Mechanics, Waves and Thermodynamics An Example-based Approach Cambridge IISc Series

The principles of classical physics, though superseded in specific fields by such theories as quantum mechanics and general relativity, are still of great importance in a broad range of applications. The book presents fundamental concepts of classical physics in a coherent and logical manner. It discusses important topics including the mechanics of a single particle, kinetic theory, oscillations and waves. Topics including the kinetic theory of gases, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics are discussed, which are normally not present in the books on classical physics. The fundamental concepts of energy, momentum, mass and entropy are explained with examples. Discussion on concepts of thermodynamics is presented along with the simplified explanation on Caratheodory's axioms. It covers chapters on wave motion and statistical physics, useful for the graduate students. Each concept is supported with real-life applications on several concepts including impulse and collision, Bernoulli's equation, and friction.

Figures; Preface; Acknowledgement; 1. Energy, mass, momentum; 2. Kinematics, Newton's laws of motion; 3. Circular motion; 4. The principle of least action; 5. Work and energy; 6. Mechanics of a system of particles; 7. Friction; 8. Impulse and collisions; 9. Central forces; 10. Dimensional analysis; 11. Oscillations; 12. Waves; 13. Sound of music; 14. Fluid mechanics; 15. Water waves; 16. The kinetic theory of gases; 17. Concepts and laws of thermodynamics; 18. Some applications of thermodynamics; 19. Basic ideas of statistical mechanics; Bibliography; Index.

Sudhir R. Jain is Scientific Officer, Nuclear Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai. He was a visiting researcher at the Universitè Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium (1995–6), Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands (2006) and the Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland (2005). He received his PhD from the University of Mumbai while working at the Theoretical Physics Division of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. He has published a number of articles in national and international journals. His areas of interest are nonlinear dynamics and quantum chaos, statistical physics, nuclear theory, and mathematical physics.