Problems in General Physics

Preface 5
A Few Hints for Solving the Problems 9
Notation 10
PART ONE. PHYSICAL FUNDAMENTALS OF MECHANICS 11
1.1. Kinematics 11
1.2. The Fundamental Equation of Dynamics 20
1.3. Laws of Conservation of Energy, Momentum, and Angular
Momentum 30
1.4. Universal Gravitation 43
1.5. Dynamics of a Solid Body 47
1.6. Elastic Deformations of a Solid Body 58
1.7. Hydrodynamics 62
1.8. Relativistic Mechanics 67
PART TWO. THERMODYNAMICS AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS . 75
2.1. Equation of the Gas State. Processes 75
2.2. The First Law of Thermodynamics. Heat Capacity 78
2.3. Kinetic Theory of Gases. Boltzmann’s Law and Maxwell’s
Distribution 82
2.4. The Second Law of Thermodynamics. Entropy 88
2.5. Liquids. Capillary Effects 93
2.6. Phase Transformations 96
2.7. Transport Phenomena 100
PART THREE. ELECTRODYNAMICS 105
3.1. Constant Electric Field in Vacuum 105
3.2. Conductors and Dielectrics in an Electric Field 111
3.3. Electric Capacitance. Energy of an Electric Field 118
3.4. Electric Current 125
3.5. Constant Magnetic Field. Magnetics 136
3.6. Electromagnetic Induction. Maxwell’s Equations 147
3.7. Motion of Charged Particles in Electric and Magnetic Fields 160
PART FOUR. OSCILLATIONS AND WAVES 166
4.1. Mechanical Oscillations 166
4.2. Electric Oscillations 180
4.3. Elastic Waves. Acoustics 188
4.4. Electromagnetic Waves. Radiation 193
PART FIVE. OPTICS 199
5.1. Photometry and Geometrical Optics 199
5.2. Interference of Light 210
5.3. Diffraction of Light 216
5.4. Polarization of Light 226
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5.5. Dispersion and Absorption of Light 234
5.6. Optics of Moving Sources 237
5.7. Thermal Radiation. Quantum Nature of Light 240
PART SIX. ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS 246
6.1. Scattering of Particles. Rutherford-Bohr Atom 246
6.2. Wave Properties of Particles. Schrodinger Equation 251
6.3. Properties of Atoms. Spectra 257
6.4. Molecules and Crystals 264
6.5. Radioactivity 270
6.6. Nuclear Reactions 274
6.7. Elementary Particles 278
ANSWERS AND SOLUTIONS 281
APPENDICES 365
1. Basic Trigonometrical Formulas 365
2. Sine Function Values 366
3. Tangent Function Values 367
4. Common Logarithms 368
5. Exponential Functions 370
6. Greek Alphabet 372
7. Numerical Constants and Approximations 372
8. Some Data on Vectors 372
9. Derivatives and Integrals 373
10. Astronomical Data 374
11. Density of Substances 374
12. Thermal Expansion Coefficients 375
13. Elastic Constants. Tensile Strength 375
14. Saturated Vapour Pressure 375
15. Gas Constants 376
16. Some Parameters of Liquids and Solids 376
17. Permittivities 377
18. Resistivities of Conductors 377
19. Magnetic Susceptibilities of Para- and Diamagnetics 377
20. Refractive Indices 378
21. Rotation of the Plane of Polarization 378
22. Work Function of Various Metals 379
23. K Band Absorption. Edge 379
24. Mass Absorption Coefficients 379
25. Ionization Potentials of Atoms 380
26. Mass of Light Atoms 380
27. Half-life Values of Radionuclides 380
28. Units of Physical Quantities 381
29. The Basic Formulas of Electrodynamics in the SI and Gaussian
Systems 383
30. Fundamental Constants 386