{"product_id":"the-investigation-of-the-physical-world-paperback-9780521299251","title":"The Investigation of the Physical World (Paperback) 9780521299251","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eThe Investigation of the Physical World\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis book is both a high-level popularization and a critical appraisal of the methods scientists use to investigate the physical world.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eGiuliano Toraldo  di Francia (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780521299251, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback, published 29 May 1981\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e480 pages\u003cbr\u003e22.9 x 15.2 x 2.7 cm, 0.7 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eOriginally published in Italian in 1976, this book describes the methods scientists use to investigate the physical world. It is ideal for students and teachers of science and the philosophy of science. It is both a high-level popularization and a critical appraisal of these methods, describing important advances in physics and analyzing the historical development, value, reliability and philosophical implications of the way physicists approach the problems confronting them. The introductory chapter on the meaning of physical theories and the mathematical tools used to develop them is followed by a general discussion on the foundations of physics under four major headings: the physics of the reversible, the physics of the irreversible, microphysics, and cosmology. Throughout, the subject matter of physical theories is linked to discussion of the attendant philosophical and epistemological implications, such as the validity of the theories, inductive inference, causal explanation, probability, the role of observation and the reality of physical objects.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePrefaces\u003cbr\u003e Part I. The Method of Physics: 1. Introduction\u003cbr\u003e 2. What is physics?\u003cbr\u003e 3. A first approach to the method\u003cbr\u003e 4. The value of the method\u003cbr\u003e 5. The operational definition\u003cbr\u003e 6. The language of physics\u003cbr\u003e 7. Observables or theoretical constructs?\u003cbr\u003e 8. How many physical quantities are there?\u003cbr\u003e 9. The precision of measurements\u003cbr\u003e 10. The limits of the validity of a physical law\u003cbr\u003e 11. The procedure of classical physics\u003cbr\u003e 12. The mathematical functions used in physics\u003cbr\u003e 13. The units of measurements\u003cbr\u003e 14. The dimensions of physical quantities\u003cbr\u003e 15. Theories, hypotheses, models\u003cbr\u003e Part II. The Physics of the Reversible: 1. The divisions of classical physics\u003cbr\u003e 2. Velocity and acceleration\u003cbr\u003e 3. Curvilinear motion\u003cbr\u003e 4. The laws of dynamics\u003cbr\u003e 5. Work and energy\u003cbr\u003e 6. The invariants\u003cbr\u003e 7. Action at a distance\u003cbr\u003e 8. Do magnetic charges exist?\u003cbr\u003e 9. The field concept\u003cbr\u003e 10. Electromagnetism\u003cbr\u003e 11. Maxwell's equations\u003cbr\u003e 12. The electromagnetics waves\u003cbr\u003e 13. The polarization of material media\u003cbr\u003e 14. Reflection, refraction, dispersion\u003cbr\u003e 15. Lenses and images\u003cbr\u003e 16. The physical theory of vision\u003cbr\u003e 17. How do we really see?\u003cbr\u003e 18. Interference and diffraction\u003cbr\u003e 19. The Galilean relativity\u003cbr\u003e 20. Einstein's relativity\u003cbr\u003e 21. The Lorentz transformation\u003cbr\u003e 22. Length contraction and time dilation\u003cbr\u003e 23. The limiting velocity, the past and the future\u003cbr\u003e 24. The invariance of the laws of physics\u003cbr\u003e 25. Gravitation\u003cbr\u003e 26. General relativity\u003cbr\u003e 27. Consequences of general relativity\u003cbr\u003e 28. Physical theories\u003cbr\u003e 29. The richness of the man-nature relation\u003cbr\u003e Part III. The Physics of the Irreversable: 1. Reversability and irreversability\u003cbr\u003e 2. Temperature and heat\u003cbr\u003e 3. Perfect gases\u003cbr\u003e 4. Heat, work, and internal energy\u003cbr\u003e 5. Specifics of a heat gas\u003cbr\u003e 6. The second law of thermo dynamics\u003cbr\u003e 7. The entropy\u003cbr\u003e 8. The nonlinear development of classical thermodynamics\u003cbr\u003e 9. The kinetic theory\u003cbr\u003e 10. Probability\u003cbr\u003e 11. Information\u003cbr\u003e 12. Information and probability\u003cbr\u003e 13. The transmission of informations\u003cbr\u003e 14. Microstates and macrostates\u003cbr\u003e 15. Statistical irreversability\u003cbr\u003e 16. Does time have an arrow\u003cbr\u003e 17. Fluctuations\u003cbr\u003e Part IV. Microphysics: 1. The objects of physics\u003cbr\u003e 2. Spectral lines\u003cbr\u003e 3. Electrons\u003cbr\u003e 4. Classical models of the atom\u003cbr\u003e 5. Planck's quanta\u003cbr\u003e 6. Photons\u003cbr\u003e 7. The Bose–Einstein statistics\u003cbr\u003e 8. Bohr's atom\u003cbr\u003e 9. Waves and particles\u003cbr\u003e 10. The probabalistic interpretation\u003cbr\u003e 11. Spin, atoms and molecules\u003cbr\u003e 12. Bosons, fermions, antimatter\u003cbr\u003e 13. The uncertainty principle\u003cbr\u003e 14. The Hilbert space\u003cbr\u003e 15. The formalism of quantum mechanics\u003cbr\u003e 16. Revision of the general scheme of physics\u003cbr\u003e 17. Difficulties of quantum mechanics\u003cbr\u003e 18. Microphysics and reality\u003cbr\u003e 19. Determinism and indeterminism\u003cbr\u003e 20. Causality\u003cbr\u003e 21. The inductive inference\u003cbr\u003e 22. Quantum electrodynamics\u003cbr\u003e 23. The atomic nucleus\u003cbr\u003e 24. The second crisis of classical physics\u003cbr\u003e 25. Particles multiply\u003cbr\u003e 26. Interactions and conservations\u003cbr\u003e 27. Toward the grand unification\u003cbr\u003e 28. Materialism and mechanism in contemporary physics\u003cbr\u003e Part V. The Universe: 1. General laws and historical facts\u003cbr\u003e 2. Form and movements of the earth\u003cbr\u003e 3. The earth's structure\u003cbr\u003e 4. The cosmogonic problem\u003cbr\u003e 5. The environment and the biosphere\u003cbr\u003e 6. The origin and evolution of life\u003cbr\u003e 7. Windows on the universe\u003cbr\u003e 8. The solar system\u003cbr\u003e 9. The origin of the solar system\u003cbr\u003e 10. The stars\u003cbr\u003e 11. Neutron stars, pulsars, blackholes\u003cbr\u003e 12. The galaxies\u003cbr\u003e 13. Cosmological hypotheses\u003cbr\u003e 14. Life in the universe\u003cbr\u003e Notes\u003cbr\u003e References\u003cbr\u003e Indices.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Philosophy of science [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Philosophy of science\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Philosophy%20of%20science%20%5BPDA%5D%22\"\u003ePDA\u003c\/a\u003e], Social \u0026amp; political philosophy [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Social \u0026amp; political philosophy\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Social%20\u0026amp;%20political%20philosophy%20%5BHPS%5D%22\"\u003eHPS\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46007070228760,"sku":"9780521299251","price":44.39,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9780521299251i_592d29d3-c4c9-4b1f-be7c-ec72917d8dcf.jpg?v=1691374935","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/the-investigation-of-the-physical-world-paperback-9780521299251","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}