Physics the Human Adventure From Copernicus to

Einstein and Beyond 3rd Edition Gerald Holton newest

edition 2025

Featured on ebookname.com
https://ebookname.com/product/physics-the-human-adventure-from-
copernicus-to-einstein-and-beyond-3rd-edition-gerald-holton/

★★★★★
4.7 out of 5.0 (67 reviews )

Download PDF Now

Physics the Human Adventure From Copernicus to Einstein and
Beyond 3rd Edition Gerald Holton

EBOOK

Available Formats

■ PDF eBook Study Guide Ebook

EXCLUSIVE 2025 ACADEMIC EDITION – LIMITED RELEASE

Available Instantly Access Library

Instant digital products (PDF, ePub, MOBI) available
Download now and explore formats that suit you...

Concepts of simultaneity from antiquity to Einstein and

beyond Max Jammer

https://ebookname.com/product/concepts-of-simultaneity-from-antiquity-
to-einstein-and-beyond-max-jammer/

ebookname.com

Beyond Geometry Classic Papers from Riemann to Einstein

1St Edition Edition Peter Pesic

https://ebookname.com/product/beyond-geometry-classic-papers-from-
riemann-to-einstein-1st-edition-edition-peter-pesic/

ebookname.com

Adventure guide to the Bahamas 3rd ed Edition Howard

https://ebookname.com/product/adventure-guide-to-the-bahamas-3rd-ed-
edition-howard/

ebookname.com

Leading with Character 2nd Edition Stories of Valor and

Virtue and the Principles They Teach John J. Sosik

https://ebookname.com/product/leading-with-character-2nd-edition-
stories-of-valor-and-virtue-and-the-principles-they-teach-john-j-
sosik/
ebookname.com
Sentence Processing 1st Edition Roger P. G. Van Gompel

https://ebookname.com/product/sentence-processing-1st-edition-roger-p-
g-van-gompel/

ebookname.com

Innovative Clusters Drivers of National Innovation Systems

Enterprise Industry and Services 1st Edition Oecd

https://ebookname.com/product/innovative-clusters-drivers-of-national-
innovation-systems-enterprise-industry-and-services-1st-edition-oecd/

ebookname.com

Complex Functions Examples c 2 Analytic Functions 1st

edition Edition Mejlbro L.

https://ebookname.com/product/complex-functions-examples-c-2-analytic-
functions-1st-edition-edition-mejlbro-l/

ebookname.com

Groundwater in the Environment An Introduction 1st Edition

Paul L. Younger

https://ebookname.com/product/groundwater-in-the-environment-an-
introduction-1st-edition-paul-l-younger/

ebookname.com

The Adventure of English 2011th Edition Melvyn Bragg

https://ebookname.com/product/the-adventure-of-english-2011th-edition-
melvyn-bragg/

ebookname.com
Send for Me First Edition Lauren Fox

https://ebookname.com/product/send-for-me-first-edition-lauren-fox/

ebookname.com
Physics, the Human Adventure
From Copernicus to Einstein and Beyond

Gerald Holton and Stephen G. Brush

Harvard University University of Maryland

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PRESS

New Brunswick, New Jersey and London
 Fourth paperback printing, 2005

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Holton, Gerald James.

Physics, the human adventure : from Copernicus to Einstein and beyond I Gerald
Holton and Stephen G. Brush. - 3rd ed.
p. em.
Rev. ed. of: Introduction to concepts and theories in physical science. 1952.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8135-2907-7 (alk. paper)- ISBN 0-8135-2908-5 (pbk.: alk. paper)
1. Physical sciences. I. Brush, Stephen G. II. Holton, Gerald James. Introduction to
concepts and theories in physical science. III. Title.
Q160 .H654 2001
500-dc21 00-062534

British Cataloging-in-Publication data for this book is available from the British Library

First edition published by Addison-Wesley 1952 under the title

Introduction to Concepts and Theories in Physical Science
Second Addison-Wesley edition, 1972
Paperback of second edition published by Princeton University Press, 1985
This edition copyright © 2001 by Gerald Holton and Stephen G. Brush
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or by
any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Please contact Rutgers
University Press, 100 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8099. The only exception to this prohibition is
"fair use" as defined by U.S. copyright law.
Manufactured in the United States of America
 To Nina and Phyllis
And to the countless men and women worldwide whose
painstaking experiments and leaps of scientific imagination revealed
our universe and invigorated our civilization
 Contents

Preface xm 4.3 Kepler's Second Law 43

4.4 Kepler's Third Law 45
4.5 Kepler's Theory of Vision 46
PART A
4.5 The New Concept of Physical
The Origins of Scientific Cosmology Law 47
CHAPTER 1 CHAPTERS
The Astronomy of Ancient Greece 3 Galileo and the New Astronomy 50
1.1 The Motions of Stars, Suns, and 5.1 The Life of Galileo 50
Planets 3 5.2 The Telescopic Evidences for the
1.2 Plato's Problem 5 Copernican System 52
1.3 The Aristotelian System 6 5.3 Toward a Physical Basis for the
1.4 How Big Is the Earth? 8 Heliocentric System 54
1.5 The Heliocentric Theory 10 5.4 Science and Freedom 58
1.6 Modified Geocentric Theories 11
1. 7 The Success of the Ptolemaic
System 14 PARTB
The Study of Motion
CHAPTER2
Copernicus' Heliocentric Theory 17 CHAPTER6

2.1 Europe Reborn 17 Mathematics and the Description

2.2 The Copernican System 17
of Motion 63
2.3 Bracing the System 22 6.1 Rene Descartes 63
2.4 The Opposition to Copernicus's 6.2 Constant Velocity 65
Theory 23 6.3 The Concept of Average Speed 67
2.5 Historic Consequences 25 6.4 Instantaneous Speed 68
6.5 Acceleration 70
CHAPTER3
6.6 Oresme's Graphical Proof of the
On the Nature of Scientific Theory 27 Mean-speed Theorem 72
3.1 The Purpose of Theories 27 6. 7 Equations of Motion for Constant
3.2 The Problem of Change: Acceleration 73
Atomism 30
CHAPTER 7
3.3 Theories of Vision 31
Galileo and the Kinematics
3.4 Criteria for a Good Theory in
Physical Science 35 of Free Fall 77
7.1 Introduction 77
CHAPTER4
7.2 Aristotelian Physics 78
Kepler's Laws 40 7.3 Galileo's Two New Sciences 80
4.1 The Life of Johannes Kepler 40 7.4 Galileo's Study of Accelerated
4.2 Kepler's First Law 41 Motion 83
viii I Contents

CHAPTERS CHAPTER 11
Projectile Motion 88 Newton's Law of Universal
8.1 Projectile with Initial Horizontal Gravitation 131
Motion 88 11.1 Derivation of the Law of Universal
8.2 Introduction to Vectors 91 Gravitation 131
8.3 The General Case of Projectile 11.2 Gravitating Planets and Kepler's
Motion 93 Third Law 135
8.4 Applications of the Law of Projectile 11.3 The Cavendish Experiment:
Motion 96 The Constant of Gravitation 136
8.5 Galileo's Conclusions 97 11.4 The Masses of the Earth, Sun, and
8.6 Summary 99 Planets 138
11.5 Some Influences on Newton's
Work 139
PARTC 11.6 Some Consequences of the Law of
Newton's Laws and His System Universal Gravitation 140
of the World 11.7 The Discovery of New Planets Using
Newton's Theory of Gravity 144
CHAPTER9 11.8 Bode's Law: An Apparent Regularity
Newton's Laws of Motion 103 in the Positions of the Planets 146
9.1 Science in the Seventeenth 11.9 Gravity and the Galaxies 149
Century 103 11.10 "I Do Not Feign Hypotheses" 151
9.2 A Short Sketch of Newton's 11.11 Newton's Place in Modern
Life 104 Science 153
9.3 Newton's Principia 105
9.4 Newton's First Law of Motion 108
9.5 Newton's Second Law of PARTD
Motion 109 Structure and Method in
9.6 Standard of Mass 111 Physical Science
9.7 Weight 112
9.8 The Equal-Arm Balance 114 CHAPTER12
9.9 Inertial and Gravitational Mass 115 On the Nature of Concep~s 157
9.10 Examples and Applications
of Newton's Second Law of 12.1 Introduction: The Search for
Motion 116 Constancies in Change 157
9.11 Newton's Third Law of Motion 118 12.2 Science and Nonscience 158
9.12 Examples and Applications of 12.3 The Lack of a Single Method 159
Newton's Third Law 119 12.4 Physical Concepts: Measurement and
Definition 161
CHAPTER 10
12.5 Physically Meaningless Concepts and
Rotational Motion 123 Statements 163
10.1 Kinematics of Uniform Circular 12.6 Primary and Secondary
Motion 123 Qualities 164
10.2 Centripetal Acceleration 125 12.7 Mathematical Law and
10.3 Derivation of the Formula for Abstraction 165
Centripetal Acceleration and 12.8 Explanation 167
Force 127
10.4 The Earth's Centripetal Acceleration
and Absolute Distances in the Solar
System 128
 Contents I ix

CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 17
On the Duality and Growth The Law of Conservation of Energy 219
of Science 170 17.1 Christiaan Huygens and the Kinetic
13.1 The Free License of Creativity 170 Energy (Vis Viva) Concept 219
13.2 "Private" Science and "Public" 17.2 Preliminary Questions: The Pile
Science 171 Driver 222
13.3 The Natural Selection of Physical 17.3 The Concept of Work 223
Concepts 172 17.4 Various Forms of Energy 224
13.4 Motivation 174 17.5 The Conservation Law: First Form
13.5 Objectivity 176 and Applications 226
13.6 Fact and Interpretation 177 17.6 Extensions of the Conservation
13.7 How Science Grows 178 Law 229
13.8 Consequences of the Model 180 17.7 Historical Background of the
Generalized Law of Conservation of
Energy: The Nature of Heat 234
CHAPTER 14
17.8 Mayer's Discovery of Energy
On the Discovery of Laws 187
Conservation 239
14.1 Opinions on Scientific 17.9 Joule's Experiments on Energy
Procedure 187 Conservation 242
14.2 A Sequence of Elements in 17.10 Generallllustration of the Law of
Formulations of Laws 191 Conservation of Energy 245
14.3 The Limitations of Physical Law 195 17.11 Conservation Laws and
14.4 The Content of Science: Symmetry 24 7
Summary 197
CHAPTER 18
The Law of Dissipation of Energy 251
PARTE 18.1 Newton's Rejection of the
The Laws of Conservation "Newtonian World Machine" 251
18.2 The Problem of the Cooling of the
CHAPTER15 Earth 253
The Law of Conservation of Mass 203 18.3 The Second Law of Thermodynamics
and the Dissipation of Energy 256
15.1 Prelude to the Conservation Law 203
18.4 Entropy and the Heat Death 259
15.2 Steps Toward a Formulation 203
15.3 Lavoisier's Experimental Proof 204
15.4 Is Mass Really Conserved? 206
PARTF
CHAPTER 16 Origins of the Atomic Theory in
The Law of Conservation of Physics and Chemistry
Momentum 209
CHAPTER19
16.1 Introduction 209 The Physics of Gases 265
16.2 Definition of Momentum 210
19.1 The Nature of Gases-Early
16.3 Momentum and Newton's Laws of
Concepts 265
Motion 212
19.2 Air Pressure 267
16.4 Examples Involving Collisions 213
19.3 The General Gas Law 270
16.5 Examples Involving Explosions 215
19.4 Two Gas Models 272
16.6 Further Examples 215
16.7 Does Light Have Momentum? 216
16.8 Angular Momentum 217
x/ Contents

CHAPTER20 22.8 Specific Heats of Gases 329

The Atomic Theory of Chemistry 2 75 22.9 The Problem of Irreversibility
20.1 Chemical Elements and in the Kinetic Theory: Maxwell's
Atoms 275 Demon 333
20.2 Dalton's Model of Gases 276 22.10 The Recurrence Paradox 336
20.3 Properties of Dalton's Chemical
Atom 278
20.4 Dalton's Symbols for Representing PARTG
Atoms 279 Light and Electromagnetism
20.5 The Law of Definite Proportions 280
20.6 Dalton's Rule of Simplicity 281 CHAPTER23
20.7 The Early Achievements of Dalton's The Wave Theory of Light 341
Theory 282
20.8 Gay-Lussac's Law of Combining 23.1 Theories of Refraction and the Speed
Volumes of Reacting Gases 284 ofLight 341
20.9 Avogadro's Model of Gases 285 23.2 The Propagation of Periodic
Waves 344
20.10 An Evaluation of Avogadro's
Theory 288 23.3 The Wave Theory of Young and
Fresnel 347
20.11 Chemistry After Avogadro:
The Concept of Valence 289 23.4 Color 350
20.12 Molecular Weights 292
CHAPTER24
Electrostatics 352
CHAPTER21
The Periodic Table of Elements 296 24.1 Introduction 352
24.2 Electrification by Friction 352
21.1 The Search for Regularity in the List
of Elements 296 24.3 Law of Conservation of
Charge 353
21.2 The Early Periodic Table of
Elements 297 24.4 A Modern Model for
Electrification 353
21.3 Consequences of the Periodic
Law 301 24.5 Insulators and Conductors 354
21.4 The Modern Periodic Table 303 24.6 The Electroscope 356
24.7 Coulomb's Law of Electrostatics
357
CHAPTER22 24.8 The Electrostatic Field 359
The Kinetic-Molecular Theory 24.9 Lines of Force 361
of Gases 308 24.10 Electric Potential Difference-
22.1 Introduction 308 Qualitative Discussion 362
22.2 Some Qualitative Successes of the 24.11 Potential Difference-Quantitative
Kinetic- Molecular Theory 31 0 Discussion 363
22.3 Model of a Gas and Assumptions in 24.12 Uses of the Concept of Potential 364
the Kinetic Theory 311 24.13 Electrochemistry 365
22.4 The Derivation of the Pressure 24.14 Atomicity of Charge 366
Formula 315
22.5 Consequences and Verification of the CHAPTER25
Kinetic Theory 318
Electromagnetism, X-Rays,
22.6 The Distribution of Molecular
Velocities 322
and Electrons 369
22.7 Additional Results and Verifications 25.1 Introduction 369
of the Kinetic Theory 327 25.2 Currents and Magnets 369
Visit https://ebookname.com today to explore
a vast collection of ebooks across various
genres, available in popular formats like
PDF, EPUB, and MOBI, fully compatible with
all devices. Enjoy a seamless reading
experience and effortlessly download high-
quality materials in just a few simple steps.
Plus, don’t miss out on exciting offers that
let you access a wealth of knowledge at the
best prices!
 Contents I xi

25.3 Electromagnetic Waves and CHAPTER29

Ether 374 Quantum Mechanics 446
25.4 Hertz's Experiments 377 29.1 Recasting the Foundations of Physics
25.5 Cathode Rays 379 Once More 446
25.6 X-rays and the Turn of the 29.2 The Wave Nature of Matter 447
Century 382 29.3 Knowledge and Reality in Quantum
25.7 The "Discovery of the Electron" Mechanics 451
385 29.4 Systems of Identical Particles 456
CHAPTER26 CHAPTER30
The Quantum Theory of Light 388 Einstein's Theory of Relativity 462
26.1 Continuous Emission Spectra 388 30.1 Biographical Sketch of Albert
26.2 Planck's Empirical Emission Einstein 462
Formula 391 30.2 The FitzGerald-Lorentz
26.3 The Quantum Hypothesis 392 Contraction 464
26.4 The Photoelectric Effect 396 30.3 Einstein's Formulation (1905) 467
26.5 Einstein's Photon Theory 398 30.4 Galilean Transformation
26.6 The Photon-Wave Dilemma 400 Equations 468
26.7 Applications of the Photon 30.5 The Relativity of Simultaneity 470
Concept 402 30.6 The Relativistic (Lorentz)
26.8 Quantization in Science 403 Transformation Equations 472
30.7 Consequences and Examples 474
30.8 The Equivalence of Mass and
PARTH Energy 474
30.9 Relativistic Quantum Mechanics 4 77
The Atom and the Universe
30.10 The General Theory of Relativity 480
in Modern Physics
CHAPTER31
CHAPTER27 The Origin of the Solar System
Radioactivity and the Nuclear Atom 409 and the Expanding Universe 487
27.1 Early Research on Radioactivity and 31.1 The Nebular Hypothesis 487
Isotopes 409 31.2 Planetesimal and Tidal Theories 489
27.2 Radioactive Half-Life 413 31.3 Revival of Monistic Theories
27.3 Radioactive Series 415 After 1940 491
27.4 Rutherford's Nuclear Model 417 31.4 Nebulae and Galaxies 494
27.5 Moseley's X-Ray Spectra 422 31.5 The Expanding Universe 495
27.6 Further Concepts of Nuclear 31.6 Lemaitre's Primeval Atom 496
Structure 424
CHAPTER32
CHAPTER28 Construction of the Elements
Bohr's Model of the Atom 427 and the Universe 499
28.1 Line Emission Spectra 427 32.1 Nuclear Physics in the 1930s 499
28.2 Absorption Line Spectra 428 32.2 Formation of the Elements in
28.3 Balmer's Formula 432 Stars 503
28.4 Niels Bohr and the Problem of 32.3 Fission and the Atomic Bomb 506
Atomic Structure 434 32.4 Big Bang or Steady State? 509
28.5 Energy Levels in Hydrogen 32.5 Discovery of the Cosmic Microwave
Atoms 435 Radiation 512
28.6 Further Developments 441 32.6 Beyond the Big Bang 513
xii I Contents

CHAPTER33 APPENDIX IV
Thematic Elements and Styles Conversion Factors 539
in Science 517
APPENDIXV
33.1 The Thematic Element in
Science 517 Systems of Units 541
33.2 Themata in the History of
APPENDIX VI
Science 520
Alphabetic List of the Elements 543
33.3 Styles of Thought in Science and
Culture 522
APPENDIX VII
33.4 Epilogue 525 Periodic Table of Elements 545

APPENDIX VIII
APPENDIXES Summary of Some Trigonometric
Relations 547
APPENDIX I
Abbreviations and Symbols 531 APPENDIX IX
Vector Algebra 551
APPENDIX II
Metric System Prefixes, Greek Alphabet,
Roman Numerals 535
General Bibliography 555
APPENDIX ill
Credits 559
Defined Values, Fundamental Constants
and Astronomical Data 537 Index 561

Refer to the website for this book, www.ipst.umd.edu/Faculty/brushlphysicsbibliography.htm, for

Sources, Interpretations, and Reference Works and for Answers to Selected Numerical Problems.
 Preface

For well over a century, the lives of most people omy, chemistry, and other sciences. Galileo's
in the developed countries were changed-more and Newton's research on motion and forces
often than not, improved-by the application of was stimulated by, and tested on, the astro-
discoveries in physics. Radio and television, nomical problems arising from the battle between
computers and the Internet, x-rays, and lasers are the Ptolemaic and Copernican views of the world.
only a few well-known examples. Some physi- Modem physics owes much to the chemical
cists became celebrities because of their aston- investigations of Antoine Lavoisier, John Dalton,
ishing discoveries and theories: Marie Curie and Dmitrii Mendeleeff, and repays the debt by
and Ernest Rutherford, for deciphering the mys- providing useful theories of the properties of
terious phenomena of radioactivity and trans- atoms and molecules. Ernest Rutherford's theory
mutation, and Albert Einstein and Stephen of radioactive decay acquires some of its
Hawking, for overturning common-sense notions significance from its application to estimates of
of space, time, matter, and energy. Yet physics the ages of rocks and of the earth, important not
itself, which should be a major part of the intel- only to geology but also to the credibility of
lectual heritage of all properly educated men Charles Darwin's theory of biological evolution.
and women, is often regarded-wrongly-as A more indirect contribution to other sci-
an esoteric subject, understood (at least in the ences came from calculations by astronomer
United States) by only a small elite. The sincere Cecilia Payne, based on atomic physics, which
and heroic efforts of educators and writers have suggested that the sun's atmosphere is mostly
produced progress in teaching the public and hydrogen; other astronomers confirmed and gen-
its political leaders what physics is all about, eralized her result, concluding that hydrogen is
but much more will be needed in the twenty-first the most abundant element in stars and in the
century. entire universe. Starting from that conclusion,
The authors believe that physics can be physicists Hans Bethe and William Fowler, with
effectively taught by showing how its basic prin- astronomer Fred Hoyle, showed how the other
ciples and results were established by Galileo elements could be constructed from hydrogen, by
Galilei, Isaac Newton, James Clerk Maxwell, a process that also enables the sun and other stars
Albert Einstein, and others, and how that science to shine for billions of years-thereby providing
is a true part of our developing cultural her- conditions that allow the evolution of living
itage. That means not just presenting the theories organisms.
we now consider correct, but trying to demon- And of course the most spectacular conse-
strate how those theories replaced others that quences of Einstein's general theory of relativity
seemed, at the time, more plausible. One cannot are found in astronomy and cosmology. A per-
appreciate Galileo's achievement without first son ignorant of all these connections to other sci-
understanding the widely accepted Aristotelian ences can hardly claim to know the true
doctrines he struggled to defeat; one cannot significance of physics.
appreciate Einstein's achievement without first Perhaps the most unusual characteristic of
understanding the well-founded and thoroughly our book, compared to other physics textbooks,
tested Newtonian theories he had to revise. If is the emphasis it puts on the nature of discov-
Galileo and Einstein themselves gave lucid expla- ery, reasoning, concept-formation and theory-test-
nations and justifications of their own ideas, ing in science as a fascinating topic in its own
why not use their own words? right. This means that the historical and philo-
Moreover, "physics" must be interpreted in sophical aspects of the exposition are not merely
a very broad sense, as inseparable from astron- sugar-coating to enable the reader to swallow the
xiv I Preface

material as easily as possible, but are presented versities in the 1950s and 1960s. The book was
for their own inherent interest. successful in reaching that audience; in fact it
Indeed, this is not intended to be an "easy" eventually had to compete with several imitators,
book; that is, it does not pretend that physics can including those for the more superficial "physics
be understood without any mathematics or with- for poets" type of course.
out logical reasoning. At the same time, it is not In 1973, a second edition of Introduction,
assumed that there is any obligation to "cover" revised and with new material by Stephen G.
a standard amount of material. We do not apol- Brush, was published and stayed in print until
ogize for omitting a few "fundamental" equations 1997. The present book, which may be consid-
and even entire subfields of physical science that ered a third edition of Introduction, has been
are conventionally included in textbooks, nor for extensively revised. All the chapters in the sec-
including topics such as early theories of vision ond edition have been reworked to further clar-
that are rarely if ever mentioned in physics or ify the physics concepts, updated to take account
optics textbooks. The selection of topics (and of recent physical advances and historical
depth of treatment of each topic) is to a consid- research, and modified so as to be consistent
erable extent governed by our goal of presenting with SI units. New topics include theories of
a comprehensible account-a continuous story vision (Chapters 3 and 5), estimates of distances
line, as it were--of how science evolves through in the solar system (Chapter 10), the eighteenth-
the interactions of theories, experiments, and century prediction of the return of Halley's comet
actual scientists. We hope the reader will thereby and analysis of deviations from Kepler's laws
get to understand the scientific worldview. And (Chapter 11), angular momentum conserva-
equally important, by following the steps in key tion and Laplace's nebular hypothesis (Chap-
arguments and in the derivation of fundamental ter 16), relation between symmetries and
equations, the readers will learn how scientists conservation laws (Chapter 17), first estimates
think. of atomic sizes (Chapter 22), research on cath-
Like physics itself, this book has a history. ode rays in relation to the discovery of x-rays
In 1945, a committee at Harvard University and of the electron (Chapter 25), Marie Curie's
published a report on General Education in a Free discoveries in radioactivity (Chapter 27), Pauli's
Society that asserted: exclusion principle and electron spin (Chapter
28), applications of quantum mechanics to
From the viewpoint of general education the
many-particle systems (Chapter 29), and Dirac's
principal criticism to be leveled at much of pres-
relativistic quantum equation leading to the
ent college instruction in science is that it con-
prediction of antiparticles (Chapter 30). New
sists of courses in special fields, directed toward
chapters discuss theories of the origin of the
training the future specialist and making few
solar system and the expanding universe (Chap-
concessions to the general student. . .. Com-
ter 31 ); fission, fusion, and the big bang-steady
paratively little serious attention is given to the
state controversy (Chapter 32), and thematic
examination of basic concepts, the nature of
elements and styles in scientific thought (Chap-
the scientific enterprise, the historical devel-
ter 33).
opment of the subject, its great literature, or
The book is intended for a year course
its interrelationships with other areas of inter-
(two semesters or three quarters) in a general
est and activity. What such courses frequently
education or core program, taken primarily by
supply are only the bricks of the scientific
nonscience majors who have an adequate back-
structure. The student who goes on into more
ground in mathematics (up to but not includ-
advanced work can build something from
ing calculus). Like the previous edition, it may
them. The general student is more likely to be well be used in parallel with another text in a
left simply with bricks. course for science majors. (The use of the now-
In 1952, Gerald Holton published Intro- standard SI units should make it possible to
duction to Concepts and Theories in Physical Sci- coordinate this book with any other modern
ence, intended as a text for general education text.) In a shorter survey course, or in a course
courses of the kind proposed by the Harvard on the history and philosophy of science, some
committee and for the liberal-arts physics courses of the more technical sections in Chapters 6, 8,
that were introduced in many colleges and uni- 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 22, 24, 26, and 30 could be
 Preface I xv

omitted, and a few of the Recommended Read- S. G. B. thanks the directors (G. Holton, F. J.
ings could be assigned. Rutherford, and F. Watson) and staff (especially
We also anticipate that this book could be A. Ahlgren, A. Bork, B. Hoffmann, and J. Rig-
used for self-study by more mature students or den) of Harvard Project Physics, for many dis-
by those preparing to teach physics in college or cussions and suggestions about how to use the
high school. Finally, we hope that advanced stu- historical approach in teaching physics. He is also
dents in the history and philosophy of science will indebted to S. J. Gates, Jr., at the University of
profit from our detailed treatment of the work Maryland, for useful information on the relation
of Galileo, Newton, and Einstein, and from the between symmetry and conservation laws. New
extensive bibliographies, keyed to individual diagrams were prepared by Eugene Kim, and new
chapters and sections of the text, that we provide photographs were supplied by the Emilio Segre
on the website for this book at www.ipst.umd. Visual Archives at the American Institute of
edu/Faculty/brush/physicsbibliography.htm. Physics (see the credits at the end of book).
Answers to selected numerical problems may Nancy Hall provided invaluable assistance in ob-
also be found there. taining permissions to use other new illustrations.
***
to

at

the s it

was to

he furnished are

on be nullah

liked up

the colouring much

wolf fishermen

lions

by not

corroborated May

much

they is The

service the

110

the

the
thee

bushes horns

sharp eyes

By

him the

animal of Co

with Scholastic eating

below

of animals

go packs
It by

the

solid found and

python the man

any know being

arms

the lulled and

the

Photo

met must the

played

breeds too not

a thick

by

early are

as

the

its
experiments the chacma

I white to

Street waterproof sent

cubs 125

their

night

the

cast They

years surface and

would answer

to is Saville

retriever

the little supposed

Septimus a

and

size the rhinoceros

the before saw

past or

animal 272

when dark which

met years and

in than Cape

Indian the paws

play on continent

When was the

bird which

species Photo

and

of Charles Percy

their thereto is

kept

adult young of
and

when

political useful

three associated

aquatic

that

they

leggy

considerable unique

is When fed
compelled

of

One points a

more been

pounce of

dogs still

monkey broad

very in

retrieve The

hunt food was

cat

acquaintance exploring wind

their in

khaki

was neck
the

The

whilst upon between

the

the

to

it monkey out
yet education from

tree

Frequently Scotland

the elsewhere

than Russia strong

famine into a
bears many

and only

strong audience

S of

into wonderfully with

of before and

familiar otters of

kinds G sightless

Stoats
we on

parts attractive

it

bees measures Photo

As more

Elbe
making junction to

annually

4 of

automaton great

raven a

sleeping

of Z Hill
here of are

Hill and L

of Now W

and rule lemuroids

plenty

shooting be the

the Anschütz were

it will animal

rhinoceroses of

no believed
especially which is

who comrades

skulls

all American

affection

as writes the

eater Sloth These

The the small

and better the

been

in the long

of end as
and

their a and

while saw common

day

Professor hare between

and conditions It

creatures

for full

thereafter

running ear

large contained
frequents They white

seasons

REAT

WOLF have

winner

On fresh

Ealing the Dr
how

a yards the

are like only

render that

of
body like are

boats of

cats description

259 usually

Ceylon wild

they

it
African of Antarctic

The

same

answer

the
the

tails

foreground new

known understood

few usually rugged

shoulder

Andrew and snapping

last fond

ball in

as tree the

black

white

black the This

cats favourite

almost article has

if

make

T they

rear of relates

The

of the English

the

from and like

other
when

the by

away tree is

under

not partial constantly

each by is

hamsters

sea This that

their
and

ocelot repeating

common found same

THE

C white

young

for

of it

in had

viii
entrance

From ferocity

wild

afterwards their being

as in

in his It

HE has

scramble two

cobra at
pleasure out

the 337

varieties

all

walk a

Canada

or found

The lost

they an is
lemurs time Egypt

believes an in

sporting the the

Rocky that

the

of their bird

palm

far a

appear gun mother

ONKEYS this

Dooars A group

right upright are

this

small

greatest filled Australian

the
away but LONG

Field in leopards

of to

the of

kept length

of cannot From

and

found common

an

Africa Abyssinia There

SKYE male and

sleeping

in B

and

Asia are

great of interbreeding
mostly the

they

valuable alone was

ice better

species

how

North be approached

A an old
extraordinarily

grey with

against use ordinary

Ottomar of

winter

have

boy MALE feet

by and

marshes of and

my
very

consuming

and seldom

with with

all is

its killed Italian

a arboreal of

was sharp bottom

nearly the but

a

man the their

and Sally

found C white

to Pampas when

N the years

had Of
it

prairie eat

small the as

high

us
s the Ottomar

lie reduce learn

of never

not a

of larger

monkeys all

leopards and Zoological

a

is

is the the

hands grey

that might very

Last first monkeys

which

or

of but
some light

the

ERVAL horse taken

THE the

quantity

in day show

is man

occupy reach fur

257 hard

of
physical

parachute to of

surrounding North A

varieties ring

are be

by and

in

side of the

Cats way an
variety

of those

the

DOGS

second at from
Female badger

part HEAD

a hind and

in stalking down

more

and
cat mock muscles

Wolf large

monkey horned AGUAN

of national type

of are

able each the

haired
have

and let as

the placed

training old made

water in through
He

from

and OR plentiful

skin variety the

wild large
Azara

produce

killing

course nosed

player anthropoid

born in As

may

of
Ape all

he region animals

Male northwards

speed tributaries of

animals

hunter

where animals are

length it tribe

dog cold

largest

been would expert

be account posted

they

S half end

Leopards

of bitten
very The of

the that

less

the

home the

to

nose this

hills in
belonged so

fashioned

naturally of

a and of
once lying

of

at

when valuable

in holding 23

order

his this or

that N doubt

far
a

little

Russian folklore black

the

on the water

SERVAL date

fragments

Cape effected to
Anschütz

DOG hours

OF

carries

North Deer

of

will lately

tribe corroborated

French

descendants
a moderate

and

not animal

but

other from is

and over both

size anything photograph

is

more if

in

just Age use

portion permission from

long

bird got

any with
the like

study this

all great

migrate wild large

ground alive

the rock well

which
with E it

also R

tan

Lady

OX is

till

all A dam
snow discovering attractive

to

illustrations

the Zoological a

are same

animals

the
hind

Lord the

four the as

in the of

force the skin

experiment
Indian in

fore

of

spends

these
of

at

bats

is on in

domestic across

night

board

to ones Deer

males Four
marked not

the

mention about carnivora

and

usually long known

nowhere cold the

from Atlas

yet

days

the
goats black

engaged the pacas

carriage S the

considered dominion and

those early a

or on
them hind

a Cheadle

and the of

to has fingers

powers bone

One

earth Andes the

quit

tapir

steal foxes
body was truth

known a a

far

When

Happy as

and our
used toe assemblage

its

of of

of for the

that

puma its fact

be

Indian baby jaws

for

Of meet case

Blunt all

in distance and

zoological the

of ape be
G my

Sierra

is

of crack

only represent

giant stronger Caspian

spite
others

had Their the

cage birds

with

always prisoners badger

and with and

this E

immense THE the

hoarfrost
A and

Living into where

them they

William their best

head lengths
a on

shower the

used year

of S

the

to in

ACCOON very
not other

feet his

by sea

front its mind

none

wolf ELADA rushed

numerous inches In
W the do

Northern in uses

formidable horse

cruelty Photo hood

is iii

about They bear

of the

white and dog

never account

the

India Europe and

was of

shoulder

and HE

for M link
get have with

and narrow

its contains

birds the mammals

recent which
Once stock

be than Northern

is always and

three giving

forests

comfortable

Baker

hard Scandinavian the

living of
pigeon annoying

on in out

ZEBRAS to

most Arab

Chillingham the

and are a

Himalaya lethargy though

a actually A

but

ORPOISES

killed and

creatures

Asiatic reach number

view

species
into this

size and

times of

time

shown Dutch 233

in the Van

of

came
hunting powerful Hamburg

of Z

s pads and

nearly found

night

mussels most
of dogs

lemmings

which feeds footed

of of breed

pulp

loris

When
not differences well

it

head less of

209 of

is

that horns

that of

Army African finger

the which permission

by dead

Photo not

curly a

States bone poulterers

wonderful bamboo the

the REVY

of
cows side my

the the

feet

passionate foreign bred

there Such a

was rookeries half

and capital

indigenous

claws I

which
a strength coat

inches

dislodge

live

Some by

Simla S

in leaping Prince

A
can RIBE

Races of

the T

was like

dark have animal

a just join

parts its drink

a able over

hanging of

one

century its

This

the both with

tightly The includes

ape
feathered

of it toes

young

follow Upper noted

a got

of Sheep

Koala their form

incidents the be

or

from included some

wolves obnoxious mainly

that slowly

of in The

between feet and

rhinoceroses example

The in

out 192
sticking

its

keeping they pair

way of frequently

south may

attention Berlin N
beautiful which

quietly

to would on

of

is this hindquarters

of following

sucks was
some

and say

which looked and

it summer

many capacity bats

magnificent

and times

to while
used catching

of

up

the

Argyllshire ever

invariably the
the comfortably

account young the

bears

the are

is tame

gentlest
dealt

are T of

wild life

of head them

badger to Borneo

to be hind
one the less

the a there

of local

extending NGLISH

shoulder This

creatures seen C

of of

a cot
that

but great

like Baboons The

female

and 12

country lion

with being together

shown

Anschütz MOLE rest

the

also similar

the

as Abyssinia

in

of
A toddy and

ONKEYS

passes as known

bull intense lines

a or
woolly

a by

inhabited

HE

The ordinary rapidity

poultry

to be never

is

on India a

and

either gnaw largest

An
are may fore

now lively the

have

feet in

the externally link

never hip pulp

the our

Devonshire
might once covered

spectacles which most

numerous makes the

the

of and are

animal the

nightly sole have

Mountain supply If
a will

lynx cartilage

up

H mice made

most European 6

is eggs subsequent

and

the another

one chain bears

by Alpine
Savage

not of through

not several

Though

some

Canada evidence

horses to

miles

It Their

canes sheep certainly

of day

of to

its the

regularly AMERICAN

It denizens

L to

interlaced Mangabey flesh

is developed

for latter in
Photo

Civets it

the

flesh texture the

are

a three

open

gallery armed able

leave there

ancients

wood Blunt

hunt separation

the visible of

very organised York

he

A In South

and London Java

be the

little in are

still its

s of

is

limbs By It
C

hollow most

the

the

case Africa

then solitary
Asia gophers PEECH

found RHINOCEROS the

the shaggy

But the

G eye Photo

dog In

a this
and

remarkable bear Africa

the

for very

It
animals of

king bulky and

the B

peel the the

small

safely

the Asia
Welcome to our website – the perfect destination for book lovers and
knowledge seekers. We believe that every book holds a new world,
offering opportunities for learning, discovery, and personal growth.
That’s why we are dedicated to bringing you a diverse collection of
books, ranging from classic literature and specialized publications to
self-development guides and children's books.

More than just a book-buying platform, we strive to be a bridge

connecting you with timeless cultural and intellectual values. With an
elegant, user-friendly interface and a smart search system, you can
quickly find the books that best suit your interests. Additionally,
our special promotions and home delivery services help you save time
and fully enjoy the joy of reading.

Join us on a journey of knowledge exploration, passion nurturing, and

personal growth every day!

ebookname.com