Reasoning about Luck: Probability and its Uses in Physics - Couverture souple

Ambegaokar, Vinay

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0521447372 ISBN 13 : 9780521447379

Editeur : Cambridge University Press, 2008

Synopsis

Major undergraduate physics textbook, with a unique approach for a new type of course.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

This book introduces the reader to statistical reasoning and its use in physics. It is based on a course taught to non-science majors at Cornell, and differs from other treatments by its wide-ranging use of quantitative methods, which are built up in a constructive way and assume only that the reader can add, subtract, multiply and divide with confidence. The author begins with a self-contained introduction to the everyday uses of probability, including the quantitative assessment of statistical information. Following a chapter on useful mathematical concepts, he develops the basic ideas of mechanical motion, the molecular theory of gases, entropy as a measure of molecular agitation, limitations on the conversion of heat to work, the physics of the direction of time, chaos, and the role of probability in quantum mechanics. To aid self-instruction, there are solved problems at the end of each chapter.

Revue de presse

'Reasoning about Luck uses no mathematics beyond basic algebra and geometry. It is unusually well written, and the author's dry sense of humour considerably increased my pleasure in reading it ... would be a superb choice for an upper-division honors seminar aimed at students from all the sciences or as supplementary reading in an undergraduate course in modern physics ... In thinking carefully about the minimum knowledge of physics that an educated citizen should have, Ambegaokar has made a real contribution to the discussion. In addition, he has produced a thoroughly enjoyable physics book.' Ruth Howes Physics Today

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Cambridge University Press
• Date d'édition: 2008
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0521447372
• ISBN 13: 9780521447379
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 248
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: Avery; https://www.avery.fr/; ; chemin des peupliers 27; Dardilly; France