Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

1. Greek And Medieval Science, Robert L. Bloom, Basil L. Crapster, Harold A. Dunkelberger, Charles H. Glatfelter, Richard T. Mara, Norman E. Richardson, W. Richard Schubart

Section VIII: The Development of Modern Science

What kind of questions did the Greeks ask themselves about the physical universe? We can paraphrase Plato: the stars move about the earth in circles, the perfect paths, and they move with uniform motion as befits divine and eternal beings. But five of these stars are planets (Greek for wanderers) which appear to have irregular motion, first moving forward, then actually stopping, and then moving backward for awhile. Since the heavens are incorruptible, the planets too must really be moving in uniform motion in circular paths. How then can we account for the apparently irregular motions? What uniform motions must …

Paleontology And Stratigraphy Of The Jemez Springs Area, Sandoval County, New Mexico, Bill P. Lovejoy

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The Jemez Springs area of north-central New Mexico contains rocks ranging in age from Precambrian to Recent. Resting on Precambrian granite are 15 to 20 feet of Mississippian limestone and shale belonging to the Arroyo Peñasco formation of probable Meramecian age. The marine fauna is restricted to Pennsylvanian rocks. In this study. 64 species representing 40 genera were recognized, and the majority are illustrated and systematically described. Fossil evidence indicates a Lampasan (Atokan) age for the Sandia formation and a Desmoinesian, Missourian, and Virgilian age for the Madera limestone. Correlation was based primarily on the predominant and well-preserved brachiopod fauna. …

Physics, Chapter 35: Electronics, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

The electrons of an atom occupy certain energy levels when the atom is far from other atoms. When a large number of atoms are assembled to form a conducting metallic solid, the energy levels of the valence electrons are displaced in position to form a conduction band, as discussed in Section 28-4. The valence electrons occupy energy levels within the conduction band and are relatively free to drift from atom to atom within the metal. In accordance with a fundamental physical principle, known as the Pauli exclusion principle, only 1 electron may occupy a particular energy level. The conduction electrons …

Physics, Appendix B, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

Appendix B

Physics, Chapter 16: Kinetic Theory Of Gases, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

The behavior of a gas under various conditions of temperature and pressure has already been studied in some detail. When the pressure of a constant mass of gas is not too great, say less than about 2 atm, we find that a gas obeys the following relationships to be discussed.

Physics, Chapter 33: Magnetic Properties Of Matter, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

Matter is composed of atoms consisting of positively charged nuclei and negative electrons. These electrons occur in shells, and the periodic nature of chemical properties of atoms as the atomic weight increases is a reflection of the fact that the chemical behavior of an atom depends largely upon the number of electrons in the outermost shell. In some parts of the periodic table (see Table 5 of Appendix A), electrons occupy places in an outer shell before an inner shell is completely filled; it is then observed that a number of different elements have very similar chemical properties. The same …

Physics, Chapter 36: Light And Its Measurement, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

The word light, as commonly used, refers to the radiant energy which produces a visual effect. It was first shown by Maxwell that light is an electromagnetic radiation, propagated with a speed whose value was numerically determined by the relationship between electric and magnetic units.

Physics, Chapter 28: Electrical Conduction In Liquids And Solids, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

We have seen that electrical conduction in solids is associated with the drift of free electrons in the solid, a process which will be examined in greater detail in Section 28-4. A similar mechanism may be used to account for the conduction of electricity in liquid metals. In other liquids electricity is conducted by the migration of positive and negative ions through the liquid.

Physics, Chapter 27: Direct-Current Circuits, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

When a charged particle traverses a closed path in an electrostatic field in space, the total work done on the particle is zero. The electric field is conservative. Associated with each point in the field, there is a fixed value of the electrical potential.

In a simple circuit consisting of a chemical cell and a resistor, as shown in Figure 27-1, we have seen that the current flows through the resistor from the positive terminal of the cell to the negative terminal of the cell. The positive terminal is at the higher potential, so that the current flows from the …

Physics, Chapter 5: Force And Motion, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

All of us have many times had the experience of setting a body in motion. If we analyze any of these experiences, we readily recall that in each case some force was required to start the object moving. In throwing a ball, moving a piece of furniture, or pulling a sled, the force needed to start the object moving is supplied by one's muscular effort as a push or a pull. In more complex cases, such as setting a car or an airplane in motion, the analysis, although more complicated, will also show that a force is required to start …

Physics, Chapter 34: Alternating Currents, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

If the current in a resistor varies sinusoidally, as shown in Figure 34-1, the potential difference across the terminals of the resistor will also vary sinusoidally in the same manner, in phase with the current, in accordance with Ohm's law. Writing i for the instantaneous value of the current and v for the instantaneous value of the potential difference, we have v = iR.

Physics, Chapter 26: The Electric Current, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

Electricity is the basis of our present highly technical civilization. It is the means whereby energy from various sources is delivered to the consumer in a form suitable for its conversion into the many kinds of energy demanded by him. It is through the intermediary of the electric circuit that energy is transmitted electrically from the primary source, no matter where it is situated, to the ultimate consumer wherever he desires it. A complete electric circuit contains some form of electric generator, which is essentially a device for converting other forms of energy to electrical energy, a set of conductors …

2. The Theory Of Special Relativity, Robert L. Bloom, Basil L. Crapster, Harold L. Dunkelberger, Charles H. Glatfelter, Richard T. Mara, Norman E. Richardson, W. Richard Schubart

Section XX: Meaning in the Physical Sciences

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) published his first work on relativity in 1905, the same year in which he published remarkable papers on Brownian motion and the photoelectric effect. At the time he did this work, he was a patent examiner in the Swiss Patent Office. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for physics in 1921 "for his services to the theory of physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect." He became a professor of physics at several German universities, and in 1916, he took a position at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin.

As the …

2. Copernicus, Robert L. Bloom, Basil L. Crapster, Harold A. Dunkelberger, Charles H. Glatfelter, Richard T. Mara, Norman E. Richardson, W. Richard Schubart

Section VIII: The Development of Modern Science

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543), of German and possibly Polish extraction, spent three years at the University of Cracow and then ten years at Italian universities. In Italy he was introduced to the Pythagorean ideas, which left a permanent mark on his mind, and became interested in astronomical theories. He returned home to the position of canon of Frauenburg cathedral where he stayed until his death. [excerpt]

Physics, Chapter 13: Properties Of Matter, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

When a system is subjected to external forces, it generally undergoes a change in size or shape or both. We have thus far touched very lightly on such changes; for example, we have considered the change in length of an elastic spring and the change in volume of a gas when such systems were subjected to varying pressures. The changes produced in a system by the action of external forces depend upon the physical properties of the material of which the system is composed. A study of the properties of matter leads to information which is of practical value to …

Physics, Chapter 4: Statics Of A Rigid Body, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

In the preceding chapter we observed that a particle would remain in equilibrium, in a state of rest, or in a state of uniform motion in a straight line when the resultant of all the forces acting on it was equal to zero. This condition for equilibrium was extended to larger bodies under either of two possible conditions: If the forces acting on the body were concurrent, that is, if they were directed toward a single point, the body could be treated as if it were a particle; or if the body moved with uniform translational motion in which every …

Physics, Chapter 3: The Equilibrium Of A Particle, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

A particle which remains at rest or in uniform motion with respect to its frame of reference is said to be in equilibrium in that frame. Centuries ago it was recognized that the state of rest was a natural state of things, for it was observed that objects set in motion on the surface of the earth tended to come to rest. The maintenance of any horizontal motion on earth was thought to require the continued exercise of a force, hence to be a violent motion, while vertical motion like that of a falling body was thought to be natural …

Physics, Chapter 2: Motion Of A Particle (Kinematics), Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

Normally, when we say an object is at rest, we mean that it is at rest with respect to the surface of the earth; when we say a car is moving at a speed of 40 mi/hr, we imply that the motion is taking place at this speed relative to the road. A boat sailing on the river moves with respect to the river's banks, but it also moves with respect to the flowing water in the river. The lift on the wings of an airplane is generated by the motion of the airplane through the air, but it is …

Physics, Chapter 21: Vibrations And Sound, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

There are two aspects of sound: one is the physical aspect which involves the physics of the production, propagation, reception, and detection of sound; the other, which is the sensation of sound as perceived by the individual, depends upon physiological and psychological effects. It is not desirable to separate the two aspects of sound completely, but the main emphasis in this book must necessarily be on the physical aspect. In this chapter we shall consider mostly musical sounds. A vocabulary has been developed to describe the sensation experienced when a musical sound is heard. Such terms as the pitch of …

Physics, Chapter 37: Reflection And Refraction, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

In the passage of a beam of light through a medium, some of the radiant energy is absorbed and is transformed into internal energy, while some of it is scattered in all directions. The oscillating electric field associated with the light wave sets some of the electrons of the medium into oscillation, thus giving up some of its energy, and these oscillating electrons subsequently reradiate energy as scattered electromagnetic radiation. Scattering therefore takes place only in the presence of matter. The color of the sky is due to the small amount of scattering of sunlight by the molecules of the …

Physics, Chapter 32: Electromagnetic Induction, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

When a wire moves through a uniform magnetic field of induction B, in a direction at right angles to the field and to the wire itself, the electric charges within the conductor experience forces due to their motion through this magnetic field. The positive charges are held in place in the conductor by the action of interatomic forces, but the free electrons, usually one or two per atom, are caused to drift to one side of the conductor, thus setting up an electric field E within the conductor which opposes the further drift of electrons. The magnitude of this …

Physics, Chapter 31: Forces On Moving Charges And Currents, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

Ampere was the first to show that wires carrying current experienced forces when placed in magnetic fields. Later it was shown that charged particles moving in magnetic fields also experience forces. Common applications of these phenomena are the electric motor, the galvanometer, and the cathoderay tube. Since a moving electric charge is equivalent to a current, we shall first consider the force acting on a charge q moving with velocity v in a magnetic field of induction B. Experiment shows that the force F acting on the charge q is at right angles to the directions of both v and …

Physics, Chapter 7: Work And Energy, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

An extremely important concept that has been developed in physics is that of the work done on a body by the action of some external agent which exerts a force on this body and produces motion. For example, whenever someone lifts a body, he does work by exerting a force upward on it and moving it upward. Whenever a steam locomotive pulls a train, a series of processes takes place in the steam engine of the locomotive which enables it to exert a force on the train and move it in the direction of the force. The term work, as …

Physics, Chapter 39: Optical Instruments, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

The photographic camera uses a converging lens to form a real, inverted image of an object. The image is focused on a film or plate which is coated with an emulsion containing silver bromide crystals. When a few incident quanta of light are absorbed in a grain of emulsion, the grain becomes activated and developable, and when the plate is developed, the bromine is removed from each activated grain, leaving a clump of silver behind. When the plate is "fixed," the remaining emulsion is removed from the plate, so that the image is made permanent. In most cameras the converging …

The Glory Trail: The Great American Migration And Its Impact On Natural Resources, Ernest Swift

Other Publications in Wildlife Management

Surprisingly few Americans have any definitive or comprehensive knowledge of the history of their country, although many are under the delusion that their school book history taught them all they needed to know.

They were indoctrinated with a smattering of dates which included the voyage of Columbus and the landing of the pilgrims at Plymouth. They learned what Priscilla said to John Alden, gloated over the Boston Tea Party and memorized part of Patrick Henry's speech; they were briefed on Bunker Hill, Washington crossing the Delaware and the Surrender of Cornwallis. And that just about completed that era.

Daniel Roone's …

Variation In Tracheid Length And Wood Density In Geographic Races Of Scotch Pine, Robert M. Echols

Yale School of the Environment Bulletin Series

No abstract provided.

Physics, Chapter 45: Natural Radioactivity, Henry Semat, Robert Katz

Robert Katz Publications

The discovery of an important phenomenon usually leads to other important discoveries. The discovery of x-rays by Roentgen in 1895 led to the discovery of radioactivity by Becquerel in 1896. In the gas type of x-ray tube used by Roentgen, the glass walls of the tube were observed to fluoresce. Becquerel was interested in determining whether there was any relationship between the fluorescence of the glass of an x-ray tube and the phosphorescence of certain salts which were irradiated by ordinary light. One of the salts used by Becquerel was the double sulphate of uranium and potassium. He wrapped a …

Total Number Of Irrigation Wells Located In Nebraska Counties As Of 1958

Conservation and Survey Division: Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

5. Newton, Robert L. Bloom, Basil L. Crapster, Harold A. Dunkelberger, Charles H. Glatfelter, Richard T. Mara, Norman E. Richardson, W. Richard Schubart

Section VIII: The Development of Modern Science

Isaac Newton (1642-1727) was born and educated in England. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, and there found the inspiration for his prodigious work that was to synthesize and extend the labors of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and others beyond the wildest dreams of any of them. Newton was the intellectual giant who set the direction of the physical sciences on the paths they were to follow undeviatingly into the twentieth century. [excerpt]

Xx. Meaning In The Physical Sciences, Robert L. Bloom, Basil L. Crapster, Harold L. Dunkelberger, Charles H. Glatfelter, Richard T. Mara, Norman E. Richardson, W. Richard Schubart

Section XX: Meaning in the Physical Sciences

The twentieth century has seen two major revolutions in our theories of physics concerning nature, and these have made us change many of our concepts about the terms in which nature can be described. The new theories born in these revolutions are the theory of relativity and of quantum mechanics. The biological sciences had their revolutions in the nineteenth century, and while remarkable progress has been made since, nothing comparable to that upheaval has occurred in this century. Of the two massive changes in the concepts of the physical sciences, we can discuss but one here. [excerpt]