledge of the subject material to start reading peskin and schroeder's qft book or will I still have to learn graduate mechanics and electrodynamics first before starting on that. If I do need to look at graduate mechanics and...
  3. C

    Griffiths particle physics book

    at what level is griffiths particle physics book at, what does it expect you to know as a prerequisite?
  4. E

    Kittel's solid-state physics book

    Homework Statement Does anyone have Kittel's solid-state physics book? Furthermore, does anyone actually understand anything inside of it? If so, I have tons of questions about it that I would like to discuss/have answered? EDIT: I have the 8th edition. But other editions are probably similar...
  5. M

    What is a good book for learning about nuclear physics and radioactivity?

    Hey, I am looking for a book related to physics, I need it to be relatively easy to read and comprehend as I do not have a vast amount of knowledge overall. I am very much interested in nuclear physics, and radioactivity, but I would like to see if there are any easy to read book on that topic...
  6. P

    Finding a Physics Book with Comprehensive Explanation for High Schoolers

    I am still in high school taking a Physics class and honestly the book the school gave us just shows you example problems. So I was wondering if you guys knew of any good Beginning Physics books that would be good and have a lot more explanation. All we have done so far is learned about...
  7. B

    What's your favorite popular science book?

    I've recently finished reading Nick Herbert "Quantum Reality". I guess I'd recommend it. Anyone got a recommendation? I would prefer something newer but if it's old and really good, I wouldn't pass it up. Tnx... ps: it not strictly have to be about physics.
  8. F

    What is the angular speed of a grindstone spinning at 8.3 rev/s?

    Anyone know a name of a book that has question "A grindstone spinning at the rate of 8.3rev/s has what approximate angular speed?"
  9. P

    Atomic, Molecular & Solid State Physics Books: Which to Buy?

    I am doing a subject called "Atomic, Molecular & Solid State Physics" Description: The content of this subject includes aspects of the following: systems of identical particles, symmetrisation and antisymmetrisation, the Pauli exclusion principle and applications; the helium atom; degenerate...
  10. B

    Game Physics Book Content Request

    Hi, I am writting a book about programming game physics engines, much along the lines of "Game Physics Engine Development" by Ian Millington, however the focus of the book is Networked physics engines. At the current time I have not been able to find a great deal of literature on...
  11. marcus

    Is Rien ne va plus en physique! the Best Physics Book in France?

    http://www.amazon.com/dp/2100507028/?tag=pfamazon01-20 The French translation Smolin's book has a preface by ALAIN CONNES. It came on the market in late April 2007, but it didn't occur to me to check how it was selling. I imagine it went right to the top of the physics bestseller list, as it...
  12. T

    Very good free online thermal Physics book

    I am currently in a thermal physics class and am using the popular standard textbook by Schroeder. But I found some of the derivations in there non-rigorous and lack good explanation. I looked for some additional references and I came across this site: http://stp.clarku.edu/notes/ which...
  13. B

    Search for College Physics Handheld Book - Suggestions Needed

    Hi, I'm looking for a book that's relative to College Physics, specifically kinematics, dynamics, Newton's laws etc. Something that is small and I can read in and out of lecture, basically something portable. My textbook is okay but it would be nice if I can read a handheld book about...
  14. R

    Condensed Matter Physics (Wiley-Interscience) Condensed Matter Physics book

    hello, do you have any experience with this book: Condensed Matter Physics, Michael P. Marder, Wiley & Sons. Is this good for the first contact to condensed matter physics, or can you recommend me another book?
  15. L

    Intro Physics Book? Best Books for Beginners

    Howdy all! I'm really interested in physics and I'm looking for a really good introductory phyics book. Since it might be asked I've only had a algebra one and a semester of geometry. I pretty certain that I can teach myself algebra two and pre-calc. So any suggestions?
  16. M

    What are the best Solid State Physics books to read?

    Hey everyone! I'm looking for a real good Solid State Physics Book! Can someone recommend me something? I have heard that Kittels book is really bad! Mortiss
  17. W

    Need help finding Feynmans' Lectures on Physics book

    i am looking for Feynmans Lectures on physics. that book is the reason i got into that type of science. i was only 16 when i read it, but i didn't understand any of the equations in it. but now that i am more advanced in the subject i want to give it a try again. the only bad part is that...
  18. L

    Suggested Physics Books for Advanced Learners

    I am interested in Physics and i think i will cont. my career on it.I want to buy a physics book , uses considerably medium-high maths.I know all formulas.Now i am finishing colllege grade and i just know physics topics and never thought about their logic and want to understand them and think...
  19. D

    Physics book Request (Phy for Sci. and Eng.)

    I was wondering whether anyone knows if (and where) I could purchase the solutions to the book "Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics" (may not be the exact title) by Randall D. Knight. This would help me an incredible amount. Please reply if you know.
  20. T

    The section of my physics book on sound makes no sense

    ok I am in consepual physics 7th edition by paul g hewit and the sound section makes no sense... It is really badly written ie it tells about media storage but not about sound... ok here is my problem: chapter 18 it says that speed of a wave = frequency * wavelength chapter 19 it says...
  21. M

    Tipler and the 4th edition modern Physics book

    I had a couple of questions from the modern physics book 4th ed. by tipler. I can't seem to solve some of the problems and some just don't make sense to me. Chapter 4, problems: 16, 38, 43, and 49 are the ones in question Any help would be appreciated Thank you...
  22. D

    Looking for supplementary physics book

    Hi all, first post here. I ran into this site after googling for some help with Epsilon-Delta proofs for my calculus course. I like what I see here! Anyway, on to my question: I'm currently enrolled in a first-semester General Physics course that is algebra based, no calculus (though I am...
  23. N

    What are the Best Basic Physics Books for Understanding Formulas?

    I was just wondering, can you name of the books, which they are kind of basic, and explains all the formula's. Just name the books that's all.
  24. F

    Theoretical physics book for a high school student?

    Hi, can someone please recommend some books on theoretical physics? I have limited knowledge in calculus (chain/product/quotient rule and a bit of anti-differentiation) and I plan to study purely from the textbook. If I need a more advanced understanding of maths, which I'm sure I do, can...
  25. J

    What is a Good Physics Textbook for High School Students?

    Hey. .I'm a HS sophomore currently taking Algebra II at high school ( did trigonometry in my previous school and am pretty good at it )..I need a recommendation for a good physics textbook to improve my skills... Thanks much..
  26. U

    Why Does My Physics Book Use L/2 for Calculating Linear Acceleration?

    The sample problem in my physics book that I do not understand is http://home.earthlink.net/~urban-xrisis/clip001.jpg The only thing that I do not understand is the LAST sentance... I'm pretty sure that they are talking about the centripetal acceleration but they do not show how they got...
  27. C

    Physics book slides off a horizontal

    A physics book slides off a horizontal table top with a speed of 1.60m/s . It strikes the floor after a time of 0.440s . Ignore air resistance. the following are given: v(0)=1.60 t= 0.440s ok this is the question Find the height of the table top above the floor. Take free fall...
  28. A

    Recommendations for Physics book?

    Recommendations for Physics book? Hi, I'm taking a college level calculus based physics course and I need some help. My professor teaches his course out of packets that he makes instead of a textbook and the packets are generally horrible. I'm completely lost and the professor isn't available...
  29. A

    Really good general college physics book?

    Does anyone know of any really good general college physics book? The one I have does not explain things very well, and it does not give detailed ways of solving problems. Thanks.
  30. K

    The most interesting physics book

    What is the most informative and interesting physics book you have ever read? I'd like something to read that's worth the money!It can be about any subject.Technical or non-technical.
  31. M

    Good Quantum physics book WITH math

    Hey guys, I'm very interested in physics but I am studying computer science at univeristy so I don't get to learn it formally anymore. However, I still read to learn. I recently read Einsteins book on relativity and Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time. I now want to read a good book...
  32. J

    Can anyoneone recommend a good self-teaching/review Physics book

    Can anyoneone recommend a good self-teaching/review Physics book. I've read reviews on several books such as Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by Its Most Brilliant Teacher (Helix Book) and Feynman Lectures On Physics (3 Volume Set) who have generally revieved rave reviews...
  33. H

    Fundamentals of physics book solutions

    Hi Well, I am doing all the study of physics here by myself. I have The fundamentals of physics book, but all I need is the solutions to its problems. I have tried to search for such solutions but I could not find any, do you think you can help me in finding some of the solutions? hhegab
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