An Introduction to Physical Science

by James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar Torres

Overview

Consistent with previous editions of AN INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL SCIENCE, the goal of the new Fourteenth Edition is to stimulate students' interest in and gain knowledge of the physical sciences. Presenting content in such a way that students develop the critical reasoning and problem-solving skills that are needed in an ever-changing technological world, the authors emphasize fundamental concepts as they progress through the five divisions of physical sciences: physics, chemistry, astronomy, meteorology, and geology. Ideal for a non-science major's course, topics are treated both descriptively and quantitatively, providing instructors the flexibility to emphasize whichever approach works best for their students.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781305079120
Publisher:	Cengage Learning
Publication date:	01/01/2015
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	800
Product dimensions:	10.70(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Dr. James T. Shipman was a long-time physics educator at Ohio University, his alma mater, and was Professor Emeritus until his passing in 2009.

Jerry Wilson received his physics degrees from Ohio University (B.S., Ph.D.) and Union College in Schenectady, New York (M.S.). In addition to co-writing PHYSICS LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS, he is one of the original authors of the first edition of AN INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL SCIENCE (published in 1971) and has several other physics textbooks to his credit. Wilson is currently Emeritus Professor of Physics at Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina, and continues to write the Curiosity Corner, a question and answer column run in five regional newspapers.

Chuck Higgins received his B.S. degree in physics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in astronomy from the University of Florida. Areas of interest and research include planetary and solar radio astronomy, as well as astronomy education and public outreach. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He is a founding member of a NASA-sponsored education project called Radio JOVE, and he frequently hikes many of the great state parks in Tennessee.

Omar Torres received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Texas A&M University in 1998 and his graduate degree in Inorganic Chemistry from UCLA in 2001. He has experience in teaching, research (inorganic, organic, and analytical) and academic administration. Professor Torres taught both inorganic and organic chemistry at UCLA, where he earned two UCLA Department of Chemistry Awards for Excellence in Teaching for the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 school years. In addition, Professor Torres has worked at the Dow Chemical Company (Freeport, TX) in the area of Analytical Quality Control, developing and implementing new technologies for various plant operators and analytical scientists. He is currently Dean of Science at the College of the Canyons.

Table of Contents

1. MEASUREMENT. The Physical Sciences. Scientific Investigation. The Senses. Standard Units and Systems of Units. More on the Metric System. Derived Units and Conversion Factors. Significant Figures. 2. MOTION. Defining Motion. Speed and Velocity. Acceleration. Acceleration in Uniform Circular Motion. Projectile Motion. 3. FORCE AND MOTION. Force and Net Force. Newton's First Law of Motion. Newton's Second Law of Motion. Newton's Third Law of Motion. Newton's Law of Gravitation. Archimedes' Principle and Buoyancy. Momentum. 4. WORK AND ENERGY. Work. Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy. Conservation of Energy. Power. Forms of Energy and Consumption. Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources. 5. TEMPERATURE AND HEAT. Temperature. Heat. Specific Heat and Latent Heat. Heat Transfer. Phases of Matter. The Kinetic Theory of Gases. Thermodynamics. 6. WAVES AND SOUND. Waves and Energy Propagation. Wave Properties. Light Waves. Sound Waves. The Doppler Effect. Standing Waves and Resonance. 7. OPTICS AND WAVE EFFECTS. Reflection. Refraction and Dispersion. Spherical Mirrors. Lenses. Polarization. Diffraction and Interference. 8. ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM. Electric Charge, Electric Force, and Electric Field. Current, Voltage, and Electrical Power. Simple Electric Circuits and Electrical Safety. Magnetism. Electromagnetism. 9. ATOMIC PHYSICS. Early Concepts of the Atom. The Dual Nature of Light. Bohr Theory of the Hydrogen Atom. Microwave Ovens, X-Rays, and Lasers. Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle. Matter Waves. The Electron Cloud Model of the Atom. 10. NUCLEAR PHYSICS. Symbols of the Elements. The Atomic Nucleus. Radioactivity and Half-Life. Nuclear Reactions. Nuclear Fission. Nuclear Fusion. Effects of Radiation. Elementary Particles. 11. THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS. Classification of Matter. Discovery of the Elements. Occurrence of the Elements. The Periodic Table. Naming Compounds. Groups of Elements. 12. CHEMICAL BONDING. Law of Conservation of Mass. Law of Definite Proportions. Dalton's Atomic Theory. Ionic Bonding. Covalent Bonding. Hydrogen Bonding. 13. CHEMICAL REACTIONS. Balancing Chemical Equations. Energy and Rate of Reaction. Acids and Bases. Single-Replacement Reactions. Avogadro's Number. 14. ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. Bonding in Organic Compounds. Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Aliphatic Hydrocarbons. Derivatives of Hydrocarbons. Synthetic Polymers. Biochemistry. 15. PLACE AND TIME. Cartesian Coordinates. Latitude and Longitude. Time. Determining Latitude and Longitude. The Seasons and the Calendar. Precession of the Earth's Axis. 16. THE SOLAR SYSTEM. The Solar System and Planetary Motion. Major Planet Classifications and Orbits. The Planet Earth—Third Planet from the Sun. The Terrestrial Planets. The Jovian Planets. The Dwarf Planets. The Origin of the Solar System. Other Planetary Systems. 17. MOONS AND SMALLER SOLAR SYSTEM BODIES. Features of the Earth's Moon. Lunar Motion Effects: Phases, Eclipses, and Tides. Moons of the Terrestrial Planets. Moons of the Jovian Planets. Moons of the Dwarf Planets. Small Solar System Bodies: Asteroids, Meteoroids, Comets, and Interplanetary Dust. 18. THE UNIVERSE. The Celestial Sphere. The Sun: Our Closest Star. Classifying Stars. The Life Cycle of Low-Mass Stars. The Life Cycle of High-Mass Stars. Galaxies. Cosmology. 19. THE ATMOSPHERE. Composition and Structure. Atmospheric Energy Content. Atmospheric Measurements and Observations. Air Motion. Clouds. 20. ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS. Condensation and Precipitation. Air Masses. Storms. Atmospheric Pollution. Climate and Pollution. Conceptual Question and Answer: Ruminating up Some CH4. 21. STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY AND PLATE TECTONICS. The Earth's Interior Structure. Continental Drift and Seafloor Spreading. Plate Tectonics. Plate Motion and Volcanoes. Earthquakes. Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building. 22. MINERALS, ROCKS, AND VOLCANOES. Minerals. Rocks. Igneous Rocks. Igneous Activity and Volcanoes. Sedimentary Rocks. Metamorphic Rocks. 23. SURFACE PROCESSES. Weathering. Erosion. Groundwater. Shoreline and Seafloor Topography. 24. GEOLOGIC TIME. Fossils. Relative Geologic Time. Radiometric Dating. The Age of the Earth. The Geologic Time Scale.

Editorial Reviews

A textbook for a course of one or two semesters for first-year college students not majoring in science. Defines and explains physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, and meteorology in the context of examples relating to the physical world. Emphasizing fundamental concepts, includes both quantitative and qualitative approaches that instructors can combine or chose between; a heavily descriptive approach for example would use the Review Questions and Critical Thinking Questions but omit the Exercises. Revised from earlier editions (no dates noted) both in the material and the manner of presentation. Illustrated in color throughout. Teaching materials are available. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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