Solving Physics Problems

This book provides a complete, consistent, and open system for studying physics problems, which not only provides high-quality teaching materials for the field of physics education (especially for Physics Olympiad training) but also points out a new direction for physics education. In this book, a form of methodology, which can comprehensively present cogitation discipline, is built up for analyzing and solving complex physics problems. The text analyzes plenty of physics problems (classical mechanics) from both theoretical and philosophical points of view to reveal the way of exerting this form. As a set of methodology reflecting the cogitation discipline, the thinking paradigm proposed in this book (called the MLQ-(ST)C paradigm) is a theoretical tool to develop people's acquisition of this ability. The paradigm successfully deconstructs the elements and the structure in physical thinking and then eliminates the obstacles of people’s underlying thinking, so that all the thinking built on it can be clear and ordered. The physics problems included in this book are significantly more difficult than similar books within the same theoretical domains involved, leading to better teaching and learning value.

Learn how to solve physics problems the right way How to Solve Physics Problems will prepare you for physics exams by focusing on problem-solving. You will learn to solve physics problems naturally and systematically--and in a way that will stick with you. Not only will it help you with your homework, it will give you a clear idea of what you can expect to encounter on exams. 400 physics problems thoroughly illustrated and explained Math review for the right start New chapters on quantum physics; atoms, molecules, and solids; and nuclear physics

In order to equip hopeful graduate students with the knowledge necessary to pass the qualifying examination, the authors have assembled and solved standard and original problems from major American universities – Boston University, University of Chicago, University of Colorado at Boulder, Columbia, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan Tech, MIT, Princeton, Rutgers, Stanford, Stony Brook, University of Wisconsin at Madison – and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. A wide range of material is covered and comparisons are made between similar problems of different schools to provide the student with enough information to feel comfortable and confident at the exam. Guide to Physics Problems is published in two volumes: this book, Part 1, covers Mechanics, Relativity and Electrodynamics; Part 2 covers Thermodynamics, Statistical Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics. Praise for A Guide to Physics Problems: Part 1: Mechanics, Relativity, and Electrodynamics: "Sidney Cahn and Boris Nadgorny have energetically collected and presented solutions to about 140 problems from the exams at many universities in the United States and one university in Russia, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Some of the problems are quite easy, others are quite tough; some are routine, others ingenious." (From the Foreword by C. N. Yang, Nobelist in Physics, 1957) "Generations of graduate students will be grateful for its existence as they prepare for this major hurdle in their careers." (R. Shankar, Yale University) "The publication of the volume should be of great help to future candidates who must pass this type of exam." (J. Robert Schrieffer, Nobelist in Physics, 1972) "I was positively impressed ... The book will be useful to students who are studying for their examinations and to faculty who are searching for appropriate problems." (M. L. Cohen, University of California at Berkeley) "If a student understands how to solve these problems, they have gone a long way toward mastering the subject matter." (Martin Olsson, University of Wisconsin at Madison) "This book will become a necessary study guide for graduate students while they prepare for their Ph.D. examination. It will become equally useful for the faculty who write the questions." (G. D. Mahan, University of Tennessee at Knoxville)

University of Chicago Graduate Problems in Physics covers a broad range of topics, from simple mechanics to nuclear physics. The problems presented are intriguing ones, unlike many examination questions, and physical concepts are emphasized in the solutions. Many distinguished members of the Department of Physics and the Enrico Fermi Institute at the University of Chicago have served on the candidacy examination committees and have, therefore, contributed to the preparation of problems which have been selected for inclusion in this volume. Among these are Morrell H. Cohen, Enrico Fermi, Murray Gell-Mann, Roger Hildebrand, Robert S. Mulliken, John Simpson, and Edward Teller.

The goal of this book is to teach undergraduate students how to use Scientific Notebook (SNB) to solve physics problems. SNB software combines word processing and mathematics in standard notation with the power of symbolic computation. As its name implies, SNB can be used as a notebook in which students set up a math or science problem, write and solve equations, and analyze and discuss their results. Written by a physics teacher with over 20 years experience, this text includes topics that have educational value, fit within the typical physics curriculum, and show the benefits of using SNB. This easy-to-read text: Provides step-by-step instructions for using Scientific Notebook (SNB) to solve physics problems Features examples in almost every section to enhance the reader's understanding of the relevant physics and to provide detailed instructions on using SNB Follows the traditional physics curriculum, so it can be used to supplement teaching at all levels of undergraduate physics Includes many problems taken from the author’s class notes and research Aimed at undergraduate physics and engineering students, this text teaches readers how to use SNB to solve some everyday physics problems.

The aim of the book is to present to a wide range of readers (students, postgraduates, scientists, engineers, etc.) basic information on one of the directions of mathematics, methods for solving mathematical physics problems. The authors have tried to select for the book methods that have become classical and generally accepted. However, some of the current versions of these methods may be missing from the book because they require special knowledge. The book is of the handbook-teaching type. On the one hand, the book describes the main definitions, the concepts of the examined methods and approaches used in them, and also the results and claims obtained in every specific case. On the other hand, proofs of the majority of these results are not presented and they are given only in the simplest (methodological) cases. Another special feature of the book is the inclusion of many examples of application of the methods for solving specific mathematical physics problems of applied nature used in various areas of science and social activity, such as power engineering, environmental protection, hydrodynamics, elasticity theory, etc. This should provide additional information on possible applications of these methods. To provide complete information, the book includes a chapter dealing with the main problems of mathematical physics, together with the results obtained in functional analysis and boundary-value theory for equations with partial derivatives.