About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherOxford University Press, Incorporated

ISBN-10019539349X

ISBN-139780195393491

eBay Product ID (ePID)27038262445

Product Key Features

Number of Pages400 Pages

Publication NameWaves and Oscillations : a Prelude to Quantum Mechanics

LanguageEnglish

Publication Year2010

SubjectWaves & Wave Mechanics, Physics / Mathematical & Computational

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaScience

AuthorWalter Fox Smith

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height0.9 in

Item Weight7.1 Oz

Item Length10 in

Item Width7.2 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceCollege Audience

LCCN2009-028586

ReviewsListed in New Books, Physics Today "This book provides a rigorous introduction to a host of wave and oscillation phenomena and their real-world and research applications, while at the same time laying the mathematical and conceptual groundwork for upper level physics classes. I strongly recommend this book for use in a course that serves as a bridge for students who are making the transition from introductory courses into an upper-level curriculum." Prof. Nathan Harshman, American University, Listed in New Books,Physics Today "This book provides a rigorous introduction to a host of wave and oscillation phenomena and their real-world and research applications, while at the same time laying the mathematical and conceptual groundwork for upper level physics classes. I strongly recommend this book for use in a course that serves as a bridge for students who are making the transition from introductory courses into an upper-level curriculum." Prof. Nathan Harshman, American University, Listed in New Books, Physics Today"This book provides a rigorous introduction to a host of wave and oscillation phenomena and their real-world and research applications, while at the same time laying the mathematical and conceptual groundwork for upper level physics classes. I strongly recommend this book for use in a course that serves as a bridge for students who are making the transition from introductory courses into an upper-level curriculum." Prof. Nathan Harshman, American University, "This book provides a rigorous introduction to a host of wave and oscillation phenomena and their real-world and research applications, while at the same time laying the mathematical and conceptual groundwork for upper level physics classes. I strongly recommend this book for use in a course that serves as a bridge for students who are making the transition from introductory courses into an upper-level curriculum." Prof. Nathan Harshman, American University

Dewey Edition22

Number of Volumes1 vol.

IllustratedYes

Dewey Decimal530.12/4

SynopsisWaves and oscillations permeate virtually every field of current physics research, are central to chemistry, and are essential to much of engineering. Furthermore, the concepts and mathematical techniques used for serious study of waves and oscillations form the foundation for quantum mechanics. Once they have mastered these ideas in a classical context, students will be ready to focus on the challenging concepts of quantum mechanics when they encounter them, rather than struggling with techniques. This lively textbook gives a thorough grounding in complex exponentials and the key aspects of differential equations and matrix math; no prior experience is assumed. The parallels between normal mode analysis, orthogonal function analysis (especially Fourier analysis), and superpositions of quantum states are clearly drawn, without actually getting into the quantum mechanics. An in-depth, accessible introduction to Hilbert space and bra-ket notation begins in Chapter 5 (on symmetrical coupled oscillators), emphasizing the analogy with conventional dot products, and continues in subsequent chapters. Connections to current physics research (atomic force microscopy, chaos, supersolids, micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), magnetic resonance imaging, carbon nanotubes, and more) are highlighted in the text and in end-of-chapter problems, and are frequently updated in the associated website. The book actively engages readers with a refreshing writing style and a set of carefully applied learning tools, such as in-text concept tests, "your turn" boxes (in which the student fills in one or two steps of a derivation), concept and skill inventories for each chapter, and "wrong way" problems in which the student explains the flaw in a line of reasoning. These tools promote self-awareness of the learning process. The associated website features custom-developed applets, video and audio recordings, additional problems, and links to related current research. The instructor-only part includes difficulty ratings for problems, optional hints, full solutions, and additional support materials., Waves and oscillations permeate virtually every field of current physics research, are central to chemistry, and are essential to much of engineering. Furthermore, the concepts and mathematical techniques used for serious study of waves and oscillations form the foundation for quantum mechanics. Once they have mastered these ideas in a classical context, students will be ready to focus on the challenging concepts of quantum mechanics when they encounter them,rather than struggling with techniques. This lively textbook gives a thorough grounding in complex exponentials and the key aspects of differential equations and matrix math; no priorexperience is assumed. The parallels between normal mode analysis, orthogonal function analysis (especially Fourier analysis), and superpositions of quantum states are clearly drawn, without actually getting into the quantum mechanics. An in-depth, accessible introduction to Hilbert space and bra-ket notation begins in Chapter 5 (on symmetrical coupled oscillators), emphasizing the analogy with conventional dot products, and continues in subsequent chapters. Connectionsto current physics research (atomic force microscopy, chaos, supersolids, micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), magnetic resonance imaging, carbon nanotubes, and more) are highlighted in the textand in end-of-chapter problems, and are frequently updated in the associated website. The book actively engages readers with a refreshing writing style and a set of carefully applied learning tools, such as in-text concept tests, "your turn" boxes (in which the student fills in one or two steps of a derivation), concept and skill inventories for each chapter, and "wrong way" problems in which the student explains the flaw in a line of reasoning. These tools promoteself-awareness of the learning process.The associated website features custom-developed applets, video and audio recordings, additional problems, and links to related current research. The instructor-only part includes difficulty ratings for problems, optional hints, full solutions, and additional support materials., This lively textbook differs from others on the subject by its usefulness as a conceptual and mathematical preparation for the study of quantum mechanics, by its emphasis on a variety of learning tools aimed at fostering the student's self-awareness of learning, and by its frequent connections to current research.

LC Classification NumberQC174.26.W28S55 2010