This book explores light and other types of waves, using this as a window into other aspects of physics. It emphasizes a conceptual understanding, using examples chosen from everyday life and the natural environment. For example, it explains how hummingbird feathers create shimmering colors, how musical instruments produce sound, and how atoms stick together to form molecules. It provides a unique perspective on physics by emphasizing commonalities among different types of waves, including string waves, water waves, sound waves, light waves, the matter waves of quantum mechanics, and the gravitational waves of general relativity. This book is targeted toward college non-science majors, advanced high school students, and adults who are curious about our physical world. It assumes familiarity with algebra but no further mathematics and is classroom-ready with many worked examples, exercises, exploratory puzzles, and appendices to support students from a variety of backgrounds.

Teaches real physical principles while addressing the explanations and math to non-science majors Inspired by and tested in a real class for non-majors Supports students with varying levels of experience in math and science Request lecturer material: sn.pub/lecturer-material

Autorentext

Dr. Andrews is a scientist with wide-ranging interests. He started his career in oceanography, earned a PhD in chemistry at Stanford University, and then transitioned into his current field of systems biology. He taught physics at Seattle University for several years, from which this book evolved, and is now a research scientist in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Washington. He has published over 50 research papers on molecular quantum mechanics, biological simulation methods, information transfer by biological cells, and other topics. He enjoys whitewater kayaking and cross-country skiing, and lives in Seattle with his family.

Inhalt
Preface.- 1 Introduction.- Part I: Waves.- 2 Properties of Waves.- 3 Superposition.- 4 Wave Interactions.- 5 Mechanical Waves.- Part II: Light.- 6 Electromagnetic Waves.- 7 Photons.- 8 Blackbody Radiation.- Part III: Rays.- 9 Shadows and Pinhole Cameras.- 10 Reflection.- 11 Refraction.- 12 Vision.- Appendices.- A Numbers.- B Units.- C Algebra.- D Geometry.- Index.