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Practical Physics

Practical Physics

Practical Physics

4th Edition
G. L. Squires, University of Cambridge
September 2001
Paperback
9780521779401
$83.99
USD
Paperback
USD
eBook

    This classic companion to undergraduate practical work in physics describes the purposeful, critical approach that should be made to all physics experiments. It covers the statistical treatment of data and experimental methods, and gives advice on keeping efficient records, calculations, and scientific writing. The new edition features treatment of the c2 distribution, a section on atomic clocks, worked examples based on spreadsheets, and additional exercises. Existing examples and references have been brought up to date. The text is liberally illustrated with examples and exercises, with solutions to the latter. Although intended for undergraduates, Practical Physics will be of interest to researchers, not only in physics, but in other sciences as well.

    • An ideal companion to any undergraduate course in practical physics
    • Demonstrates a purposive and critical approach to experimental work
    • Deals with the statistical treatment of data, an essential skill for physics students

    Reviews & endorsements

    'Dr Squires has made a very worthwhile contribution to the surprisingly small number of modern textbooks available on this subject.' New Scientist

    'I envy Squire's students! All other students should wish to own this book for the wealth of advice it gives them …'. Contemporary Physics

    'This is a quite invaluable book for those at, or nearing, undergraduate level.' The Times Educational Supplement

    '… a distillation of the wisdom acquired through many years of undergraduate teaching and will surely establish itself as an integral feature of physics courses and associated teaching laboratories all over the world.' British Book News

    See more reviews

    Product details

    September 2001
    Paperback
    9780521779401
    228 pages
    246 × 189 × 12 mm
    0.664kg
    74 b/w illus. 19 tables
    Available

    Table of Contents

    • Preface
    • 1. The object of practical physics
    • Part I. Statistical Treatment of Data:
    • 2. Introduction to errors
    • 3. Treatment of a single variable
    • 4. Further topics in statistical theory
    • 5. Common sense in errors
    • Part II. Experimental Methods:
    • 6. Some laboratory instruments and methods
    • 7. Some experimental techniques
    • 8. Experimental logic
    • 9. Common sense in experiments
    • Part III. Record and Calculations:
    • 10. Record of the experiment
    • 11. Graphs
    • 12. Arithmetic
    • 13. Writing a paper
    • Appendices
    • Solutions to exercises
    • Some useful books
    • References
    • Index.
      Author
    • G. L. Squires , University of Cambridge

      Gordon L Squires has been a Lecturer in Physics at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Trinity College Cambridge since 1956. Since then he has been a Visiting Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1970) and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1977-78).