物理中的理论概念 : 第2版

Preface and acknowledgements1 Introduction1.1 An explanation for the reader1.2 How this book came about1.3 A warning to the reader1.4 The nature of physics and theoretical physics1.5 The influence of our environment1.6 The plan of the book1.7 Apologies and words of encouragement1.8 ReferencesCase Study Ⅰ The origins of Newton's laws of motion and of gravity1.1 Reference2 From Ptolemy to Kepler-the Copernican revolution2.1 Ancient history2.2 The Copernican revolution2.3 Tycho Brahe - the lord of Uraniborg2.4 Johannes Kepler and heavenly harmonies2.5 References3 Galileo and the nature of the physical sciences3.1 Introduction3.2 Galileo as an experimental physicist3.3 Galileo's telescopic discoveries3.4 The trial of Galileo - the heart of the matter3.5 The trial of Galileo3.6 Galilean relativity3.7 Reflections3.8 References4 Newton and the law of gravity4.1 Introduction4.2 Lincolnshire 1642-614.3 Cambridge1661-54.4 Lincolnshire 1665-74.5 Cambridge 1667-964.6 Newton the alchemist4.7 The interpretation of ancient texts and the scriptures4.8 London1696-17274.9 ReferencesAppendix to Chapter 4： Notes on conic sections and central orbitsA4.1 Equations for conic sectionsA4.2 Kepler's laws and planetary motionA4.3 Rutherford scatteringCase Study Ⅱ Maxwell's equations5 The origin of Maxwell's equations5.1 How it allbegan5.2 Michael Faraday - mathematics without mathematics5.3 How Maxwell derived the equations for the electromagnetic field5.4 Heinrich Hertz and the discovery of electromagnetic waves5.5 Reflections5.6 ReferencesAppendix to Chapter 5： Useful notes on vector fieldsA5.1 The divergence theorem and Stokes' theoremA5.2 Results related to the divergence theoremA5.3 Results related to Stokes' theoremA5.4 Vector fields with special propertiesA5.5 Vector operators in various coordinate systemsA5.6 Vector operators and dispersion relationsA5.7 How to relate the different expressions for the magnetic fields produced by currents6 How to rewrite the history of electromagnetism6.1 Introduction6.2 Maxwell's equations as a set of vector equations6.3 Gauss's theorem in electromagnetism6.4 Time-independent fields as conservative fields of force6.5 Boundary conditions in electromagnetism6.6 Ampere's law6.7 Faraday's law6.8 The story so far……Case Study Ⅲ Mechanics and dynamics - linear and non-linearCase Study Ⅳ Thermodynamics and statistical physicsCase Study Ⅴ The origins of the concept of quantaCase Study Ⅵ Special relativityCase Study Ⅶ General relativity and cosmology

The inspiration for this book was a course of lectures which I delivered between 1977 and 1980 to undergraduates about to enter their final year in Physics and Theoretical Physics at Cambridge. The aim of the course was to provide a survey of the nature of theoretical reasoning in physics， which would put them in a receptive frame of mind for the very intensive courses of lectures on all aspects of physics in the final year. The objectives of the course are described in the first chapter and concern issues about which I feel very strongly： students can go through an undergraduate course in physics without gaining an understanding of the insights， approaches and techniques which are the tools of the professional physicist， let alone an impression of the intellectual excitement and beauty o the subject. The course was intended as an alternative to the normal mode of presentation and was entitled Theoretical Concepts in Physics.