Practical Physics / Edition 4

by G. L. Squires

Overview

This classic companion to undergraduate practical work in physics describes the purposeful, critical approach that should be made to all physics experiments. It covers the statistical treatment of data and experimental methods, and gives advice on keeping efficient records, calculations, and scientific writing. The new edition features treatment of the c2 distribution, a section on atomic clocks, worked examples based on spreadsheets, and additional exercises. Existing examples and references have been brought up to date. The text is liberally illustrated with examples and exercises, with solutions to the latter. Although intended for undergraduates, Practical Physics will be of interest to researchers, not only in physics, but in other sciences as well.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521779401
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/30/2001
Edition description:	Revised Edition
Pages:	228
Product dimensions:	7.44(w) x 9.69(h) x 0.47(d)

About the Author

Gordon L Squires has been a Lecturer in Physics at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Trinity College Cambridge since 1956. Since then he has been a Visiting Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1970) and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1977-78).

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. The object of practical physics; Part I. Statistical Treatment of Data: 2. Introduction to errors; 3. Treatment of a single variable; 4. Further topics in statistical theory; 5. Common sense in errors; Part II. Experimental Methods: 6. Some laboratory instruments and methods; 7. Some experimental techniques; 8. Experimental logic; 9. Common sense in experiments; Part III. Record and Calculations: 10. Record of the experiment; 11. Graphs; 12. Arithmetic; 13. Writing a paper; Appendices; Solutions to exercises; Some useful books; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'Dr Squires has made a very worthwhile contribution to the surprisingly small number of modern textbooks available on this subject.' New Scientist

'I envy Squire's students! All other students should wish to own this book for the wealth of advice it gives them …'. Contemporary Physics

'This is a quite invaluable book for those at, or nearing, undergraduate level.' The Times Educational Supplement

'… a distillation of the wisdom acquired through many years of undergraduate teaching and will surely establish itself as an integral feature of physics courses and associated teaching laboratories all over the world.' British Book News

From the Publisher

This first update since the 1985 iteration welcomes such computer age techniques as the Global Positioning System and spreadsheets. In the section on statistical treatment of data, Squires (emeritus, physics, U. of Cambridge) covers errors, measurement of a single variable, and further topics in statistical theory. A common sense approach to experimental methods and logic is then presented. The last part is devoted to checking the math, using graphs, and writing up experiments. Chapters contain worked examples and exercises with an answer key. Includes the preface of the 1968 first edition, and technical appendices. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)