A Course in Classical Physics 4 - Waves and Light, 1st ed. 2017 Undergraduate Lecture Notes in Physics Series

This fourth volume of a four-volume textbook covers the oscillations of systems with one or more degrees of freedom; the concept of waves, focusing on light and sound; phase and group velocities, their physical meaning, and their measurement; diffraction and interference of light; polarization phenomena; and the formation of images in the eye and in optical instruments.

The textbook as a whole covers electromagnetism, mechanics, fluids and thermodynamics, and waves and light, and is designed to reflect the typical syllabus during the first two years of a calculus-based university physics program. Throughout all four volumes, particular attention is paid to in-depth clarification of conceptual aspects, and to this end the historical roots of the principal concepts are traced. Emphasis is also consistently placed on the experimental basis of the concepts, highlighting the experimental nature of physics. Whenever feasible at the elementary level, concepts relevant to more advanced courses in quantum mechanics and atomic, solid state, nuclear, and particle physics are included. 

The textbook offers an ideal resource for physics students, lecturers and, last but not least, all those seeking a deeper understanding of the experimental basics of physics. 

1. Oscillations of systems with one degree of freedom.- 2. Oscillations of systems with several degrees of freedom.- 3. Waves.- 4. Dispersion.- 5. Oscillations of systems with several degrees of freedom.- 6. Polarisation.- 7. Optical images.- 8. Coherent images.

Alessandro Bettini is Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Padua, Italy, where he has taught experimental, general, and particle physics for 40 years. He is current Vice-President of the Italian Physical Society and his past posts also include Director of the INFN National Gran Sasso Laboratory, Vice-president of the OECD Global Science Forum, and Director of the Canfranc Underground Laboratory in Spain. Most recently, Professor Bettini’s scientific interests have focused on neutrino physics beyond the standard model and astroparticle phenomena. He is a member of the GERDA experiment, searching for neutrino-less double beta decay. Professor Bettini is the author of approximately 200 articles in international scientific journals as well as several books, including Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics (Cambridge University Press, 2008, 2nd edn).

Presents classical concepts, taking into account their evolution in modern physics

Places emphasis on the experimental basis of the concepts

Includes references to the historical roots of basic concepts, including works of the original authors

Includes references to optical phenomena observable in the air

Provides a number of “Questions” to help readers check their level of understanding

Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras