Six Ideas that Shaped Physics is a textbook in calculus based physics, notable for covering special relativity, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics topics usually reserved for upper division classes.

Contents

The books opens with 20th century physics, starting with the conservation laws implied by Noether's theorem, it then proceeds to present Newtonian mechanics and the laws of motion as a consequence of underlying physical symmetry, reversing the chronological order in which the study of Physics developed as a scientific discipline. The courses include Unit C: Conservation Laws Constrain Interactions (14 chapters), Unit N: The Laws of Physics are Universal (12 chapters), Unit R: The Laws of Physics are Frame-Independent (9 chapters), Unit E:  Electric and Magnetic Fields are Unified (20 chapters), Unit Q:  Particles Behave Like Waves (15 chapters), and Unit T:  Some Processes are Irreversible (11 chapters).[1][2][3]

Editions

First published in 1998, it has been widely adopted and is now in the Fourth edition. It was written by professor Thomas Moore based on his introductory course in college physics at Pomona College.

The impetus for the project came from the 1987-1996 Introductory University Physics Project (IUPP), which found that most college texts neglected to teach topics in 20th century physics

References

  1. 李广平, 张立彬[] (2012-03-20). "决定物理学发展的六大思想——《Six Ideas That Shaped Physics》赏析". 大学物理 (in Chinese). 31 (3): 55. ISSN 1000-0712.
  2. Mader, Catherine (2005-04-01). "Modifying Six Ideas that Shaped Physics for a Life-Science major audience at Hope College". Aps April Meeting Abstracts: R11.007. Bibcode:2005APS..APRR11007M.
  3. Bernatowicz, Thomas J. (2006-03-01). "Post-Use Review. Six Ideas That Shaped Physics (second edition, six volumes)." American Journal of Physics. 74 (3): 243–245. doi:10.1119/1.2149873. ISSN 0002-9505.
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