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Quantum Physics For Dummies (For Dummies (Math & Science)) |  | Author: Steven Holzner
Publisher: For Dummies
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $10.90
as of 11/21/2009 11:50 CST details
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Seller: a1books
Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 32054
Media: Paperback
Pages: 336
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.9
ISBN: 0470381884
Dewey Decimal Number: 530
EAN: 9780470381885
ASIN: 0470381884
Publication Date: February 3, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Quantum Physics For Dummies helps make quantum physics understandable and accessible. From what quantum physics can do for the world to understanding hydrogen atoms, readers will get complete coverage of the subject, along with numerous examples to help them tackle the tough equations. Compatible with classroom text books and courses, Quantum Physics For Dummies lets students study at their own paces and helps them prepare for graduate or professional exams. Coverage includes: - The Schrodinger Equation and its Applications
- The Foundations of Quantum Physics
- Vector Notation
- Spin
- Scattering Theory, Angular Momentum, and more
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 15
 Boot strapping your way up the Ladder of quantum complexity October 17, 2009
Herbert L Calhoun (Falls Church, VA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Scenery of Quantum Physics
Electrons zipping around the nucleus of an atom have been observed to exhibit both wave and particle like properties. In classical physics this could and should not happen. Quantum Physics has been summoned up to sort out the full meaning, implications and ways of measuring, this conundrum. In the early investigations of this problem, it was discovered that a quantum field was required to explain how the energy levels of the electrons bound in an atom actually work. (A "quantum field" is something like the conceptual canvas upon which the energy of the atom is played out.) However, another problem immediately arose: the exact position and momentum of a particle could not both be known at the same time so that their energy levels could be computed. A lot of people chipped away at this problem, with both Einstein and Max Planck making sizeable contributions. The upshot was that the actual location of an election could never be known exactly, electrons could be "quantized" and known only probabilistically, which as it turns out, was good enough for almost all circumstances.
About this Book
I have reviewed other "for beginners intros to Quantum Physics texts," but I must say this author has broken the code for how to convey difficult concepts and difficult substance to a lay reader. It is worthwhile examining his technique before getting into the substance of the book. Apparently one of the first tricks is to separate out the complexity of the mathematics into bite sized chunks so that it can first be explained far away from the center of the substantive battle (as is the case with his "cheat sheets" with a whole slew of mathematical equations appearing on the front cover leafs.) All of the much feared scary suspects are there: The Hamiltonians, Schrodinger's Equations in 3D, Spin Operators and Commutators, etc.); but then to only add them into the substance one-by-one after the concepts and experiments have all been clearly explained, and only as the conceptual development later calls for them.
The earlier books tended to introduce (to the extent they did them at all) concepts, mathematics, and experimental results all at the same time, and left it as an exercise for the reader, to sort all the dizzying complexity out. The second trick this author uses, which is even more effective than his act of demystifying the equations by "introducing them far away from the center of action," is to provide a structured overview of the concepts (that has bite to it) without the equations: It is kind of "a scenery, then scene, overview" before jumping into the substance with all four feet -- that is to say with mathematical equations and all: and only then showing how only with the equations at hand the problems being addressed could be solved. The reader feels almost as if he too could have come up with the same results, all on his own.
And finally, and this is obviously a trick mined from none other than Einstein himself (perhaps via Steven Hawkings) is to begin the substance with bottom level foundation principles and build up the theory according to the physical imperatives those principles demand: that is to say, as a result of the context of the experiments which gave rise to the problems of the substance itself. It is here that the understandings introduced will stick to the brain providing a secure logical hinge to guide one's journey deeper and deeper into the inevitable difficulties and complexities to come. It will also serve as the conceptual glue that binds the seemingly complex, but disparate parts together: concepts, experiments, and mathematics all into one logical whole. As Hawkings noted of Einstein, (I am paraphrasing a quote from his book `A Stubbornly Persistent Illusion') "he had the uncanny knack of latching on to a fundamental truth, as a dog might latch onto a bone, following its assumptions to their logical endpoint no matter where they might lead." Such was the case with his consideration of the constancy of the speed of light, which inexorably led step-by-step to the "Special Theory of Relativity." It was similarly true for the difference between the two separate ways of measuring mass and the way he mined the apparently very subtle difference in these two measurements. They too were resolved through Einstein's dogged reasoning, persistence (more so than thorough his rather limited mathematical prowess) into the "General Theory of Relativity."
In a similar vein, rather than just "throw together" a dizzying collection of complex equations (as has been done by authors of competing volumes) and wait for the "dust to settle," that is to say, wait for reader to sort them all out - which usually means only a handful of graduate students in Physics will be able to do so -- this author takes the pain to use the "Einstein approach." To wit: to begin on the ground floor with the foundation conundrum of the "wave-particle duality. As he ascends the ladder of complexity, he effectively builds a Quantum Physics edifice. It is on the ground floor that we learn about the physical anomalies of the "Black Body Problem," the "Compton Effect," and the more famous "Split Slot Experiment." They all pointed in the same direction both experimentally and mathematically: that light is (at the same time) both a wave and a particle. Then, comes de Broglie, who generalizes this phenomenon of duality to all matter via the "matter waves" and the collapsible "Wave Function.
From this single foundation assumption and the related experiments that prove the suspicions about them to be true, the author maintains a tight correlation between assumptions, experimental results that prove them, and the mathematical complexity that explains them.
The rest is just Matrix Calculus and Operational Mechanics. Ten Stars for this author and for the "For Dummies" Series of Books.
Need help taking a quantum physics course? August 22, 2009
romisep (Dallas, TX)
This book was more helpful to me taking my Quantum Physics course than the assigned textbook was. It's one of the things that got me a B instead of a C. If it was me teaching the course, this would have been the textbook.
My opinion July 17, 2009
Frederick Fish (Quretaro Mexico)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
As I have friends who talk about this particular subject they stimulated my interest.Having purchased Quantum physics for beginners,being a dummie on this subject I felt obliged to dig deaper hence my recent choice.In choosing this book I had to cast my mind back to my early studies in maths physics differential calculus etc. Thus having extracated my old slidrule from ita ancient dust cover and with more up to date assistance Iam still working hard to get a greater understanding of a very complex science.At this moment in time I am 88 maybe If you ask the same question in 2 years time i will be more proficient in the subject matter.
Regard from Frederick Fish
So Cool July 6, 2009
Vanessa Steeg (france)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is great! I am so happy that this state of the art information can now be shared and transmitted to us normal people! The ideas behind Quantum Mechanics are fascinating and although it's only a bit older than a century, it is now that it will start revolutionazing the way we think. After a 100 years of existance, it was about time somebody "popularized" the information. Thank you Stephen! I am moreless at the beginning of the book and some concepts are hard to grasp on and completely understand, but reading them twice and letting it sink in for a while, makes it all click after a bit. You should know I am more in the arts department and a complete newbie (or "dummy") to any scientific field. If you are a complete newbie like me, I recommend that you read the "Physics for dummy" book first... if those concepts have settled in, than it should make this one an easier ride. All in all, it is still without a doubt understandable material that requires just a bit more attention than a normal John Grisham novel!
Helpful but Sloppy June 2, 2009
Luis E. Londono (Garland, TX)
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
The book has very good Quantum theory and examples but in some of the derivations important steps are omitted and this can be frustrating. One has to figure out the missing steps oneself or has to look in other books. There are cases where results are shown without derivation. Besides the book has numerous errors in the formulas. At this time I am halfway through the book and have been making the step additions and the corrections with a pencil on the book. The book really has to be revised to make the derivations more complete without missing steps and to correct the errors in the formulas. I intend to finish the book but it will take time because of all the extra time taken in figuring things out.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 15
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