Practical Physics

New edition of classic textbook companion for any undergraduate course in practical experimental physics.

G. L. Squires (Author)

9780521779401, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 August 2001

228 pages, 74 b/w illus. 19 tables
24.6 x 18.9 x 1.2 cm, 0.664 kg

'… a distillation of the wisdom acquired through many years of undergraduate teaching and will surely establish itself as an integral feature of physics courses and associated teaching laboratories all over the world.' British Book News

Practical Physics demonstrates the purposive and critical approach that should be made to all experimental work in physics. It does not describe a systematic course of experiments, but is intended as a companion to any undergraduate course of practical work. The text is in three parts. The first deals with the statistical treatment of data, the second with experimental methods, and the third with such essential matters as keeping efficient records, accuracy in calculations, and scientific writing. The text is liberally illustrated with examples and exercises, with solutions to the latter. The new edition includes a treatment of the ?2 distribution, a section on atomic clocks, worked examples based on spreadsheets, and additional exercises. Existing examples and references have been brought up to date. Although intended for undergraduates, Practical Physics has proved of interest to school-students, teachers, and researchers, not only in physics, but also in other branches of science.

Preface
1. The object of practical physics
Part I. Statistical Treatment of Data: 2. Introduction to errors
3. Treatment of a single variable
4. Further topics in statistical theory
5. Common sense in errors
Part II. Experimental Methods: 6. Some laboratory instruments and methods
7. Some experimental techniques
8. Experimental logic
9. Common sense in experiments
Part III. Record and Calculations: 10. Record of the experiment
11. Graphs
12. Arithmetic
13. Writing a paper
Appendices
Solutions to exercises
Some useful books
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Physics [PH], Scientific equipment, experiments & techniques [PDN]