物理中的理论概念 第二版（英文版）
作者：（英）朗格 著
出版时间：2014年版
内容简介
The inspiration for this book was a course of lectures which I delivered between 1977 and 1980 to undergraduates about to enter their final year in Physics and Theoretical Physics at Cambridge. The aim of the course was to provide a survey of the nature of theoretical reasoning in physics, which would put them in a receptive frame of mind for the very intensive courses of lectures on all aspects of physics in the final year. The objectives of the course are described in the first chapter and concern issues about which I feel very strongly: students can go through an undergraduate course in physics without gaining an understanding of the insights, approaches and techniques which are the tools of the professional physicist, let alone an impression of the intellectual excitement and beauty o the subject. The course was intended as an alternative to the normal mode of presentation and was entitled Theoretical Concepts in Physics.
目录
Preface and acknowledgements
1 Introduction
1.1 An explanation for the reader
1.2 How this book came about
1.3 A warning to the reader
1.4 The nature of physics and theoretical physics
1.5 The influence of our environment
1.6 The plan of the book
1.7 Apologies and words of encouragement
1.8 References
Case Study Ⅰ The origins of Newton's laws of motion and of gravity
1.1 Reference
2 From Ptolemy to Kepler-the Copernican revolution
2.1 Ancient history
2.2 The Copernican revolution
2.3 Tycho Brahe - the lord of Uraniborg
2.4 Johannes Kepler and heavenly harmonies
2.5 References
3 Galileo and the nature of the physical sciences
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Galileo as an experimental physicist
3.3 Galileo's telescopic discoveries
3.4 The trial of Galileo - the heart of the matter
3.5 The trial of Galileo
3.6 Galilean relativity
3.7 Reflections
3.8 References
4 Newton and the law of gravity
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Lincolnshire 1642-61
4.3 Cambridge1661-5
4.4 Lincolnshire 1665-7
4.5 Cambridge 1667-96
4.6 Newton the alchemist
4.7 The interpretation of ancient texts and the scriptures
4.8 London1696-1727
4.9 References
Appendix to Chapter 4: Notes on conic sections and central orbits
A4.1 Equations for conic sections
A4.2 Kepler's laws and planetary motion
A4.3 Rutherford scattering
Case Study Ⅱ Maxwell's equations
5 The origin of Maxwell's equations
5.1 How it allbegan
5.2 Michael Faraday - mathematics without mathematics
5.3 How Maxwell derived the equations for the electromagnetic field
5.4 Heinrich Hertz and the discovery of electromagnetic waves
5.5 Reflections
5.6 References
Appendix to Chapter 5: Useful notes on vector fields
A5.1 The divergence theorem and Stokes' theorem
A5.2 Results related to the divergence theorem
A5.3 Results related to Stokes' theorem
A5.4 Vector fields with special properties
A5.5 Vector operators in various coordinate systems
A5.6 Vector operators and dispersion relations
A5.7 How to relate the different expressions for the magnetic fields produced by currents
6 How to rewrite the history of electromagnetism
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Maxwell's equations as a set of vector equations
6.3 Gauss's theorem in electromagnetism
6.4 Time-independent fields as conservative fields of force
6.5 Boundary conditions in electromagnetism
6.6 Ampere's law
6.7 Faraday's law
6.8 The story so far
……
Case Study Ⅲ Mechanics and dynamics - linear and non-linear
Case Study Ⅳ Thermodynamics and statistical physics
Case Study Ⅴ The origins of the concept of quanta
Case Study Ⅵ Special relativity
Case Study Ⅶ General relativity and cosmology
