Chapter 1
Introduction and
Mathematical Concepts
Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
,1.1 The Nature of Physics
Physics has developed out of the efforts
of men and women to explain our physical
environment.
Physics encompasses a remarkable
variety of phenomena:
planetary orbits
radio and TV waves
magnetism
lasers
many more!
Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
,1.1 The Nature of Physics
Physics predicts how nature will behave
in one situation based on the results of
experimental data obtained in another
situation.
Newton’s Laws → Rocketry
Maxwell’s Equations → Telecommunications
Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
, 1.2 Units
Physics experiments involve the measurement
of a variety of quantities.
These measurements should be accurate and
reproducible.
The first step in ensuring accuracy and
reproducibility is defining the units in which
the measurements are made.
Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Introduction and
Mathematical Concepts
Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
,1.1 The Nature of Physics
Physics has developed out of the efforts
of men and women to explain our physical
environment.
Physics encompasses a remarkable
variety of phenomena:
planetary orbits
radio and TV waves
magnetism
lasers
many more!
Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
,1.1 The Nature of Physics
Physics predicts how nature will behave
in one situation based on the results of
experimental data obtained in another
situation.
Newton’s Laws → Rocketry
Maxwell’s Equations → Telecommunications
Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
, 1.2 Units
Physics experiments involve the measurement
of a variety of quantities.
These measurements should be accurate and
reproducible.
The first step in ensuring accuracy and
reproducibility is defining the units in which
the measurements are made.
Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
