Radically Modern Introductory Physics Text I

by David J. Raymond

The idea for a “radically modern” introductory physics course arose out of frustration with the standard two-semester treatment of the subject. It is basically impossible to incorporate a significant amount of “modern physics” (meaning post-19th century!) in that format. The authors feel that an introductory physics course for non-majors should make an attempt to cover the great accomplishments of physics in the 20th century, since they form such an important part of our scientific culture.

Description from LibreTexts.

Publisher
New Mexico Tech
Subjects
Physics, University Physics
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0, as LibreTexts states it. Non-commercial use only.
Who can read
Tweens profiles and older, judged from its title and subjects

Contents

LibreTexts writes equations in TeX, and here they show as TeX; the PDF has them typeset.

  1. Front Matter
  2. TitlePage
  3. InfoPage
  4. Table of Contents
  5. Licensing
  6. 1: Waves in One Dimension
  7. 1.1: Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
  8. 1.2: Sine Waves
  9. 1.3: Types of Waves
  10. 1.4: Superposition Principle
  11. 1.5: Beats
  12. 1.6: Interferometers
  13. 1.7: Thin Films
  14. 1.8: Math Review — Derivatives
  15. 1.9: Group Velocity
  16. 1.10: Problems
  17. 2: Waves in Two and Three Dimensions
  18. 2.1: Math Tutorial — Vectors
  19. 2.2: Plane Waves
  20. 2.3: Superposition of Plane Waves
  21. 2.4: Diffraction Through a Single Slit
  22. 2.5: Two Slits
  23. 2.6: Diffraction Gratings
  24. 2.7: Problems
  25. 3: Geometrical Optics
  26. 3.1: Reflection and Refraction
  27. 3.2: Total Internal Reflection
  28. 3.3: Anisotropic Media
  29. 3.4: Thin Lens Equation and Optical Instruments
  30. 3.5: Fermat’s Principle
  31. 3.6: Problems
  32. 4: Special Relativity
  33. 4.1: Galilean Spacetime Thinking
  34. 4.2: Spacetime Thinking in Special Relativity
  35. 4.3: Postulates of Special Relativity
  36. 4.4: Time Dilation
  37. 4.5: Lorentz Contraction
  38. 4.6: Twin Paradox
  39. 4.7: Problems
  40. 5: Applications of Special Relativity
  41. 5.1: Waves in Spacetime
  42. 5.2: Math Tutorial – Four-Vectors
  43. 5.3: Principle of Relativity Applied
  44. 5.4: Characteristics of Relativistic Waves
  45. 5.5: The Doppler Shift
  46. 5.6: Addition of Velocities
  47. 5.7: Problems
  48. 6: Acceleration and General Relativity
  49. 6.1: Acceleration
  50. 6.2: Circular Motion
  51. 6.3: Acceleration, Force, and Mass
  52. 6.4: Acceleration in Special Relativity
  53. 6.5: Accelerated Reference Frames
  54. 6.6: Gravitational Red Shift
  55. 6.7: Event Horizons
  56. 6.8: Problems
  57. 7: Matter Waves
  58. 7.1: Bragg’s Law
  59. 7.2: X-Ray Diffraction Techniques
  60. 7.3: Meaning of Quantum Wave Function
  61. 7.4: Sense and Nonsense in Quantum Mechanics
  62. 7.5: Mass, Momentum, and Energy
  63. 7.6: Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
  64. 7.7: Problems
  65. 8: Geometrical Optics and Newton’s Laws
  66. 8.1: Fundamental Principles of Dynamics
  67. 8.2: Potential Energy
  68. 8.3: Work and Power
  69. 8.4: Mechanics and Geometrical Optics
  70. 8.5: Math Tutorial – Partial Derivatives
  71. 8.6: Motion in Two and Three Dimensions
  72. 8.7: Kinetic and Total Momentum
  73. 8.8: Problems
  74. 9: Symmetry and Bound States
  75. 9.1: Math Tutorial — Complex Waves
  76. 9.2: Symmetry and Quantum Mechanics
  77. 9.3: Confined Matter Waves
  78. 9.4: Problems
  79. 10: Dynamics of Multiple Particles
  80. 10.1: Momentum and Newton’s Second Law
  81. 10.2: Newton’s Third Law
  82. 10.3: Conservation of Momentum
  83. 10.4: Collisions
  84. 10.5: Rockets and Conveyor Belts
  85. 10.6: Problems
  86. 11: Rotational Dynamics
  87. 11.1: Math Tutorial — Cross Product
  88. 11.2: Torque and Angular Momentum
  89. 11.3: Two Particles
  90. 11.4: The Uneven Dumbbell
  91. 11.5: Many Particles
  92. 11.6: New Page
  93. 11.7: Statics
  94. 11.8: Problem
  95. 12: Harmonic Oscillator
  96. 12.1: Energy Analysis
  97. 12.2: Analysis Using Newton’s Laws
  98. 12.3: Forced Oscillator
  99. 12.4: Complex Exponential Solutions
  100. 12.5: Quantum Mechanical Harmonic Oscillator
  101. 12.6: Problems
  102. 13: Appendix A, Constants, Units, and Conversions
  103. 13.1: Appendix A Constants, Units, and Conversions
  104. Back Matter
  105. Index
  106. Glossary
  107. Detailed Licensing