Table Of ContentB. N. Ivanov
Mir Publishers Moscow
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSIGS
B. H. HBAHOB
3AK0Hbl 03M3MKM
tBucman uiicojia* MocKBa
B.H.Ivonov
Mir Publishers Moscow
Translated from Hussian
by IIS. Wadhwa. Ph.D.
First published 1989
Revised from the i986 Russian edition
Ha QHdAUliCKOM X3blKe
© HaaaTejibCTBo «Byciuafl niKo;ia», 1986
© English translation, Mir Publishers, 1989
PREFACE
Over the last few years, several books have appeared for
preparatory courses in colleges and universities. A student
can select a book according to his requirements and taste
with or without his teachers1 guidance. The book being of
fered by the author differs from other existing books on the
subject in its nontraditional approach to the course of phys
ics. The principle underlying the preparation of this course
can be summarized as follows: “From atom to matter11.
What prompted the author to adopt this approach? In
deed, the creation of new materials with unusual mechani
cal, thermal, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties
requires a microscopic approach to the problem and a clear
understanding of the practical significance of the approach
“from atom to matter11. This means that the scientists and
industrial workers engaged in fields like physical materials
science, nuclear and semiconductor engineering, laser tech
nology, and space science must be prepared to use this ap
proach.
Modern radio and electronics engineering is becoming
quantum-mechanical in its approach. Today, electrical
engineers use superconducting materials. Many important
biological problems including the mechanism of muscle oper
ation, transfer of nerve signals, and the mechanism of mem
ory can be solved only by molecular-level research. These
requirements ire not fully met by the courses of physics
using the traditional scheme: mechanics, heat, electricity
and magnetism, optics, atomic physics. Lastly, it should be
remarked that the formation and teaching of physics courses
on the approach “from atom to matter11 is a requirement
not only of the modern engineering physics practice but al
so of the logic of development of physics.
What will be the approach of the “natural science ideology11
towards the technical progress in the next century? How
should physics be taught so that a young scientist can find
his way in the myriads of scientific and technical informa
tion, and independently sift this information to grasp the
6 Preface
main trend? An optimal solution of these questions still
remains to be found.
The list of contents provides a detailed information about
the material contained in this book. It can be seen that this
book covers a wide range of topics.
The International System of units (SI) has been used prac
tically throughout the book. However, since the CGS sys
tem is still widely used in research and scientific publica
tions, students of physics must be familiar with both sys
tems and freely move from one system to the other. The
material in Chaps. 3, 4, and 7 of this book uses the CGS
system.
This book is intended for those who wish to acquire a
deeper knowledge of physical phenomena. It can be used by
students of physics and mathematical schools, as well as
by those who have finished school and are engaged in self-
education. A good deal of the material may be useful to
teachers delivering lectures on various topics of physics.
In conclusion, the author would like to place on record
his profound gratitude to Profs. L. V. Tarasov and A. D. Su
khanov for their benevolent comments which helped a lot
in the improvement of this book. Special thanks are due to
T. D. Kirilina for her help in preparing the manuscript.
Author
TO THE READER
This is not a textbook, but rather a helpbook that should be
used in conjunction with the standard textbooks. Nor is
the book intended for a light reading; you have to use a pen
and paper, think, analyze, and even compute whenever it
is necessary. We shall describe physics here in the way re
searchers understand it today.
Physics essentially deals with the fundamental laws of
nature. The progress being made at present in all branches
of natural science is due, as a rule, to the introduction of
physical concepts and techniques in them. This is besides
the fact that a knowledge of physical sciences is essential
for new industrial ventures lying at the root of technical
progress. Physics is fast becoming an important element in
the modern civilization.
While presenting the material in this book, I shall pre
sume that the reader possesses a certain knowledge about
things and events. Of course, he may not be always aware
of the nature of these things or the causes behind the events.
For this purpose, we embark upon an arduous but, hope
fully, fascinating journey to the “Land of Physics”. I also
presume that the reader is in a position to use the mathemat
ical apparatus. This is the language in which we shall have
to converse with Nature. I shall try to provide necessary ex
planations wherever an advanced level of mathematical
knowledge is required.
B. Ivanov
CONTENTS
Preface 5
To the Reader 7
CHAPTER 1. UNITY OF NATURE 16
1.1. Hierarchy of Natural Objects 16
1.1.1. Elementary Particles 16
1.1.2. Nuclei 20
1.1.3. Atoms and Molecules 21
1.1.4. Macroscopic Bodies *22
1.1.5. Planets 23
1.1.6. Stars. Galaxies. Universe 25
1.2. Four Types of Fundamental Interactions 26
1.2.1. Bound Systems of Objects. Interactions 26
1.2.2. Gravitational Interactions 26
1.2.3. Electromagnetic Interactions 27
1.2.4. Strong (Nuclear) Interactions 27
1.2.5. Weak Interactions 27
1.2.6. Comparative Estimates for the Inten
sity of All Types of Interactions 29
1.2.7. Fields and Matter 29
1.3. Space and Time 30
1.3.1. Scales of Space and Time in Nature 30
1.3.2. Homogeneity of Space and Time 31
1.3.3. Free Bodies and Inertial Motion 31
1.3.4. Inertial Reference Frames. The Relativ
ity Principle 32
CHAPTER 2. MECHANICS OF A MATERIAL PARTICLE 34
2.1. Coordinates, Velocity, Acceleration 34
2.2. Galilean Transformations 35
2.2.1. Absolute Nature of Dimensions and
Time Intervals 36
2.2.2. Relative Nature of Velocities and the
Law of Their Transformation 37
2.2.3. Absolute Nature of Accelerations 37
2.3. Law of Motion in Mechanics 37
2.4. Motion of a Material Particle in a Gravitation
al Field 39
