The Feynman lectures on physics. Volume I, Mainly mechanics, radiation and heat

Today the Feynman Lectures are considered by many to be the best introductory set of lectures on physics ever written. Feynman himself, however, stated in his original preface that he was "pessimistic" with regard to the success with which he reached all of his students. The Feynman lectures were written "to maintain the interest of very enthusiastic and rather smart students coming out of high schools and into Cal Tech." Feynman was targeting the lectures to students who, "at the end of two years of our previous course, [were] very discouraged because there were really very few grand, new, modern ideas presented to them." As a result, some physics students find the lectures more valuable after they obtain a good grasp of physics by studying more traditional texts. Many professional physicists refer to the lectures at various points in their careers to refresh their minds with regard to basic principles. Read more... Preface to the New Millennium Edition -- Feynman's Preface -- Foreword -- 1. Atoms in Motion 1-1 Introduction -- 1-2 Matter is made of atoms -- 1-3 Atomic processes -- 1-4 Chemical reactions -- 2. Basic Physics 2-1 Introduction -- 2-2 Physics before 1920 -- 2-3 Quantum physics -- 2-4 Nuclei and particles -- 3. The Relation of physics to other sciences 3-1 Introduction -- 3-2 Chemistry -- 3-3 Biology -- 3-4 Astronomy -- 3-5 Geology -- 3-6 Psychology -- 3-7 How did it get that way? -- 4. Conservation of energy 4-1 What is energy? -- 4-2 Gravitational potential energy -- 4-3 Kinetic energy -- 4-4 Other forms of energy -- 5. Time and distance 5-1 Motion -- 5-2 Time -- 5-3 Short times -- 5-4 Long times -- 5-5 Units and standards of time -- 5-6 Large distances -- 5-7 Short distances -- 6. Probability 6-1 Chance and likelihood -- 6-2 Fluctuations -- 6-3 The random walk -- 6-4 A probability distribution -- 6-5 The uncertainty principle -- 7. The Theory of gravitation 7-1 Planetary motions -- 7-2 Kepler's laws -- 7-3 Development of dynamics -- 7-4 Newton's law of gravitation -- 7-5 Universal gravitation -- 7-6 Cavendish's experiment -- 7-7 What is gravity? -- 7-8 Gravity and relativity -- 8. Motion 8-1 Description of motion -- 8-2 Speed -- 8-3 Speed as a derivative -- 8-4 Distance as an integral -- 8-5 Acceleration -- 9. Newton's laws of dynamics 9-1 Momentum and force -- 9-2 Speed and velocity -- 9-3 Components of velocity, acceleration, and force -- 9-4 What is the force? -- 9-5 Meaning of the dynamical equations -- 9-6 Numerical solution of the equations -- 9-7 Planetary motions -- 10. Conservation of momentum 10-1 Newton's Third Law -- 10-2 Conservation of momentum -- 10-3 Momentum is conserved! -- 10-4 Momentum and energy -- 10-5 Relativistic momentum -- 11. Vectors 11-1 Symmetry in physics -- 11-2 Translations -- 11-3 Rotations -- 11-4 Vectors -- 11-5 Vector algebra -- 11-6 Newton's laws in vector notation -- 11-7 Scalar product of vectors -- 12. Characteristics of Force 12-1 What is a force? -- 12-2 Friction -- 12-3 Molecular forces -- 12-4 Fundamental forces. Fields -- 12-5 Pseudo forces -- 12-6 Nuclear forces -- 13. Work and potential energy (A) 13-1 Energy of a falling body -- 13-2 Work done by gravity -- 13-3 Summation of energy -- 13-4 Gravitational field of large objects -- 14. Work and potential energy (conclusion) 14-1 Work -- 14-2 Constrained motion -- 14-3 Conservative forces -- 14-4 Nonconservative forces -- 14-5 Potentials and fields -- 15. The Special Theory of Relativity 15-1 The principle of relativity -- 15-2 The Lorentz transformation -- 15-3 The Michelson-Morley experiment -- 15-4 Transformation of time -- 15-5 The Lorentz contraction -- 15-6 Simultaneity -- 15-7 Four-vectors -- 15-8 Relativistic dynamics -- 15-9 Equivalence of mass and energy -- 16. Relativistic energy and momentum 16-1 Relativity and the philosophers -- 16-2 The twin paradox -- 16-3 Transformation of velocities -- 16-4 Relativistic mass -- 16-5 Relativistic energy -- 17. Space-Time 17-1 The geometry of space-time -- 17-2 Space-time intervals -- 17-3 Past, present, and future -- 17-4 More about four-vectors -- 17-5 Four-vector algebra. 18. Rotation in Two Dimensions 18-1 The center of mass -- 18-2 Rotation of a rigid body -- 18-3 Angular momentum -- 18-4 Conservation of angular momentum -- 19. Center of mass moment of inertia 19-1 Properties of the center of mass -- 19-2 Locating the center of mass -- 19-3 Finding the moment of inertia -- 19-4 Rotational kinetic energy -- 20. Rotation in space 20-1 Torques in three dimensions -- 20-2 The rotation equations using cross products -- 20-3 The gyroscope -- 20-4 Angular momentum of a solid body -- 21. The Harmonic oscillator 21-1 Linear differential equations -- 21-2 The harmonic oscillator -- 21-3 Harmonic motion and circular motion -- 21-4 Initial conditions -- 21-5 Forced oscillations -- 22. Algebra 22-1 Addition and multiplication -- 22-2 The inverse operations -- 22-3 Abstraction and generalization -- 22-4 Approximating irrational numbers -- 22-5 Complex numbers -- 22-6 Imaginary exponents -- 23. Resonance 23-1 Complex numbers and harmonic motion -- 23-2 The forced oscillator with damping -- 23-3 Electrical resonance -- 23-4 Resonance in nature -- 24. Transients 24-1 The energy of an oscillator -- 24-2 Damped oscillations -- 24-3 Electrical transients -- 25. Linear systems and review 25-1 Linear differential equations -- 25-2 Superposition of solutions -- 25-3 Oscillations in linear systems -- 25-4 Analogs in physics -- 25-5 Series and parallel impedances -- 26. Optics: the principle of least time 26-1 Light -- 26-2 Reflection and refraction -- 26-3 Fermat's principle of least time -- 26-4 Applications of Fermat's principle -- 26-5 A more precise statement of Fermat's principle -- 26-6 How it works -- 27. Geometrical Optics 27-1 Introduction -- 27-2 The focal length of a spherical surface -- 27-3 The focal length of a lens -- 27-4 Magnification -- 27-5 Compound lenses -- 27-6 Aberrations -- 27-7 Resolving power -- 28. Electromagnetic radiation 28-1 Electromagnetism -- 28-2 Radiation -- 28-3 The dipole radiator -- 28-4 Interference -- 29. Interference 29-1 Electromagnetic waves -- 29-2 Energy of radiation -- 29-3 Sinusoidal waves -- 29-4 Two dipole radiators -- 29-5 The mathematics of interference -- 30. Diffraction 30-1 The resultant amplitude due to n equal oscillators -- 30-2 The diffraction grating -- 30-3 Resolving power of a grating -- 30-4 The parabolic antenna -- 30-5 Colored films crystals -- 30-6 Diffraction by opaque screens -- 30-7 The field of a plane of oscillating charges -- 31. The Origin of the Refractive Index 31-1 The index of refraction -- 31-2 The field due to the material -- 31-3 Dispersion -- 31-4 Absorption -- 31-5 The energy carried by an electric wave -- 31-6 Diffraction of light by a screen -- 32. Radiation Damping. Light Scattering 32-1 Radiation resistance -- 32-2 The rate of radiation of energy -- 32-3 Radiation damping -- 32-4 Independent sources -- 32-5 Scattering of light -- 33. Polarization 33-1 The electric vector of light -- 33-2 Polarization of scattered light -- 33-3 Birefringence -- 33-4 Polarizers -- 33-5 Optical activity -- 33-6 The intensity of reflected light -- 33-7 Anomalous refraction -- 34. Relativistic effects in radiation 34-1 Moving sources -- 34-2 Finding the "apparent" motion -- 34-3 Synchrotron radiation -- 34-4 Cosmic synchrotron radiation -- 34-5 Bremsstrahlung -- 34-6 The Doppler effect -- 34-7 The [lowercase omega], k four-vector -- 34-8 Aberration -- 34-9 The momentum of light -- 35. Color vision 35-1 The human eye -- 35-2 Color depends on intensity -- 35-3 Measuring the color sensation -- 35-4 The chromaticity diagram -- 35-5 The mechanism of color vision -- 35-6 Physiochemistry of color vision. 36. Mechanisms of seeing 36-1 The sensation of color -- 36-2 The physiology of the eye -- 36-3 The rod cells -- 36-4 The compound (insect) eye -- 36-5 Other eyes -- 36-6 Neurology of vision -- 37. Quantum Behavior 37-1 Atomic mechanics -- 37-2 An experiment with bullets -- 37-3 An experiment with waves -- 37-4 An experiment with electrons -- 37-5 The interference of electron waves -- 37-6 Watching the electrons -- 37-7 First principles of quantum mechanics -- 37-8 The uncertainty principle -- 38. The relation of wave and particle viewpoints 38-1 Probability wave amplitudes -- 38-2 Measurement of position and momentum -- 38-3 Crystal diffraction -- 38-4 The size of an atom -- 38-5 Energy levels -- 38-6 Philosophical implications -- 39. The Kinetic Theory of Gases 39-1 Properties of matter -- 39-2 The pressure of a gas -- 39-3 Compressibility of radiation -- 39-4 Temperature and kinetic energy -- 39-5 The ideal gas law -- 40. The Principles of statistical mechanics 40-1 The exponential atmosphere -- 40-2 The Boltzmann law -- 40-3 Evaporation of a liquid -- 40-4 The distribution of molecular speeds -- 40-5 The specific heats of gases -- 40-6 The failure of classical physics -- 41. The Brownian movement 41-1 Equipartition of energy -- 41-2 Thermal equilibrium of radiation -- 41-3 Equipartition and the quantum oscillator -- 41-4 The random walk -- 42. Applications of Kinetic Theory 42-1 Evaporation -- 42-2 Thermionic emission -- 42-3 Thermal ionization -- 42-4 Chemical kinetics -- 42-5 Einstein's laws of radiation -- 43. Diffusion 43-1 Collisions between molecules -- 43-2 The mean free path -- 43-3 The drift speed -- 43-4 Ionic conductivity -- 43-5 Molecular diffusion -- 43-6 Thermal conductivity -- 44. The Laws of thermodynamics 44-1 Heat engines the first law -- 44-2 The second law -- 44-3 Reversible engines -- 44-4 The efficiency of an ideal engine -- 44-5 The thermodynamic temperature -- 44-6 Entropy -- 45. Illustrations of thermodynamics 45-1 Internal energy -- 45-2 Applications -- 45-3 The Clausius-Clapeyron equation -- 46. Ratchet and pawl 46-1 How a ratchet works -- 46-2 The ratchet as an engine -- 46-3 Reversibility in mechanics -- 46-4 Irreversibility -- 46-5 Order and entropy -- 47. Sound. The wave equation 47-1 Waves -- 47-2 The propagation of sound -- 47-3 The wave equation -- 47-4 Solutions of the wave equation -- 47-5 The speed of sound -- 48. Beats 48-1 Adding two waves -- 48-2 Beat notes and modulation -- 48-3 Side bands -- 48-4 Localized wave trains -- 48-5 Probability amplitudes for particles -- 48-6 Waves in three dimensions -- 48-7 Normal modes -- 49. Modes 49-1 The reflection of waves -- 49-2 Confined waves, with natural frequencies -- 49-3 Modes in two dimensions -- 49-4 Coupled pendulums -- 49-5 Linear systems -- 50. Harmonics 50-1 Musical tones -- 50-2 The Fourier series -- 50-3 Quality and consonance -- 50-4 The Fourier coefficients -- 50-5 The energy theorem -- 50-6 Nonlinear responses -- 51. Waves 51-1 Bow waves -- 51-2 Shock waves -- 51-3 Waves in solids -- 51-4 Surface waves -- 52. Symmetry in physical laws 52-1 Symmetry operations -- 52-2 Symmetry in space and time -- 52-3 Symmetry and conservation laws -- 52-4 Mirror reflections -- 52-5 Polar and axial vectors -- 52-6 Which hand is right? -- 52-7 Parity is not conserved! -- 52-8 Antimatter -- 52-9 Broken symmetries. Timeless and collectible, The Feynman Lectures on Physics are essential reading, not just for students of physics, but for anyone seeking an insightful introduction to the field from the inimitable Richard P. Feynman. “When I look at The Feynman Lectures on Physics, I feel a very personal sense of closeness to them,” said Feynman, looking back on the origins of these books. Ranging from basic Newtonian dynamics through such formidable theories as Einstein's relativity, Maxwell's electrodynamics, and Dirac's forumulation of quantum mechanics, these collected lectures stand as a monument to clear exposition and deep insight—and to Feynman's deep connection with the field. Originally delivered to students at Caltech and later fashioned by co-authors Robert B. Leighton and Matthew Sands into a unique textbook, the celebrated Feynman Lectures on Physics allows us to experience one of the twentieth century's greatest minds. This new edition features improved typography, figures, and indexes, with corrections authorizedby the California Institute of Technology. Basic Books is proud to announce the final two volumes of the complete audio CD collection of the late Richard P. Feynmans lectures, originally delivered to his physics students at the California Institute of Technology and later fashioned by the author into his classic textbook Lectures on Physics . Completing the set of audio lectures, volume 20 includes three lectures never previously released to the public. Ranging from the most basic principles of Newtonian physics through such formidable theories as Einsteins general relativity, superconductivity, and quantum mechanics, Fenymans lectures on physics stand as a monument of clear exposition and deep insight.