Physics for Scientists and Engineers Part 6 Chapter 39英文电子书.pdfVIP

Modern Physics P A R T 6 t the end of the nineteenth century, many scientists believed that they had A learned most of what there was to know about physics. Newton’s laws of motion and his theory of universal gravitation, Maxwell’s theoretical work in unifying electricity and magnetism, the laws of thermodynamics and kinetic theory, and the principles of optics were highly successful in explaining a variety of phenomena. As the nineteenth century turned to the twentieth, however, a major revolution shook the world of physics. In 1900 Planck provided the basic ideas that led to the formulation of the quantum theory, and in 1905 Einstein formulated his brilliant special theory of relativity. The excitement of the times is captured in Einstein’s own words: “It was a marvelous time to be alive.” Both ideas were to have a profound effect on our understanding of nature. Within a few decades, these two theories inspired new developments and theories in the fields of atomic physics, nuclear physics, and condensed-matter physics. In Chapter 39 we introduce the special theory of relativity. The theory provides us with a new and deeper view of physical laws. Although the concepts underlying this theory often violate our common sense, the theory correctly predicts the results of experiments involving speeds near the speed of light. In the extended version of this textbook, Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics, we cover the basic concepts of quantum mechanics and their application to atomic and molecular physics, and we introduce solid-state physics, nuclear physics, particle physics, and cosmology. You should keep in mind that, although the physics that was developed during the twentieth century has