Konrad B. Krauskopf,
Late Prof. Emeritus of Geochemistry, Stanford Unv. Arthur Beiser
ISBN: 0072509791 Copyright year: 2006
What's New
What’s New
The Physical Universe, 11e
Mathematical Level
The physical sciences are quantitative, which has both advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, the use of mathematics means that every concept must be in the form of a clear, definite statement whose predictions can be tested objectively. Less welcome is the discomfort many of us feel when faced with mathematical reasoning and calculations. To minimize such discomfort, previous editions of The Physical Universe used mathematical arguments sparingly, which meant that an important part of the story of how physics and chemistry work to make sense of the natural world and how their findings led to the technological world of today could only be hinted at.
At the request of many teachers who feel their students are able and willing to go further, the book now uses mathematics a little more freely than before. As a result, it is no longer necessary to pull the kinetic energy formula out of a hat, for instance, and how the mole connects chemical ideas with the real world can be explored. Nevertheless, the mathematical level remains modest, and the new material, which supplements rather than dominates the presentation, does not have to be mastered to understand the rest of the book. The basic algebra needed is reviewed in the Math Refresher. Powers-of-ten notation for small and large numbers is carefully explained there. This section is selfcontained and can provide all the math background needed.
Because the organization of the previous edition worked well in the classroom, it was not changed. In addition to the somewhat greater use of mathematics mentioned above, the changes for this edition came under four headings.Content New Topics. The coverage was expanded by adding a variety of new material, for example on accelerated motion, specific heat capacity, pressure in a fluid, the nature of charge, index of refraction, ray tracing, the periodic table, colloids, quantitative chemistry, dew point, Portland cement, mass extinctions, gamma-ray bursts, and dark energy. Updating. Recent findings and their interpretations were incorporated where appropriate. The sections dealing with energy generation and use, the solar system, and the evolution of the universe received particular attention. Illustrations. The illustrations, both line drawings and photographs, are full partners to the text and provide a visual pathway to understanding scientific observations and principles for students unaccustomed to abstract argument. Thirty-eight new illustrations are included in this edition. Exercises. A number of exercises of each kind were replaced and many new ones added to give a total of 1686, an average of over ninety per chapter.
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2006 McGraw-Hill Higher Education